Court Opinion

ID: 4562764
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-03 17:10:32.574633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:11:40.748281
License: Public Domain

J-S18002-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    IN THE INT. OF: C.B., A MINOR              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: M.J.B., FATHER                  :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 1991 MDA 2019

                 Appeal from the Decree Entered November 18, 2019,
                 in the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County,
                      Orphans' Court at No(s): 056-ADOPT-2018,
                               CP-21-DP-0000085-2017.

    IN THE INTEREST OF: C.B., A                :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    MINOR                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: M.J.B., NATURAL                 :
    FATHER                                     :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 2016 MDA 2019

                  Appeal from the Order Entered November 26, 2019,
                 in the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County,
                 Juvenile Division at No(s): CP-21-DP-0000085-2017.

BEFORE:         KUNSELMAN, J., KING, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY KUNSELMAN, J.:                        FILED SEPTEMBER 03, 2020

        In this consolidated matter, M.J.B. (Father) appeals from the decree

involuntarily terminating his parental rights to his three-year-old daughter,

____________________________________________
*   Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S18002-20

C.B. (Child), pursuant to the Adoption Act.1 See 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1),

(2) and (b). Father also appeals the court’s decision to change the goal of the

child’s dependency case from reunification to adoption, pursuant to the

Juvenile Act. See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f). Father’s counsel has filed a petition

to withdraw brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967),

and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). Upon review,

we grant counsel’s petition to withdraw and affirm the trial court’s decree and

order.

        We provide the following background.         Child was born in November

2015. Father lived intermittently with Child and Mother until Mother obtained

a protection from abuse (PFA) order against him in March 2017. In June 2017,

Mother notified the Cumberland County Children and Youth Services Agency

(CYS) that she could not care for Child while undergoing long-term in-patient

substance abuse rehabilitation to treat her addiction to cocaine. Child was

subsequently placed in kinship care with the maternal great-grandmother

under the terms of a safety plan, because Father could not be located. In July

2017, the maternal great-grandmother informed the agency that she could no

longer care for Child, prompting CYS to file a dependency petition.

        The juvenile court adjudicated Child dependent in August 2017; Mother

was still undergoing drug rehabilitation, and CYS discovered Father was

incarcerated. The court placed Child in the home of foster parents (K.F.1. and
____________________________________________
1We note that Child was nearly four years old at the time of the termination
hearing. We note further that the court terminated the rights of A.K.,
(Mother), in October 2018.

                                               -2-
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K.F.2.). Father, who struggled with a methamphetamine addiction, learned

of Child’s placement in December 2017, and began communicating with the

foster parents.     When Father was released on probation in May 2018, CYS

developed a family service plan to aid with the reunification between him and

Child.

         Father made significant progress on his family service plan objections,

including maintaining his sobriety, employment, and visitation with Child.

Nevertheless, in October 2018, CYS petitioned the court for involuntary

termination of the parents’ rights. The court terminated Mother’s rights, but

denied the petition against Father. By March 2019, Father made so much

progress that the court discharged Child from the foster parents’ care, where

Child had been for over 19 months, and placed Child in Father’s legal and

physical custody. The court still kept the dependency case open, however.

         In May 2019, Father relapsed. Although Father notified his probation

officer and voluntarily entered an in-patient rehabilitation program, he did not

notify either CYS or the court.      Instead, he left Child in the care of his

paramour (now spouse) and her parents.           At the July 2019 permanency

hearing, Father averred that he had remained clean and sober since

completing the rehabilitation program.          The court ordered Father to

immediately submit to a drug screen. The preliminary results indicated the

presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine in Father’s system, which

Father denied using. Notwithstanding the results, the court allowed Child to

remain in Father’s custody under the supervision of his paramour’s parents

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while the preliminary results were confirmed.          When the results were

confirmed, the court removed Child from Father’s care and placed her back

with the foster parents.

      In August 2019, CYS petitioned the court to change the goal of the

dependency case from reunification to adoption, and in September 2019, CYS

petitioned for the termination of Father’s rights. On November 15, 2019, the

court convened evidentiary hearings to consider these petitions. The court

granted the petitions.      Father timely filed notices of appeal from Child’s

respective dockets, along with separate concise statements of errors

complained of on appeal. Father’s counsel later filed a petition to withdraw

and an Anders brief.

      We      begin    by      addressing    the     petition    to    withdraw

and Anders brief. See Commonwealth v. Rojas, 874 A.2d 638, 639 (Pa.

Super. 2005) (quoting Commonwealth v. Smith, 700 A.2d 1301, 1303 (Pa.

Super. 1997)) (“When faced with a purported Anders brief, this Court may

not review the merits of the underlying issues without first passing on the

request to withdraw”). This Court extended the Anders procedure to appeals

from decrees terminating parental rights involuntarily in In re V.E., 611 A.2d

1267 (Pa. Super. 1992). To withdraw pursuant to Anders, counsel must

comply with the following requirements:

         1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that, after
         making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel
         has determined that the appeal would be frivolous; 2)
         furnish a copy of the [Anders] brief to the [appellant]; and
         3) advise the [appellant] that he or she has the right to

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         retain private counsel or raise additional arguments that the
         [appellant] deems worthy of the court’s attention.

Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1032 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en

banc) (citing Commonwealth v. Lilley, 978 A.2d 995, 997 (Pa. Super.

2009)). Counsel must provide this Court with a copy of the letter advising the

appellant of his or her rights. Commonwealth v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748,

752 (Pa. Super. 2005).

      Additionally, our Supreme Court has set forth the following requirements

for Anders briefs.

         (1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts,
         with citations to the record;

         (2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes
         arguably supports the appeal;

         (3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is
         frivolous; and

         (4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is
         frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of
         record, controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that
         have led to the conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.

Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.

      In the instant matter, counsel has substantially complied with these

requirements.   We may proceed to review the issues outlined in counsel’s

brief. We must also “conduct an independent review of the record to discern

if there are any additional, non-frivolous issues overlooked by counsel.”

Commonwealth         v.   Flowers,   113   A.3d   1246,   1250   (Pa.    Super.

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2015) (footnote omitted); see also Commonwealth v. Dempster, 187

A.3d 266, 272 (Pa. Super. 2018) (en banc).

      Counsel raises the following issues, which we reorder for ease of

disposition:

               1. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and commit
                  an error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear
                  and convincing evidence, that sufficient grounds
                  existed for a termination of appellant’s parental
                  rights in his child, and when it failed to primarily
                  consider the child’s developmental, physical and
                  emotional needs and welfare, thus contravening
                  [23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a) and (b)]?

               2. Did the trial court abuse its discretion and commit
                  an error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear
                  and convincing evidence, that the child’s
                  permanent placement goal of reunification was
                  neither appropriate, nor feasible and ordered a
                  goal change to adoption, thus contravening [42
                  Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)].

Anders Brief at 4

      We review these issues mindful of our well-settled standard of review.

         The standard of review in termination of parental rights
         cases requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact
         and credibility determinations of the trial court if they are
         supported by the record. If the factual findings are
         supported, appellate courts review to determine if the trial
         court made an error of law or abused its discretion. A
         decision may be reversed for an abuse of discretion only
         upon demonstration of manifest unreasonableness,
         partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial court’s
         decision, however, should not be reversed merely because
         the record would support a different result. We have
         previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that
         often have first-hand observations of the parties spanning
         multiple hearings.

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In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (citations and quotation marks

omitted).

     Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the

Adoption Act, which requires a bifurcated analysis.

        Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party
        seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing
        evidence that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory
        grounds for termination delineated in [subs]ection 2511(a).
        Only if the court determines that the parent’s conduct
        warrants termination of his or her parental rights does the
        court engage in the second part of the analysis pursuant to
        [subs]ection 2511(b): determination of the needs and
        welfare of the child[.]

In re C.M.K., 203 A.3d 258, 261-262 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation omitted).

     In this case, the court terminated Father’s parental rights pursuant to

subsections 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). Those subsections provide:

        (a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a
        child may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
        following grounds:

            (1) The parent by conduct continuing for a period of at
            least six months immediately preceding the filing of the
            petition either has evidenced a settled purpose of
            relinquishing parental claim to a child or has refused or
            failed to perform parental duties.

            (2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
            neglect or refusal of the parent has caused the child to
            be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
            necessary for his physical or mental well-being and the
            conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect
            or refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the parent.

                                       […]

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         (b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the
         rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
         developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare
         of the child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated
         solely on the basis of environmental factors such as
         inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and
         medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent.
         With respect to any petition filed pursuant to subsection
         (a)(1) ... or (8), the court shall not consider any efforts by
         the parent to remedy the conditions described therein
         which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice
         of the filing of the petition.

23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511.

      Instantly, we observe that the argument section of counsel’s brief tracks

the discussion section of the trial court’s Rule 1925 opinion insofar as it

addresses subsections 2511(a)(1) and (2) contemporaneously. See Anders

Brief at 16, n. 7. Father explains that subsection 2511(a)(1) did not warrant

discussion because the court “did not expressly rely on [sub]section

2511(a)(1) as a legal basis for terminating [his] parental rights.” See id. We

understand Father’s contention, given the apparent evidence that Father did

perform parental duties within the statutory timeframe outlined in subsection

2511(a)(1), and the trial court’s omission of a separate analysis on this point.

We certainly do not find Father waived this issue. Nevertheless, we need only

agree with the court as to any one subsection of 2511(a), as well as subsection

2511(b) in order to affirm. In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super.

2004) (en banc). Thus, we analyze the court’s decision to terminate under

subsection 2511(a)(2) and (b).

                                     -8-
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      We begin with subsection 2511(a)(2). Regarding this subsection, we

have previously stated the following:

         In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23
         Pa.C.S.A § 2511(a)(2), the following three elements must
         be met: (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
         neglect or refusal; (2) such incapacity, abuse, neglect or
         refusal has caused the child to be without essential parental
         care, control or subsistence necessary for his physical or
         mental well-being; and (3) the causes of the incapacity,
         abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied.

In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation

omitted). “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity that cannot

be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct. To the contrary, those

grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to perform parental

duties.” In re B.J.Z., 207 A.3d 914, 922-923 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation

omitted).

      Father seems to limit his contention to the second element, namely, that

his relapse did not cause the child to be without essential care, as he ensured

Child was safe with his paramour and her family. See Anders Brief at 15. In

doing so, Father evidently reasons that his drug addiction did not constitute a

“repeated” or “continued incapacity” to parent, as demonstrated by his

previously ability to achieve sobriety, to complete his family service plan, and

to reunify with Child. According to Father, the court unfairly nullified Father’s

achievements when Father relapsed.

      Like the trial court, we are sympathetic to Father’s struggles with

addiction. The question still remains: has Father demonstrated a repeated or

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continued incapacity, which caused Child to be without parental care, and

whether Father possessed the ability to remedy this incapacity?

        In our review, each element of subsection 2511(a)(2) had been met.

Father has struggled with addiction since the inception of this case. It is, of

course, all the more tragic that Father obtained reunification only to relapse

soon after. It is worth noting, however, that the record supports the court’s

finding that Father relapsed more than once. He admitted to using in May

2019, and notwithstanding his adamant denial that he used again, he

appeared under the influence during the July 2019 permanency review hearing

and tested positive. Therefore, Father relapsed at least twice in four months

– the only four months he exercised physical custody since Child was

adjudicated dependent nearly two years prior. And when Father relapsed,

someone had to care for Child, not only while he used, but also while he

detoxed. As Mother’s rights were previously terminated, Father was the only

parent left. That Father ensured Child had adequate supervision did not mean

she had parental care.2 Finally, Father cites a variety of secondary sources

for the proposition that relapse is an anticipated part of the addict’s recovery

process. That may be so, but this lends all the more credence to the trial

court’s determination that Father’s incapacity is repeated and continuous.
____________________________________________
2 Although not directly relevant to the instant analysis, we note that Father
was not exactly forthright about his relapse. While we find laudable Father’s
honesty with his probation officer, as well as his decision to enter detox, we
are mindful that Father chose not to make either CYS or the trial court aware
of his relapse, despite Child’s dependency case still being open. Thus, we are
at least partially skeptical of Father’s portrayal that he behaved with the
utmost responsibility in the time immediately after his relapse.

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Underlying Father’s argument is the unspoken assumption that his most

recent relapse was his last, that his incapacity has been remedied. But when

considering the entire case history, not just the summer months in 2019, the

court determined that Father cannot remedy this incapacity. In sum, the trial

court properly determined CYS satisfied each element of subsection

2511(a)(2).

     Having concluded that termination was warranted under subsection

2511(a)(2), we address whether termination best served Child’s needs and

welfare under subsection 2511(b). Regarding this portion of the analysis, we

have previously stated:

        [Subs]ection 2511(b) focuses on whether termination of
        parental rights would best serve the developmental,
        physical, and emotional needs and welfare of the child. As
        this Court has explained, [subs]ection 2511(b) does not
        explicitly require a bonding analysis and the term “bond” is
        not defined in the Adoption Act. Case law, however,
        provides that analysis of the emotional bond, if any,
        between parent and child is a factor to be considered as part
        of our analysis. While a parent’s emotional bond with his or
        her child is a major aspect of the subsection 2511(b) best-
        interest analysis, it is nonetheless only one of many factors
        to be considered by the court when determining what is in
        the best interest of the child.

              [I]n addition to a bond examination, the trial court can
              equally emphasize the safety needs of the child, and
              should also consider the intangibles, such as the love,
              comfort, security, and stability the child might have with
              the foster parent. Additionally, this Court stated that the
              trial court should consider the importance of continuity
              of relationships and whether any existing parent-child
              bond can be severed without detrimental effects on the
              child.

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In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1219 (Pa. Super. 2015) (quotation

marks and citations omitted).

      Parental rights may be terminated notwithstanding the existence of a

parent-child bond. When examining the effect upon a child of severing a bond,

courts must examine whether termination of parental rights will destroy a

“necessary and beneficial relationship,” thereby causing a child to suffer

“extreme emotional consequences.” In re E.M., 620 A.2d 481, 484-85 (Pa.

1992).

      In the instant case, Father argues that CYS did not meet its burden

because even the court acknowledged his “deep and abiding love” for Child.

Anders Brief at 17.     Father misconstrues this portion of the termination

analysis. “A parent’s own feelings of love and affect for a child, alone, do not

prevent termination of parental rights.” In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1121 (Pa.

Super. 2010) (citation omitted). As we stated above, this inquiry concerns

the needs and welfare of the child. See C.M.K., supra.

      In this respect, we observe the trial court’s findings:

            [Child] is four years old. She has spent four months of
         her life in [Father’s] care, during which time [Father]
         relapsed twice. [Child] lived with her foster parents from
         July 2017 when she was under two years old through March
         2019 and again in August through [the termination hearing
         in November]. Her foster parents, “Mommy and Daddy” to
         [Child], love her and intend to adopt her. The attorney for
         the child […], and the guardian ad litem […] concurred that
         [Child’s] home is with her foster parents and she “belongs’
         there.     We agree with such recommendations, in
         consideration of the stability and love the foster family has
         for [Child], evident to all, the bond they share, the length of

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         time [Child] has spent outside of [Father’s] care, and the
         extended period of Agency involvement for [the nearly]
         four-year-old [Child].

            We reiterate our awareness of the difficulties of
         addiction. Our concern, however, lies with [Child] and her
         stability, permanency, safety, and needs for uninterrupted
         love. This [c]ourt heard the testimony of counselors, the
         case worker, the foster mother, and others, and considered
         input from the [guardian ad litem] and the arguments of
         counsel, including the attorney for the child, and we find
         that termination of parental rights is in [Child’s] best
         interests. [Child] cannot be in [Father’s] care during or
         surrounding the periods of his relapses, and [Child] cannot
         wait for another demonstrated period of sobriety and
         continue to languish in confusion and uncertainty. We
         lament, as we said to [Father] at the hearing, that he did
         not succeed in his sobriety efforts to be stable for [Child.]
         We encouraged him to continue on the path towards
         sobriety so that he may be a part of [Child’s] life, as the
         foster parents seem open to do. The Agency has proven,
         by clear and convincing evidence, that it is in the best
         interests of the child to terminate [Father’s] parental rights
         pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b).

Trial Court Opinion (T.C.O.), 1/14/20, at 13-14 (citations to the record

omitted).

      Upon our review, we confirm that the trial court’s findings and

conclusions were supported by the record. To the extent that Father has a

bond with Child, it is not of the sort that precludes termination; we share the

trial court’s reluctance to expose Child to an indefinite impermanency and

instability while Father continues to address his addiction.

      By virtue of our decision to affirm the court’s termination decree,

Father’s goal change claim is moot. See Interest of D.R.-W., --- A.3d ---,

2020 PA Super 15 at * 9 (Pa. Super. January 29, 2020) (“An issue before a

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court is moot if in ruling upon the issue the court cannot enter an order that

has any legal force of effect”) (citation omitted). Even accepting for the sake

of argument that the claim is not moot, we would conclude Father is not

entitled to relief.

      We review goal-change orders pursuant to an abuse-of-discretion

standard:

           [t]he standard of review which this Court employs in cases
          of dependency is broad. However, the scope of review is
          limited in a fundamental manner by our inability to nullify
          the fact-finding of the lower court. We accord great weight
          to this function of the hearing judge because he is in the
          position to observe and rule upon the credibility of the
          witnesses and the parties who appear before him. Relying
          upon his unique posture, we will not overrule his findings if
          they are supported by competent evidence.

In re N.A., 116 A.3d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super. 2015).

      Regarding the disposition of dependent children, the Juvenile Act, 42

Pa.C.S.A. §§ 6351(e)-(g), provides the criteria for a permanency plan. The

court must determine a disposition best suited to the safety and protection,

as well as the physical, mental, and moral welfare of the child. See 42

Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(g). With a goal change petition, the trial court considers:

          the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the
          placement; the extent of compliance with the service plan
          developed for the child; the extent of progress made
          towards alleviating the circumstances which necessitated
          the original placement; the appropriateness and feasibility
          of the current placement goal for the child; and, a likely date
          by which the goal for the child might be achieved.

In Interest of A.N.P., 155 A.3f 55, 66 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citations omitted).

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     We have further noted:

        [w]hen a child is adjudicated dependent, the child’s proper
        placement turns on what is in the child’s best interest, not
        on what the parent wants or which goals the parent has
        achieved. Moreover, although preserving the unity of the
        family is a purpose of the [Juvenile] Act, another purpose is
        to “provide for the care, protection, safety, and wholesome
        mental and physical development of children coming within
        the provisions of this chapter.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1.1).
        Indeed, “[t]he relationship of parent and child is a status
        and not a property right, and one in which the state has an
        interest to protect the best interest of the child.”

In re K.C., 903 A.2d 12, 14-15 (Pa. Super. 2006) (some citations omitted).

     Additionally, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)(9) provides, among several other

factors that the court considers at a permanency hearing:

        If the child has been in placement for 15 of the last 22
        months or the court has determined that aggravated
        circumstances exist and that reasonable efforts to prevent
        or eliminate the need to remove the child from the child’s
        parent, guardian or custodian or to preserve and reunify the
        family need not be made or continue to be made ...

See 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)(9).

     The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reiterated that

        (f)(9) is merely one of a number of factors a trial court must
        consider in ultimately determining whether the current
        placement is appropriate or if and when another placement
        would be appropriate based upon the trial court’s
        assessment of what is “best suited to the safety, protection
        and physical, mental and moral welfare of the child.” 42
        Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f)(9).

In re R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010).

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      A trial court is not required to itemize its findings, so long as it considers

the various factors of Section 6351(f), concludes that reunification is not the

appropriate placement goal, and provides reasons for its conclusion that are

supported by the record. Id.

      In this case, Father argues that the court did not give any weight to the

fact that he previously achieved the goals in his family service plan and

reunified with Child.    Anders Brief at 12-13; see also 42 Pa.C.S.A. §

6351(f)(2), (3). In reaching its decision, the court made essentially the same

determinations as discussed above: Father’s relapses, undisclosed to the

court, in close proximity to the reunification, and after Child was without

parental care for an extended period. See T.C.O. at 16.

      In fact, Child was placed outside of Father’s care for approximately 21

months prior to reunification.        Father then had custody of Child for

approximately two months prior to his first relapse, and then for two more

months prior to his second, at which point Child was removed from Father’s

care. At the time of the goal change hearing, Child had been in placed outside

of Father’s care for approximately 25 of the preceding 29 months. Although

Father had made tremendous progress during the life of the case, the parties

were right back where they started, over two years ago, with Father using and

Child without parental care or permanency. At this point, it was impossible

for the trial court to discern when Father could demonstrate prolonged

sobriety so as to allow for Child’s safe return. The court did not error for

concluding that Child could not wait any longer.

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      In conclusion, we share the trial court’s sympathy for Father’s struggle

with addiction, and we echo the court’s hope that the foster parents choose

to incorporate Father in Child’s life, if and when Father obtains sobriety.

Although he is unsuccessful in this appeal, we cast no aspersions on his ability

to achieve success in his future recovery. For now, however, we conclude that

the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it terminated Father’s rights

and changed the goal to adoption. Upon our review of the record, we find no

other potentially non-frivolous issues. We grant counsel’s request to withdraw.

      Decree affirmed. Order affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.

      Judge King joins the memorandum.

      President Judge Emeritus Stevens concurs in the result.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 09/03/2020

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