Court Opinion

ID: 4409134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-21 15:06:08.044821+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:50.526769
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                      FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any                               Jun 21 2019, 6:11 am

court except for the purpose of establishing                                CLERK
                                                                        Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                    Court of Appeals
                                                                             and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Justin R. Wall                                            Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Wall Legal Services                                       Attorney General of Indiana
Huntington, Indiana                                       Natalie F. Weiss
                                                          Deputy Attorney General
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In the Matter of the Termination                          June 21, 2019
of the Parent-Child Relationship                          Court of Appeals Case No.
of: T.W. and Z.C., Minor                                  18A-JT-3046
Children,                                                 Appeal from the Wabash Circuit
J.H., Mother,                                             Court
                                                          The Honorable Robert R.
Appellant-Respondent,
                                                          McCallen, III, Judge
        v.                                                Trial Court Cause Nos.
                                                          85C01-1807-JT-11
                                                          85C01-1807-JT-12
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                   Page 1 of 15
[1]   J.H. (“Mother”) appeals the involuntary termination of her parental rights with

      respect to her children, T.W. and Z.C. (the “Children”). 1 We affirm.

                                         Facts and Procedural History

[2]   On March 20, 2017, the Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed petitions

      in cause numbers 85C01-1703-JC-27 (“Cause No. 27”) and 85C01-1703-JC-28

      (“Cause No. 28”) alleging respectively that T.W., born on December 3, 2003,

      and Z.C., born on July 24, 2014, were children in need of services (“CHINS”).

      The petitions stated that DCS received a report alleging that Mother and other

      adults in the home were making methamphetamine, that she submitted to drug

      screens on March 13 and 14, 2017, that the results were positive for

      methamphetamine and the March 14, 2017 drug screen revealed a higher level

      of the drug “indicating that [she] had used Methamphetamine in the time

      between the two screens,” and that the Children had been removed from her. 2

      Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 98-101.

[3]   On April 7, 2017, a status hearing was held in which Mother admitted the

      allegations and the Children were adjudicated CHINS. On May 22, 2017, the

      court entered dispositional orders awarding DCS wardship over the Children

      and ordering Mother, among other things, to: contact the family case manager

      every week to monitor compliance with the CHINS matters; enroll in any

      1
        The court also terminated the parental rights of Z.C.’s father as to Z.C., and he does not appeal the
      termination.
      2
          Family case manager Jennifer Lane testified that the Children were removed on March 17, 2017.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                      Page 2 of 15
      program recommended by the family case manager or other service provider

      program in a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days, and participate in it as

      scheduled; keep all appointments with any service provider, DCS, or court

      appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem, or give advance notice and

      good cause for the missed appointment; not use, consume, manufacture, trade

      or sell any illegal controlled substances; obey the law; complete a parenting

      assessment and successfully complete all recommendations; complete a

      substance abuse assessment, follow all treatments, and successfully complete all

      treatment recommendations; submit to random drug screens; attend all

      scheduled visitations with the Children; and participate in the Drug Court

      program if she tested positive on another drug test.

[4]   On July 13, 2018, DCS filed petitions for termination of Mother’s parental

      rights as to the Children. On October 17, 2018, the court held a factfinding

      hearing which began with a request by DCS’s counsel for the court to take

      judicial notice of several cases involving Mother and Z.C.’s father. The court

      took notice of the CHINS matters in Cause Nos. 27 and 28 and of Mother’s

      pending charges under cause number 85D01-1810-CM-1114. 3 It also took

      notice that she had resolved cause number 85D01-1709-CM-1134 “apparently .

      . . by a pretrial diversion” and had pled guilty on February 1, 2008, to a

      3
        When the court asked DCS whether it knew what the pending charges under cause number 85D01-1810-
      CM-1114 were, DCS’s counsel answered, “I believe it’s driving while suspended with a prior conviction.”
      Transcript Volume II at 18. Mother later indicated that she had not driven “since I got pulled over the last
      time” “[i]n August” and answered affirmatively when the court asked if that was “what the charge
      downstairs” was. Transcript Volume III at 5.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                     Page 3 of 15
      violation of restriction on sale of ephedrine under cause number 43D02-0708-

      CM-1331; on March 26, 2009, “to dealing in methamphetamine within one

      thousand feet of a school and neglect of a dependent” under cause number

      43C01-0802-FB-46; on August 25, 2011, to possession of precursors as a level D

      felony under cause number 43C01-1101-FB-1; and on October 25, 2011, to

      dealing in methamphetamine as a level B felony under cause number 43C01-

      1103-FB-140. 4 Transcript Volume II at 19.

[5]   Sandra Whitworth-Miller, T.W.’s grandmother and current placement, testified

      that T.W. was doing wonderful, her grades were up and her attendance perfect,

      that she belonged to the dance team at school, and that her behavior was “getting

      better every day.” Id. at 103. She testified that Z.C. left placement with her in

      June 2017, that she made personal efforts to have the Children see each other

      “[a]s often as possible” with them “get[ting] together on Sundays like every other

      week or so up at the park,” and that T.W. talks to Z.C. on “Messenger, video

      talk, . . . a couple of times a week.” Id. at 108. She indicated that it was her

      intention to adopt T.W., that she “[a]bsolutely” had the means to take care of

      her,” and would “absolutely” continue to make efforts to have T.W. see Z.C. Id.

      Mental health therapist Keely King testified that Mother canceled eight

      individual therapy sessions and did not show up to another thirteen and

      indicated that she missed more appointments than she had attended. Court

      4
       DCS’s counsel indicated she had the charging information in front of her, stated, “[t]he 43C01-1103-FB-140
      was a B felony” and “43C01-1101-FB-1 was a D felony,” and answered, “A felony,” when asked if she knew
      about “the 0802-FB-46.” Transcript Volume II at 19.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                  Page 4 of 15
      Appointed Special Advocate Karen Cole (“CASA Cole”) indicated that Z.C. was

      currently placed with his paternal aunt in Nappanee, that she visited both of the

      Children in their current placements once a month and all of their needs were

      being met, and that Z.C. seems to be much happier now, was “more familiar

      with the people that he’s with because . . . they’re family,” and “gets along great

      with . . . the kids there.” Id. at 153-154. She testified “[n]ot much, if any,” when

      asked if she thought, in total, that Mother has benefitted from services. Id. at

      153. She stated that T.W. did not think visitation with Mother was appropriate

      because it upset Z.C., that when she took the case T.W. “was more of the mother

      figure, wanting to correct [Z.C.] all the time and . . . take care of him,” that if

      they were to return home, T.W. would “take on that mother role again,” and

      that she had a problem with that because T.W. “is a teenager and she needs to be

      a teenager.” Id. at 154-155. She testified that she agreed with termination and,

      when asked what was in the Children’s best interest, she answered, “[t]o be

      where they’re at . . . be adopted where they’re at so they have stability.” Id. at

      156. When asked about the basis for her recommendation, she stated, “I just

      don’t think going back into the home is good for [the Children] right now. I

      don’t think that it ever will be.” Id. at 156-157.

[6]   Family Case Manager Jennifer Lane (“FCM Lane”) testified that Mother did

      become engaged in individual therapy “but her participation . . . was not what .

      . . was recommended.” Id. at 167. She indicated that Mother was not usually

      compliant and cooperative in completing drug screens and testified that she

      would show up to the screens, become upset and angry, yell and curse at the

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 5 of 15
secretary to make the process go faster, and not follow the proper procedure.

She detailed an incident in which Mother came to the office when she was not

scheduled to have a drug screen, insisted on taking one, and pushed on the door

as FCM Lane was attempting to remove her. She testified that Mother had not

“taken advantage” of the ample opportunity “to get herself engaged” in

substance abuse treatment through the Bowen Center and had not “even made

the first step to admit that she has a problem,” which was “really concerning

with that amount of treatment.” Id. at 200. She indicated that Mother’s

supervised visits with Children were suspended as a result of her positive drug

screens and that the visit prior to her last visit in August 2018 occurred in May

2018. She recommended that Mother’s parental rights be terminated because

“at this point the best plan for T.W. and Z.C. would be to be adopted by their

respective placements” and that termination was in their best interests because

she “has not even made the first step towards solving the issues she has” and

the Children “were not safe in her home then [and] wouldn’t be safe in her

home now.” Id. at 200-201. During cross-examination, she indicated that she

believed Mother was recommended through her substance abuse assessment to

work through the MRT book, that Mother “was very inconsistent with

attendance at services,” and that she did not think that MRT ever was started. 5

Id. at 203.

5
 Therapist King testified that MRT was a curriculum that stood for “Moral Reconation Therapy” and was a
twelve-step process of “identifying patterns, . . . developing new goals, new ways of viewing life.” Transcript
Volume II at 40.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                      Page 6 of 15
[7]   The court admitted into evidence Mother’s drug screens as DCS Exhibits 1-32.

      DCS Exhibits 21-23 contain various screens from Forensic Fluids Laboratories

      indicating Mother tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine on

      March 13 and 14, and May 16, 2017. DCS Exhibits 1-20 and 24-32 contain

      various screens indicating she tested positive for amphetamine and

      methamphetamine on twenty-nine occasions from February 2 to October 10,

      2018.

[8]   On November 15, 2018, the court continued the hearing. FCM Lane testified

      that, following the previous hearing, she clarified with Mother that she needed to

      continue checking in daily for drug screens and that she had not checked in or

      taken any screens since October 18, 2018. Mother testified that she was currently

      staying at the halfway house, Women in Transition, since October 22, 2018.

      When asked, “[b]ut your name was previously [J.Ha.], correct,” Mother

      answered, “[y]es. There’s several.” Id. at 240. She agreed that the first drug

      screen following the Children’s removal was positive and answered “[t]hat’s

      what they say” when asked if the second drug screen was positive. Id. at 245.

      She answered in the negative when asked if she had any reason to dispute

      Exhibits 1-32.

[9]   On November 19, 2018, the court issued an order terminating the parent-child

      relationship between Mother and the Children and citing her drug use, recent

      criminal charge and criminal history, including “43C01-0802-FB-46 (Guilty

      Plea 3/26/09, Dealing in Methamphetamine),” her inconsistent attendance in

      counseling sessions and parenting time and “little real progress[] especially

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 7 of 15
       towards the most important goal of reunification” with the Children, her mixed

       relationship with the Children, and her lack of engagement in services since the

       first hearing. Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 52, 54. It further indicated

       that DCS had a satisfactory plan including adoption and pre-adoptive services

       for the Children’s care and treatment.

                                                    Discussion

[10]   The issue is whether the evidence is sufficient to support the termination of

       Mother’s parental rights. In order to terminate a parent-child relationship, DCS

       is required to allege and prove, among other things:

               (B) that one (1) of the following is true:

                        (i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions
                        that resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for
                        placement outside the home of the parents will not be
                        remedied.

                        (ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation
                        of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-
                        being of the child.

                        (iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
                        adjudicated a child in need of services;

               (C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and

               (D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of
               the child.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 8 of 15
       Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). If the court finds that the allegations in a petition

       described in Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4 are true, the court shall terminate the parent-

       child relationship. Ind. Code § 31-35-2-8(a).

[11]   The State’s burden of proof for establishing the allegations in termination cases

       “is one of ‘clear and convincing evidence.’” In re G.Y., 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1260-

       1261 (Ind. 2009) (quoting Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2), reh’g denied. This is “a

       ‘heightened burden of proof’ reflecting termination’s ‘serious social

       consequences.’” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 642 (Ind. 2014) (quoting In re G.Y.,

       904 N.E.2d at 1260-1261, 1260 n.1). “But weighing the evidence under that

       heightened standard is the trial court’s prerogative – in contrast to our well-

       settled, highly deferential standard of review.” Id. We do not reweigh the

       evidence or determine the credibility of witnesses, but consider only the

       evidence that supports the judgment and the reasonable inferences to be drawn

       from the evidence. Id. We confine our review to two steps: whether the

       evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings, and then whether the

       findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment. Id.

[12]   Reviewing whether the evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings,

       or the findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment, is not a license to

       reweigh the evidence. Id. “[W]e do not independently determine whether that

       heightened standard is met, as we would under the ‘constitutional harmless

       error standard,’ which requires the reviewing court itself to ‘be sufficiently

       confident to declare the error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.

       (quoting Harden v. State, 576 N.E.2d 590, 593 (Ind. 1991) (citing Chapman v.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 9 of 15
       California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S. Ct. 824 (1967))). “Our review must ‘give “due

       regard” to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses

       firsthand,’ and ‘not set aside [its] findings or judgment unless clearly

       erroneous.’” Id. (quoting K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., Dearborn Cty. Office,

       989 N.E.2d 1225, 1229 (Ind. 2013) (citing Ind. Trial Rule 52(A))). “Because a

       case that seems close on a ‘dry record’ may have been much more clear-cut in

       person, we must be careful not to substitute our judgment for the trial court

       when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence.” Id. at 640.

[13]   We note that the involuntary termination statute is written in the disjunctive

       and requires proof of only one of the circumstances listed in Ind. Code § 31-35-

       2-4(b)(2)(B). Because we find it to be dispositive under the facts of this case, we

       limit our review to whether DCS established that there was a reasonable

       probability that the conditions resulting in the removal or reasons for placement

       of the Children outside the home will not be remedied. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-

       4(b)(2)(B)(i).

[14]   Mother disputes the court’s general findings that she will not change her ways

       and argues that she “could demonstrate that there was a very reasonable

       probability that [she] could, and would, ultimately remedy the conditions”

       which caused the Children’s removal. Appellant’s Brief at 23. She concedes

       that she does have a criminal history as noted in the termination order and

       contends that it further noted she admitted to the CHINS allegations and that

       no evidence was presented demonstrating that she was making

       methamphetamine in her home, that she made progress in her treatment,

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 10 of 15
       “[n]amely, from late 2017 through early 2018” when she was not testing

       positive for methamphetamine and planned to increase her parenting time, and

       that she engaged in individual therapy. Id. at 21. She maintains that, prior to

       the factfinding hearing, she took it upon herself to take steps to address

       substance abuse and mental health issues, that she was on the right track

       through the time of the termination hearing, and that she should have been

       afforded additional time to complete her halfway house program and MRT.

       She argues that it is in the Children’s best interest that she be afforded the

       ability to implement services with DCS and be given time to demonstrate that

       she can be a parent. DCS asserts that Mother did not participate in a majority

       of the referred services, did not consistently attend individual counseling, and

       tested positive for methamphetamine throughout a majority of the case.

[15]   In determining whether the conditions that resulted in the Children’s removal

       will not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. See E.M., 4 N.E.3d at

       642-643. First, we identify the conditions that led to removal, and second, we

       determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will

       not be remedied. Id. at 643. In the second step, the trial court must judge a

       parent’s fitness as of the time of the termination proceeding, taking into

       consideration evidence of changed conditions, balancing a parent’s recent

       improvements against habitual patterns of conduct to determine whether there

       is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation. Id. We entrust that

       delicate balance to the trial court, which has discretion to weigh a parent’s prior

       history more heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination. Id.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 11 of 15
       Requiring trial courts to give due regard to changed conditions does not

       preclude them from finding that a parent’s past behavior is the best predictor of

       his future behavior. Id.

[16]   The statute does not simply focus on the initial basis for a child’s removal for

       purposes of determining whether a parent’s rights should be terminated, but

       also those bases resulting in the continued placement outside the home. In re

       N.Q., 996 N.E.2d 385, 392 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). A court may consider

       evidence of a parent’s prior criminal history, drug abuse, history of neglect,

       failure to provide support, lack of adequate housing, and the services offered by

       DCS and the parent’s response to those services. See id. Where there are only

       temporary improvements and the pattern of conduct shows no overall progress,

       the court might reasonably find that under the circumstances the problematic

       situation will not improve. Id.

[17]   To the extent Mother does not challenge certain findings of fact, the

       unchallenged facts stand as proven. 6 See In re B.R., 875 N.E.2d 369, 373 (Ind.

       Ct. App. 2007) (failure to challenge findings by the trial court resulted in waiver

       of the argument that the findings were clearly erroneous), trans. denied.

[18]   The record reveals that the Children were removed from the home in March

       2017 and that Mother struggled with substance abuse at that time, has not been

       compliant or cooperative in completing required drug screens, and has tested

       6
           Mother does not provide a separate statement of facts under a separate heading. See Appellate Rule 46(A).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019                    Page 12 of 15
       positive for illegal substances on thirty-two occasions in 2017 and 2018.

       Mother pled guilty in 2008 to a violation of restriction on sale of ephedrine, in

       2009 to dealing in methamphetamine within one thousand feet of a school, and

       in 2011 to possession of precursors and dealing in methamphetamine. To the

       extent that Mother points to engagement in services, we note FCM Lane’s

       testimony that she had not taken advantage of opportunities to become engaged

       in substance abuse treatment and that she was inconsistent with attendance at

       services. Based upon the court’s findings and the record, we conclude that clear

       and convincing evidence supports the trial court’s determination that there is a

       reasonable probability that the conditions leading to the Children’s removal will

       not be remedied.

[19]   In determining what is in the best interests of a child, the trial court is required

       to look beyond the factors identified by DCS and to the totality of the evidence.

       McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct.

       App. 2003). In so doing, the court must subordinate the interests of the parent

       to those of the children. Id. Children have a paramount need for permanency

       which the Indiana Supreme Court has called a central consideration in

       determining the child’s best interests, and the Court has stated that children

       cannot wait indefinitely for their parents to work toward preservation or

       reunification and courts need not wait until the child is irreversibly harmed such

       that the child’s physical, mental, and social development is permanently

       impaired before terminating the parent-child relationship. In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d

       at 647-648. However, focusing on permanency, standing alone, would

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 13 of 15
       impermissibly invert the best-interests inquiry. Id. at 648. Recommendations

       by both the case manager and child advocate to terminate parental rights, in

       addition to evidence that the conditions resulting in removal will not be

       remedied, is sufficient to show by clear and convincing evidence that

       termination is in the child’s best interests. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 987

       N.E.2d 1150, 1158-1159 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied.

[20]   CASA Cole testified that she agreed with termination and thought adoption to

       be in the Children’s best interest “so they have stability.” Transcript Volume II

       at 156. FCM Lane recommended that Mother’s parental rights be terminated

       and that termination was in the Children’s best interests because she “has not

       even made the first step towards solving the issues she has” and the Children

       “were not safe in her home then [and] wouldn’t be safe in her home now.” Id.

       at 200-201. Based on the testimony, as well as the totality of the evidence in the

       record and set forth in the court’s termination order, we conclude that the

       court’s determination that termination is in the best interests of the Children is

       supported by clear and convincing evidence.

[21]   To the extent Mother argues that DCS does not have a satisfactory plan for the

       care and treatment of the Children, we note that adoption is a “satisfactory

       plan” for the care and treatment of a child under the termination of parental

       rights statute. In re B.M., 913 N.E.2d 1283, 1287 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). This

       plan need not be detailed, so long as it offers a general sense of the direction in

       which the child will be going after the parent-child relationship is terminated.

       In re Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of D.D., 804 N.E.2d 258, 268 (Ind.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 14 of 15
       Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. Whitworth-Miller, T.W.’s grandmother, testified

       about T.W.’s improvements in the placement with her, her efforts to help foster

       T.W. and Z.C.’s relationship, and that she would continue to make efforts for

       the Children to see each other. CASA Cole testified about Z.C.’s placement,

       and both she and FCM Lane indicated that it was in the Children’s best interest

       to be adopted in their respective current placements.

[22]   We conclude that the trial court’s judgment terminating the parental rights of

       Mother is supported by clear and convincing evidence. We find no error and

       affirm.

[23]   Affirmed.

       May, J., and Mathias, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-3046 | June 21, 2019   Page 15 of 15