Court Opinion

ID: 4326859
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-01 17:48:10.097274+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:47:09.719482
License: Public Domain

J-S59031-18

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    IN THE INTEREST OF: A.M.S., A              :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
    MINOR                                      :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
    APPEAL OF: E.H., MOTHER                    :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   No. 3467 EDA 2017

                  Appeal from the Decree September 28, 2017
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
                Family Court at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000506-2017

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., LAZARUS, J., and OTT, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                                FILED NOVEMBER 1, 2018

       Appellant, E.H. (“Mother”), appeals from the September 28, 2017

decree, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, involuntarily

terminating her parental rights to her son, A.M.S., born in December of 2013.1

Upon review, we affirm.

       We summarize the relevant facts and procedural history, as follows.

The Department of Human Services (“DHS”) received a report involving this

family in November of 2015, alleging that Mother used drugs; that she ran

outside of her apartment building unclothed; and that A.M.S. was found inside

the apartment building running in the hallway, naked and unsupervised. Trial

____________________________________________

1 By separate decrees dated September 28, 2017, and entered on October 2,
2017, the trial court involuntarily terminated the parental rights of M.S.
(“Father”) and of any unknown father. Neither Father nor any unknown father
has filed a notice of appeal.
J-S59031-18

Court Opinion, 5/2/18, at 1.         Community Umbrella Agency (“CUA”)

Wordsworth implemented in-home services shortly thereafter. Id. at 2.

      On August 21, 2016, DHS received another report alleging that Mother

was admitted to the hospital after suffering a deep laceration on her leg that

was approximately five or six inches long. Id. at 2. Further, the report alleged

that Mother had drug paraphernalia in her possession; she appeared to have

needle marks on her body; and she had soiled herself. Id. The report alleged

that Mother was diagnosed with substance abuse and psychosis.           Id.   In

addition, the report alleged that Father took physical custody of A.M.S. Id.

Father was then residing with the paternal great-grandmother of A.M.S. Id.

      On September 7, 2016, DHS received a report alleging that, on

September 5, 2016, Father had sexually abused A.M.S. in their home and was

under investigation by the Special Victims Unit. Id. at 2. In November of

2016, Father pleaded guilty to the criminal charges of corrupting a minor and

indecent exposure. N.T., 9/28/17, at 9; DHS Exhibit 2.

      Further, on September 7, 2016, DHS learned that A.M.S. was suffering

from ringworm on his torso and bedbug bites. Trial Court Opinion, 5/2/18, at

3. DHS obtained an order of protective custody on that date and placed him

in a foster home.    Id.   The trial court adjudicated A.M.S. dependent on

September 15, 2016. Id.

      Permanency review hearings occurred on December 8, 2016, February

23, 2017, and May 18, 2017. Id. at 3; DHS Exhibit 5. A.M.S.’s placement

goal was reunification with Mother. Mother was required to comply with single

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case plan objectives including participating in mental health treatment, drug

and alcohol treatment, and court-ordered drug screens; attending the Sage

program, a program for parents of children who have been molested; and

completing a parenting capacity evaluation. N.T., 9/28/17, at 24-25.

       On May 3, 2017, DHS filed a petition to involuntarily terminate Mother’s

parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), and (b). A

hearing occurred on September 28, 2017,2 during which DHS presented the

testimony of Monaque Riddick, a case manager at CUA Wordsworth, and Erica

Williams, Ph.D., a psychologist, who performed a parenting capacity

evaluation on Mother.         Mother, who was represented by court-appointed

counsel, testified on her own behalf.3

       By decree dated September 28, 2017, and entered on October 2, 2017,

the trial court involuntarily terminated Mother’s parental rights pursuant to 23

____________________________________________

2 The subject proceeding was a combined goal change and involuntary
termination hearing. The trial court subsequently issued an order changing
A.M.S.’s placement goal to adoption, but Mother did not appeal from that
order.

3 A.M.S., who was then three years old, had the benefit of legal counsel as
well as a guardian ad litem (“GAL”) during the proceeding. See In re T.S.,
__ A.3d __, 2018 WL 4001825 at * 1 (Pa. 2018) (citing In re Adoption of
L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172, 174 (Pa. 2017) (concluding that, pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.
§ 2313(a), a child who is the subject of a contested involuntary termination
proceeding has a statutory right to counsel who discerns and advocates for
the child’s legal interests, which our Supreme Court has defined as a child’s
preferred outcome.)

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Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (4), (5), and (b). 4 On October 25, 2017, Mother

timely filed and served a notice of appeal and a concise statement of errors

complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). 5 The

trial court filed an opinion pursuant to Rule 1925(b) on May 2, 2018.

       On appeal, Mother raises the following issues for our review, which we

have re-ordered for ease of disposition:

       1.    Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt abused its discretion and erred
       in law when Mother’s request for a continuance was denied?

       2.   Whether the [t]rial [c]ourt erred when it refused to accept
       Mother’s evidence of surgeries and medications?

       3.   Whether the trial court abused its discretion and erred [in]
       law when Mother was not given [a] reasonable amount of time to
       complete objecti[v]es?

       4.   Whether the trial court abused its discretion and erred in
       law when Mother’s visits were suspended and she was not a
       danger to A.M.S.?

       5.   Did . . . [DHS] sustain the burden that Mother’s rights should
       be terminated when there was evidence that Mother had
____________________________________________

4 The trial court entered an amended decree on October 2, 2017, involuntarily
terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2),
(5), and (b).

5 On June 5, 2018, Mother’s counsel filed a motion requesting a 30-day
extension to file an appellant’s brief. Further, counsel requested that her
representation be vacated if this Court denied the extension. On June 8, 2018,
this Court denied the motion for a 30-day extension and remanded to the trial
court for a determination as to whether Mother is still eligible for court-
appointed counsel and, if so, for the appointment of new counsel. On June
28, 2018, the trial court appointed Mario D’Adamo, III, as new appellate
counsel for Mother.

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       completed and/or had been actively completing her permanency
       goals?

Mother’s brief at 9.

       In her first issue, Mother argues that the trial court abused its discretion

in failing to grant her counsel’s request for a continuance due to being

provided the parenting capacity evaluation on the day of the subject

proceeding and, as a result, not having the opportunity to review it.             We

disagree.6

       Our Supreme Court has stated:

       Appellate review of a trial court’s continuance decision is
       deferential. “The grant or denial of a motion for a continuance is
       within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be reversed
       only upon a showing of an abuse of discretion. As we have
       consistently stated, an abuse of discretion is not merely an error
       of judgment. Rather, discretion is abused when ‘the law is
       overridden or misapplied, or the judgment exercised is manifestly
       unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will,
       as shown by the evidence or the record. . . .’”

Commonwealth v. Brooks, 104 A.3d 466, 469 (Pa. 2014) (citations

omitted).

       At the beginning of the hearing, before the testimonial evidence

commenced, Mother’s counsel made a request for a continuance because, in

part, “the [parenting capacity] evaluation was just received.” N.T., 9/28/17,

____________________________________________

6We observe that the trial court had continued the termination hearing once
before. The subject proceeding occurred four months after DHS filed the
petition, and A.M.S. had been in placement for more than one year.

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at 4. In response, counsel for DHS stated that she received the report “in

the middle of the list, . . ., and I have not read it. So I am as unaware of

the circumstances of everything that’s written down. . . .” 7 N.T., 9/28/17,

at 14. Further, counsel responded that Dr. Williams is present to testify and

available for cross-examination by Mother’s counsel. Id. at 14. Moreover,

counsel responded that she would prove Mother’s conduct warrants

termination of her parental rights because she has failed to comply with her

required objectives, which is a basis separate and apart from the parenting

capacity evaluation. Id. at 13-14.

       In denying Mother’s request for a continuance, the trial court

explained:

       Counsel for [DHS] must meet their burden of proof. . . . [Y]ou
       will have an adequate opportunity to cross examine.

       If . . . a possible finding of termination of parental rights [i]s only
       through the parenting capacity evaluation, then I would think that
       they would agree with your continuance. . . . I am going to allow
       [DHS’s counsel] to go forward [to prove her case].

Id. at 15-16.

       We discern no abuse of discretion. Indeed, Mother’s counsel cross-

examined Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams testified that her recommendations for

Mother were consistent with her court-ordered objectives. N.T., 9/28/17, at

____________________________________________

7In its brief, DHS clarified that all of the parties received the evaluation at the
same time as Mother’s counsel; therefore, none of the parties had an
opportunity to review it prior to the proceeding. DHS’s brief at 34.

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59. Our review of the record reveals that Mother’s requisite objectives were

in effect since approximately September of 2016. Ms. Riddick, the CUA case

manager, testified that Mother was only minimally compliant with her

objectives. Id. at 28. Therefore, to the extent that the trial court terminated

Mother’s parental rights on evidence separate and apart from the parenting

capacity evaluation, we reject Mother’s claim.

        In her second issue, Mother argues that the trial court erred when it

denied her counsel the opportunity to refresh her recollection with a

discharge report relating to her alleged knee surgery. We disagree.

        Evidentiary rulings are likewise “committed to the sound discretion of

the trial court, and will not be overruled absent an abuse of discretion or

error of law.” Tillery v. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 156 A.3d

1233, 1243 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted).        Pennsylvania Rule of

Evidence 612 provides that a witness’s memory may be refreshed with a

writing or other item. Pa.R.E. 612(a). In Commonwealth v. Proctor, 385

A.2d 383, 385 (Pa. Super. 1978), this Court held that a proper foundation

must first be established before a party may avail himself or herself of the

rule permitting a witness to refresh his or her recollection. Specifically, we

held,

        [t]o permit the use of a writing in order to refresh the memory of
        a witness, the proponent must show: (1) that the witness’[s]
        present memory is inadequate; (2) that the writing could refresh
        the witness’[s] present memory; and (3) that reference to the
        writing actually does refresh the witness’[s] present memory.

                                      -7-
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Id. (citation omitted).

      Here, during her direct testimony, Mother testified that she had knee

surgery at Einstein Hospital in October of 2017, even though the termination

hearing occurred before then, on September 28, 2017. N.T., 9/28/17, at 72-

73. The trial court interrupted Mother’s testimony as follows.

      THE COURT: She said she had the surgery October 2017[.] [T]his
      is September 28, 2017.

      [Mother’s counsel]: Right, that was the knee surgery.

      THE COURT: She said October 2017. This is September 28, 2017.
      ...

Id. at 72. Mother’s direct examination continued:

      [Mother’s counsel]: Can you repeat the date that you had your
      knee surgery?

      [Mother]: October of 2017. . . .

      [Mother’s counsel]: Where did you have your surgery?

      [Mother]: Einstein.

Id. at 72-73.   Thereafter, Mother’s counsel attempted to show Mother a

discharge report “to refresh her recollection in terms of where her surgery

was done, and the last date she visited the hospital.”     Id. at 74. DHS’s

counsel objected, and the trial court sustained it without explanation. Id. at

73-74.

      DHS responds in its brief, which the GAL joined, that the trial court did

not commit an error of law because Mother’s counsel failed to lay a proper

foundation. We agree insofar as Mother’s counsel did not present an offer of

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proof that the discharge report could refresh Mother’s present memory

regarding the date of the knee surgery, and that it actually did refresh her

present memory regarding the date of the surgery. Without this offer of

proof, we cannot discern what effect, if any, the discharge report would have

had.   See Commonwealth v. Flis, 535 A.2d 157, 159-160 (Pa. Super.

1987) (discussing the need for an offer of proof to preserve the record for an

adverse evidentiary ruling). Even if the trial court erred in not permitting

Mother to refresh her recollection through the discharge report, we would

conclude that the error was harmless in light of the competent record

evidence supporting the involuntary termination of Mother’s parental rights.

Therefore, Mother’s second claim fails.

       With respect to her third issue, whether the trial court abused its

discretion and/or erred in not giving her a reasonable amount of time to

complete her family service plan objectives, Mother omits any discussion of

this issue in the argument section of her brief. Therefore, we conclude that it

is waived.     See Giant Food Stores, LLC v. THF Silver Spring

Development, L.P., 959 A.2d 438, 444 (Pa. Super. 2008) (“The Rules of

Appellate Procedure state unequivocally that each question an appellant raises

is to be supported by discussion and analysis of pertinent authority. Failure

to do so constitutes waiver of the claim.”) (citations omitted); Pa.R.A.P.

2119(b).

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       In her fourth issue, Mother asserts that the trial court abused its

discretion and erred in suspending her visits with A.M.S. when there was no

evidence presented that she posed a grave threat to him.8 This claim fails for

the following reasons.

       The record demonstrates that the trial court suspended Mother’s

visitation by the permanency review order entered on December 8, 2016.

DHS Exhibit 5. Thereafter, the court directed that Mother’s visitation remain

suspended in the permanency orders entered on February 23, 2017, and May

18, 2017. Id.

       This Court has held that orders suspending a parent’s visitation are final

and appealable. See In re C.B., 861 A.2d 287, 289 n. 1 (Pa. Super. 2004)

(concluding that the order suspending the father’s visitation was a final,

appealable order pursuant to In re H.S.W.C.-B., 836 A.2d 908, 911 (Pa.

2003), which held, “An order granting or denying a status change, as well as

an order terminating or preserving parental rights, shall be deemed final when

____________________________________________

8 The standard against which visitation between parents and their dependent
children is measured depends upon the goal mandated in the family service
plan. See In re C.J., 729 A.2d 89 (Pa. Super. 1999). Where the permanency
goal is reunification, a court may not deny or reduce visitation unless it poses
a grave threat to the child. Id. at 95. This standard is satisfied when the
parent demonstrates a severe mental or moral deficiency that constitutes a
grave threat to the child. Id. However, where the goal is no longer
reunification, the court may suspend, limit, or deny visitation if it is in the best
interests of the child. Id. (“The ‘best interests’ standard, in this context, is
less protective of parents’ visitation rights than the ‘grave threat’ standard.”).

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entered.”). Nevertheless, Mother did not file notices of appeal from any of the

permanency orders suspending her visitation with A.M.S.            Likewise, as

discussed supra, Mother did not file a notice of appeal from the goal change

order that the court issued at the conclusion of the subject proceeding. As

such, Mother’s issue regarding the suspension of her visitation rights is

untimely and improper. Even if Mother properly raised the issue, we would

deem it moot based on our disposition of this appeal. See In re D.A., 801

A.2d 614, 616 (Pa. Super. 2002) (stating, “An issue before a court is moot if

in ruling upon the issue the court cannot enter an order that has any legal

force or effect.”) (citations omitted).

      In her fifth and final issue on appeal, Mother asserts that DHS failed to

prove by clear and convincing evidence that her conduct warranted

termination pursuant to Section 2511(a)(1), (2), and (5). In the alternative,

Mother asserts that DHS did not satisfy its burden of proof with respect to

Section 2511(b).

      We are guided by the following standard:

      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.       We have explained as

follows.

      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 Section 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 Section 2511(b): determination of the
      needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best interests
      of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis
      concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between
      parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect on the child
      of permanently severing any such bond.

In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted).

      Section 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b) provide as follows:

      § 2511. Grounds for involuntary termination

      (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

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         causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot
         or will not be remedied by the parent.

                                     ...

         (5) The child has been removed from the care of the parent
         by the court or under a voluntary agreement with an
         agency for a period of at least six months, the conditions
         which led to the removal or placement of the child continue
         to exist, the parent cannot or will not remedy those
         conditions within a reasonable period of time, the services
         or assistance reasonably available to the parent are not
         likely to remedy the conditions which led to the removal or
         placement of the child within a reasonable period of time
         and termination of the parental rights would best serve the
         needs and welfare of the child.

                                   ...

      (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), (6) 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. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (b).

      DHS and the GAL respond in their brief that this issue is waived because

Mother did not raise it in her concise statement of errors complained of on

appeal. It is well-established that any issues not raised in a Rule 1925(b)

statement are waived on appeal. See In the Interest of G.D. v. D.D., 61

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A.3d 1031, 1036, n. 3 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citing Dietrich v. Dietrich, 923

A.2d 461, 463 (Pa. Super. 2007).

       Mother, through court-appointed trial counsel, timely filed and served a

concise statement of errors complained of on appeal along with a notice of

appeal on October 25, 2017, in accordance with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and

(b). In the concise statement, Mother asserted seven errors by the trial court,

none of which involved Section 2511(a) or (b).

       However, attached to Mother’s appellate brief is a document entitled,

“1925 A Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal,” which includes ten

asserted errors. New appellate counsel, Attorney D’Adamo, attempts by this

document to supplement the concise statement by raising additional errors

relating to Section 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b).9

       This document is neither dated nor signed by Attorney D’Adamo. In

fact, it does not reference any name or address of counsel. Moreover, this

document is not time-stamped, and it does not include a certificate of service.

Indeed, the certified docket does not reveal that Attorney D’Adamo filed a

supplemental concise statement or requested to do so nunc pro tunc.

Likewise, he did not request in this Court to file a supplemental concise

____________________________________________

9 We observe that this document asserts only in general terms that the trial
court erred in terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to 2511(a)(1),
(2), (5), and (b). See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4) (providing, “The Statement shall
concisely identify each ruling or error that the appellant intends to challenge
with sufficient detail to identify all pertinent issues for the judge. . . .”
(emphasis added).

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statement nunc pro tunc. Therefore, we agree with DHS and the GAL that

Mother has not preserved her final issue for appeal. See Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(2)

(providing, “On application of the appellant and for good cause shown, the

judge may . . . permit an amended or supplemental Statement to be filed. .

. . In extraordinary circumstances, the judge may allow for the filing of a . .

. amended or supplemental Statement nunc pro tunc.”); Pa.R.A.P. 1925(c)(2)

(providing, “Upon application of the appellant and for good cause shown, an

appellate court may remand in a civil case for the filing nunc pro tunc . . . for

amendment or supplementation of a timely filed and served Statement and

for a concurrent supplemental opinion.”).

       Even if Mother had preserved this issue, we would agree with DHS and

the GAL that it is meritless. Competent record evidence demonstrates that

the trial court properly terminated Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section

2511(a)(2) and (b).10

       To satisfy the requirements of Section 2511(a)(2), the moving party

must produce clear and convincing evidence regarding the following elements:

____________________________________________

10 We need only agree with the trial court as to any one subsection of Section
2511(a), as well as Section 2511(b), in order to affirm. See In re B.L.W.,
843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc). Therefore, we need not
consider Mother’s arguments with respect to Section 2511(a)(1) and (5).
However, we observe that the trial court improperly terminated Mother’s
parental rights under Section 2511(a)(5) because A.M.S. was not removed
from her care but from Father’s care. See In re C.S., 761 A.2d 1197 (Pa.
Super. 2000) (en banc) (stating that Section 2511(a)(5) did not provide a
basis for terminating the father’s parental rights when he was incarcerated at
the time of the child’s removal from the mother’s care).

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(1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2) such

incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal 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).

      Parents are required to make diligent efforts towards the reasonably

prompt assumption of full parental responsibilities. In re A.L.D. 797 A.2d

326, 340 (Pa. Super. 2002). A parent’s vow to cooperate, after a long period

of uncooperativeness regarding the necessity or availability of services, may

properly be rejected as untimely or disingenuous. Id.

      With respect    to   Section 2511(b),     this   Court has   stated   that,

“[i]ntangibles such as love, comfort, security, and stability are involved in the

inquiry into the needs and welfare of the child.” In re C.M.S., 884 A.2d 1284,

1287 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citation omitted). Further, the trial court “must also

discern the nature and status of the parent-child bond, with utmost attention

to the effect on the child of permanently severing that bond.” Id. (citation

omitted).   However, “[i]n cases where there is no evidence of any bond

between the parent and child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists.

The extent of any bond analysis, therefore, necessarily depends on the

circumstances of the particular case.” In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-763

(Pa. Super. 2008) (citation omitted).

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      Instantly, the CUA case manager, Ms. Riddick, testified that Mother “is

always very combative whenever I speak to her. . . .” N.T., 9/28/17, at 30.

She testified, “Mother has stated on several occasions that she does not want

me to contact her. . . .” Id. at 31.

      Ms. Riddick testified that Mother was only minimally compliant with her

single case plan objectives. Id. at 28. Specifically, she testified that Mother

did not participate in all of the requested random drug screens, and she did

not consistently attend drug and alcohol treatment, which was required three

times per week.    Id. at 25-27.       In fact, on the date of the termination

proceeding, Mother had not attended her drug and alcohol treatment for the

past three weeks, at minimum. Id. at 27. In addition, Ms. Riddick testified

that Mother’s drug and alcohol counselors concluded that Mother is dependent

upon opiates, for which she has prescriptions due to alleged shoulder and knee

surgeries. Id. at 32-33, 71-72.

      Further, Ms. Riddick testified that Mother was referred to the Sage

program in May of 2017, which is for parents of sexually molested children.

Id. at 25.    Mother was due to start the program in June, and she was

subsequently discharged for non-attendance. Id. at 25. Significantly, Ms.

Riddick testified that Mother does not consistently acknowledge that Father

molested A.M.S. Id. at 32.

      Mother testified on direct examination that she did not attend her

appointments with the Sage program for the following reasons.

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     I called the first time, and informed them that I was not able to
     make it because of the bad weather[.] [T]he second time I called,
     I believe it was the exact same reason for very bad weather which
     I cannot move good in bad weather because of my surgeries. And
     the third time when I called they said because I missed two
     sessions I was not able to participate in the third one, and I would
     have to wait until September [of 2017] for the next class to start.

Id. at 75. Ms. Riddick testified that Mother did not attend the September of

2017 appointment because Mother stated she “was out of town.” Id. at 25.

     On cross-examination by the GAL, Mother testified as follows.

     Q. I think you said you go to work every day?

     A. I work every day, yes, I do.

     Q. And you’re not incapacitated by your shoulder surgery?

     A. I work from home.

     Q. And you said you work every day; is that right?

     A. Yes, I do.

     Q. And you’ve been able to work in spite of your shoulder surgery
     and your knee surgery?

     A. I work from home, yes.

     Q. And you had the shoulder surgery on May 12, 2017; is that
     right?

     A. Yes.

     Q. And we were in court on May 18 of 2017, and you were here;
     isn’t that right?

     A. Yes, it was.

     Q. Yet you were not able to go to the Sage appointment following
     the [c]ourt hearing because of your shoulder; is that right?

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       A. The rain, it was bad weather that day and after having surgery
       I don’t move around as well, I can’t move around as well.

       Q. But you’re still able to travel to work and travel to Detroit;[11]
       is that right?

       A. Good weather conditions, yes. And also it’s necessary for my
       success with my business that I travel those every three
       months[.] [I]t’s mandatory in order for me to succeed.

Id. at 86-87.

       Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the testimonial evidence

supports the trial court’s involuntary termination of Mother’s parental rights

pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2). Mother’s repeated and continued refusal to

consistently participate in random drug screens, the requisite drug and alcohol

treatment program, and the Sage program, has caused A.M.S. to be without

essential parental care, control, and subsistence necessary for his physical

and mental well-being. Further, the causes of Mother’s refusal to participate

in these programs cannot or will not be remedied.

       With respect to Section 2511(b), we are governed by the following

settled case law.

       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.
       In re K.K.R.S., 958 A.2d 529, 533-536 (Pa. Super. 2008). The
____________________________________________

11 Mother testified that approximately two weeks before the termination
proceeding, on a Monday, she returned from Detroit. N.T., 9/28/17, at 69.
She testified, “I have my own business, and we travel every three months,
so, I was in Detroit for intensive training.” Id. There are no details in the
record regarding Mother’s alleged business.

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J-S59031-18

     mere existence of an emotional bond does not preclude the
     termination of parental rights. See In re T.D., 949 A.2d 910 (Pa.
     Super. 2008) (trial court’s decision to terminate parents’ parental
     rights was affirmed where court balanced strong emotional bond
     against parents’ inability to serve needs of child). Rather, the
     orphans’ court must examine the status of the bond to determine
     whether its termination “would destroy an existing, necessary and
     beneficial relationship.” In re Adoption of T.B.B., 835 A.2d 387,
     397 (Pa. Super. 2003). As we explained in In re A.S., 11 A.3d
     473, 483 (Pa. Super. 2010),

         [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.

In re N.A.M., 33 A.3d 95, 103 (Pa. Super. 2011).

     Furthermore, our Supreme Court has stated that, “[c]ommon sense

dictates that courts considering termination must also consider whether the

children are in a pre-adoptive home and whether they have a bond with their

foster parents.” In re T.S.M., supra at 268. The Court directed that, in

weighing the bond considerations pursuant to Section 2511(b), “courts must

keep the ticking clock of childhood ever in mind.” Id. at 269. The T.S.M.

Court observed that, “[c]hildren are young for a scant number of years, and

we have an obligation to see to their healthy development quickly.         When

courts fail . . . the result, all too often, is catastrophically maladjusted

children.” Id.

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      In this case, there is no evidence of a parent-child bond between Mother

and A.M.S. Indeed, Father assumed custody of A.M.S. in August of 2016. In

September of 2016, the court placed A.M.S. in the custody of DHS, when he

was three years old.      Further, Mother’s visitation with A.M.S has been

suspended since the permanency review order in December of 2016.

Therefore, it was reasonable for the trial court to infer that no bond exists.

      Ms. Riddick testified that A.M.S. “appears extremely bonded to the

current foster parent. He calls her mother. . . . [He] is doing extremely well

in the home. . . .” N.T., 9/28/17, at 29. Ms. Riddick explained that A.M.S. is

in a treatment foster home because of behavioral problems.           Id. at 23.

However, she testified that his behavior “has been stabilizing as of June of this

year.” Id. at 23-24. In addition, Ms. Riddick testified on direct examination

as follows.

      Q. Do you believe it would be harmful to [A.M.S.] in light of his
      current status if [M]other’s parental rights were terminated by the
      [c]ourt?

      A. No.

                                      ...

      Q. Do you have concerns that his behaviors may . . . destabilize[]
      if he was removed from the [foster] home?

      A. Yes.

Id. at 28-29.

      Based on the foregoing testimonial evidence, we discern no abuse of

discretion by the trial court pursuant to Section 2511(b).        The evidence

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demonstrates that terminating Mother’s parental rights will serve the

developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare of A.M.S.

Accordingly, we affirm the decree.

     Decree affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 11/1/18

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