Court Opinion

ID: 9955449
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-28 17:02:36.013243+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:03.210435
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                  AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                     IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                 DIVISION ONE

  IN RE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.

                              No. 1 CA-JV 23-0203
                               FILED 03-28-2024

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Mohave County
                         No. S8015JD202200004
                 The Honorable Rick A Williams, Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Darrian Johnson, Jacksonville, Florida
Appellant Father

Robert Ian Casey, Esq., Phoenix
Advisory Counsel for Appellant Father

Harris & Winger, P.C., Flagstaff
By Chad Joshua Winger
Counsel for Appellant Mother

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Tucson
By Ken Sanders
Counsel for Appellee DCS

Bobbie Shin, Esq., Kingman
Counsel for Appellee Children
       IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                      Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Anni Hill Foster delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge Brian Y. Furuya and Vice Chief Judge Randall M. Howe
joined.

F O S T E R, Judge:

¶1            Alyssa S. (“Mother”) and Darrian J. (“Father”) separately
appeal a juvenile court order terminating their parental rights to A.J. and
A.B. For the following reasons, this Court affirms.

                FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2           Mother and Father are the parents of A.J. and A.B., born in
December 2018 and December 2021, respectively. Shortly after A.B. was
born, the Department of Child Safety (“Department”) learned that both
children were born exposed to illicit drugs and that the parents engaged in
domestic violence in A.J.’s presence. Due to the children’s substance
exposure, they each had significant developmental and cognitive delays,
were particularly vulnerable, and required numerous medical and therapy
appointments per week between the two of them.

¶3            The Department petitioned for dependency, took custody of
the children in January 2022, and placed them in separate foster homes. The
Department also learned that in 2020, Mother was convicted of child
endangerment and driving under the influence in Florida and her
probation was transferred to Arizona. It also learned that Father was
diagnosed with marijuana and opioid dependence. The children were
adjudicated dependent as to Father in March 2022 and as to Mother in July
2023.

¶4            The Department pursued a reunification plan. To that end, it
required that Mother and Father maintain sobriety, provide a home free of
alcohol and substance abuse, and demonstrate an ability to provide for the
children’s basic and special needs. The Department offered the parents the
following services: child and family team meetings, individual counseling,
parent aide services, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment,
transportation, and visitation.

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        IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                       Decision of the Court

¶5           During this time, the Department connected with Mother, but
she failed to maintain contact or engage in reunification services. In
February 2023, Mother was arrested in Nevada and extradited to Florida,
where she remained. Despite attempts to reach her through the Florida
Department of Corrections, there was no response.

¶6             Father initially participated in the services offered. But he
regularly canceled visits and was not consistent with the required drug
testing. He moved to Florida during these proceedings for assistance with
stability but failed to follow through when the Department made a request
to initiate placement of the children with him under the Interstate Compact
on the Placement of Children.

¶7             In May 2023, the Department moved to terminate Mother’s
parental rights on three grounds: abandonment, chronic substance abuse,
and time-in-care. See A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(1), (3), (8). As for Father, two grounds
were alleged: chronic substance abuse and time-in-care. Id. at (B)(3), (8). At
the termination hearing in September 2023, the Department’s child safety
specialist testified that the termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental
rights was in the children’s best interests.

¶8            Following the hearing, the juvenile court terminated Mother’s
and Father’s parental rights. It found the Department had proven by clear
and convincing evidence the grounds for termination, and by a
preponderance of the evidence that termination of the parents’ rights was
in the best interests of A.J. and A.B. Mother and Father timely appealed.
This Court has jurisdiction under A.R.S. §§ 8-235(A), 12-120.21(A)(1), and
12-2101(A)(1).

                                DISCUSSION

¶9             Termination of the parent-child relationship entails a two-
step inquiry. Alma S. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 245 Ariz. 146, 149, ¶ 8 (2018).
First, the juvenile court must determine by clear and convincing evidence
that a statutory ground for termination listed in A.R.S. § 8-533(B) exists. Id.
If a ground for termination has been appropriately established, “the court
must [then] determine by a preponderance of the evidence that severance
is in the child’s best interests.” Brionna J. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 255 Ariz.
471, 477, ¶ 20 (2023) (quoting Sandra R. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 248 Ariz. 224,
227, ¶ 12 (2020)) (alteration in original).

¶10             Termination orders are reviewed for abuse of discretion.
Jeffrey P. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 239 Ariz. 212, 213, ¶ 5 (App. 2016). Because
“the juvenile court is in the best position to weigh evidence and assess

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        IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                       Decision of the Court

witness credibility,” this Court will uphold the juvenile court’s termination
unless clearly erroneous and will accept its findings of fact if supported by
reasonable evidence and inferences. Demetrius L. v. Joshlynn F., 239 Ariz. 1,
3, ¶ 9 (2016). The juvenile court’s findings of fact are viewed in the light
most favorable to affirming the court’s order. Michael J. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ.
Sec., 196 Ariz. 246, 250, ¶ 20 (2000).

¶11            Here, Mother challenges the termination of her parental
rights to A.J. and A.B., arguing the juvenile court’s best-interests finding
was based on insufficient evidence and lacked the requisite specificity.
Father challenges the termination seemingly on the substance-abuse and
fifteen-month out-of-home placement grounds and challenges the
adequacy of the Department’s reunification efforts.

I.     Mother Waived Her Claim.

¶12           On appeal, Mother does not challenge the juvenile court’s
findings that the termination of her parental rights was warranted on the
grounds of abandonment, substance abuse, or out-of-home placement.
Therefore, Mother has waived these issues on appeal and conceded the
accuracy of the juvenile court’s findings on those issues. Britz v. Kinsvater,
87 Ariz. 385, 388 (1960). Instead, Mother challenges the best interests
finding, claiming that it is based on insufficient evidence and lacks the
requisite specificity.

¶13            Mother also waived this issue by failing to raise it in the
juvenile court. “Generally, failure to raise an argument in the juvenile court
waives the issue on appeal.” Logan B. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 244 Ariz. 532,
536, ¶ 9 (App. 2018) (citation omitted). This includes “when a party first
raises the issue of insufficient findings on appeal and the order includes at
least some statutorily required factual findings.” Id. at 536, ¶ 10; see also, e.g.,
Aleise H. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 245 Ariz. 569, 572–73, ¶¶ 11–13 (App. 2018)
(applying waiver doctrine to a claim that the juvenile court’s findings were
inadequate); Antonio M. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 222 Ariz. 369, 371, ¶¶ 5–
6 (App. 2009) (finding waiver where party challenged the specificity of
factual findings for the first time on appeal and the order contained some
factual findings). “[T]he decision to find waiver is discretionary.” Logan B.,
244 Ariz. at 536, ¶ 9.

¶14           Mother did not object to the evidence that was presented
during trial. After the juvenile court issued its written findings of fact and
conclusions of law, Mother did not object or move to alter or amend the
final order on the ground that the court did not enter sufficient findings of

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        IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                       Decision of the Court

fact or legal conclusions as required by law. See Ariz. R.P. Juv. Ct. 317(a)(2).
Because she has failed to challenge the findings before the juvenile court,
Mother’s argument is waived.

II.    The Best-Interests Finding Was Sufficient.

¶15            Although Mother waived her challenge to the best-interests
findings, this Court may address the merits of an argument in its discretion,
as it does here. See Logan B., 244 Ariz. at 536, ¶ 9.

¶16           Mother contends that the juvenile court’s determination of the
children’s best interests amounted to an abuse of discretion. She argues the
court’s termination of her parental rights would not ensure the children’s
requisite stability and permanence, because the Department never
attempted to preserve the family.

¶17             “At the best-interests stage of the analysis, we can presume
that the interests of the parent and child diverge because the court has
already found the existence of one of the statutory grounds for termination
by clear and convincing evidence.” Alma S., 245 Ariz. at 150, ¶ 12 (internal
quotations omitted). Therefore, when, as here, the court finds “that a parent
is unfit, the focus shifts to the interests of the child as distinct from those of
the parent.” Id.

¶18           The court’s best-interests determination must include a
finding as to how the child would benefit from a severance or be harmed
by the continuation of the relationship. Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. JS-
500274, 167 Ariz. 1, 5 (1990) (citations omitted). The court may consider a
child’s adoptability and the parent’s rehabilitation. Alma S., 245 Ariz. at 148,
¶ 1. The court is not required to state, “every fact upon which his or her
findings are based.” Christy C. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 214 Ariz. 445, 452,
¶ 19.

¶19            Here, Mother does not dispute that the juvenile court made
the following specific best-interests findings: (1) termination would benefit
the children because it would further the case plan of adoption since they
are in potential adoptive placements; (2) the adoptive placements meet the
children’s higher needs; (3) the adoptive placements provide structure,
consistency, and the ability to take the children to required medical visits;
(4) the children would suffer a detriment if returned to the parents care due
to the parents’ ongoing substance abuse; and (5) neither parent was in a
position to provide the children with safety, stability, and a sober home. No
contradictory evidence was presented. Further, the Department did make
efforts to preserve the family, but Mother failed to cooperate with those

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        IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                       Decision of the Court

efforts. This reasonable evidence and the inferences from it support the
court’s factual findings and legal conclusion that termination was in the
children’s best interests. See Sandra R. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 248 Ariz. 224,
231, ¶¶ 32–33 (2020) (affirming best-interests analysis because reasonable
evidence supported the juvenile court’s finding that severance would
benefit the children).

III.   Father Waived His Claim.

¶20           Father separately contends that his rights should not be
terminated as he is working on reunification. However, Father’s failure to
cite law or reference the record in his opening brief prevents this Court’s
review of his claims.

¶21            For every issue raised in an opening brief there must be
supporting reasons for each, with citations to supporting legal authorities
and references to the record on appeal. Ariz. R. Civ. App. P. 13(a)(7); Ariz.
R.P. Juv. Ct. 607(b). “[O]pening briefs must present significant arguments,
supported by authority, setting forth an appellant’s position on the issues
raised[; f]ailure to argue a claim usually constitutes abandonment and
waiver of that claim.” State v. Carver, 160 Ariz. 167, 175 (1989). “Arguments
that are unsupported by legal authority and adequate citation to the record
are waived.” J.W. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 252 Ariz. 184, 188, ¶ 11 (App. 2021).
This Court “may reject an argument based on [the] lack of proper and
meaningful argument alone.” Id. A self-represented party is held to the
same standards as a represented party. See Flynn v. Campbell, 243 Ariz. 76,
83, ¶ 24 (2017) (“We hold unrepresented litigants in Arizona to the same
standards as attorneys.”).

¶22            Father’s failure to comply with Civil Appellate Procedure
Rule 13 waives any issues he may have wished to submit for this Court’s
review. Nevertheless, this Court may address the merits of an argument in
its discretion. See Logan B., 244 Ariz. at 536, ¶ 9.

IV.    Father’s Termination.

¶23           Father seemingly argues that the court did not have adequate
evidence to support the termination and that the Department’s efforts at
reunification were inadequate.

¶24           The juvenile court may terminate the rights of a parent who
is “unable to discharge parental responsibilities because of . . . a history of
chronic abuse of dangerous drugs, controlled substances or alcohol” if
“there are reasonable grounds to believe that the condition will continue for

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        IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                       Decision of the Court

a prolonged indeterminate period.” A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(3). “Chronic
substance abuse is long-lasting but not necessarily constant substance
abuse.” Jennifer S. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 240 Ariz. 282, 287, ¶ 17 (App. 2016).

¶25           In March 2022, Father was diagnosed with marijuana and
opioid dependence, and his mental-health provider recommended
maintaining sobriety. However, while the court recognized Father did
make some progress, he refused to participate in substance-abuse group
counseling, frequently missed visitations and required urinalysis tests, and
consistently tested positive for alcohol and THC. The juvenile court
acknowledged that alcohol and THC were legal substances, but it noted
that Father had not demonstrated an ability to use such substances in a way
that also allowed him to maintain a stable lifestyle, which posed a risk of
danger to the children. Further, Father failed to acknowledge his substance
abuse and its effect on his ability to care for the children. The court noted
these reasons contributed to Father’s inability to provide stability and to
overcome the substance abuse ground.

¶26            Father also contends that the Department failed to provide
adequate reunification services. “Although [the Department] need not
provide ‘every conceivable service,’ it must provide a parent with the time
and opportunity to participate in programs designed to improve the
parent’s ability to care for the child.” Mary Ellen C. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec.,
193 Ariz. 185, 192, ¶ 37 (App. 1999) (citation omitted).

¶27           Here, the record is replete with evidence that Father did not
follow through with the requirements to ensure the safety of the children.
First, although Father completed a parenting class, the Department
recommended that he take additional classes because he needed more
“hands-on” help. Father continually missed and canceled visits with the
children and refused to make up missed visits. Father also declined to
participate in the substance-abuse group counseling that was
recommended to him by his mental-health provider. He was also
discharged from a substance-abuse program for failing to comply with its
conditions. When Father moved to Florida in 2023, his participation
declined even more. He repeatedly failed to submit to testing and was
suspended from testing multiple times due to his poor conduct toward the
testing staff. Still, the Department submitted a request through the
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children to reunify the children
with him in Florida. But the request was denied because Father did not
“cooperate with the process.”

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       IN RE TERM OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO A.J. and A.B.
                      Decision of the Court

¶28           Though Father may disagree with the juvenile court’s
assessments, this Court may not reweigh the evidence, even when sharply
disputed facts exist. Alma S., 245 Ariz. at 151, ¶ 18. Based on the foregoing
reasons, reasonable evidence supports the juvenile court’s termination of
Father’s parental rights due to substance abuse. Brionna J., 255 Ariz. at 478,
¶ 30. The juvenile court’s conclusion that this ground was established by
clear and convincing evidence was not clearly erroneous. Id. at 478–79, ¶ 31
(noting that this Court will not disturb the juvenile court’s conclusion
unless this Court “determines as a matter of law that no one could
reasonably find the evidence to be clear and convincing” (citation and
internal quotations omitted)).

¶29           Because this Court affirms on one statutory ground, this
Court need not consider the time-in-care ground. See Ariz. R.P. Juv. Ct.
353(a); Crystal E. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 241 Ariz. 576, 577–78, ¶ 5 (App.
2017).

                               CONCLUSION

¶30           For the foregoing reasons, this Court affirms.

                         AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                         FILED: TM

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