Court Opinion

ID: 2699047
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:59:08.096886+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:06.068094
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re H.M., 2013-Ohio-237.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                  TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                             :   JUDGES:
IN THE MATTER OF:                            :   Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
                                             :   William B. Hoffman, J.
H.M., H.M. AND G.M.                          :   Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                                             :
                                             :   Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056
                                             :
                                             :
                                             :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Civil Appeal from Tuscarawas County
                                                  Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
                                                  Division, Case No. 10 JN 00584

JUDGMENT:                                         Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           January 11, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Appellee-Tuscarawas County                    For Appellant-C.S.
Job and Family Services

DAVID HAVERFIELD                                  JOHN A. GARTRELL
389 – 16th Street, S.W.                           Assistant Public Defender
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663                      153 N. Broadway
                                                  New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663

Guardian Ad Litem                                 For Father-Gabriel Mortier

KAREN DUMMERMUTH                                  DOUG JACKSON
349 East High Avenue                              214 N. Dawson Street
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663                      Dennison, Ohio 44621
[Cite as In re H.M., 2013-Ohio-237.]

Delaney, P.J.

        {¶1}    Appellant, C.S. (mother), appeals from the August 13, 2012 Judgment

Entry of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, terminating

her parental rights and granting permanent custody of H.M., H.M., and G.M. to

Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services.

                                STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}    Appellant is the mother of H.M. (DOB 10/20/04), H.M. (DOB 11/28/05) and

G.M. (DOB 1/20/07). Appellant and the children’s father, who is not part of this appeal,

have never been married.

        {¶3}    On November 22, 2010, Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services

(hereinafter “TCJFS”) filed a complaint alleging that the children were neglected and

dependent children. The complaint alleged, in part, that appellant had no housing and

had failed to meet the basic needs of her children. Pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed

the same day, the children were placed in the temporary custody of TCJFS. Appellant

was granted supervised visitation with the children “as is acceptable to TCJFS”.

        {¶4}    An adjudicatory hearing was held on December 22, 2010. At the hearing,

appellant stipulated that the children were neglected and dependent children and the

trial court found them to be neglected and dependent children. The trial court ordered

that the children would remain in the temporary custody of TCJFS.

        {¶5}    A case plan was filed with the court on December 22, 2010. The plan

required appellant to complete a psychological evaluation and follow any treatment

recommendations, to participate in parenting education classes and domestic violence
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                        3

counseling and to obtain appropriate housing.       The plan also required appellant to

obtain steady employment and to provide for the basic needs of her children.

       {¶6}     A dispositional hearing was held on January 18, 2011. As memorialized in

a Judgment Entry filed on January 19, 2011, the trial court, upon consent of the parties

and the recommendation of the Guardian Ad Litem, ordered that the children remain in

the temporary custody of TCJFS. The trial court also adopted the case plan and ordered

that appellant’s visits with the children would remain supervised.

       {¶7}     On October 3, 2011, TCJFS filed a motion seeking a six month extension

of its temporary custody. TCJFS, in its motion, indicated that appellant had completed a

psychological evaluation and was actively engaged in counseling, that she had

completed parenting education and that her visits with the children went well. TCJFS

further alleged that appellant lacked any source of income and was residing in a one

bedroom apartment.

       {¶8}     Appellant, on November 10, 2011, filed a motion seeking expanded

visitation with the children on the basis that she had complied with her case plan. The

trial court, pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on December 1, 2011, granted TCJFS’

motion to extend temporary custody, but did not grant appellant increased visitation with

the children.

       {¶9}     On April 2, 2012, TCJFS filed a motion seeking permanent custody of the

children. TCJFS, in its motion, alleged that the children had been in the temporary

custody of the agency for a period in excess of twelve out of the prior twenty-two

months and that appellant had failed to alleviate the conditions that caused the children

to be placed with the agency. A hearing on such motion was held on August 9, 2012.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                      4

      {¶10} At the hearing, Kristina Blick, case manager at TCJFS, testified that the

children had consistently been in the agency’s custody since November of 2010. She

testified that the children were placed in the agency’s custody because appellant moved

from place to place and lived with “some inappropriate individuals” and that the basic

needs of the children were not being met. T. at 3. According to Blick, the family had a

substantial history of involvement with child welfare agencies not only in Tuscarawas

County, but also in Georgia where they previously had resided. The issues in Georgia

concerned lack of stable housing, neglect and concerns of domestic violence.

      {¶11} Blick testified that a case plan was developed for appellant that required

her to complete a psychological examination and to follow any recommendations, to

complete a parenting class and domestic violence counseling, and to be able to provide

for the children’s basic needs in terms of income and housing. Appellant completed a

psychological evaluation. The following testimony was adduced when Blick was asked

whether specific treatment recommendations were made for appellant:

      {¶12} “A. Yes.

      {¶13} “Q. Okay, what additional services was she required to do?

      {¶14} “A. He [Dr. Dean at Community Mental Healthcare] recommended

individual counseling, uh, he also recommended that she see a physician regarding her

depression, and that she obtain employment by possibly being referred to the Bureau of

Vocational Rehabilitation, also that she be required to obtain her GED, and he

recommended parent education.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                      5

      {¶15} “Q. Okay, uh, so since follow (sic) the recommendations of the

psychological were part of the case plan, she was then required to complete those

items as well, correct?

      {¶16} “A. Right.

      {¶17} “Q. Alright, has she completed counseling?

      {¶18} “A. Um, she started counseling early on in the case at Community Mental

Healthcare with Rosie Das.        She attended about four to six sessions, and she

[appellant] terminated that in June of 2011. She’s recently reported that she’s started

seeing a counselor again, um, McKenzie Povlinko at Personal and Family Counseling

Services. Carrie was only willing to sign a release for us to verify her attendance at

those sessions. So she started, uh, at the end of June, attending weekly.

      {¶19} “Q. So there was about a year gap in there where she wasn’t doing any

counseling?

      {¶20} “A. Correct.

      {¶21} “Q. Okay, and as far as her recent counseling, she’s unwilling to allow you

access to whatever information the counselor has, correct?

      {¶22} “A. Right, other than that she’s attending.

      {¶23} “Q. Okay, alright, from your perspective, has she successfully completed

that part of her case plan?

      {¶24} “A. No.” T. at 5-6.

      {¶25} Blick further testified that appellant successfully completed parenting

classes and domestic violence counseling, but had not obtained her GED and had not

been employed since the start of the case. While appellant was referred for services to
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                            6

the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, Blick testified that appellant never followed

through after a work assessment was performed on her and that the Bureau closed

appellant‘s case because they did not have a current address for her. Appellant never

followed through with the program to see if she could obtain employment, but claimed

that her doctors told her that she could not work due to back issues.

       {¶26} Blick further testified that appellant had no income and no residence of her

own and that, in her opinion, appellant was not in any position to provide for the basic

needs of her children. She further testified that appellant was not in any better position

now than when the case was initiated to meet such needs.

       {¶27} Blick was questioned about appellant and her visitation with her children.

She testified that appellant had consistently visited with the children throughout the case

and that the visits remained supervised. According to Blick, the visits went well.

       {¶28} Blick further testified that the children were all placed together in the same

foster home and had been during the entire time that they were in foster care. She

testified that the children were doing well in their foster home and that the foster parents

were interested in adopting them if permanent custody was granted to the agency.

While a relative home study was conducted to determine if the parental grandparents,

who resided in Georgia, were suitable, Blick testified that the state of Georgia would not

approve placement and that the agency was unable to pursue that as an option. Blick

further testified that she believed that it would be in the best interest of the children for

permanent custody to be granted to the agency.

       {¶29} On cross-examination, Blick testified that appellant terminated counseling

because she did not like talking to people about her personal life and did not feel that
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                         7

counseling was helping her.    She further testified that appellant had applied for social

security disability benefits due to physical issues caused by back problems, but had

been denied twice and was appealing. Blick testified that appellant told her that

appellant’s doctor said that she could not work.

      {¶30} At the hearing, appellant testified that she was residing with a family friend

and had been doing so for about a month. She testified that she previously had been

renting an apartment, but had no way to pay her bills. According to appellant, she was

trying to get social security disability benefits. Appellant admitted that she had not had

income for the last fourteen months, but testified that she had received six months of

public assistance. Appellant also admitted that she had never followed up with the

Rehabilitation Services Commission and testified that she had no disc in her lower back

and had trouble sitting for long periods of time. She testified that her back problems

were a result of an epidural that she had received when her daughter was born. She

also testified that she never obtained her GED because “it was just a suggestion…” and

that she never had the motivation to get one. T. at 46-47. When questioned about her

counseling, appellant testified that she stopped attending because she did not like the

counselor. Appellant was unable to specify how she would provide for her children if she

did not receive social security disability benefits. She admitted that she had done

nothing since her social security appeal was denied in April of 2012 to secure

employment.

      {¶31} The following is an excerpt from appellant’s testimony at the hearing:

      {¶32} “Q. The problem is, ma’am, that if we look back and we say, we go back

to, um, we go back to January of 2006 is when Tuscarawas County opened the case, or
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                            8

had an investigation, we can go back 2006, 2007, 2008 is when we first start seeing, in

writing, children are dirty, family in the homeless shelter, uh, family without furniture and

mattresses. I mean, we have at least four years of showing failure to provide for the

children.   That’s your responsibility, would you agree, that none of us have a

responsibility to provide for your children but the parents?

       {¶33} “A. Correct.

       {¶34} “Q. Okay, we have at least four years, most likely when we go back to

2006, January of 2006, Tusc. County, home in poor condition, mom not taking care of

the children, dad playing Xbox. Help Me Grow was involved at that time.

       {¶35} “A. Correct.

       {¶36} “Q. So we have issues dating all the way back to 2006. Now we’ve got a

case plan that clearly outlines what you have to do to get the children returned, okay,

and you’re saying you have food stamps so that should be enough?

       {¶37} “A. No, there’s assistance out there for people who need it.” T. at 55-56.

       {¶38} At the hearing, Chris Tracey, a supervised visitation monitor with Personal

and Family Counseling, testified that she supervised visitation between appellant and

her children. The visitation was for two hours a week. Tracey testified that appellant

missed five visits and had attended approximately 50 visits. According to Tracey, the

visits went well and the children entered the room smiling. Tracey testified that she had

no concerns with appellant’s visits and that it appeared appellant loved her children and

that they loved her.

       {¶39} Pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on September 10, 2012, the trial court

terminated appellant’s parental rights and granted permanent custody of the three
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                         9

children to TCJFS. The trial court found that the children could not and should not be

placed with either parent within a reasonable time and that appellant and the children’s

father had failed to substantially remedy the conditions causing the children to be

removed. The trial court further found that the children had been in the temporary

custody of TCJFS for a period in excess of twelve out of the prior twenty-two months.

      {¶40} Appellant now raises the following assignment of error on appeal:

      {¶41} “THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN AWARDING

PERMANENT CUSTODY TO JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AS JOB AND FAMILY

SERVICES FAILED TO PROVE BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT

THE CHILDREN COULD NOT BE PLACED WITH MOTHER IN A REASONABLE

AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THAT AN AWARD OF PERMANENT CUSTODY WAS IN

THE CHILDREN’S BEST INTEREST.”

                                               I

      {¶42} Appellant, in her sole assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred

in awarding permanent custody of the children to TCJFS. Appellant specifically

contends that TCJFS failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the children

could not be placed with appellant within a reasonable amount of time and that an

award of permanent custody was in the children’s best interest.

      {¶43} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the

credibility of the witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant,

competent, and credible evidence upon which the finder of fact could base its judgment.

Cross Truck Equipment Co. v. The Joseph A. Jeffries Co., 5th Dist. No. CA5758, 1982

WL 2911 (Feb. 10, 1982). Accordingly, judgments supported by some competent,
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                        10

credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed as

being against the manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Constr., 54

Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978), syllabus.

      {¶44} Issues relating to the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given to

the evidence are primarily for the trier of fact. Seasons Coal v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d

77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984). Deferring to the trial court on matters of credibility is

“crucial in a child custody case, where there may be much evident in the parties'

demeanor and attitude that does not translate to the record well.” Davis v. Flickinger, 77

Ohio St.3d 415, 419, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997).

      {¶45} R.C. 2151.414 sets forth the guidelines a trial court must follow when

deciding a motion for permanent custody. R.C. 2151.414(A)(1) mandates the trial court

schedule a hearing and provide notice upon the filing of a motion for permanent custody

of a child by a public children services agency or private child placing agency that has

temporary custody of the child or has placed the child in long-term foster care.

      {¶46} Following the hearing, R.C. 2151.414(B) authorizes the juvenile court to

grant permanent custody of the child to the public or private agency if the court

determines, by clear and convincing evidence, it is in the best interest of the child to

grant permanent custody to the agency, and that any of the following apply: (a) the child

is not abandoned or orphaned, and the child cannot be placed with either of the child's

parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the child's parents; (b) the

child is abandoned; (c) the child is orphaned and there are no relatives of the child who

are able to take permanent custody; or (d) the child has been in the temporary custody

of one or more public children services agencies or private child placement agencies for
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                            11

twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two month period ending on or after

March 18, 1999.

       {¶47} In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody

hearing, R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must consider all relevant factors,

including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the interaction and interrelationship of the

child with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster parents and out-of-home

providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child; (2) the wishes of

the child as expressed directly by the child or through the child's guardian ad litem, with

due regard for the maturity of the child; (3) the custodial history of the child; and (4) the

child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and whether that type of

placement can be achieved without a grant of permanent custody.

       {¶48} Therefore, R.C. 2151.414(B) establishes a two-pronged analysis the trial

court must apply when ruling on a motion for permanent custody. In practice, a trial

court will usually determine whether one of the four circumstances delineated in R.C

2151.414(B)(1)(a) through (d) is present before proceeding to a determination regarding

the best interest of the child.

       {¶49} In this case, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that

the children had been in the temporary custody of a public children services agency for

twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period pursuant to R.C.

2151.414(B)(1)(d). Appellant does not challenge the trial court's finding. This finding

alone, in conjunction with a best-interest finding, is sufficient to support the grant of

permanent custody. In re Calhoun, 5th Dist. No. 2008CA00118, 2008–Ohio–5458, ¶ 45.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                        12

       {¶50} If the child is not abandoned or orphaned, the focus turns to whether the

child cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable period of time or should

not be placed with the parents. Under R.C. 2151.414(E), the trial court must consider all

relevant evidence before making this determination. The trial court is required to enter

such a finding if it determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that one or more of the

factors enumerated in R .C. 2151.414(E)(1) through (16) exist with respect to each of

the child's parents.

       {¶51} The trial court determined that the children could not be placed with

appellant within a reasonable time pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E)(1), which requires the

following findings:

       {¶52} “(1) Following the placement of the child outside the child's home and

notwithstanding reasonable case planning and diligent efforts by the agency to assist

the parents to remedy the problems that initially caused the child to be placed outside

the home, the parent has failed continuously and repeatedly to substantially remedy the

conditions causing the child to be placed outside the child's home. In determining

whether the parents have substantially remedied those conditions, the court shall

consider parental utilization of medical, psychiatric, psychological, and other social and

rehabilitative services and material resources that were made available to the parents

for the purpose of changing parental conduct to allow them to resume and maintain

parental duties.”

       {¶53} A review of the record supports the trial court's decision that the children

cannot be placed with appellant within a reasonable time and that the agency provided

reasonable case planning and diligent efforts to assist appellant to remedy the problems
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                          13

that caused the children to be removed. The record indicates that appellant has had a

long history with children’s services involvement, both in Ohio and Georgia. As noted

by the trial court, appellant has no income, has failed to obtain her GED due to lack of

motivation and has failed to follow through with counseling and with vocational training.

Appellant, on her own, terminated counseling for a year because she did not like her

counselor and did not like revealing personal details.        While she recently started

counseling, she refused to provide TCJFS with a release. In addition, appellant does

not have her own housing and is not employed.           As noted by the trial court in its

decision, appellant “is completely unable and unwilling to meet her parental

responsibilities.”

       {¶54} We next turn to the issue of best interest. We have frequently noted, “[t]he

discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining whether an order of permanent

custody is in the best interest of a child should be accorded the utmost respect, given

the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's determination will have on the

lives of the parties concerned.” In re Mauzy Children, 5th Dist. No. 2000CA00244, 2000

WL 1700073 (Nov. 13, 2000), citing In re Awkal, 85 Ohio App.3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d

424 (8th Dist. 1994). The trial court determined it was in the best interest of the children

to be placed in the permanent custody of appellee pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(D), and

we agree.

       {¶55} Testimony was adduced that the three children have been in the same

foster home for a period of time and were doing well. In addition, there was testimony

that the children had behavioral issues that had improved while they were in foster care.

Testimony also was adduced that the foster parents were interested in adopting the
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                                             14

children. The Guardian Ad Litem, in her August 2, 2012 report, recommended that the

children be placed in the permanent custody of TCJFS. The Guardian Ad Litem noted

that, prior the children being in custody, the family was unstable and the parents had

been unable to make the necessary changes. Clear and convincing evidence supports

the trial court’s conclusion that it is in the best interest of the children to grant permanent

custody to TCJFS.

       {¶56} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not err in awarding

permanent custody of the children to TCJFS.

       {¶57} Appellant’s sole assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 09 0056                             15

       {¶58} Accordingly, the judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common

Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.

By: Delaney, P.J.

Hoffman, J. and

Farmer, J. concur

                                             ______________________________

                                             ______________________________

                                             ______________________________

                                                        JUDGES

PAD/d1218
[Cite as In re H.M., 2013-Ohio-237.]

           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO

                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                             :
                                              :
H.M., H.M. AND G.M.                           :
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :       CASE NO. 2012 AP 09 0056

    For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the

judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is

affirmed. Costs assessed to Appellant.

                                                  _________________________________

                                                  _________________________________

                                                  _________________________________

                                                               JUDGES