Court Opinion

ID: 1064095
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:16:20.790757+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:47:32.223222
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Humphreys, Beales and Senior Judge Fitzpatrick

AMANDA NAPPER
                                                              MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v.     Record No. 0260-08-2                                       PER CURIAM
                                                                  JUNE 24, 2008
PETERSBURG DEPARTMENT OF
 SOCIAL SERVICES

               FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF PETERSBURG
                                Pamela S. Baskervill, Judge

               (Linda M.H. Tomlin; Tomlin & McKeen, PLLC, on brief), for appellant.
               Appellant submitting on brief.

               (Joan M. O’Donnell; J. Wicker Traylor, Guardian ad litem for the infant
               child; Christopher B. Ackerman, Guardian ad litem for appellant, on brief),
               for appellee. Appellee and Guardians ad litem submitting on brief.

       Amanda Napper appeals the termination of her residual parental rights to her child pursuant to Code

§ 16.1-283(B)(2)(a). Napper argues the Petersburg Department of Social Services (DSS) failed to provide

her with rehabilitative services. We disagree and affirm.

                                             BACKGROUND

       We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below and grant to it all

reasonable inferences fairly deducible therefrom. See Logan v. Fairfax County Dep’t of Human Dev.,

13 Va. App. 123, 128, 409 S.E.2d 460, 462 (1991). So viewed, the evidence proved that the child was

born on July 3, 2007 and DSS took custody of the child after Child Protective Services (CPS) received a

complaint from a nurse concerning Napper’s ability to care for the newborn. A CPS employee inspected

Napper’s residence and found that it was unsafe and unhealthy for the newborn. On July 11, 2007, DSS

obtained a removal order based upon the following facts: “[Napper] has a history of substance abuse

and mental health issues, [Napper] has older children who are not in her custody, [and] the conditions in
[Napper’s] home were unfit for human habitation.” Dr. Michelle Nelson evaluated Napper and

determined Napper had an impaired ability to report, interpret and respond to medical issues and she had

a form of mental illness that severely impaired her ability to care for the child. Dr. Nelson testified that

Napper had a long history of traumatic sexual abuse, a history of auditory hallucinations, and an

underlying personality disorder. According to Dr. Nelson, Napper’s personality disorder makes it

difficult for her to accurately interpret information and communications from others. In Dr. Nelson’s

opinion, Napper would not respond to traditional treatment for her mental disorders. The initial goal of

the foster care plan was adoption and DSS did not offer Napper any rehabilitative services.

                                                 ANALYSIS

       Code § 16.1-283(B)(2)(a) provides that the residual parental rights of a parent of a child found

by the court to be neglected or abused and placed in foster care may be terminated if clear and

convincing evidence proves that it is in the best interests of the child and that:

                         2. It is not reasonably likely that the conditions which resulted in
                 such neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected or eliminated so as to
                 allow the child’s safe return to his parent or parents within a reasonable
                 period of time. In making this determination, the court shall take into
                 consideration the efforts made to rehabilitate the parent or parents by any
                 public or private social, medical, mental health or other rehabilitative
                 agencies prior to the child’s initial placement in foster care.
                         Proof of any of the following shall constitute prima facie evidence
                 of the conditions set forth in subdivision B 2 hereof:
                         a. The parent or parents are suffering from a mental or emotional
                 illness or mental deficiency of such severity that there is no reasonable
                 expectation that such parent will be able to undertake responsibility for the
                 care needed by the child in accordance with his age and stage of
                 development . . . .

       “Code § 16.1-283(B) requires only that the circuit court consider whether rehabilitation services,

if any, have been provided to a parent. Nothing in Code § 16.1-283 or the larger statutory scheme

requires that such services be provided in all cases as a prerequisite to termination under subsection B.”

Toms v. Hanover Dep’t of Social Servs., 46 Va. App. 257, 268, 616 S.E.2d 765, 771 (2005).

       *
           Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.

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       The trial judge’s findings, “‘when based on evidence heard ore tenus, will not be disturbed on

appeal unless plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.’” Logan, 13 Va. App. at 128, 409 S.E.2d

at 463 (quoting Peple v. Peple, 5 Va. App. 414, 422, 364 S.E.2d 232, 237 (1988)).

       Based upon the circumstances of the case and Dr. Nelson’s evaluation, the trial court determined

that DSS presented clear and convincing evidence it was not reasonably likely that the conditions which

resulted in the neglect or abuse of the child could be substantially corrected or eliminated. Termination

pursuant to Code § 16.1-283(B) only requires that the trial court consider whether any rehabilitative

services were provided to Napper. There was no requirement that DSS provide rehabilitative services to

Napper.

       Accordingly, the trial court’s decision terminating Napper’s parental rights pursuant to Code

§ 16.1-283(B)(2)(a) is affirmed.

                                                                                                Affirmed.

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