Court Opinion

ID: 4149804
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-02 18:14:13.42812+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:52.171774
License: Public Domain

J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN RE: ADOPTION OF: K.P., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR.,

                                                 No. 1420 MDA 2016

              Appeal from the Decree entered July 27, 2016,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
                Orphans' Court at No(s): 32 ADOPT 2016.

IN RE: ADOPTION OF: R.B., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR., FATHER

                                                 No. 1421 MDA 2016

              Appeal from the Decree entered July 27, 2016,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
                Orphans' Court at No(s): 31 ADOPT 2016.

IN RE: ADOPTION OF: B.B., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR.,

                                                 No. 1422 MDA 2016
J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

              Appeal from the Decree entered July 27, 2016,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
                Orphans' Court at No(s): 30 ADOPT 2016.

IN THE INTEREST OF: K.P., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR.,

                                                 No. 1423 MDA 2016

              Appeal from the Order entered July 27, 2016,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
          Juvenile Division, at No(s): CP-28-DP-0000054-2015.

IN THE INTEREST OF: R.B., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR., FATHER

                                                 No. 1424 MDA 2016

              Appeal from the Order entered July 27, 2016,
            in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
          Juvenile Division, at No(s): CP-28-DP-0000065-2014.

IN THE INTEREST OF: B.B., A MINOR,          IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                                  PENNSYLVANIA

APPEAL OF: W.T.B., JR.,

                                  -2-
J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

                                                    No. 1425 MDA 2016

                 Appeal from the Order entered July 27, 2016,
               in the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County,
             Juvenile Division, at No(s): CP-28-DP-0000064-2014.

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., DUBOW and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY DUBOW, J.:                            FILED MARCH 02, 2017

        In these consolidated appeals, W.T.B., Jr., (“Father”) challenges the

Order changing the permanency goal from reunification to adoption, and the

Decree involuntarily terminating his parental rights to his three daughters,

K.P. (born February 2015), R.B. (born February 2013), and B.B. (born July

2011), pursuant to the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a) and (b).       We

affirm.

SUMMARY OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        Father and C.P. (“Mother”)1 are the natural parents of the three

children at issue. Mother has been in and out of incarceration since August

2014.     Their children, B.B. and R.B., had resided with extended family or

family friends until October 1, 2014, when they were placed in the

temporary legal and physical custody of the Franklin County Child and Youth

Service (“the Agency”) after being brought to the Agency by their maternal

____________________________________________

1
 The Orphans’ Court also terminated Mother’s parental rights. Only Father’s
appeal is now before this Court.

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grandmother who was unable to care for them. Attempts to contact Father

were unsuccessful.

      B.B. and R.B. were adjudicated dependent on December 9, 2014, and

have remained in the Agency’s custody.        At the time of their placement,

Mother was pregnant with K.P. Upon her birth, K.P. was admitted to a local

hospital to receive treatment to assist her in withdrawing from methadone.

K.P. was ultimately discharged from the hospital to the care of her parents.

The Agency became aware, however, that neither Mother nor Father was

caring for K.P.; rather, extended family members were caring for her. On

June 24, 2015, the Agency conducted a home visit with K.P.’s then

caretaker, Mother’s sister.   Mother’s sister informed the Agency that she

could no longer care for K.P.     Following unsuccessful attempts to contact

Mother or Father, an emergency Order was entered that same day, placing

K.P. in the Agency’s care.      On August 21, 2015, K.P. was adjudicated

dependent, and has remained in the Agency’s custody.

      As a result of the adjudication hearings for all three children, as well as

subsequent permanency hearings, certain goals were established for Father.

He was to: (1) participate in a Parental Fitness Assessment and follow the

recommendations; (2) participate in a drug and alcohol evaluation and any

recommended treatment; (3) participate in individual therapy including

anger management services; (4) obtain and maintain stable housing; (5)

obtain and maintain financial stability; (6) maintain consistent visitation; (7)

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

refrain from further criminal activity; and (8) to comply with the terms of his

probation and parole.2

       On May 25, 2016, the Agency filed a petition for involuntary

termination of parental rights (“TPR Petition”), as to both Mother and Father,

pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (8). At the same time, in

the dependency action, the Agency requested a change in the permanency

goal from reunification to adoption. The Orphans’ Court held an evidentiary

hearing on July 26, 2016.            The Agency presented the testimony of a

counselor for B.B. and R.B, and one of its caseworkers involved with all

three children.     In addition, the Agency moved for admission of multiple

exhibits into evidence.         Both Mother and Father presented their own

testimony.

       At the close of this hearing, the Orphans’ Court took the matter under

advisement. By Order and Decree entered July 27, 2016, the court changed

goal for all three children to adoption, and terminated Mother’s and Father’s

parental rights pursuant to Sections 2511(a)(2), (5), (8), and 2511(b).

ISSUES ON APPEAL

       Father raises the following issues on appeal:

             The [Orphans’] court erred in terminating parental
          rights and changing the goal to adoption as Father has
____________________________________________

2
  On June 15, 2012, both Mother and Father pled guilty to recklessly
endangering another person following an incident that occurred while B.B.
was in their care.

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

         substantially remedied the condition that led to placement
         of the children in that he had obtained appropriate housing
         for the children.

Father’s Brief at 4.

      Because evidence regarding the permanency plan goal change and

TPR petitions substantially overlap, and the legal standards to be applied are

the same, we will first address Father’s termination issue.         See In the

Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1191 n.14 (Pa. 2010) (noting that courts

should combine hearings on these two petitions since the evidence

substantially overlaps and allows for faster permanency for the child).

LEGAL ANALYSIS

      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.” In re Adoption of

S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826 (Pa. 2012). “If the factual findings are supported,

appellate courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law

or abused its discretion.” Id. We may reverse a decision based on an abuse

of discretion only upon demonstration of “manifest unreasonableness,

partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will.”   Id.   We may not reverse, however,

merely because the record would support a different result. Id. at 827.

      We give great deference to trial courts that often have first-hand

observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings. In re T.S.M., 71

A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013). The Orphans’ Court is free to believe all, part, or

none of the evidence presented and is likewise free to make all credibility

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

determinations and resolve conflicts in the evidence. In re M.G., 855 A.2d

68, 73-74 (Pa. Super. 2004). In addition, in order to affirm the termination

of parental rights, this Court need only agree with any one subsection under

Section 2511(a). See In re B.L.W. 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004)

(en banc).

         The burden is upon the petitioner to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that the asserted grounds for seeking the termination of parental

rights are valid. In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009). We

have explained that “[t]he standard of clear and convincing evidence is

defined as testimony that is so clear, direct, weighty and convincing as to

enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitance, of

the truth of the precise facts in issue.” Id. (citations omitted).

Termination Pursuant to 2511(a)(2)

         Under Section 2511(a)(2), “the petitioner for involuntary termination

must prove (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal;

(2) [that] such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused the child to be

without essential parental care, control or subsistence; and (3) [that] the

causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be

remedied.”      In re A.S., 11 A.3d 472, 479 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citation

omitted).

         This Court has defined “parental duties” in general as the obligation to

affirmatively and consistently provide safety, security and stability for the

child:

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

         There is no simple or easy definition of parental duties.
         Parental duty is best understood in relation to the needs of
         a child. A child needs love, protection, guidance, and
         support. These needs, physical and emotional, cannot be
         met by a merely passive interest in the development of the
         child.   Thus, this Court has held that the parental
         obligation is a positive duty which requires affirmative
         performance. This affirmative duty … requires continuing
         interest in the child and a genuine effort to maintain
         communication and association with the child. Because a
         child needs more than a benefactor, parental duty requires
         that a parent exert himself to take and maintain a place of
         importance in the child’s life.

In re Z.S.W., 946 A.2d 726, 730 (Pa. Super. 2008) (citations omitted).

“Where the parent does not exercise reasonable firmness in declining to

yield to obstacles, his parental rights may be forfeited.”   A.S., 11 A.3d at

481 (citation omitted).

      And most importantly, “parental rights are not preserved by waiting

for   a more   suitable   or   convenient time   to   perform one’s parental

responsibilities while others provide the child with her physical and

emotional needs.”      In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 855 (Pa. Super. 2004)

(citations omitted).

      In the instant case, the Orphans’ Court properly concluded that the

Agency met all three elements of Section 2511(a)(2). It reasoned:

         After consideration of the record . . . it is clear Father’s
         neglect meets the “repeated and continued” standard of
         Section 2511(a)(2). At the time of filing, over one (1)
         year since K.P.’s placement and nearly (2) years since B.B.
         and R.B.’s placement have passed. However, at no time
         during those placements has Father maintained consistent
         visitation with the girls, obtained independent housing,
         completed intensive in-home parenting education, or

                                     -8-
J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

        completed drug and alcohol treatment. In essence, Father
        has consistently maintained his inconsistency in parenting
        for the duration of the girls’ placements. Thus, Father has
        “repeated[ly] and continu[ously]” neglected his children.

           Having established the first element, the Agency easily
        met the second—that the neglect left “the child . . .
        without essential care, control or subsistence.” Father’s
        neglect has left the children without a stable home.
        Providing stable and adequate housing is perhaps one of
        the most essential requirements of caring for one’s
        children. Here, Father has been unable to provide even
        this most basic need for his children. Father’s failure to
        maintain consistent visitation also reflects on his ability to
        provide his children with emotional support and stability,
        and has left the girls without any real sense of emotional
        care.    Furthermore, Father’s failure to complete, and
        repeated discharge from, intensive in-home parenting
        classes indicate to this Court that Father is not prepared to
        meet the level of parental care expected of a custodial
        parent.

           Finally, Father’s failure to [comply] or significant delay
        in complying with the majority of the Court’s orders,
        despite services made available to him by the Agency,
        further demonstrate that the likelihood of remedying the
        underlying conditions “within a reasonable period of time”
        is minimal at best.        Thus, the Agency has met the
        requirement of unlikely remediation under Section
        2511(a)(2).

Orphan’s Court Opinion, 9/28/16, at 19-20 (citations omitted).

     Father argues that the Orphans’ Court erred in terminating his

parental rights and changing the goal to adoption with regard to his three

children because he “has complied with all of [the] directives in the

adjudication order.” Father’s Brief at 7. As to the goal of stable housing,

Father asserts that “[i]t has [taken] him longer to maintain stable housing

for the children as he was unable to realize his goal of obtaining his own

                                    -9-
J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

home.     However, he has obtained stable housing with the paternal

grandfather.” Id. at 9.

      The Orphans’ Court found no merit to this contention, and explained

its rationale as follows:

         [Father’s] argument fails to persuade this Court for a
         number of reasons. First, this Court finds that Father has
         failed to adequately demonstrate he has remedied the lack
         of appropriate housing for the girls.       The proposed
         housing—moving the girls into his father’s residence with
         him—is problematic. Not only did Father originally report
         that the housing was inadequate due to space concerns,
         but also at a later date when he reported his home as a
         resource, he still lacked the necessary supplies and a
         feasible babysitting plan.

Orphans Court Opinion, 9/28/16, at 20 (citations omitted).

      The Orphans’ Court then cited the following passage from A.S.,

supra:

         Unlike subsection (a)(1), subsection (a)(2) does not
         emphasize a parent’s refusal or failure to perform parental
         duties, but instead emphasizes the child’s present and
         future need for essential parental care, control or
         subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-
         being. Therefore, the language in subsection (a)(2) should
         not be read to compel courts to ignore a child’s need for a
         stable home and strong, continuous parental ties, which
         the policy of restraint in state intervention is intended to
         protect. This is particularly so where disruption of the
         family has already occurred and there is not reasonable
         prospect for reuniting it. . . . Further, grounds for
         termination under subsection (a)(2) are not limited to
         affirmative misconduct; those grounds may include acts of
         incapacity to perform parental duties.

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

A.S., 11 A.3d at 481 (citation omitted).           The court concluded that

“[c]onsideration of this case’s facts in light of the above legal tenets compels

this Court to terminate Father’s parental rights.”     Orphan’s Court Opinion,

9/28/16, at 21. In doing so, the Orphans’ Court concluded that Father has

“no concrete plan for fulfilling his children’s need for a stable home.”     Id.

(citing A.S., supra).

      Our review of the record supports the Orphans’ Court’s conclusion

regarding Father’s steps toward obtaining stable housing for the children. It

was for the Orphans’ Court, as a matter of credibility, to determine the

weight to be given Father’s attempts at remediation.       In re M.G., supra.

Moreover, our review of the record supports the Orphans’ Court’s conclusion

that, even if Father had obtained appropriate housing, his failure to

substantially fulfill his other goals, would still mandate the termination of his

parental rights. The Orphans’ Court explained:

         Father’s attempt at rectifying the underlying conditions
         which initiated the placements exists in the form of mere
         promises, and is bereft of any real substantial action
         indicative of an ability or commitment to the care and
         parental responsibility of his three small children.

         Assuming arguendo that this Court found Father has
         indeed obtained appropriate housing for the girls, that
         finding alone would not be enough to preclude termination
         of Father’s parental rights. This Court is cognizant of the
         fact that housing alone cannot constitute grounds for
         termination. However, the conditions requiring Father’s
         remedial efforts go beyond housing concerns. In addition
         to the Court’s order to obtain and maintain stable housing,
         Father was also ordered to participate in a Parental Fitness
         Assessment and follow the recommendations, participate
         in a drug and alcohol evaluation and any recommended

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J-S01024-17 & J-S01025-17

        treatment, participate in individual therapy including anger
        management services, obtain and maintain financial
        stability, maintain consistent visitation, refrain from further
        criminal activity, and comply with the terms of his
        probation/parole[.]     The Parental Fitness Assessment
        resulted in the recommendation that Father strengthen his
        parenting skills by maintaining consistent visitation, and
        participate in regular an intensive in-home parenting
        education.     Father has not only failed to obtain and
        maintain stable housing; he has failed to complete his drug
        and alcohol treatment, failed to maintain consistent
        visitation, and failed to complete intensive in-home
        parenting education. Thus, even if this Court were to find
        that Father had obtained adequate housing for the girls as
        Father alleges, his remaining failures to comply with this
        Court’s orders are enough to support the termination of his
        parental rights.

        Father’s failure to [comply] or significant delay in
        complying with the majority of the Court’s orders indicates
        his unwillingness to remedy the conditions which led to his
        daughters’ placements—meeting the final requirement of
        Section 2511(a)(2). Having provided evidence that Father
        has “repeated[ly] and continu[ously]” neglected his three
        children, which left them “without essential parental care,
        control, or subsistence”, and that his neglect is unlikely to
        be remedied, the Agency has satisfied all three requisite
        elements of Section 2511(a)(2).

Orphans’ Court Opinion, 9/2/16, at 21-22 (citations omitted).

     We agree.      Our review confirms that, while superficially, Father has

complied with his court-ordered goals, he has not followed through to such a

degree that he could adequately parent the three children within a

reasonable time. Therefore, for all of the reasons stated above, the Agency

has proven by clear and convincing evidence that termination of parental

rights to B.B., R.B., and K.P. is justified pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2) of

the Adoption Act.

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      Accordingly, the court did not abuse its discretion in terminating

Father’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2), and we need

not consider the other bases for termination under this section.            See

B.L.W., supra.

      Termination Pursuant to Section 2511(b)

      Father presents no argument with regard to Section 2511(b).

Nevertheless, we also agree with the Orphans’ Court’s determination that

the Agency met its burden under 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(b), and that terminating

Father’s parental rights is in the best interest of the children.

      With respect to Section 2511(b), our analysis shifts focus from

parental actions in fulfilling parental duties to the effect that terminating the

parental bond will have on the child. Section 2511(b) “focuses on whether

termination of parental rights would best serve the developmental, physical,

and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” In re: Adoption of J.M.,

991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010).

      In In re C.M.S., 884 A.2d 1284, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2005), this Court

found that “intangibles such as love, comfort, security, and stability are

involved in the inquiry into the needs and welfare of the child.” In addition,

the orphans’ 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.

      In cases where there is no evidence of a bond between a parent and a

child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists. In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d

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753, 762-63 (Pa. Super. 2008). Thus, the extent of the bond-effect analysis

necessarily depends on the circumstances of the particular case. Id. at 763.

     In the instant case, the Orphans’ Court determined that the evidence

presented at the TPR hearing established that termination of Father’s

parental rights was in the best interests of the children.      The court found

that no real parent-child relationship existed, that the foster parents have

consistently provided for the children’s needs, and that the children have

more of a parental bond with the foster parents than with their biological

parents.    Citing to the testimony presented at the hearing, the Orphans’

Court explained:

           As indicated by the above facts, Father has been offered
           predominately weekly visitation for the duration of his
           girls’ placements. Despite this limited opportunity to see
           his children, Father has missed or cancelled these visits on
           a number of occasions. Thus typically, the girls spend just
           a few hours out of the entire week with their natural
           father. Initially, Father was given the opportunity for extra
           visitation with girls at the foster family’s home to learn
           their daily routines.     However, Father’s tardiness and
           behavior during these visits resulted in disruption of the
           girls’ bedtime routines and ultimately resulted in
           discontinuation of the visits.

           Further, when visits do occur, Father tends to take on the
           role of playmate rather than parent. The Court heard
           testimony at the hearing from a [caseworker] from the
           Agency who worked closely with this family for nearly two
           years. The [caseworker] testified that she did not believe
           that a parent-child relationship exists in this case, or at
           least not one that the children recognize. She based this
           opinion on interactions she observed between Father and
           the girls, as well as the way the visits have been going.
           Specifically, the children have not regularly seen either of
           their natural parents, and don’t understand what kind of

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       relationship they have with them.              Perhaps most
       significantly, the inconsistent visitation between Father and
       the girls seems to be causing the girls anxiety. The girls
       are naturally confused about what is going on, and at their
       young ages do not know how to express their emotions.

       Father has also been absent or unaware of the girls’ needs.
       For example, at the time of B.B. and R.B.’s placement,
       Father was not aware of the girls’ recent medical history,
       and throughout their placement it has been the foster
       parents, not Father, who takes the girls to the doctor. It is
       the foster parents who have established the girls’ everyday
       routines, who take them to school and to doctor
       appointments, and who are reliably there for them day in
       and day out.

       All three girls deserve consistency and permanency, which
       Father has hitherto failed to provide. This Court does not
       question Father’s love for his children. However, love
       alone is not enough to dissuade this Court from
       terminating parental rights. Like all children, these three
       girls require protection, attention, and care.       For the
       majority of these girls’ lives, these needs have been met
       by their foster parents, rather than their natural parents.

       In consideration of the “nature and status of the emotional
       bond between [Father] and [the] child[ren]”, it seems that
       the present relationships are tenuous at best.          The
       evidence presented at the hearing demonstrates that the
       relationship the girls share with their foster parents
       appears stronger than with their natural parents, and more
       closely resembles that of a traditional parent-child
       relationship.    This Court is persuaded that the “love,
       comfort, security, and stability the child[ren] might have
       with” their foster parents outweighs any existing emotional
       bond they have developed with [Father]. Their needs and
       welfare dictate the termination of Father’s parental rights,
       so that they may establish a more secure and stable
       quality of life.

       While this Court takes no pleasure in severing parent-child
       relationships through the termination of parental rights, it
       nevertheless must carry out its duty to decide in favor of
       the children’s best interest. In the instant case, this Court

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            finds that the best interest of the children requires a
            termination of Father’s parental rights.

Orphans’ Court Opinion, 9/2/16, at 27-29 (citations and footnote omitted).

GOAL CHANGE

      Finally, given the above, we conclude that the Orphans’ Court did not

err in changing the children’s permanency goal to adoption. See R.J.T., 9

A.3d at 1183-84 (noting that when considering a goal change motion the

court looks to the bests of the child rather than those of the child’s parents;

the Agency must establish that its requested goal change option is best

suited to the child’s safety, protection, and physical, mental, and emotional

welfare).

CONCLUSION

      In sum, our review of the record supports the Orphans’ Court’s order

concluding that the Agency met its statutory burden regarding the

permanency plan goal change for children to adoption, and its burden of

proving by clear and convincing evidence that Father’s parental rights should

be terminated pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2511(a)(1) and 2511(b).

Accordingly, we affirm.

      Order and Decree affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 3/2/2017

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