In the Interest of: M.P.H., a Minor ( 2016 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: M.P.H., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
APPEAL OF: D.H., FATHER :
:
:
:
: No. 1008 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Order February 24, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Family Court at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000372-2015,
CP-51-DP-0002241-2013
IN THE INTEREST OF: S.J.H., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
APPEAL OF: D.H., FATHER :
:
:
:
: No. 1010 EDA 2016
Appeal from the Order February 24, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Family Court at No(s): CP-51-AP-0000371-2015,
CP-51-DP-0002240-2013
BEFORE: OLSON, OTT, and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED SEPTEMBER 28, 2016
D.H. (“Father”) appeals from the orders dated and entered on
February 24, 2016, granting the petitions filed by the Philadelphia
Department of Human Resources (“DHS” or the “Agency”), thereby
involuntarily terminating Father’s parental rights to his fraternal twin, minor
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children, M.P.H., a female, and S.J.H., a male, born in October 2013, (the
“Children”), pursuant to the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2),
and (b), and changing the permanency goal for the Children to adoption
under the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351.1 We affirm.
In its opinion entered on May 26, 2016, the trial court aptly set forth
the factual and procedural background of these appeals.2 As the trial court
explained:
[Mother] is the mother of [the Children]. . . . Prior to [the
Children’s] birth, Mother also gave birth to four other children. . .
.
On October 20, 2008, this family became known to DHS when it
received a General Protective Services (GPS) report alleging that
Mother and her son, C.H., were being physically abused by
[Mother’s] paramour, M.B. Mother would take C.H. and her
other son, S.H. to spend the weekends at the home of M.B.
M.B. disliked C.H. and would hit and mistreat him. C.H. stated
that during the previous weekend M.B. hit him in the head. M.B.
was allegedly abusive towards Mother. During an altercation
between Mother and M.B., he threw S.H. into a chair. M.B.
would take the children and lock them in a room and he would
not permit Mother to leave the home. C.H. also complained of
pain to his buttocks. M.B. lost custody of his biological children
and there were allegations that he may have sexually abused his
biological daughter. This report was substantiated.
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1
See Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/16, at 1. In a separate decree dated and
entered on November 23, 2015, the trial court voluntarily terminated the
parental rights of the Children’s mother, S.C.H. (“Mother”). Mother has not
appealed the termination of her parental rights to the Children or the change
in the permanency goal, nor is she a party to the instant appeal.
2
On April 22, 2016, this Court, acting sua sponte, consolidated Father’s
appeals.
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...
On November 4, 2010, DHS received a Child Protective Services
(CPS) report alleging that on November 29, 2010, Mother
witnessed M.B. grab the children’s sibling, S.H., by the face.
M.B. was also observed picking up S.H. by one arm. Mother
suffered from borderline personality disorder, [bipolar] disorder,
dyslexia, and she had a history of self-mutilation. There were
domestic violence issues in the home[;] however, Mother was
not ready to leave M.B. . . . The family had to boil water
because the water heater was broken in the home.
On November 4, 2010, DHS received a supplemental report to
the November 4, 2010 CPS report alleging that Mother was
making a bottle of milk for S.H. and she heard him crying.
Mother observed M.B. holding S.H. with one arm as he threw
him in his pack and play. Mother was in therapy for her mental
health and she was compliant. The report was indicated and
M.B. was named as the perpetrator.
On July 19, 2011, Mother voluntarily relinquished her parental
rights in regards to C.H. and S.H.
On November 1, 2013, DHS received a GPS report alleging that .
. . Mother gave birth to [the Children]. . . . M.B. continued to be
verbally and physically abusive towards Mother. . . .
[D]uring one of [Mother’s] previous births, [Mother] was
diagnosed with severe post-partum depression. Mother was also
diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was not taking any
medication.
On November 1, 2013, DHS received a supplemental report to
the November 1, 2013 GPS report alleging that Mother resided
with M.B. . . . There was no evidence that Mother was prepared
to care for the newborns [(the Children);] however, paternity
[for the Children] was not established. This report was
substantiated.
On November 8, 2013, DHS obtained an order of protective
custody (OPC) for [the Children] and placed them in a foster
home through Women’s Christian Alliance (WCA).
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...
On November 11, 2013, [the Children] were placed in another
foster home through WCA, where they currently remain.
...
An adjudicatory hearing was held on November 18, 2013 before
[the trial court]. The Children were adjudicated dependent and
committed to DHS. . . .
A permanency review hearing was held on March 21, 2014. The
[trial] court received paternity results and learned that M.B. was
not the father of [the Children]. . . .
A permanency review hearing was held on June 13, 2014 before
a master. [Father] was named [] the putative father of [the
Children]. A paternity test was ordered.
...
On March 1, 2015, a single case plan (SCP) meeting was held.
The parental objectives were the following: 1) Mother to attend
ARC; 2) [Father] to make his whereabouts known to DHS and
follow through with [the trial court’s] recommendations; and 3)
Father to attend ARC. Mother and Father did not participate in
the meeting.
A permanency review hearing was held on April 8, 2015 before
[the trial court]. The court found the paternity test identified
D.H. as the father of the Children. Mother and Father [were
granted] one hour weekly visits at DHS. . . .
A permanency review hearing was held on June 29, 2015. . . .
The court found the Children to remain as committed. Mother
signed voluntary relinquishments for the Children.
[Father] has not been involved in any manner with [the
Children] since they were committed to the care of DHS.
[Father] has expressed no interest in setting up any SCP
objectives or being a reunification resource for the Children.
[Father] refused to participate in meetings and stated that he
would not sign any documents. The [trial] court has noted
[Father’s] non-compliance with efforts toward familial
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reunification. [Father] has not contacted the provider [or] DHS
to learn about the developmental growth and well-being of the
Children. [Father] has not been a parent to the Children nor has
he been a visitation resource to his Children.
...
On February 24, 2016, [the trial] court held a goal
change/termination hearing and heard testimony on DHS’s
petition to terminate Father’s parental rights as to [the]
Children[] and change the permanency goal to adoption. Father
was present and represented by his attorney.
The assistant city solicitor first admitted into evidence the
paternity test results for [Father] as 99.9999% probability for
paternity of the Children, returned in January 2015, and
recognized by the [trial] court on April 8, 2015.
Inmon Gardner, CUA case manager, testified he has been the
case manager for the [Children] for seven [] months. Before
that, he was outcome specialist on the case since September 21,
2014. He testified his role was to transport and supervise the
visits of [the Children], make sure all the paperwork was signed
and make sure the parents knew exactly what the goals were on
the single case plan. He noted Father was not involved with the
Children in September [] 2014. Father became involved shortly
after that time, and he was offered visitation. However, his level
of consistency was minimal, at best. Father had a [scheduled]
visit every week, which totals approximately 24 scheduled visits.
Father made about 14 of those visits but the majority of those,
he was late. He would confirm the visits, then show up late or
not show up.
Mr. Garner further testified Father’s objectives were established:
attend parenting classes at ARC [and] participate in their Pan
Father’s group. . . . [Mr. Garner] received a telephone call from
ARC stating Father never attended. Mr. Garner testified Father
never attended the Pan Father’s group meetings, nor did he
attend any of the single case plan meetings.
[Father] was also required to have a home assessment for the
CUA. Regarding housing, Mr. Garner testified Father gave him
various addresses all in Philadelphia. One was an address
without an apartment number, which could not be verified, and
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two other addresses could not be verified. . . . Thus, Father
never presented any appropriate housing for reunification.
Father was referred for a parenting capacity evaluation and
anger management, which he never attended. . . . Father stated
he did not need anger management.
Mr. Garner testified that since the last court hearing, Father has
not missed any of the four visits. During visits, Father’s
interaction with the Children was playful and required redirection
sometimes. When the visits terminate[d], there [was] no
reaction as to the Children.
On cross-examination, Mr. Garner [testified] Father has never
had unsupervised visits with the Children, due primarily to his
unstable housing situation. He further [testified that] Father has
never contacted him about the Children’s well-being . . . , their
development, or their medical appointments.
Mr. Garner testified [that] the Children are currently placed in a
loving foster home, where they were placed 28 months ago,
since their birth. He [testified that] the home is safe and
appropriate and is a pre-adoptive home for the Children. The
interactions between the Children and the foster parent are very
loving, carefree[,] and [with a] genuine affection [between the
Children and the foster parent]. The Children look to the foster
parent as their primary caregiver, and look to her for their care,
comfort and support. . . .
Mr. Garner [testified that] reunification with Father is not
possible at this time because of his non-completion of objectives,
such as anger management and parenting classes. [Mr. Garner]
further [testified that] the Children [would] not suffer irreparable
harm if Father’s parental rights [were] terminated. He further
[testified that] it would be in the best interest of both Children to
be adopted because they have known only one caregiver their
entire lives, the foster parent and are bonded to her. Separating
the Children from the foster parent would, in turn, cause harm to
the Children.
Nicole Jones-Walker, CUA social worker, also testified. She
began as the case manager [on] January 8, 2015 and had first
contact with Father on February 10, 2015. She testified [that]
Father’s objectives were parenting classes, visitation[, and to]
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participate in paternity testing. The initial single case plan
meeting was held February 23, 2015, however, Father never
attended parenting classes. She further testified, Father never
attended anger management classes nor did he ever participate
in ARC services. Father also did not provide her with a lease [or]
an address where he was living.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/15, at 2- (some internal capitalization, citations,
and quotations omitted).
On February 24, 2016, the trial court granted the petitions filed by
DHS, involuntarily terminated Father’s his parental rights to the Children,
and changed the permanency goal for the Children to adoption under the
Juvenile Act. In his timely appeal filed on March 24, 2016, Father raises
three issues:
1. Did the trial court err when it found [DHS,] by clear and
convincing evidence[,] had met its burden to terminate
Appellant’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 2511(a)(1), [and] § 2511(a)(2)[?]
2. Did the trial court err when it found that the termination of
[F]ather’s parental rights was in the [C]hildren’s best interests[,]
and that [DHS] had met its burden pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 2511(b)[?]
3. Did the trial court err in changing the permanent placement
goal from reunification to adoption[?]
Father’s Brief at vi (some internal capitalization omitted).3
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3
Father stated his first issue somewhat differently in his concise statements,
and has deleted any argument concerning section 2511(a)(5) and (8) from
his brief, as the trial court did not terminate his parental rights under those
subsections. We find that he adequately preserved his three issues for our
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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In reviewing an appeal from an order terminating parental rights, we
adhere to the following standard:
[A]ppellate courts must apply an abuse of discretion standard
when considering a trial court’s determination of a petition for
termination of parental rights. As in dependency cases, our
standard of review requires an appellate court to accept the
findings of fact and credibility determinations of the trial court if
they are supported by the record. In re: R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179,
1190 (Pa. 2010). 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.; R.I.S., [36 A.3d 567, 572 (Pa.
2011) (plurality opinion)]. As has been often stated, an abuse of
discretion does not result merely because the reviewing court
might have reached a different conclusion. Id.; see also
Samuel Bassett v. Kia Motors America, Inc., 34 A.3d 1, 51
(Pa. 2011); Christianson v. Ely, 838 A.2d 630, 634 (Pa. 2003).
Instead, a decision may be reversed for an abuse of discretion
only upon demonstration of manifest unreasonableness,
partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. Id.
As [the Pennsylvania Supreme Court] discussed in R.J.T., there
are clear reasons for applying an abuse of discretion standard of
review in these cases. [The Supreme Court] observed that,
unlike trial courts, appellate courts are not equipped to make the
fact-specific determinations on a cold record, where the trial
judges are observing the parties during the relevant hearing and
often presiding over numerous other hearings regarding the child
and parents. R.J.T., 9 A.3d at 1190. Therefore, even where the
facts could support an opposite result, as is often the case in
dependency and termination cases, an appellate court must
resist the urge to second guess the trial court and impose its
own credibility determinations and judgment; instead we must
defer to the trial judges so long as the factual findings are
supported by the record and the court’s legal conclusions are not
the result of an error of law or an abuse of discretion. In re
_______________________
(Footnote Continued)
review. Cf. Krebs v. United Ref. Co. of Pa., 893 A.2d 776, 797 (Pa.
Super. 2006) (holding that an appellant waives issues that are not raised in
both his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal and the
statement of questions involved in his brief on appeal).
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Adoption of Atencio, [539 Pa. 161, 165,] 650 A.2d 1064, 1066
(Pa. 1994).
In re Adoption of S.P., 616 Pa. 309, 325-26, 47 A.3d 817, 826-27 (2012).
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).
Moreover, we have explained:
[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., quoting In re J.L.C., 837 A.2d 1247, 1251 (Pa. Super. 2003).
This Court may affirm the trial court’s decision regarding the
termination of parental rights with regard to any one subsection of section
2511(a). See In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en
banc). The trial court terminated Father’s parental rights under section
2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). We will focus on section 2511(a)(2) and (b),
which 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:
...
(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
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conditions and causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal cannot or will not be remedied by the parent.
...
(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.A. § 2511.
In his brief, Father contends that DHS did not meet its burden of proof
with regard to section 2511(a)(2). Father’s Brief at 3. Father asserts that
the record evidence showed that he made steps towards compliance with his
Family Service Plan (“FSP”) objectives. Id. In particular, Father states that
he has housing and employment. Id. Father claims that the evidence
showed that he had not missed a visit in the months preceding the
termination hearing. Id. Father asserts that, at the hearing on February
24, 2016, DHS presented the testimony of the Community Umbrella Agency
(“CUA”) case manager, Inmon Gardner, who testified, on direct examination,
that Father was minimally compliant because he had not missed any visits
since the preceding court date. Father also states that Mr. Gardner testified,
on cross-examination by the Child Advocate, that the preceding court date
was in November of 2015. Father’s Brief at viii.
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To satisfy the requirements of section 2511(a)(2), the moving party
must produce clear and convincing evidence regarding the following
elements:
(1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal; (2) such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has
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).
The grounds for termination of parental rights under section
2511(a)(2), due to parental incapacity that cannot be remedied, are not
limited to affirmative misconduct; to the contrary, those grounds may
include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to perform parental duties. In
re A.L.D. 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002).
The trial court concluded its analysis of section 2511(a)(2) as follows:
As discussed above, the trial court found that Father evidenced
an incapacity to parent. [] Father repeatedly failed to complete
objectives and failed to maintain appropriate housing for the
Children. He refused to participate in meetings and sign any
documents. He has not contacted the provider or DHS to learn
about the growth and well-being of the Children. Also[,] he
failed as to his ability to bond as a parent. The court was not
persuaded that Father could or would resolve these issues in the
near future. Although Father testified that he had an on-line job
as a life coach, no evidence was presented to corroborate his
testimony.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/16, at 16.
After a careful review of the record in this matter, we find the trial
court’s factual findings are supported by the record, and the court’s legal
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conclusions are not the result of an error of law or an abuse of discretion.
In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27. We, therefore, affirm the
termination of Father’s parental rights with regard to the Children under
section 2511(a)(2) on the basis of the trial court opinion entered on May 26,
2016.
Next, we review the termination of the parental rights of Father under
section 2511(b). This Court has stated that the focus in terminating
parental rights under section 2511(a) is on the parent, but it is on the child
pursuant to section 2511(b). See In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999,
1008 (Pa. Super 2008) (en banc).
In reviewing the evidence in support of termination under section
2511(b), our Supreme Court stated as follows:
[I]f the grounds for termination under subsection (a) are met, a
court “shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child.” 23
Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(b). The emotional needs and welfare of the
child have been properly interpreted to include “[i]ntangibles
such as love, comfort, security, and stability.” In re K.M., 53
A.3d 781, 791 (Pa. Super. 2012). In In re E.M., [620 A.2d 481,
485 (Pa. 1993)], [the Pennsylvania Supreme] Court held that
the determination of the child’s “needs and welfare” requires
consideration of the emotional bonds between the parent and
child. The “utmost attention” should be paid to discerning the
effect on the child of permanently severing the parental bond.
In re K.M., 53 A.3d at 791.
In re: T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013).
Father argues that the trial court erred in terminating his parental
rights with regard to the Children under section 2511(b) because the
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evidence showed that the Children have a positive parental bond with him,
and call him “Dad”. Father’s Brief at 4. Father asserts that the termination
of his parental rights does not serve the needs and welfare of the Children.
Id.
The trial court summarized its analysis of section 2511(b) as follows:
This court finds credible the testimony from the Agency workers
that the Children would not suffer irreparable harm if Father’s
rights were terminated and that termination of Father’s parental
rights would be in the best interest of the Children. The Children
have spent their entire life in placement, since birth, with the
same foster parent. They are now 31 months old, [and] they
live in a nurturing and loving home with the foster mother, the
only caretaker they have ever known, who meets all of their
emotional and physical needs. The court concluded:
Well[,] considering the evidence and obviously, as a
result of the testimony of [F]ather, there are some issues
in contest, but I resolve the issue of credibility in favor of
the DHS case workers – the subsequent case workers,
whose testimony somewhat overlaps and reinforces each
other. So, on the contested credibility, the issue is
resolved in favor of DHS. That evidence, indeed,
support[s], clearly and convincingly, that Father has
failed to remedy any of the issues that brought these
children into care. So[,] considering the evidence, under
section 2511(a)(1) and (2)[,] and 2511(b), Father’s
parental rights are terminated. Since I previously
terminated Mother’s rights, the goals can be changed to
adoption for these [c]hildren.
Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/16, at 16-17 (some internal capitalization
omitted).
After a careful review of the record in this matter, we find the trial
court’s factual findings are supported by the record, and the court’s legal
conclusions are not the result of an error of law or an abuse of discretion.
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In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27. In its opinion, the trial court
found that the Children have been in placement in the same foster home for
nearly three years, since birth. Accordingly, it was proper to find no bond
exists such that the Children would suffer permanent emotional harm if
Father’s parental rights were terminated. In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 764
(Pa. Super. 2008). It is well-settled that “we will not toll the well-being and
permanency of [a child] indefinitely.” In re Adoption of C.L.G., 956 A.2d
at 1007, citing In re Z.S.W., 946 A.2d 726, 732 (Pa. Super. 2008) (noting
that a child’s life “simply cannot be put on hold in the hope that [a parent]
will summon the ability to handle the responsibilities of parenting”). We,
therefore, affirm the termination of Father’s parental rights with regard to
the Children under section 2511(b), on the basis of the trial court opinion.
Finally, Father argues that the trial court erred in changing the
permanency goal for the Children to adoption under section 6351 of the
Juvenile Act. Father’s Brief at 4. Father asserts that reunification was in the
best interest of the Children. Id.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently set forth our standard of
review in a dependency case as follows.
“The standard of review in dependency cases requires an
appellate court to accept findings of fact and credibility
determinations of the trial court if they are supported by the
record, but does not require the appellate court to accept the
lower court’s inferences or conclusions of law.” In re R.J.T., 9
A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010). We review for abuse of
discretion[.]
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In Interest of: L.Z., A Minor Child, 111 A.3d 1164, 1174 (Pa. 2015).
Regarding the disposition of a dependent child, section 6351(e), (f),
(f.1), and (g) of the Juvenile Act provide the trial court with the criteria for
its permanency plan for the subject child. Pursuant to those subsections of
the Juvenile Act, the trial court is to determine the disposition that is best
suited to the safety, protection, and physical, mental, and moral welfare of
the child.
When considering a petition for goal change for a dependent child, the
trial court considers
the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the
placement; the extent of compliance with the service plan
developed for the child; the extent of progress made
towards alleviating the circumstances which necessitated
the original placement; the appropriateness and feasibility
of the current placement goal for the child; and, a likely
date by which the goal for the child might be achieved.
In re A.K., 936 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super. 2007), citing 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6351(f)).
Additionally, Section 6351(f.1) requires the trial court to make a
determination regarding the child’s placement goal:
(f.1) Additional determination.—Based upon the
determinations made under subsection (f) and all relevant
evidence presented at the hearing, the court shall
determine one of the following:
...
(2) If and when the child will be placed for adoption,
and the county agency will file for termination of
parental rights in cases where return to the child’s
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parent, guardian or custodian is not best suited to the
safety, protection and physical, mental and moral
welfare of the child.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351(f.1).
On the issue of a placement goal change, this Court stated:
When a child is adjudicated dependent, the child’s proper
placement turns on what is in the child’s best interest, not
on what the parent wants or which goals the parent has
achieved. See In re Sweeney, 574 A.2d 690, 691 (Pa.
Super. 1990) (noting that “[o]nce a child is adjudicated
dependent . . . the issues of custody and continuation of
foster care are determined by the child’s best interests”).
Moreover, although preserving the unity of the family is a
purpose of [the Juvenile Act], another purpose is to
“provide for the care, protection, safety, and wholesome
mental and physical development of children coming within
the provisions of this chapter.” 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6301(b)(1.1). Indeed, “[t]he relationship of parent and
child is a status and not a property right, and one in which
the state has an interest to protect the best interest of the
child.” In re E.F.V., 461 A.2d 1263, 1267 (Pa. Super.
1983) (citation omitted).
In re K.C., 903 A.2d 12, 14-15 (Pa. Super. 2006).
In its opinion entered on May 26, 2016, the trial court found sufficient
facts from which it properly determined that a goal change to adoption was
best suited to the Children’s safety and protection, and physical, mental, and
moral welfare. Accordingly, we find Father’s argument that the goal change
to adoption under section 6351 of the Juvenile Act was erroneous lacks
merit, and that the trial court did not error or abuse its discretion in
changing the goal for the Children to adoption.
Orders affirmed.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 9/28/2016
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