In the Matter of the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of Al.K. (Minor Child) and A.K. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Jul 31 2019, 11:37 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Ana M. Quirk Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Muncie, Indiana Attorney General
Robert J. Henke
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Involuntary July 31, 2019
Termination of the Parent-Child Court of Appeals Case No.
Relationship of Al.K. (Minor 19A-JT-249
Child) Appeal from the Delaware Circuit
and Court
The Honorable Kimberly Dowling,
A.K. (Mother), Judge
Appellant-Respondent, The Honorable Amanda Yonally,
Magistrate
v.
Trial Court Cause No.
18C02-1801-JT-1
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner
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Crone, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] A.K. (“Mother”) appeals the involuntary termination of her parental rights to
her child Al.K. (“Child”). Her sole contention on appeal is that the trial court
committed clear error in concluding that there is a reasonable probability that
the conditions that resulted in Child’s removal or the reasons for placement
outside the home will not be remedied. Finding no error, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] The undisputed facts show that Child was born in August 2013.1 In April 2016,
the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) removed Child from
Mother’s care and filed a petition alleging Child was a child in need of services
(“CHINS”).2 The CHINS petition alleged that Mother used illicit substances,
including methamphetamine and amphetamine; her recent drug screen yielded
positive results for methamphetamine and amphetamine; she had four previous
DCS substantiations;3 and she was involved in one prior CHINS matter, which
was closed in June 2012. Appellee’s App. Vol. 2 at 2. The trial court held a
CHINS detention hearing and found that there was probable cause to believe
1
Mother has another older child who is not part of this case.
2
Child’s father is M.K. The trial court found that “[M.K.] has no relationship with [Child], has not visited
[Child] or engaged in any services, and has expressed his desire to not have any contact or involvement with
[Child] or the CHINS case.” Appealed Order at 7. The trial court terminated M.K.’s parental rights, but he
is not participating in this appeal.
3
The petition does not give any details about Mother’s previous DCS substantiations.
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that Child was a CHINS based on Mother’s drug use and that detention was
necessary to protect Child. Child was placed with her paternal grandparents. In
September 2016, the trial court held a continued initial hearing and ordered
Mother into provisional services, including random drug screens.
[3] In November 2016, the trial court held a CHINS factfinding hearing and
entered an order adjudicating Child a CHINS. In March 2017, the trial court
held the dispositional hearing and subsequently entered a dispositional decree,
in which it ordered Mother to participate in any programs recommended by the
DCS family case manager (“FCM”); maintain suitable, safe, and stable
housing; secure and maintain a legal and stable source of income; not use or
consume illegal controlled substances; submit to random drug screens;
complete a substance abuse assessment and follow all treatment
recommendations; and attend all scheduled supervised visitation with Child,
which could be changed to a hybrid visitation schedule of both supervised and
unsupervised visitation at DCS’s discretion. Ex. at 22-24.
[4] In October 2017, following a hearing, the trial court entered a permanency
order finding that Mother had been inconsistent with visitation and
noncompliant with reunification services and providing for concurrent
permanency plans of adoption and reunification. Child remained with her
paternal grandparents. On January 23, 2018, DCS filed a verified petition for
involuntary termination of the parent-child relationship. On April 16, 2018, the
trial court held a permanency hearing and issued an order changing Child’s
permanency plan to adoption.
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[5] On July 26, September 20, and October 4, 2018, the trial court held a
factfinding hearing. On January 2, 2019, the trial court issued findings of fact,
conclusions of law, and order terminating parent-child relationship
(“Termination Order”), which contained findings, unchallenged by Mother,
that establish the following facts. Mother failed to act on DCS’s initial referral
for a substance abuse assessment. From June 2016 to June 2017, Jessie
Wyman served as Mother and Child’s FCM. In FCM Wyman’s assessment,
Mother’s issues were homelessness, substance abuse, and unemployment. In
June 2016, Mother was evicted from her apartment. Mother stayed with her
mother on occasion, but FCM Wyman was unaware of where Mother was
residing most of the time. To help Mother obtain housing and employment,
DCS provided two referrals for home-based casework service, which Mother
refused to participate in. FCM Wyman provided Mother with a second referral
for a substance abuse assessment, which Mother failed to act on. Mother failed
to submit to twenty-three of the forty-three drug screens requested by FCM
Wyman.
[6] In June 2017, when Clark Tudor was assigned as FCM, Mother’s issues
regarding unstable housing, substance abuse, and unemployment had not been
resolved. FCM Tudor was not aware of a permanent address for Mother.
FCM Tudor provided a third referral for a substance abuse assessment, which
Mother completed. Mother completed intake services at Centerstone and was
assigned a counselor, but was ultimately dismissed from Centerstone because
she kept only one scheduled appointment with the counselor, failed to appear
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for three appointments, and cancelled one appointment. FCM Tudor then
referred Mother to home-based casework services with Children’s Bureau.
Mother met with her assigned counselor twice but was dismissed from the
service due to her lack of engagement.
[7] At the end of March 2018, FCM Tudor referred Mother to home-based
casework services with Lifeline Youth and Family Services, and in April 2018,
Mother began individual therapy with Katie Landherr. Mother was
consistently engaged in therapy with her and made progress. Mother told
Landherr that she had not been using any illicit substances and initially
submitted to drug screens proved by Landherr. Later, Mother stopped agreeing
to take drug screens offered by Landherr. On July 6 and August 8, 2018
Mother tested positive for methamphetamine on DCS drug screens, and she
refused to take a drug screen on July 26, 2018, the first setting of the factfinding
hearing. Landherr was not informed of Mother’s positive drug screens with
DCS. Overall, FCM Tudor obtained thirty-five drug screens from Mother;
eleven were positive for methamphetamine. Mother failed to submit to twelve
requested drug screens.4 Mother regularly “used methamphetamine throughout
the CHINS case.” Appealed Order at 2.
[8] Mother was employed at a McDonald’s in February and March of 2018. She
obtained a full-time position at another McDonald’s in September 2018 and
4
At the termination hearing, Mother asserted her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself and
refused to answer whether she used methamphetamine. Tr. Vol. 2 at 115.
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had been employed there for three to four months. At the time of the
termination hearing, Mother was living with her mother. Mother does not have
a valid driver’s license and lacks transportation. Mother engaged in appropriate
supervised visitation with Child, but her visitation never progressed to
unsupervised visitation. Child has been with paternal grandparents since April
2016, more than two and a half years, and is thriving.
[9] The Termination Order also contains the following conclusions:
94. Although Mother has recently engaged in therapy and has
maintained employment, these conditions have been
recent within the past eight (8) months. Prior to April of
2018, Mother was minimally engaged in services to assist
her in remedying the circumstances that led to the removal
of [Child].
95. Mother also continues to use methamphetamine and has
not established stable and suitable housing for the child.
….
97. By clear and convincing evidence, the court determines
that there is a reasonable probability that the conditions
that resulted in [Child’s] removal and placement outside of
Mother’s home will not be remedied.
Appealed Order at 6-7. The trial court also concluded that termination of the
parent-child relationship was in Child’s best interests and that DCS had a
satisfactory plan for Child’s care and treatment, which included adoption. Id.
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at 7. Based on its conclusions, the trial court terminated Mother’s parental
rights. This appeal ensued.
Discussion and Decision
[10] Mother seeks reversal of the termination of her parental rights. We note that
“[a] parent’s interest in the care, custody, and control of his or her children is
‘perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests.’” In re R.S., 56 N.E.3d
625, 628 (Ind. 2016) (quoting Bester v. Lake Cty. Office of Family & Children, 839
N.E.2d 143, 147 (Ind. 2005)). “[A]lthough parental rights are of a
constitutional dimension, the law provides for the termination of these rights
when the parents are unable or unwilling to meet their parental
responsibilities.” In re A.P., 882 N.E.2d 799, 805 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008).
Involuntary termination of parental rights is the most extreme sanction, and
therefore “termination is intended as a last resort, available only when all other
reasonable efforts have failed.” Id. Because “the Fourteenth Amendment to
the United States Constitution protects the traditional right of parents to
establish a home and raise their children,” we apply a heightened standard of
review to termination proceedings. In re V.A., 51 N.E.3d 1140, 1144 (Ind.
2016) (quoting In re Adoption of O.R., 16 N.E.3d 965, 972 (Ind. 2014)).
In considering whether the termination of parental rights is
appropriate, we do not reweigh the evidence or judge witness
credibility. We consider only the evidence and any reasonable
inferences therefrom that support the judgment, and give due
regard to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the credibility of
the witnesses firsthand. Where a trial court has entered findings
of fact and conclusions of law, we will not set aside the trial
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court’s findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous. [Ind. Trial
Rule 52(A)]. In evaluating whether the trial court’s decision to
terminate parental rights is clearly erroneous, we review the trial
court’s judgment to determine whether the evidence clearly and
convincingly supports the findings and the findings clearly and
convincingly support the judgment.
K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 989 N.E.2d 1225, 1229-30 (Ind. 2013)
(citations and quotation marks omitted). We note that Mother does not
challenge any specific findings of fact, and therefore we accept the trial court’s
findings of fact as true. See Madlem v. Arko, 592 N.E.2d 686, 687 (Ind. 1992)
(“Because Madlem does not challenge the findings of the trial court, they must
be accepted as correct.”); McMaster v. McMaster, 681 N.E.2d 744, 747 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1997) (“Father does not challenge these findings and we accept them as
true.”).
[11] A petition to terminate a parent-child relationship involving a CHINS must,
among other things, allege:
(B) that one (1) of the following is true:
(i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions
that resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for
placement outside the home of the parents will not be
remedied.
(ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation
of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-
being of the child.
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(iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
adjudicated a child in need of services.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). DCS must also allege that termination is in the
best interests of the child. Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(C). DCS must prove
each element by “clear and convincing evidence.” R.S., 56 N.E.3d at 628; Ind.
Code § 31-37-14-2. If the trial court finds that the allegations in the petition are
true, the court shall terminate the parent-child relationship. Ind. Code § 31-35-
2-8(a).
[12] Mother challenges only the trial court’s conclusion that there is a reasonable
probability that the conditions that resulted in Child’s removal or reasons for
placement outside the home will not be remedied. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(i). In reviewing this determination, we engage in a two-step analysis.
K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d at 1231. First, “we must ascertain what conditions led to
[Child’s] placement and retention in foster care.” Id. Second, we “determine
whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will not be
remedied.” Id. (quoting In re I.A., 934 N.E.2d 1127, 1134 (Ind. 2010)). When
the trial court makes its determination, it must evaluate a parent’s fitness at the
time of the termination hearing, taking into consideration evidence of changed
conditions and balancing a parent’s recent improvements against “habitual
pattern[s] of conduct to determine whether there is a substantial probability of
future neglect or deprivation.” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 643 (Ind. 2014)
(quoting K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d at 1231). “A court may properly consider
evidence of a parent’s prior criminal history, drug and alcohol abuse, history of
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neglect, failure to provide support, and lack of adequate housing and
employment.” McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d
185, 199 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). The trial court may consider services offered by
DCS and the parent’s response to those services as evidence of whether
conditions will be remedied. A.D.S. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 987 N.E.2d
1150, 1157 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. “Where there are only temporary
improvements and the pattern of conduct shows no overall progress, the court
might reasonably find that under the circumstances, the problematic situation
will not improve.” In re Involuntary Termination of Parent Child Relationship of
A.H., 832 N.E.2d 563, 570 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). DCS “is not required to
provide evidence ruling out all possibilities of change; rather, it need only
establish ‘that there is a reasonable probability that the parent’s behavior will
not change.’” A.D.S., 987 N.E.2d at 1157 (quoting In re Kay L., 867 N.E.2d
236, 242 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)).
[13] Here, the reason for Child’s removal was Mother’s abuse of illegal drugs.
Mother argues that she completed a substance abuse assessment, twenty-four of
her thirty-five drug screens were negative, she followed the recommendation of
home-based case services, her therapist testified that she was attending sessions
and making progress, she was living with her mother, and she was employed.
Appellant’s Br. at 22. According to Mother, these accomplishments addressed
DCS’s concerns.
[14] Mother ignores the findings in support of the judgment. The trial court found
that although Child was removed from Mother in April 2016, Mother did not
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participate in services or substance abuse treatment at all, despite numerous
referrals, until June 2017, when FCM Tudor took over the case. Even then,
Mother’s referrals at two different service providers were ultimately dismissed
due to Mother’s failure to participate and lack of engagement. It was not until
April 2018 that Mother started to attend therapy sessions and make progress.
This was just two months before the first setting of the termination factfinding
hearing. Significantly, while Mother initially submitted to her therapist’s drug
screens, she stopped doing so. Further, her therapist was not informed of
Mother’s positive drugs screens with DCS. Although Mother agreed to take
thirty-five drug screens offered by FCM Tudor, she tested positive for
methamphetamine eleven times and refused twelve drug screens. Near the time
of the first setting of the termination hearing, she tested positive for
methamphetamine on July 6 and August 8, 2018, and refused a drug screen on
July 26, 2018.5
[15] In light of Mother’s historic pattern of failing to participate in services and avail
herself of drug treatment opportunities, as well as her consistent drug use, the
trial court could reasonably conclude that any progress made by Mother was
temporary and that there was a reasonable probability that her drug abuse
would not be remedied. See A.H., 832 N.E.2d at 570. Balancing a parent’s
5
We note that recently another panel of this Court held that exhibits containing drug test results do not fall
under the business records exception to the rule against hearsay. Matter of L.S., 18A-JT-2881, 2019 WL
2181225, at *4 (Ind. Ct. App. May 21, 2019). However, Mother did not object to the admission of the drug
screen exhibits.
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recent improvements against habitual patterns of conduct is a delicate balance
that is entrusted “to the trial court, which has discretion to weigh a parent’s
prior history more heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination.”
E.M., 4 N.E.3d at 643. Mother’s argument is merely an invitation to reweigh
the evidence, which we must decline. Accordingly, we find no error in the trial
court’s conclusion that there is a reasonable probability that the reasons for
Child’s removal from Mother will not be remedied. We affirm the termination
of Mother’s parental rights.
[16] Affirmed.
Baker, J., and Kirsch, J., concur.
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