In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of Ad.C. and Al.C., Minor Children, C.C., Sr., Father, and T.C., Mother v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Dec 19 2017, 9:09 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT C.C., ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
SR. Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Joann M. Price Attorney General of Indiana
Merrillville, Indiana
James D. Boyer
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT T.C. Deputy Attorney General
Deidre L. Monroe Indianapolis, Indiana
Public Defender’s Office
Gary, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination December 19, 2017
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of Ad.C. and Al.C., Minor 45A04-1706-JT-1363
Children, C.C., Sr., Father, and Appeal from the Lake Superior
T.C., Mother Court
Appellants-Respondents, The Honorable Thomas P.
Stefaniak, Jr., Judge
v. Trial Court Cause Nos.
45D06-1603-JT-73
The Indiana Department of 45D06-1501-JT-1
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
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Brown, Judge.
[1] C.C., Sr., (“Father”) and T.C. (“Mother,” and together with Father, “Parents”)
appeal the involuntary termination of their parental rights with respect to their
daughters Ad.C. and Al.C. (the “Children”). Parents each raise one issue
which we restate as whether the trial court erred in terminating their parental
rights. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] In March 2011, Parents were married. At some point in 2011, Mother’s autistic
son A. had bruises on him, and A. stated that Father caused the bruises. DCS
initiated an informal adjustment and there was a substantiation of abuse by
Father. At some later point, A.’s biological father obtained full custody of him.
[3] In October 2012, Mother, Father, their three-month-old son C.C., Jr., their
fifteen-month-old daughter Ad.C., and Mother’s son A. lived together. On
October 10, 2012, the Department of Child Services (“DCS”) received a report
that C.C., Jr., had some sort of breathing episode and was transported to the
hospital for further treatment. DCS learned that C.C., Jr., had suffered bilateral
subdural hematomas, a subarachnoid bleed, and multiple retinal hemorrhages
in both eyes.
[4] On October 11, 2012, A. and Ad.C. were removed from the home and Ad.C.
was placed with her maternal grandparentsOn October 16, 2012, DCS filed a
petition alleging Ad.C. to be a child in need of services (“CHINS”) and that
Father had stated that he was sleeping with C.C., Jr., woke up and found C.C.,
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Jr., unresponsive, tried to give him CPR, stuck his finger down his throat,
gently shook him to try to wake him, and later admitted that he may have
shaken C.C., Jr., harder than he first indicated and may have tried to help his
son for ten to fifteen minutes before calling anyone. DCS also alleged that it
took custody of Ad.C. because Father’s explanations were not consistent with
the injuries suffered by C.C., Jr., and out of concern for the safety and well-
being of Ad.C. That same day, Parents admitted the allegations. On October
17, 2012, C.C., Jr., died after Mother removed life support.
[5] On November 30, 2012, the court ordered Father to have no contact with
Ad.C. and complete a clinical assessment and anger management. That same
day, the court entered a dispositional order which ordered Parents to participate
in services, treatment, and/or supervision specified in the case plan.
[6] On May 13, 2013, the court approved DCS’s request for A. and Ad.C. to begin
a trial home visit with Mother. On October 10, 2013, DCS filed a request for
removal of A. and Ad.C. from Mother’s care due to A.’s report that Mother
struck him with a butterfly net and DCS observed a circular bruise on A.’s leg
which appeared to be consistent with his report. The report alleged that during
the trial home visit, the family resided in the home of the maternal grandparents
of A. and Ad.C. On October 17, 2013, the court approved the request for
removal from Mother’s care and ordered A. and Ad.C. be placed with their
maternal grandparents. That same day, the court ordered Parents to participate
in parenting education, individual counseling, Batterer Services; ordered them
to complete clinical assessments and any recommended treatment; ordered
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Mother to have visitation with A. and Ad.C. supervised by the maternal
grandparents in their home; and ordered Father to have supervised visitation
with Ad.C. at Children’s Tree House.
[7] On February 14, 2014, Father, by counsel, and DCS entered a stipulation for an
adjudication of Ad.C. as a CHINS, and the court adopted the stipulation. It
stated that the injuries C.C., Jr., suffered would not have occurred but for the
act or omission of a parent, custodian, or guardian, and that Father was
currently charged with felony criminal counts of neglect, battery, and murder.
[8] On August 14, 2014, Laura Rubino, a DCS assessment worker at the time,
received a report regarding Al.C., born that same day to Parents, due to
concerns that the family had current involvement with DCS regarding the death
of C.C., Jr. Mother told Rubino that she planned to give Al.C. to Christina
Santiago “via legal guardianship while the DCS case for her other children was
still pending” and that she “wanted to avoid involvement with [Al.C.] with the
Department of Child Services.” Transcript Volume II at 40. Rubino was
concerned about the situation because Mother informed her that she did not
have any belief that Father was involved in the death of their son. DCS could
not locate relative placement, and Al.C. was discharged from the hospital to a
foster home. On August 19, 2014, the court held a detention hearing, and Al.C.
was placed with Santiago. At some point, Santiago requested DCS to take
Al.C. back, and DCS placed Al.C. with foster parents.
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[9] On December 20, 2014, DCS filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of
Parents to Ad.C. On January 5, 2015, the court authorized the filing of the
petition to terminate the parental rights with respect to Ad.C. On March 7,
2016, it authorized the filing of a petition to terminate the parental rights of
Parents with respect to Al.C.
[10] Meanwhile, in October 2015, a jury found Father guilty of murder, reckless
homicide, battery, and neglect of a dependent. The trial court entered
convictions for neglect of a dependent and battery resulting in death and
sentenced Father to an aggregate sentence of twenty-nine and one-half years.1
[11] On April 5 and May 4, 2017, the court held a hearing on the petitions to
terminate parental rights. It heard testimony from: Tina Kozlowski, a DCS
assessment case manager; Rubino, the DCS assessment worker; Karen Sheets, a
case manager supervisor, parenting educator, and behavior specialist for
Regional Mental Health; Judith Haney, the executive director of Children’s
Treehouse; Father’s sister; Jordana Boton, a therapist; DCS family case
manager Areca Rios (“FCM Rios”); Raisa Mays, a home-based case manager
employed by Family Focus; Mother; Father; Ad.C.’s maternal grandmother;
and Al.C.’s foster mother.
1
Father appealed his convictions and argued that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting certain
hearsay statements into evidence and that his sentence was inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense
and his character. See No. 45A05-1601-CR-25, slip op. at 2 (Ind. Ct. App. September 20, 2016), trans. denied.
This Court affirmed. Id.
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[12] Mother testified that she was at work when C.C., Jr., was injured, she has no
problem with discipline or redirecting Ad.C., her divorce from Father was
finalized in January 2016, she was not with anyone, and she was still having
counseling, but contacting her new counselor had been very difficult. She
testified that she would continue to go to therapy if the Children were returned.
Mother testified that Father told her at some point that he shook C.C., Jr., but
she believed that it was not a malicious act. She testified that she took Father to
visitations because he could not obtain transportation through DCS.
[13] Father testified telephonically from a correctional facility. He stated that C.C.,
Jr., fell asleep in bed with him, that he eventually woke up to find C.C., Jr.,
making gasping sounds and that he had vomit all over his onesie. He stated
that C.C., Jr., was not “really responding,” he stuck his finger down his throat
to determine if there was anything in his airway, grabbed him, and shook him.
Transcript Volume III at 17. He testified that he called Mother, that Mother
told him to call 911, and that he did so. He stated that he “completed ever [sic]
single service that they wanted me to complete.” Id. at 31. He testified that he
completed batterer’s classes, therapy counseling, and grieving counseling prior
to his criminal trial, which was held in October 2015. He also testified that he
had had a job in prison but was not currently doing that job and was not job
eligible at that point, and that he asked that his sister be considered for
placement if his rights were terminated.
[14] On May 19, 2017, the trial court granted the petition to terminate Parents’
parent-child relationships. The order states in part:
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There is a reasonable probability that the conditions resulting in
the removal of the children from [the] parents’ home will not be
remedied in that: [Ad.C.] was removed from parental care in
October 2012 after her sibling, [C.C., Jr.] (3 Months of Age) was
taken to the hospital in respiratory arrest. [C.C., Jr.,] was found
to have life threatening non-accidental injuries and he passed
away from his injuries.
Parents were offered services pursuant to a case plan which
included substance abuse assessments, parenting assessment,
home based casework services, initial clinical assessments,
random drug and alcohol screens, individual therapy, and
supervised visitations.
The parents have a prior history with an older half-sibling, [A.]
due to [Father] inappropriately disciplining the child. [A.’s]
CHINS matter was dismissed after his father obtained legal
custody of [A.] and is not a part of these termination
proceedings.
[Father] indicated that he found [C.C., Jr.,] choking and
vomiting and attempted to help the child for ten to fifteen
minutes before calling 911. Father had conflicting statements as
to what happened to the child. Father further indicated that he
shook the child. The child had severe head trauma due to brain
swelling from shaken baby syndrome. The child was on life
support and was eventually removed from life support by the
mother. [C.C., Jr.] passed away six days after the incident.
[A.] and [Ad.C.] were removed from parental care and placed in
relative placement with the grandparents. [A.] was eventually
placed with his father and his CHINS case was dismissed.
[Father] was identified as the perpetrator and was charged with
Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death, Battery Resulting in
Death, Reckless Homicide and Murder. Father . . . was arrested
in February 2013.
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Mother did not believe that [Father] was responsible for the
injury and death of their child. Mother indicated that [Father]
was innocent until proven guilty and needed a court to decide his
guilt or innocence.
Mother initially cooperated and made progress with her services
and was given liberal visitations with her children at her
parents[’] home. [Ad.C.] and [A.] were returned to mother’s care
in May of 2013. However, in October, 2013, the children were
removed due to inappropriate physical punishment inflicted by
the mother on [A.]. The children remained out of the home since
that removal in October 2013.
Father was facing criminal charges regarding the death of [C.C.,
Jr.,] and [Mother] continued her relationship with [Father].
Mother had another child [Al.C.] in August of 2014. Mother
indicated that she has given guardianship of the child to another
person, Ms. Santiago. Father was present at the hospital when
[Mother] had a conversation with the social worker but
introduced [Father] as someone else, Ms. Santiago’s husband in
an attempt to elude the social worker. Even though [Mother]
indicated that she has given guardianship of this child to another,
[Mother] was breast feeding the child. Mother was not being
truthful about the situation. The Department of Child Services
took custody of that child at birth due to the serious allegations of
neglect and abuse against [Father]. Mother continued to live
with [Father] while he was out on bond awaiting trial. [Al.C.]
was removed from parental care and custody.
Father testified telephonically from prison and indicated that he
panicked when he found his son not breathing. He testified that
he shook the child in an effort to get him to breathe. He further
testified that he called his wife when the child was unresponsive
and not 911. Father testified that he was sentenced to twenty-
nine years and his earliest year of release is 2030.
Father testified that the child was born with the umbilical cord
wrapped around his neck and was placed in the newborn
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intensive care unit. Father further testified that the child was sick
and would vomit. Father further stated that the child was taken
to the doctor numerous times and the child was never diagnosed
with anything. Father indicated that he was informed at his
criminal trial that the child was born missing a rib. Father stated
that the child had an extremely large head, but no diagnosis was
ever obtained. This court is not in a position to weigh the
evidence in the criminal trial. The court notes [Father] was
found guilty of this crime and is currently serving his prison
sentence.
Father testified that he completed counseling, grief counseling,
batterer’s classes and visitations through the Department of Child
Services.
Father is responsible for the death of the sibling that has been
proven in a court of law. Father is in no position to parent any
child and will be unavailable to parent any child until the year at
least 2030. Father does not have any relationship with his
children due to his unavailability.
The child, [Al.C.] became a ward of [DCS]. Relative placement
was explored for [Al.C.], but there were no available relatives for
this child’s placement. The child was placed in foster care but
was eventually placed with Ms. Santiago according to [Mother’s]
wishes.
[Al.C.] eventually was removed from Ms. Santiago when Ms.
Santiago requested the removal of the child. [Al.C.] was then
placed in foster care when no viable relative was available.
Mother and Father completed parenting education in February
2014. The visitations between the parents and children were not
progressing well, so hands-on parenting was initiated.
[Ad.C.] was displaying multiple behaviors including negotiating
with her parents, demanding her parents what to do, throwing
tantrums, throwing chairs and hitting her parents and would
become so emotionally overwhelmed in the visitations that she
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would self harm. [Ad.C.] was given behavioral management
therapy that would teach appropriate social skills and help
children manage their own emotional skills. Parents would not
use their parenting skills to manage [Ad.C.’s] behaviors. [Ad.C.]
was very resistant to [Father]. [Ad.C.] would not have anything
to do with [Father]. [Ad.C.’s] relationship with [Mother] was
better, but still not on a healthy, parent-child level. Father was
very dominant and controlling in the visits with the child, and the
child continued to reject [Father]. Father was dominant and
controlling with [Mother] which [Mother] allowed. Father spent
most of the visits with [Al.C.] and [Mother] did not have a
chance to bond with [Al.C.] due to [Father] controlling the
visitation with [Al.C.]. Parents continued to power struggle with
the child and not parent the child. Parents were not consistent
with their parenting style. The parents were not using the
parenting skills that were taught. The parents were unwilling to
consistently use the skills taught. The visitations were not
consistent, structured or stable. Parenting education was not
completed successfully for either parent.
[Ad.C.] was placed with the grandparents and the grandparents
were taught the same skills needed to properly parent and control
[Ad.C.’s] behaviors. The grandparents utilized the skills and
[Ad.C.’s] behaviors have subsided.
Service providers had conversations with [Mother] to put more
effort in her parenting skills and not to support [Father], but
instead focus on reunifying with her children. Mother refused.
Father was convicted and was sentenced to twenty-nine years in
prison. Father is and will be unavailable to parent these children.
Mother’s therapist, Ms. Boton testified that she attempted to
provide therapy for [Mother], but [Mother] would not attend the
sessions. Mother missed fifteen out of the 24 sessions scheduled
in a six month time period. Mother only attended nine
scheduled sessions. The therapy sessions were conducted in
[Mother’s] home. Mother indicated to the therapist that she has
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suffered numerous traumas throughout her lifetime that went
unresolved. Mother suffered from depression from her teenage
years until present. Mother was very resistant to the therapy and
did not participate in the sessions. Four[] years into the CHINS
cases, and [Mother] is still in denial of [Father’s] responsibility in
the death of her son. Mother’s therapist testified that [Mother]
was erratic in her emotions. Mother has not addressed her
therapeutic needs. The therapist testified that on one occasion
she was in the home and [Mother’s] teenage son made
inappropriate comments to the therapist. Mother did not redirect
her son or address the situation. Mother did not utilize any
parenting skills. The therapist left the home due to the fifteen
minutes of inappropriate comments that were not being
addressed.
Mother has a sense of paranoia and a distorted reality. Mother’s
mental state is in question and is not being adequately addressed.
Mother indicated that she was diagnosed at an early age with
bipolar but is not being treated for any mental instabilities.
Mother was given a psychiatric evaluation to which she was
again diagnosed with bipolar and was given medication.
Whether [Mother] actually takes the medication is unknown.
Mother’s years of unaddressed trauma has [her] at a greater risk
for harming her children or being unable to keep her children
safe. Mother is not able to protect her children. Ms. Boton, the
therapist testified that [Mother] would need years of therapy to
address all the traumas in her life.
Mother was up and down with her consistency and her
compliance with the services. Mother was participating in the
visitations with the children but the visitations were contentious
and [Mother] would state inappropriate comments to the
children that would disrupt the stability that they have obtained
in their lives. Visitations ceased in July of 2016 due to [Mother’s]
non-compliance and [Mother’s] inconsistency with the services.
Mother has been receiving services for over four years and
[Mother] was no closer to reunification than she was when the
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Department of Child Services first became involved. Mother was
given the therapeutic services, the psychiatric services, the
parenting services and [she] has not progressed in any of the
services.
Mother has never put her children first. Mother did not leave
[Father] until after he was convicted of the death of their child.
Mother filed for divorce three days after he was convicted. There
was a no contact order between [Father] and the children, but
[Mother] continued a relationship with [Father]. The children
were unable to be placed with [Mother] as long as [Father] and
[Mother] were together. Father remained in [Mother’s] life, and
the children remained in placement.
Mother testified that she now believes that [Father] did create the
injury to her son. Mother testified that she believes it was poor
judgment on [Father’s] behalf. Mother has not put her children
first. Now, that [Father] is in prison and sentenced to twenty-
nine years, [Mother] broke her relationship with [Father],
although probably not intentionally, got a divorce and now
indicates she will do anything to be reunified with her children.
Four years later.
Grandmother, [Mother’s] mother testified that [Mother] has been
struggling with mental health issues her entire life. Grandmother
testified that [Mother] was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Grandmother stated that [Mother] herself was a ward of the
Department of Child Services previously during her youth and
was residentially placed for two years. Grandmother testified
that [Mother’s] mental issues have not been addressed.
The Court cannot dismiss the four years of stability and the years
of bonding and permanency that the children have achieved.
The Court must put these children first.
[Al.C.] is two years of age and was placed outside parental care
at four days old. The child remained in her current home for the
entire time except for a brief attempt of failed reunification.
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Mother has been offered all services available in an effort for
[her] to properly and safely parent her children. All services have
failed. Mother has not taken advantage of the services offered.
Services were provided to [Mother] for over four years. The
needs of the children outweighs the right of the parents to parent
their children. The children deserve permanency and stability
and the children have obtained it in their current placements. It
is in the children’s best interest to maintain their placements and
the bonds they have created. It would be detrimental to the best
interests of the children to disrupt the stability of their current
placement.
Neither parent is providing any emotional or financial support
for the children. Neither parent has completed any case plan for
reunification. Neither parent is in a position to properly parent
these children. Father is incarcerated and will be for numerous
years. The children are in placement and are bonded and
thriving. [Al.C.] has been in placement since birth and has never
been in parental care or custody. [Ad.C.] has been in placement
with her grandparents[] for almost four years. The Court notes
[Ad.C.] is five years old. [Ad.C.] has spent the majority of her
life with her grandparents.
There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the
parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the
children . . . for the reasons stated above. Additionally, the
children deserve a loving, caring, safe and stable home.
It is in the best interest of the children and [their] health, welfare
and future that the parent-child relationship between the children
and [their] parents be forever fully and absolutely terminated.
The Indiana Department of Child Services has a satisfactory plan
for the care and treatment of the children which is Adoption by
the foster parents . . . for [Al.C.] and adoption by the
grandparents . . . for [Ad.C.].
Father’s Appendix Volume II at 2-7.
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Discussion
[15] The issue is whether the trial court erred in terminating Parents’ parental rights.
Father argues that there is a reasonable probability that the reasons for the
Children’s removal have been remedied and points to his participation in
services including parenting classes, counseling, and visitation. He asserts that
he had never been trained in infant CPR prior to his services and such training
“would have either greatly reduced or eliminated [his] ‘knee-jerk’ response” to
the health crisis of C.C., Jr., that resulted in his death. Father’s Brief at 12.
Father argues that he has positioned himself to be a financial support to the
Children. He contends that he does not pose a threat to the Children’s well-
being and points to his participation in services and his bond with the Children.
Father also argues that termination is not in the Children’s best interest, there
was no satisfactory case plan, and appears to argue that the Children should be
placed with his sister.
[16] Mother contends that the court erred in finding that there was a reasonable
probability the conditions that resulted in removal of the Children would not
been remedied. She argues that she made progress with her services and, at the
time of the termination hearing, was divorced from Father, working, residing in
suitable housing, and continuing to seek therapy for her issues. She asserts that
the court erred in finding a reasonable probability that the continuation of the
parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the Children and
that there was no evidence that she ever harmed the Children while they were
in her care and custody. She also argues that termination is not in the
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Children’s best interests and they should be afforded the opportunity to be
raised or at least have a relationship with her. (Mother’s Brief at 14)
[17] In order to terminate a parent-child relationship, DCS is required to allege and
prove, among other things:
(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.
(iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
adjudicated a child in need of services;
(C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of
the child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2).2 If the court finds that the allegations in a petition
described in Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4 are true, the court shall terminate the parent-
child relationship. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-8(a).
[18] The State’s burden of proof for establishing the allegations in termination cases
“is one of ‘clear and convincing evidence.’” In re G.Y., 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1260-
2
Subsequently amended by Pub. L. No. 42-2017, § 2 (eff. July 1, 2017).
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1261 (Ind. 2009) (quoting Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2), reh’g denied. This is “a
‘heightened burden of proof’ reflecting termination’s ‘serious social
consequences.’” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 642 (Ind. 2014) (quoting In re G.Y.,
904 N.E.2d at 1260-1261, 1260 n.1). “But weighing the evidence under that
heightened standard is the trial court’s prerogative—in contrast to our well-
settled, highly deferential standard of review.” Id. We do not reweigh the
evidence or determine the credibility of witnesses, but consider only the
evidence that supports the judgment and the reasonable inferences to be drawn
from the evidence. Id. We confine our review to two steps: whether the
evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings, and then whether the
findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment. Id.
[19] Reviewing whether the evidence clearly and convincingly supports the findings,
or the findings clearly and convincingly support the judgment, is not a license to
reweigh the evidence. Id. “[W]e do not independently determine whether that
heightened standard is met, as we would under the ‘constitutional harmless
error standard,’ which requires the reviewing court itself to ‘be sufficiently
confident to declare the error harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.’” Id.
(quoting Harden v. State, 576 N.E.2d 590, 593 (Ind. 1991) (citing Chapman v.
California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S. Ct. 824 (1967))). “Our review must ‘give “due
regard” to the trial court’s opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses
firsthand,’ and ‘not set aside [its] findings or judgment unless clearly
erroneous.’” Id. (quoting K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., Dearborn Cty. Office,
989 N.E.2d 1225, 1229 (Ind. 2013) (citing Ind. Trial Rule 52(A))). “Because a
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case that seems close on a ‘dry record’ may have been much more clear-cut in
person, we must be careful not to substitute our judgment for the trial court
when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence.” Id. at 640.
A. Remedy of Conditions
[20] We note that the involuntary termination statute is written in the disjunctive
and requires proof of only one of the circumstances listed in Ind. Code § 31-35-
2-4(b)(2)(B). Because we find it to be dispositive under the facts of this case, we
limit our review to whether DCS established that there was a reasonable
probability that the conditions resulting in the removal or reasons for placement
of the Children outside the home will not be remedied. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-
4(b)(2)(B)(i).
[21] In determining whether the conditions that resulted in the Children’s removal
will not be remedied, we engage in a two-step analysis. E.M., 4 N.E.3d at 642-
643. First, we identify the conditions that led to removal, and second, we
determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those conditions will
not be remedied. Id. at 643. In the second step, the trial court must judge a
parent’s fitness as of the time of the termination proceeding, taking into
consideration evidence of changed conditions, balancing a parent’s recent
improvements against habitual patterns of conduct to determine whether there
is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation. Id. We entrust that
delicate balance to the trial court, which has discretion to weigh a parent’s prior
history more heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination. Id.
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Requiring trial courts to give due regard to changed conditions does not
preclude them from finding that a parent’s past behavior is the best predictor of
future behavior. Id.
“The statute does not simply focus on the initial basis for a child’s removal for
purposes of determining whether a parent’s rights should be terminated, but
also those bases resulting in the continued placement outside the home.” In re
N.Q., 996 N.E.2d 385, 392 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013) (citation and internal quotation
marks omitted). A court may consider evidence of a parent’s prior criminal
history, history of neglect, failure to provide support, lack of adequate housing
and employment, and the services offered by DCS and the parent’s response to
those services, and, 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. Id.
“Indiana courts have upheld parental rights of incarcerated parents who still
had a year or more to serve before possible release,” and the Indiana Supreme
Court has “not established a bright-line rule for when release must occur to
maintain parental rights.” K.E. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 39 N.E.3d 641, 648
(Ind. 2015). “Because the release date alone is not determinative, we consider
whether other evidence, coupled with this consideration, demonstrates by clear
and convincing evidence a reasonable probability that [an incarcerated parent]
would be unable to remedy the conditions for removal.” Id.
[22] To the extent Parents do not challenge the court’s findings of fact, these
unchallenged facts stand as proven. See In re B.R., 875 N.E.2d 369, 373 (Ind.
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Ct. App. 2007) (failure to challenge findings by the trial court resulted in waiver
of the argument that the findings were clearly erroneous), trans. denied.
[23] With respect to Father, the record reveals that Father was convicted of neglect
of a dependent and battery resulting in death and sentenced to an aggregate
sentence of twenty-nine and one-half years with an earliest release date of 2030.
We observe that this offense occurred while Ad.C. was fifteen months old and
resulted in the death of one of Father’s other children.
[24] As for Mother, Tina Kozlowski, a DCS assessment case manager, testified that
Mother was devastated following the death of C.C., Jr., and said “I’ll never
forgive [Father] if he did this.” Transcript Volume II at 25. She testified that
Mother later began having doubts that Father could have caused the injuries
and did not want to believe that he did. Rubino testified that she could not
leave Al.C. with Mother because of a concern regarding Mother’s repeated
admission that she did not believe Father was the alleged perpetrator in the
death of C.C., Jr. She also testified that Father, who was out on bond at the
time of Al.C.’s birth, was introduced by Parents in the hospital following her
birth as Santiago’s husband to the hospital social worker in an attempt to “fool
the social worker.” Id. at 42.
[25] Sheets, the case manager supervisor, parenting educator, and behavior specialist
for Regional Mental Health, testified that Mother’s lack of success in her
program was due to Mother’s unwillingness or inability and that Mother did
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not want to engage in the hands-on parenting portion of education at some
point. She also stated:
It became clear that she wasn’t really utilizing the skills and so it
was kind of was like maybe the focus would be better spent on
just behavior management for [Ad.C.] rather than the hands-on
parenting with [Mother], because after all this time, well certain
things were better, we did not achieve the outcomes that we had
hoped for.
Id. at 88. She testified that she was not sure that Mother could keep Ad.C. safe
and expressed concern regarding Mother’s inability to recognize that Father
harmed their baby intentionally in light of the injuries.
[26] Haney, the Executive Director of Children’s Treehouse, testified that Mother
improved “along the way, but it seemed to always go back” and “[r]egress to
the way it had been prior.” Id. at 103. She also testified that there was very
little progress.
[27] Boton, the therapist, testified that she actively attempted to provide services to
Mother between August 2016 and February 2017. Boton’s goal was to meet
with Mother twenty-four times, but Mother missed fifteen appointments and
gave Boton various reasons including her son had different ailments, she had
different ailments, conflict of scheduling, and she had different appointments.
Boton testified that Mother had reported being molested by her stepfather, that
she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and that she had suffered from
depression. Boton testified that Mother was “very resistant,” “did not actively
participate in her sessions to get the services what they were meant for, meant
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for her,” and that her level of resistance was abnormal. Id. at 138. Boton also
testified that Mother’s emotional stability and her ability to perceive the
situation accurately concerned her and that she believed Mother was still in
denial of what happened to C.C., Jr. Boton further stated that Mother alleged
that DCS was recording her at her home, in her car, on her way to work, and in
the community setting, and that “paranoia is setting in.” Id. at 144.
[28] When asked why DCS had not been able to place the children back with
Mother, FCM Rios testified that visitation had become contentious. She also
stated:
The major concern for the Department is that there was a refusal
to secure that environment for both of the other children. In
particular, with the situation with [Al.C.] and knowing that
[Father] was in the situation that he was in and that the parents
remained together despite the fact that there was a no contact for
the children. So, not – [Mother] did not – refusing to believe that
those are the things that happened, despite a criminal conviction,
is a concern. It’s a concern for the Department that the needs of
others came before the needs of her children. And so that
remains a concern today.
Id. at 159. She testified that, while Mother filed for divorce from Father, this
did not occur until three days after the conviction and that “[i]t’s important
because the conversation had happened prior and the conversation had been
put on the table prior, about the importance of keeping [Father] away from the
kids, keeping the children safe. And that simply did not happen until it had to
happen.” Id.
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[29] Based upon the court’s findings and the record, we conclude that clear and
convincing evidence supports the trial court’s determination that there is a
reasonable probability that the conditions leading to the Children’s removal will
not be remedied. See In re A.H., 832 N.E.2d 563, 570 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)
(concluding that the trial court properly terminated the parent-child relationship
where a parent participated in but failed to benefit from services).
B. Best Interests
[30] We next consider Parents’ assertion that DCS failed to demonstrate that
termination of their parental rights was in the Children’s best interests. In
determining what is in the best interests of a child, the trial court is required to
look beyond the factors identified by DCS and to the totality of the evidence.
McBride v. Monroe Cty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2003). In so doing, the court must subordinate the interests of the parent
to those of the children. Id. Children have a paramount need for permanency
which the Indiana Supreme Court has called a central consideration in
determining the child’s best interests, and the Court has stated that children
cannot wait indefinitely for their parents to work toward preservation or
reunification and courts need not wait until the child is irreversibly harmed such
that the child’s physical, mental, and social development is permanently
impaired before terminating the parent-child relationship. In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d
at 647-648. However, “focusing on permanency, standing alone, would
impermissibly invert the best-interests inquiry . . . .” Id. at 648.
Recommendations of the case manager and court-appointed advocate, in
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addition to evidence that the conditions resulting in removal will not be
remedied, are sufficient to show by clear and convincing evidence that
termination is in the child’s best interests. In re A.S., 17 N.E.3d 994, 1005 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2014), trans. denied.
[31] When asked about Ad.C.’s best interests, Sheets testified that she witnessed a
scene that repeated itself several times during visitation in which Ad.C. would
play with a baby doll, say that the baby threw up in her bed, pick up the baby
doll, shake it, say “Bad, baby,” throw the baby in the corner, and say “I’ll get a
new baby.” Transcript Volume II at 75. When asked what observations or
experience she had that would support adoption as being in Ad.C.’s best
interest, Sheets answered:
Well, there were several things that occurred during the course of
the case that I observed. One, was that [Mother] and I had
conversations about the, you know, maybe it would be in the best
interest of the children, for [Mother] to not support [Father],
work harder on her parenting skills, and getting the children
placed back into her care. [Mother] was not willing to do that.
She wanted to stay with [Father] and support him through the
criminal trial, even though that meant not having her children
with her. [Mother] did not notice [Ad.C.’s] resistance and
reluctance to have contact or physical touching or even wanting
to play with [Father]. [Mother] did not notice that until I called
that to her attention. She didn’t seem to think that that was a
problem. So, my concern there would be that [Mother] is not
able to recognize what her child needs. Or when someone may
present a danger or a safety concern to her child. In
conversations with [Mother], it almost seems as if [Mother] has
an inability or an ability to change the way she views reality to
make it fit what she needs or what she wants. That she can’t see
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things as they really are, as they really present. So, that causes
me great concern for [Ad.C.]. And [Ad.C.] is, as I said, very
bright. So, she could be challenging.
Id. at 78-79. FCM Rios testified that she recommended that the court terminate
the parental rights of Parents.
[32] Based on the testimony, as well as the totality of the evidence in the record and
as set forth in the court’s termination order, we conclude that the court’s
determination that termination is in the best interests of the Children is
supported by clear and convincing evidence.
C. Satisfactory Plan
[33] With respect to Father’s argument that the evidence did not demonstrate there
was a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the Children, we disagree. 3
This Court has held that adoption is a satisfactory plan for the care and
treatment of a child under the termination of parental rights statute. In re B.M.,
913 N.E.2d 1283, 1287 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (citing In re A.N.J., 690 N.E.2d
716, 722 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)). “This plan need not be detailed, so long as it
offers a general sense of the direction in which the child will be going after the
parent-child relationship is terminated.” In re Termination of Parent-Child
Relationship of D.D., 804 N.E.2d 258, 268 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied.
3
Mother concedes that DCS provided clear and convincing evidence that they have a satisfactory plan for
the future care and treatment of the Children.
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[34] Initially, we observe as to other possible placements for the Children, FCM
Rios testified that Mother had wanted Al.C. to be placed with Santiago, but
Santiago actually requested DCS to take Al.C. back because “[i]t was too
much, she cried a lot, I think she was a colicky baby and she did not wish to
keep her.” Transcript Volume II at 164. FCM Rios also testified that Father’s
sister contacted her for the first time in January 2017, that Father’s sister
indicated that Al.C. and Ad.C. were young and they would “get over” being
removed from their placements, and that she did not know Al.C.’s name. Id. at
165.
[35] Ad.C.’s maternal grandmother testified that Ad.C. had been in her home since
October 2012 when Ad.C. was fifteen months old and that Ad.C. had bonded
with her and her husband. She testified that Ad.C. was doing fairly well and
had done very well with her behavior at school.
[36] Al.C.’s foster mother testified that she had Al.C. in her care since she was four
days old except for a period of two months early on when Al.C. was placed
somewhere else. She testified that Al.C. had very much bonded with her and
her whole family and that Al.C. calls her mommy. She also testified that she
was in touch with the biological grandparents, that Ad.C. and Al.C. have met,
and that “we want to make sure we keep that relationship open.” Transcript
Volume III at 81.
[37] Sheets testified that Ad.C.’s grandparents were very receptive to using certain
skills and wording with Ad.C. and were successful in managing Ad.C.’s
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behaviors at home. Sheets described that Ad.C.’s current placement with her
grandparents as stable with consistent parenting and a “very good
environment.” Transcript Volume II at 82. Sheets testified:
And the grandparents are able to be consistent with her. They
are loving, yet they are firm. They do fun, wonderful things with
her, but they also make sure that she goes to bed on time, that
she eats healthy, that she goes to school. That she is not allowed
to get physically aggressive. If she does try things, negative
behaviors, there are consequences for those, but they are not
punitive consequences, they are logical or natural consequences
for the behaviors. And if they have any kind of concern or, hey,
what’s going on here, you know, they always call either Areca or
myself or both of us. Just to let us know what is happening
within the family, if there is something new going on with
[Ad.C.].
Id. at 79.
[38] FCM Rios testified:
[Al.C.] has been where she is with the exception of a very short
period of time, I believe for about two and a half months. She
has been her entire life at the foster home she’s in now. She’s
developed a very strong bond to the foster family. [Ad.C.] is
with her grandparents. She identifies them as her family. She
does very well in that environment. I believe the children are in
the best possible circumstances that they could be in. Clearly,
[Ad.C.] will maintain her essential connections being in
grandma’s house. So she still has access to her family. [Al.C.] is
in a foster home and they are not blood relatives, but the sisters
do see each other, so I mean, she’s not been disconnected from
the family in the way that I think people automatically assume
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when kids are separated. So, I do believe that the situations that
they’re in are the best situations for them to achieve permanency.
Id. at 163-164.
[39] FCM Rios further testified that DCS made attempts to place the children
together, but “due to a multitude of circumstances and I believe a big part of it
was that [the maternal grandparents] were just physically unable to take on
another child, and that was when [Al.C.] went to foster care.” Id. at 175. FCM
Rios testified that the quality of care in the maternal grandparents’ home where
Ad.C. was placed was “very good, excellent,” that she has a good relationship
with grandmother, and that there did not seem to be any issues in the home
with Ad.C. and her grandparents. Id. at 166. She also described the quality of
care in Al.C.’s foster home as excellent and that Al.C. was very bonded to her
foster brother. When asked about maintaining the relationship between Al.C.
and Ad.C., FCM Rios answered:
Well, [the maternal grandmother] and [the foster mother] had
spoken and they see each other at court and things of that nature
and they really wanted to get the girls together, so that is
something that they started doing. That they would like to plan
on continuing doing with this if this takes the adoption road.
Both grandma and foster mom feel that the sisters shouldn’t be
kept from each other, so they intend to keep that relationship
intact.
Id. at 168. She also testified that the grandparents wish to adopt Ad.C. and the
foster parents wish to adopt Al.C. The record and the court’s findings support
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the court’s conclusion that adoption is a satisfactory plan for the care and
treatment of the Children.
Conclusion
[40] We conclude that the trial court’s judgment terminating the parental rights of
Parents is supported by clear and convincing evidence. We find no error and
affirm.
[41] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Kirsch, J., concur.
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