In Re David W. , 8 A.3d 673 ( 2010 )

2010 ME 119

IN RE DAVID W.

Docket: Yor-10-130.

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.

Submitted On Briefs: October 21, 2010. Decided: November 23, 2010.

Angela M. Thibodeau, Esq. McGarry & Holmes, LLC P.O. Box 1647 Wells, Maine 04090, Attorney for mother.

Janet T. Mills, Attorney General Nora Sosnoff, Asst. Atty. Gen. Karen Dostler, Asst. Atty. Gen. Office of the Attorney General Six State House Station Augusta, Maine 04333-0006, Attorneys for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Panel: SAUFLEY, C.J., and ALEXANDER, LEVY, MEAD, GORMAN, and JABAR, JJ.

GORMAN, J.

[¶ 1] The mother of David W. appeals from a judgment entered in the District Court (Biddeford, Foster, J.) terminating her parental rights to the child pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2) (2009). She argues that the court erred in fashioning a permanency plan for the child by terminating her parental rights rather than placing the child in a permanency guardianship pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4038-C (2009).^[1] Because we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm the judgment.

I. BACKGROUND

[¶ 2] Shawn A. is the mother of a boy, David W., who is now six years old. In the summer of 2008, after two years of offering services to Shawn, who was David's custodial parent, the Department of Health and Human Services realized David was not safe in his mother's care and attempted to avoid the necessity for a court proceeding by placing him with other family members. When those placements fell apart, in August 2008, the Department requested and obtained a preliminary protection order. Through that order, the Department obtained temporary custody of David, and it placed him in a therapeutic foster home.

[¶ 3] Shortly thereafter, both parents^[2] agreed to the entry of a jeopardy order. In its order, the court found that jeopardy to David was caused by his mother's mental health issues, her undiagnosed blackouts, her history of relationships involving domestic violence, her failure to follow through with services for her child, and a history of unsanitary living conditions. During the next eight months, David remained in foster care, in the Department's custody, pursuant to orders entered by the court, based on agreements among all parties.

[¶ 4] After the Department filed a petition to terminate the parents' parental rights, the court held a two-day hearing in November 2009 that involved evidence presented on the termination petition and on the statutorily-required review of the jeopardy order and determination of a permanency plan. See 22 M.R.S. §§ 4038(1), 4038-B(1)(B) (2009). In December 2009, the court issued a review and permanency planning order, finding that the Department made reasonable efforts to rehabilitate and reunify the family and noting that the Department and the mother disagreed on the appropriate permanency plan. The Department was requesting that the mother's parental rights be terminated, and that David be placed with his maternal aunt and uncle for adoption. The mother was seeking a permanency guardianship with the same maternal aunt and uncle. The court ordered that David was to remain in the Department's custody pending resolution of the termination proceeding.

[¶ 5] In February 2010, the court terminated the mother's parental rights on grounds that she (1) was unwilling or unable to protect the child from jeopardy and the circumstances were unlikely to change within a time reasonably calculated to meet the child's needs; (2) was unwilling or unable to take responsibility for the child within a time that was reasonably calculated to meet the child's needs; and (3) had failed to make a good faith effort to rehabilitate and reunify with the child. See 22 M.R.S. § 4055(1)(B)(2)(b)(i), (ii), (iv). The court found that termination of the mother's parental rights was in the child's best interest and that permanency could best be achieved for the child through adoption. In light of tumultuous family dynamics, the court declined to place the child in a permanency guardianship pursuant to 22 M.R.S. § 4038-C. The mother timely appeals.

II. DISCUSSION

[¶ 6] A "central tenet" of Maine's Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act (the Act), 22 M.R.S. §§ 4001 to 4099-G (2009), is the importance of permanency for children subject to child protection proceedings. See In re Thomas H., 2005 ME 123, ¶¶ 23-25, 889 A.2d 297, 303-06. Section 4050, which sets forth the purpose of the Act's termination subchapter, currently provides:

Recognizing that instability and impermanency are contrary to the welfare of children, it is the intent of the Legislature that this subchapter:

1. Termination of parental rights. Allow for the termination of parental rights at the earliest possible time after rehabilitation and reunification efforts have been discontinued and termination is in the best interest of the child;

2. Return to family. Eliminate the need for children to wait unreasonable periods of time for their parents to correct the conditions which prevent their return to the family;

3. Adoption. Promote the adoption of children into stable families rather than allowing children to remain in the impermanency of foster care; and

4. Protect interests of child. Be liberally construed to serve and protect the best interests of the child.

22 M.R.S. § 4050.

[¶ 7] Our decisions also reflect this fundamental principle of permanency. See In re Thomas H., 2005 ME 123, ¶ 29, 889 A.2d at 307 ("The Act, our decisions, and practice all reinforce the fundamental principle that the strong public policy favoring permanency for children must inform the trial court's exercise of judicial discretion associated with determining a child's best interest, as well as any subsequent appellate review."); In re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159, ¶ 28, 809 A.2d 1245, 1253 (stating that the Act "has a clearly stated policy favoring permanency for children"); In re Kafia M., 1999 ME 195, ¶ 15, 742 A.2d 919, 925 ("For all children, permanency and stability are legislatively mandated goals, and the impermanency of foster care is to be avoided.").

[¶ 8] In fashioning a permanency plan, the District Court must determine whether the child will be: (1) "[r]eturned to a parent," (2) "[p]laced for adoption," (3) "[c]ared for by a permanency guardian . . . or a guardian appointed by the Probate Court," (4) "[p]laced with a fit and willing relative," or (5) "[p]laced in another planned permanent living arrangement." 22 M.R.S. § 4038-B(4)(A). In determining the appropriate permanency plan, "it is the policy in this State that permanency plans for children, who are the subject of protection proceedings, be implemented so that children will have stability and certainty." Adoption of Michaela C., 2004 ME 153, ¶ 15, 863 A.2d 270, 274.

[¶ 9] In this case, the court expressly found that, although he has special needs, David has shown an ability to integrate into another home. The guardian ad litem suggested that David's proposed caretaker, his aunt, would need the "protection" provided by a termination order so that she could make decisions for David without excessive family interference. The court commented that the stress of familial interactions had already undermined the maternal aunt's resolve to adopt David, and noted that, if family pressures or some other factor prevented David's aunt and uncle from adopting him, only termination of his mother's parental rights would allow the Department to locate another permanent home for the child. Based on these concerns, the court specifically rejected the option of a permanency guardianship, finding that adoption would ensure a permanent home for the child.

[¶ 10] The record fully supports the court's finding that termination of the mother's parental rights is in David's best interest. See In re Michaela C., 2002 ME 159, ¶ 27, 809 A.2d at 1253 ("The District Court's judgment on the issue of best interest is entitled to substantial deference because that court is able to directly evaluate the testimony of the witnesses."). The court's well-reasoned opinion gave proper weight to the concept of permanency in its best interests determination. "Permanency is a dynamic concept that must be fashioned from the actual circumstances and needs of the child or children before the court." In re Marcus S., 2007 ME 24, ¶ 10, 916 A.2d 225, 228. A permanency guardianship in this case would not have ensured certainty and stability for the child. Thus, the court did not err in determining that placement for adoption, rather than a permanency guardianship, was in the child's best interest.

The entry is:

Judgment affirmed.

NOTES

[1] The mother concedes that there is sufficient evidence in the record to support the court's findings of parental unfitness. Title 22 M.R.S. § 4038-C(1) (2009) provides:

The District Court may appoint a person to be a permanency guardian only if the court finds that the prospective permanency guardian:

A. Has the ability to provide a safe home for the child;

B. Has a close emotional bond with the child and that the child has a close emotional bond with the prospective permanency guardian;

C. Is willing and able to make an informed, long-term commitment to the child; and

D. Has the skills to care for the child and to obtain needed information about and assistance with any special needs of the child.

[2] David's father agreed to the termination of his parental rights in November 2009. Therefore, his role in the case or David's life will not be discussed in this opinion.