In Re: A.M., a Minor, Appeal of: C.C. ( 2022 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: A.M., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: C.C., MOTHER :
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: No. 1120 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Order Entered May 10, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
No(s): CP-51-DP-0001065-2019
IN THE INTEREST OF: A.M.M., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: C.C., MOTHER :
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: No. 1121 EDA 2021
Appeal from the Decree Entered May 10, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Juvenile Division at
No(s): CP-51-AP-0000223-2021
BEFORE: KUNSELMAN, J., NICHOLS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED FEBRUARY 1, 2022
C.C. (Mother) appeals1 from the order granting the petition filed by the
Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) to involuntarily terminate
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1Father filed a separate appeal from the order, which is docketed at 933 EDA
2021 and addressed in a separate memorandum.
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her rights to her minor child, A.M.M. (Child), born in May of 2019, and the
decree changing Child’s permanency goal to adoption.2 After careful review,
we affirm.
The trial court accurately summarized the facts of this matter as follows:
[DHS] first became aware of this family on May 19, 2019, when it
received a General Protective Services (GPS) report concerning
allegations that Mother tested positive for Percocet at Child’s birth,
for which she did not have a prescription. The GPS report stated
that although [Child] did not test positive for any substances at
her birth, she would be assessed for withdrawal and possibly
started on a morphine treatment because [Child’s] Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) score was 10, which was high. The
GPS report alleged that Mother also had two male children that
were residing with relatives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[3] The
GPS report also alleged [that] Mother was diagnosed with anxiety
and depression, but was not receiving treatment or prescribed
medication.
On May 20, 2019, DHS visited [Child] at Einstein Medical Center
(EMC), and hospital staff confirmed that [Child] was suffering from
severe withdrawal. Hospital staff stated that [Child] was receiving
morphine maintenance and would need to remain hospitalized for
further treatment. . . .
DHS visited Mother and Father at [Child’s] paternal grandmother’s
home on May 20, 2019. Mother denied having a history of
substance abuse issues. Mother stated that she used one 15
milligram Percocet pill, which she purchased illegally, to treat back
pain. Father denied awareness of Mother’s drug use. Father also
stated that he used drugs for 12 years until 2018, when he
became sober.
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2Mother’s appeals were consolidated by this Court sua sponte. See Order,
6/24/21.
3Mother’s two older children are Child’s half-brothers. Both siblings reside
with their adoptive parent and that family’s biological children.
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On June 5, 2019, DHS received a supplement to the GPS report
alleging that Mother’s drug of choice was heroin or Phencyclidine
(PCP). The GPS report alleged that Mother had not been able to
maintain sobriety. The report also stated that the adoptive parent
of [Child’s] siblings was willing to be a placement resource for
[Child].
[After spending several weeks in the NICU, Child was discharged
from EMC on June 24, 2019. That same day, the trial court held
a shelter care hearing, at which] the temporary commitment to
DHS was ordered to stand. On that date, [Child] was placed in
the care of her siblings’ adoptive parent, where she remains. On
July 1, 2019, [Child] was adjudicated dependent and committed
to DHS.
A Single Case Plan (SCP) meeting was held on July 10, 2019, at
which time the permanency goal was reunification. The parental
objectives for Mother were to maintain appropriate housing and
employment; to comply with dual diagnosis treatment; to attend
NET three times per week; to complete three random drug
screens; to participate in visits; and to attend parenting classes.
Id. Mother’s single case plan objectives remained consistent
throughout the life of the case. Id. at 14. On July 29, 2020,
Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) changed the permanency goal
for [Child] to adoption.
On April 26, 2021, DHS filed petitions to change the goal from
reunification to adoption and to involuntarily terminate Mother’s
parental rights. [On May 10, 2021, the trial court held a hearing
on DHS’s petitions.] At the hearing, the court heard testimony
from [Nathan Kipp, a case manager from] Community Umbrella
Agency (CUA), [Robert Buchofer from] Community Behavioral
Health (CBH), [and Mother and Father, who testified on their own
behalf.]
[Mr. Kipp] testified that he has been the assigned worker this case
since its inception at [Child’s] birth on May 17, 2019. N.T.
Termination Hr’g, 5/10/2021, at 13. Mr. Kipp testified that [Child]
came into care because Mother tested positive for Percocet at her
birth. Id. at 13. Mr. Kipp testified that although [Child] did not
test positive for any substances at birth, she was placed on
morphine maintenance to help with withdrawal symptoms. Id.
Mr. Kipp further testified that Mother’s single case plan objectives
were as follows: (1) maintain appropriate housing and
employment, (2) submit random drug screens, (3) attend
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parenting, housing, and financial education classes through ARC,
(4) participate in a dual diagnosis program to address her mental
health and drug and alcohol history; and (5) participate in
visitation. Id. at 14. Mr. Kipp rated Mother’s compliance with her
single case plan objectives as “minimal” and Mother’s progress
towards alleviating the reasons that brought [Child] into care as
“none.” Id. at 23.
Mr. Kipp testified that Mother was referred to the Clinical
Evaluation Unit (CEU) for a forthwith drug screen and nine random
drug screens. Id. at 14. Mother submitted a forthwith random
drug screen on October 9, 2019 and one random drug screen on
February 25, 2021; she did not submit additional random drug
screens. Id. Mother tested positive for PCP in June 2019, and
tested positive for PCP, benzodiazepine, and cocaine in February
2021. Mr. Kipp testified that Mother enrolled in a drug and alcohol
treatment program through Wedge Recovery Centers (The
Wedge), which she was attending at the time of the TPR hearing.
Id. at 15. Mr. Kipp testified that Mother also enrolled in an
inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program through Ambrosia
but left against medical advice after completing half of the
program. Id. at 16. Mr. Kipp testified that Mother did not engage
in a mental health program, although The Wedge offered a mental
health program. Id. at 16. CUA also referred Mother to BHS for
an evaluation, but Mr. Kipp did not receive any documentation
that Mother attended the evaluation. Id. at 17
Mr. Kipp testified that, Mother has engaged in ARC, but has never
completed any of her required classes. Id. at 17. Mr. Kipp
reported that Mother attended five support coaching classes, ten
parenting classes, one housing class, and no financial planning
classes. Id. at 15; 18. Mr. Kipp also reported that Mother was
unenrolled from a program for non-participation three times
during the life of the case. Id. at 18.
Mr. Kipp testified that Mother’s visits with [Child] were to be
supervised weekly at the agency for one hour. Id. at 18. Mother’s
visits remained the same throughout the life of the case. Id. Mr.
Kipp testified that Mother attended approximately three quarters
of her visits with [Child]. Id. at 19. Mr. Kipp also testified that
CUA was concerned about a potential plot by Mother to kidnap
[Child] after a visit. Id. at 19. Mr. Kipp testified that Mother
reached out to several people stating that she wanted to take
[Child] from the case aid, Raymond, after a visit. Id. at 20.
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Regarding Mother’s relationship with [Child], Mr. Kipp testified
that [Child] did recognize Mother, but there was no discernible
mother-child bond between them. Id. at 21. He added that
[Child] never asked to visit nor expressed a desire to see Mother,
nor did [Child] get upset when the visits ended. Id. at 16-18. Mr.
Kipp also testified that [Child] is bonded with her kinship parents
and everyone in the kinship family. [Child] looks to her kinship
parents for her basic needs as well as love, support, care, and
comfort. Id. at 33. Mr. Kipp testified that the kinship parents’
home is a pre-adoptive home for [Child]. Id. at 33. Ms. Kipp
advised the court that [Child] has lived with her kinship parents
her entire life except when she was in the hospital. Id. at 16-21.
He stated that she was doing very well in the home, and that it
was in [Child’s] best interest to change her goal to adoption. Id.
at 30. Mr. Kipp stated that if the court were to involuntarily
terminate Mother’s rights, there would be no irreparable harm to
[Child]. Id. at 22.
Trial Ct. Op., 10/20/21, at 1-6 (some formatting altered).
On May 10, 2021, the trial court issued an opinion and goal change order
granting DHS’s petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights under Section
2511(a)(1), (2), (5), (8), and (b). Mother filed timely notices of appeal and
complied with Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b).4
On appeal, Mother presents the following issues for our review:
1. Did the court below err in finding that [DHS] had met its burden
in proving grounds under [Section] 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and
(8)?
2. Did the court below err in finding that DHS had met its burden
to prove that termination would be in Child’s best interests,
under [Section] 2511(b)?
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4 On September 27, 2021, this Court issued an order remanding this matter
to the trial court for a Rule 1925(a) opinion. The trial court timely complied
and issued a Rule 1925(a) opinion stating the reasons for the termination and
goal change orders and addressing the issues raised in Mother’s Rule 1925(b)
statement.
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3. Did the court below err when it found that DHS by clear and
convincing evidence had met its burden to change Child’s goal
to adoption?
Mother’s Brief at 5 (some formatting altered).5
In reviewing an appeal from an order terminating parental rights, we
apply the following standard of review:
[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. As has been often stated, an abuse of
discretion does not result merely because the reviewing court
might have reached a different conclusion. Instead, a decision
may be reversed for an abuse of discretion only upon
demonstration of manifest unreasonableness, partiality,
prejudice, bias, or ill-will.
As we discussed in R.J.T., there are clear reasons for applying an
abuse of discretion standard of review in these cases. We
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. 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
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5 In her brief, Mother raises an additional issue concerning the trial court’s
failure to issue a Rule 1925(a) opinion addressing Mother’s claims on appeal.
However, as noted above, we remanded this matter for the trial court to
remedy this deficiency. Because the trial court filed an opinion addressing
Mother’s claims, we need not address this issue further.
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the record and the court’s legal conclusions are not the result of
an error of law or an abuse of discretion.
In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826-27 (Pa. 2012) (some citations
omitted).
The burden is on the petitioner “to prove by clear and convincing
evidence that [the] asserted grounds for seeking the termination of parental
rights are valid.” In re R.N.J., 985 A.2d 273, 276 (Pa. Super. 2009). We
have explained that “[t]he standard of clear and convincing evidence is
defined as testimony that is so ‘clear, direct, weighty and convincing as to
enable the trier of fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitance, of the
truth of the precise facts in issue.’” Id. (citation omitted).
Our case law has made clear that under Section 2511, the court
must engage in a bifurcated process prior to terminating parental
rights. Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The
party seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing
evidence that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds
for termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the court
determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his
or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of
the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b) . . . .
In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted).
Further, we “may affirm the trial court’s decision regarding the
termination of parental rights with regard to any one subsection of section
2511(a).” In re M.T., 101 A.3d 1163, 1179 (Pa. Super. 2014) (en banc)
(citation omitted).
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Section 2511(a)(2)
We first address Mother’s challenge to the evidence supporting
termination under Section 2511(a)(2). Mother’s Brief at 19. Mother
emphasizes that a trial court “is not barred from considering” a parent’s effort
to remedy conditions after a termination petition has been filed under Section
2511(a)(2). Id. at 19. Mother claims that “[i]n many instances, [she] did
initiate such efforts” and that “there is no requirement that the efforts be
completed at some arbitrary date.” Id. at 19-20 (emphases in original).
Specifically, she asserts that she made progress with her objectives by
attending drug and alcohol programs, engaging in classes with ARC, and
attending visits with Child. Id. at 19-20. Therefore, she concludes that there
was insufficient evidence to warrant termination under Section 2511(a)(2).
Id. at 20.
Section 2511(a)(2) provides 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 conditions and
causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or
will not be remedied by the parent.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2).
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To satisfy the requirements of [Section] 2511(a)(2), the moving
party must prove (1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse,
neglect or refusal; (2) that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or
refusal caused the child to be without essential parental care,
control or subsistence; and (3) that the causes of the incapacity,
abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied. The
grounds for termination are not limited to affirmative misconduct,
but concern parental incapacity that cannot be remedied.
In re C.M.K., 203 A.3d 258, 262 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citations and quotation
marks omitted).
Further, this Court has explained:
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.” In re A.L.D., 797
A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002).
Unlike subsection (a)(1), subsection (a)(2) does not
emphasize a parent’s refusal or failure to perform parental
duties, but instead emphasizes the child’s present and
future need for essential parental care, control or
subsistence necessary for his physical or mental well-being.
Therefore, the language in subsection (a)(2) should not be
read to compel courts to ignore a child’s need for a stable
home and strong, continuous parental ties, which the policy
of restraint in state intervention is intended to protect. This
is particularly so where disruption of the family has already
occurred and there is no reasonable prospect for reuniting
it.
In re E.A.P., 944 A.2d 79, 82 (Pa. Super. 2008) (internal citations
and quotation marks omitted).
Thus, while “sincere efforts to perform parental duties,” can
preserve parental rights under subsection (a)(1), those same
efforts may be insufficient to remedy parental incapacity under
subsection (a)(2). “Parents are required to make diligent efforts
toward the reasonably prompt assumption of full parental
responsibilities.” [A.L.D., 797 A.2d at 340]. A “parent’s vow to
cooperate, after a long period of uncooperativeness regarding the
necessity or availability of services, may properly be rejected as
untimely or disingenuous.” Id.
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In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117-18 (Pa. Super. 2010) (some citations
omitted and formatting altered).
Here, the trial court addressed Section 2511(a)(2) as follows:
Applying [Section 2511](a)(2) to this case, it is clear that DHS
met its burden of demonstrating that termination of Mother’s
parental rights and changing the Child’s goal to adoption was
proper. [Child] was initially placed in DHS care because Mother
tested positive for Percocet at [Child’s] birth, for which she did not
have a prescription. Although [Child] did not test positive for any
substances, she was experiencing significant withdrawal
symptoms and spent several weeks in the NICU on morphine
maintenance. Additionally, the evidence established that
incapacity under [Section 2511(a)(2)] existed given that Mother
failed to demonstrate a concrete desire or ability to remedy the
conditions that led to [Child’s] placement. Mother failed to
participate in a mental health treatment program to address her
mental health concerns. Mother also tested positive for PCP,
cocaine, and benzodiazepine in February 2021. Moreover, while
Mother engaged in various ARC services, she failed to complete
classes for parenting, housing, and financial planning.
This court found that Mother’s failure to fully or substantially
comply with her single case plan objectives throughout the case
left [Child] without essential parental care, control, or subsistence
necessary for her physical or mental well-being, and the causes of
the incapacity will not be remedied by Mother. For these reasons,
the court found that clear and convincing evidence existed to
justify the involuntary termination of Mother’s parental rights
pursuant to [Section] 2511(a)(2).
Trial Ct. Op. at 11.
Following our review, we find no abuse of discretion or error of law in
the trial court’s conclusion that DHS presented clear and convincing evidence
to support termination of Mother’s parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2).
See S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27; see also R.N.J., 985 A.2d at 276.
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The record reflects that after Child was placed in kinship care in June of
2019, Mother’s SCP objectives were as follows: (1) maintain appropriate
housing and employment, (2) complete three random drug screens, (3) attend
parenting, housing, and financial education classes through ARC, (4)
participate in a dual diagnosis program to address her mental health and drug
and alcohol history, and (5) participate in visitation. See N.T. Termination
Hr’g at 14. The trial court credited Mr. Kipp’s testimony that Mother minimally
complied with her permanency objectives and made no progress in achieving
them. See id. at 23.
As noted by the trial court, Mr. Kipp testified that Mother attended
approximately three-quarters of her visits with Child. Id. at 19. However,
visitation never progressed further than one-hour supervised visits at the
agency due to Mother’s noncompliance, drug use, unstable housing, and
unaddressed mental health concerns. Id.
As to Mother’s ARC classes, Mr. Kipp reported that Mother attended five
support coaching classes, ten parenting classes, one housing class, and no
financial planning classes. Id. at 15. However, Mother did not complete any
of the required classes and was unenrolled for non-participation three
separate times. Id. at 15.
With respect to Mother’s dual diagnosis and drug testing objectives, Mr.
Kipp testified that Mother was enrolled in an alcohol treatment program at the
time of the termination hearing. Id. at 15. He also stated that Mother had
previously enrolled in inpatient drug and alcohol treatment at Ambrosia, but
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she left against medical advice after completing only half of the program. Id.
at 16. Further, Mr. Kipp indicated that Mother had failed to participate in any
mental health treatment or complete an evaluation through BHS. Id. at 16-
17. Finally, Mr. Kipp testified that although Mother was referred to CEU for
nine random drug screens, she completed only one. That test came back
positive for PCP, benzodiazepine, and cocaine in February of 2021. See id.
at 14.
Under these circumstances, the record supports the trial court’s
conclusion that Mother’s continued incapacity has caused Child to be without
essential parental care and that the causes of that incapacity cannot or will
not be remedied. See C.M.K., 203 A.3d at 262; Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1117-18.
Although we recognize that Mother attempted to complete at least some of
her SCP objectives, her efforts were insufficient to preserve her parental rights
under Section 2511(a)(2). See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1117 (stating that a parent’s
“efforts may be insufficient to remedy parental incapacity under [Section
2511(a)(2)]”); see also E.A.P., 944 A.2d at 82 (explaining that “the language
in subsection (a)(2) should not be read to compel courts to ignore a child’s
need for a stable home and strong, continuous parental ties,” particularly
when “disruption of the family has already occurred and there is no reasonable
prospect for reuniting it” (formatting altered)).
Therefore, we discern no abuse of discretion by the court in determining
that Mother’s conduct warrants termination under Section 2511(a)(2). See
S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27; see also R.N.J., 985 A.2d at 276. Accordingly,
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Mother is not entitled to relief. See M.T., 101 A.3d at 1179 (stating that we
may affirm a termination order based on any subsection of Section 2511(a)).
Section 2511(b)
Mother also challenges the trial court’s conclusions regarding Child’s
best interests under Section 2511(b). Mother contends that there was
“insufficient evidence as to whether or not there was a bond between [Child]
and Mother.” Mother’s Brief at 24. Further, she claims that “there was scant
testimony concerning the likely effect on [Child] of permanently severing any
bond that might exist.” Id. Therefore, Mother argues that DHS failed to
present clear and convincing evidence that termination was in Child’s best
interest and the trial court erred in failing to conduct a proper analysis. Id.
at 25-26.
Section 2511(b) states:
(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. . . .
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(b).
This Court has stated that the focus in terminating parental rights under
Section 2511(a) is on the parent, but the focus of Section 2511(b) is on the
child. See In re C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1008 (Pa. Super. 2008) (en banc).
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In reviewing the evidence in support of termination under Section 2511(b),
our Supreme Court has 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.
§ 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 In re E.M., 620 A.2d [481,
485 (Pa. 1993)], this 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 T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (some citations omitted).
“In cases where there is no evidence of any bond between the parent
and child, it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists. The extent of any bond
analysis, therefore, necessarily depends on the circumstances of the particular
case.” In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 762-63 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Nonetheless, the mere existence of a bond or attachment of a child to a
parent will not necessarily result in the denial of a termination petition, as
“[e]ven the most abused of children will often harbor some positive emotion
towards the abusive parent.” T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 267 (citation omitted).
Further, “[t]he continued attachment to the natural parents, despite serious
parental rejection through abuse and neglect, and failure to correct parenting
and behavior disorders which are harming the children cannot be
misconstrued as bonding.” Id. (citation omitted).
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As this Court has noted, “a parent’s basic constitutional right to the
custody and rearing of . . . her child is converted, upon the failure to fulfill . .
. her parental duties, to the child’s right to have proper parenting and
fulfillment of [the child’s] potential in a permanent, healthy, safe
environment.” In re B.,N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 856 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citations
omitted).
Nonetheless, “[w]hen examining the effect upon a child of severing a
bond, courts must examine whether termination of parental rights will destroy
a ‘necessary and beneficial relationship,’ thereby causing a child to suffer
‘extreme emotional consequences.’ In re Adoption of J.N.M., 177 A.3d 937,
944 (Pa. Super. 2018) (citation omitted).
Here, the trial court addressed Child’s best interests as follows:
Based on the evidence, this court determined that [Child] would
not suffer any irreparable harm if Mother’s parental rights were
terminated. After spending several weeks in the NICU on
morphine maintenance, [Child] was discharged from the hospital.
She was placed in her current kinship home, where she has
resided since then. There was compelling testimony presented at
the TPR hearing that [Child] is not bonded with Mother and has
no parent-child relationship with her. Mother’s visits with [Child]
were to be supervised weekly at the agency for one hour, and her
visits have never progressed further throughout the duration of
the case. While Mr. Kipp testified that [Child] recognizes Mother
at visits, she has never asked about her nor expressed a desire to
see Mother.
By failing to fully comply with her single case plan objectives,
Mother has demonstrated that she is not interested in maintaining
a parent-child relationship with [Child]. In determining the best
interest of the child, this court must consider both the needs and
welfare of the child such as love, comfort, security, and stability.
[Child] does not look to Mother to meet these needs. [Child’s]
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kinship family, however, does provide [Child] with love, support,
care, comfort, and stability. [Child] looks to her kinship parents
to meet her basic needs. Mr. Kipp testified that [Child] is bonded
with her kinship family, is very happy in the home, and has lived
there her entire life except when she was hospitalized.
Additionally, the kinship parents’ home is a pre-adoptive home
and [Child] lives there with her siblings. Clear and convincing
evidence was presented to establish that there would be no
irreparable harm caused to [Child] if this court terminated
Mother’s parental rights. For these reasons, this court properly
found that it would be in the best interest of [Child] to grant DHS’s
petition to terminate the parental rights of Mother pursuant to
[Section] 2511(b).
Trial Ct. Op. at 14-15.
Based on our review of the record, we discern no basis to disturb the
trial court’s finding that termination of Mother’s parental rights would best
serve Child’s needs and welfare. See T.S.M., 71 A.3d at 267.
As noted previously, the trial court credited Mr. Kipp’s testimony that
there was no discernible bond between Mother and Child. See N.T.
Termination Hr’g at 19-23 (reflecting Mr. Kipp’s testimony that although Child
recognized Mother, there was no mother-child bond between them; Child
never asked to visit Mother or expressed a desire to see her, and Child did not
get upset when the visits ended). The trial court also credited Mr. Kipp’s
statement that Child shares a bond with her foster parents, who provide a
stable and healthy environment for Child, and are the only parents she has
ever known. Id. at 30-35. Therefore, the record supports the trial court’s
conclusion that no bond existed between Mother and Child, and that
termination would serve Child’s best interests. See K.Z.S., 946 A.2d at 762-
63; R.N.J., 985 A.2d at 276. Further, this Court has stressed that “a child’s
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life cannot be held in abeyance while a parent attempts to attain the maturity
necessary to assume parenting responsibilities.” Interests of D.R.-W., 227
A.3d 905, 914 (Pa. Super. 2020) (citation omitted and formatting altered).
For these reasons, we discern no abuse of discretion by the trial court
in applying Section 2511(b). See S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27. Accordingly,
Mother is not entitled to relief.
Goal Change to Adoption
Mother also challenges the trial court’s decision to change Child’s
permanency goal from reunification to adoption. Mother’s Brief at 26. First,
Mother claims that the trial court failed to consider DHS’s alleged failure to
make reasonable efforts to assist Mother with reunification. Id. at 28.
Further, Mother argues that the trial court was “unsympathetic as to providing
Mother with any more ‘ample time and opportunity’” to complete her
objectives and denying her request for an in-person hearing, although “[t]he
mere passage of time – without reasonable efforts being made to assist
Mother – cannot suffice.” Id. at 28-29. Finally, Mother concludes that “DHS
did not prove by ‘clear and convincing’ evidence that changing the goal to
adoption would be in [Child’s] best interests, and the trial court erred in not
conducting a proper analysis.” Id. at 30.
Initially, we note that in light of our decision to affirm the trial court’s
termination decree, Mother’s challenge to the goal change order is moot. See
D.R.-W., 227 A.3d at 917 (concluding that the parent’s goal change claim was
moot in light of this Court’s decision to affirm the trial court’s termination
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decrees and noting that “[a]n issue before a court is moot if in ruling upon the
issue the court cannot enter an order that has any legal force or effect”
(quoting In re D.A., 801 A.2d 614, 616 (Pa. Super. 2002)). Therefore,
Mother is not entitled to relief on this claim.6,7
Due Process
Finally, Mother claims that the trial court violated her due process rights
by rejecting her request for an in-person hearing and conducting the
termination hearing remotely.8 Mother’s Brief at 15.
By way of background to this issue, the trial court explained:
____________________________________________
6 In any event, as noted previously, Child has been in kinship care since her
birth in June of 2019. Since that time, Father and Mother have made minimal
progress in achieving their service plan goals. Based on testimony presented
at the termination hearing, the trial court concluded that Child’s placement
remained necessary. Further, the trial court found that Child’s placement was
appropriate and feasible, noting that Child “is well-adjusted and has been
thriving in her kinship family’s home. [Child] resides there with two other
siblings, and has a strong bond with her kinship parents, as well as everyone
else in the kinship home.” Trial Ct. Op. at 15. Importantly, the trial court
credited Mr. Kipp’s testimony that adoption was in Child’s best interest. Id.
at 6. Under these circumstances, we would find no abuse of discretion by the
trial court in changing Child’s permanency goal to adoption. See R.J.T., 9
A.3d at 1190; D.R.-W., 227 A.3d at 917-18.
7 To the extent Mother raises DHS’s alleged failure to make reasonable efforts
toward reunification, we note that the Juvenile Act does not require a showing
of reasonable efforts in order to terminate parental rights. See In re D.C.D.,
105 A.3d 662, 673-74 (Pa. 2014). Therefore, this claim is meritless.
8 Mother did not include this issue in her statement of questions. See
Pa.R.A.P. 2116(a) (stating that “[n]o question will be considered unless it is
stated in the statement of questions involved or is fairly suggested thereby”).
However, because this claim is encompassed in Mother’s overall challenge to
the termination proceedings, we decline to find waiver.
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On March 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an
order declaring a general, statewide judicial emergency due to the
global pandemic caused by COVID-19. On March 17, 2020, the
Honorable Idee C. Fox, President Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas [in] Philadelphia County, ordered that all First Judicial
District court proceedings be suspended. To preserve the interest
of justice and not to delay dependency proceedings further, on
April, 2, 2020 an order was issued that the that the Philadelphia
Family Court building would remain closed to the public, but that
dependency proceedings may be conducted remotely using
Advanced Communication Technology (ACT).[9] Since then, the
majority of dependency proceedings in Philadelphia in 2020 and
2021 were conducted remotely using ACT. On June 21, 2021, the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued an order stating that the
Unified Judicial System would return to pre-pandemic status on
July 6, 2021.
On the day of the TPR hearing[, May 10, 2021], Mother’s counsel
requested an in-person hearing. Mother’s counsel argued that
because client was not able to have a videoconference on her
device, the Court would not be able to assess Mother’s demeanor
and credibility and Mother would be at a disadvantage. When
asked why Mother’s counsel waited until the day of the TPR
hearing to request an in-person hearing, her response was that
she just found out about Mother’s technological issue that day.
This court found that it was capable of conducting hearings and
assessing witness credibility with or without video, and the
hearing proceeded remotely.
Trial Ct. Op. at 16.
On appeal, Mother argues that “even in administrative proceedings,
which generally have less constitutional and legal protections for parties, [d]ue
[p]rocess has been frequently protected[, a]nd decisions based upon ‘remote’
____________________________________________
9 Advanced communication technology includes, but is not limited to:
systems providing for two-way simultaneous communication of image
and sound; closed-circuit television; telephone and facsimile
equipment; and electronic mail. See Pa.R.J.A. No. 1952(A)(2)(e) &
cmt. (citing Pa.R.Crim.P. 103 for the definition of advanced
communication technology).
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hearings have frequently been reversed upon appeal.” Mother’s Brief at 15
(citing Knisley v. Com., Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 501 A.2d
1180 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1985) (concluding that courts cannot conduct telephone
hearings in unemployment compensation matters without promulgating
guidelines to protect due process rights) and Weston v. Com.,
Unemployment Comp. Bd. of Review, 520 A.2d 953 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987)
(same)). Mother argues that, because there were no procedural “safeguards”
outlined in the emergency orders issued by our Supreme Court, the trial court
violated her due process rights by conducting a remote hearing. Mother’s
Brief at 17.
“A question regarding whether a due process violation occurred is a
question of law for which the standard of review is de novo and the scope of
review is plenary.” Commonwealth v. Tejada, 161 A.3d 313, 317 (Pa.
Super. 2017) (citation omitted).
[I]t is well-settled that any individual whose parental rights are to
be terminated must be afforded due process – that is, certain
procedural safeguards. See In re A.N.P., 155 A.3d 55, 66 (Pa.
Super. 2017) (citing In re Interest of K.B., 763 A.2d 436, 439
(Pa. Super. 2000)); see also Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S.
745, 753 (1982) (“The fundamental liberty interest of natural
parents in the care, custody, and management of their child does
not evaporate simply because they have not been model parents
or have lost temporary custody of their child to the State.”). “Due
process requires nothing more than adequate notice, an
opportunity to be heard, and the chance to defend oneself in an
impartial tribunal having jurisdiction over the matter.” A.N.P.,
155 A.3d at 66. (citation omitted).
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In re Adoption of K.M.D., 261 A.3d 1055, 1059 (Pa. Super. 2021) (some
formatting altered).
This Court has explained that “[d]ue process is flexible and calls for such
procedural protections as the situation demands.” See In re Adoption of
Dale A., II, 683 A.2d 297, 300 (Pa. Super. 1996) (citations omitted).
Therefore, although parents have a due process right to participate in
termination proceedings, that right is “not violated merely because he or she
is not able to attend the termination hearing. Rather, the more important
question is whether the procedure offered or employed adequately served to
convey the parent’s testimony regarding the proposed termination.” In
Interest of A.P., 692 A.2d 240, 243-44 (Pa. Super. 1997) (emphasis added)
(finding no due process violation where the father participated in the hearing
via telephone); see also Dale A., 683 A.2d at 299 (rejecting a due process
claim where the father provided testimony through interrogatories brought to
court by his attorney)).
Here, the trial court addressed Mother’s claim as follows:
Because this court was able to assess Mother’s credibility without
video access, the TPR hearing proceeded remotely.
This court followed the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania’s
Court Order by conducting hearings remotely using ACT for
COVID-19 prevention. This court ruled based on the evidence
presented and did not err in terminating Mother’s parental rights
during a remote hearing.
* * *
Mother was appointed counsel to represent her at each listing. At
each listing, and specifically at the TPR hearing on May 10, 2021,
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Mother was never denied the opportunity to participate, testify,
and present evidence and witnesses on her own behalf. Mother,
through her attorney, participated at this hearing, testifying and
cross-examining witnesses. Because due process only requires
notice, an opportunity to be heard, and the chance to defend
oneself in an impartial tribunal, Mother’s due process rights were
not violated.
Trial Ct. Op. at 16-17.
Based on our review of the record, we agree with the trial court’s
conclusion. As noted previously, all parties participated in the termination
hearing remotely in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although
Mother did not have video capabilities on her cell phone, she was able to
meaningfully participate in the hearing by providing her testimony over the
phone. Further, Mother was also represented by counsel, who cross-examined
DHS’s witnesses and argued on Mother’s behalf. Under these circumstances,
we find no basis to conclude that the trial court violated Mother’s due process
rights by taking her testimony over the phone or by conducting the hearing
remotely. See A.P., 692 A.2d at 243-44; see also Dale A., 683 A.2d at 299-
301. Accordingly, Mother is not entitled to relief.
Orders affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 2/1/2022
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