In the Interest of: M.T.E.L., Jr., etc., a Minor ( 2018 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: M.T.E.L., JR. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
A/K/A M.L., A MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
APPEAL OF: M.L., FATHER :
:
:
:
: No. 3839 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Order October 31, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at
No(s): CP-51-AP-0001119-2016,
CP-51-DP-0001360-2015
BEFORE: SHOGAN, J., NICHOLS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*
MEMORANDUM BY NICHOLS, J.: FILED JULY 23, 2018
Appellant M.L. (Father)1 appeals from the order involuntarily
terminating the parental rights of Father to his minor, dependent son,
M.T.E.L., Jr. (Child), born in June of 2010, pursuant to the Adoption Act,2 23
Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b), and changing Child’s permanency goal to
adoption pursuant to the Juvenile Act,3 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351. We affirm.
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* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court.
1 By separate order entered on the same date, the trial court involuntarily
terminated the parental rights of biological mother, S.T. (Mother). Mother is
not a party to this appeal, and she did not file a separate appeal.
2 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101-2938.
3 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 6301-6375.
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Father and Mother are not married. Father is not listed on Child’s birth
certificate. Father and Mother are also the biological parents of Child’s
younger sister, G.P.T., born in July of 2015.4 Mother also has three other
children M.T., born in October of 2004; C.T., born in January of 2014; and
A.S.T., born in December of 2017, who are not Father’s biological children.5
The Department of Human Services (DHS) became involved with Mother
and the children on April 18, 2015, after receiving a General Protective
Services (GPS) report that Mother and the children were dirty, unkempt, and
malodorous. The report alleged that Mother has serious cognitive limitations
impairing her parenting capabilities. The report also stated that Mother did
not have stable housing.
On April 27, 2015, Community Umbrella Agency (CUA) began providing
in-home services for Mother and the children. Mother, however, made no
progress since: (1) she and the children remained unkempt; (2) she was
unable to appropriately parent, discipline, and supervise the children; and (3)
she failed to obtain adequate housing. On May 20, 2015, DHS obtained an
Order of Protective Custody (OPC) for the children. Child was nearly five years
old when he was removed from Mother and placed into foster care.
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4 G.P.T. was placed in foster care after she was born. Father voluntarily
relinquished his parental rights to G.P.T. on June 30, 2017.
5Child’s half-siblings, M.T., C.T., and A.S.T. are also in foster care, but are
not part of this appeal.
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On May 21, 2015, CUA held a single case plan (SCP) meeting. Father,
who was known at the time, but whose whereabouts could not be determined,
did not attend the SCP meeting. Father’s only SCP objective was to make his
whereabouts known to DHS or CUA. On May 22, 2015, a shelter care hearing
was held for Child. The trial court lifted the OPC and ordered Child to remain
in the custody of DHS. At the adjudication hearing on June 9, 2015, the trial
court adjudicated Child dependent, and ordered continued foster care
placement for Child through Bethanna.
Several permanency review hearings were held from 2015 until 2017.
On November 21, 2016, DHS filed a petition to involuntarily terminate
Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to Child and change Child’s permanency
goal to adoption. Father made his whereabouts known for the first time at a
court hearing in January 2017.
On October 31, 2017, the trial court held a hearing on the petition. At
the hearing, Child was represented by a guardian ad litem and a separate child
advocate. DHS presented the testimony of Karen Johnson-White, the prior
CUA case manager, and Ashley Burke, the current CUA case manager. Father,
who was represented by counsel, testified on his own behalf. A summary of
the testimony presented at the October 31, 2017 hearing follows.
Ms. Johnson-White testified that she was the initial CUA case manager
when Child was removed from Mother’s care and placed into foster care in
April of 2015. N.T., 10/31/17, at 19. Ms. Johnson-White stated that Father
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did not attend the first SCP meeting; however, Mother and Father’s sister
(Paternal Aunt), both attended. Id. at 26. Paternal Aunt informed her that
Father was homeless. Id. Paternal Aunt and Mother were unable to provide
an address or any type of information for Father. Id. Ms. Johnson-White
stated that she was unable to notify or provide Father with a SCP plan because
he was not at the meetings and she was unable to locate or contact him. Id.
at 27.
Ms. Johnson-White testified that for the majority of the case’s duration,
Father’s only SCP objective was to make his whereabouts known to her or
DHS. Id. at 15. Ms. Johnson-White stated that “family-finding” was
conducted in 2016 in an effort to find Father. Father was located sometime
in mid-2016, and the family-finding worker provided him with Ms. Johnson-
White’s information and directed him to contact her. Id. at 16, 25. Ms.
Johnson-White also received Appellant’s phone number from the family-
finding worker and called him twice, but Father failed to return her phone
calls. Id. at 25. Ms. Johnson-White informed the court that she did not hear
from Father until he showed up at the January 6, 2017 court proceeding, which
was the first time any of the case workers assigned to this case had spoken
or heard from him. Id. at 29. Ms. Johnson-White testified that she provided
Father with two referrals to ARC, where Father could receive services, but ARC
dismissed Father both times “because he would not engage.” Id. Ms.
Johnson-White stated that since Child has been in foster care, Father has
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never visited or contacted Child, and he has never contacted DHS to try to
provide for Child. Id. at 16.
Ms. Johnson-White also testified that Father has a criminal history and
was incarcerated during the case. Id. at 16, 26. Ms. Johnson-White stated
that Father is a registered sex offender under Megan’s Law. Id. at 26. Ms.
Johnson-White testified that as a registered sex offender, there is a special
condition that he not have unsupervised contact with minors. Id. at 16.
With respect to Child, Ms. Johnson-White testified that Child never spoke
to her about Father and did not mention Father in therapy. Id. at 20-21. Ms.
Johnson-White stated that Child refers to Father by his first name. Id. at 21.
Ms. Johnson-White concluded that Child did not have a meaningful parent-
child relationship with Father. Id. at 22.
Ms. Johnson-White further testified that Child has been in a consistent
foster home and was doing better with his behavioral issues. Id. Ms.
Johnson-White stated that although Child did not understand adoption, Child
expressed to her that he wishes to remain at his current foster placement and
be adopted by his foster parents. Id. at 23. Ms. Johnson-White observed a
parental bond between Child and his foster caregivers. Id. at 24.
Ms. Burke testified that she was the current CUA case manager since
June of 2017. Id. at 34. Ms. Burke further testified that since she has been
the case manager, Father has not been involved with CUA. Id. at 37. Ms.
Burke stated that the only time she has interacted with him is when Father
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attended an August 2017 court date. Id. Ms. Burke testified that she provided
Father with her contact information at the last court listing so that he could
update his information and provide proof of stable employment and adequate
housing, but she never heard from him. Id. at 37-38. Ms. Burke also testified
that Father has never visited Child or made any attempts to provide for Child
since she has been the case manager. Id. at 37. Ms. Burke testified that
Father was referred to ARC for appropriate services, but he was dropped due
to his noncompliance. Id.
As to Child, Ms. Burke also testified that there was a lack of parent-child
bond between Father and Child due to Father’s failure to maintain a connection
with Child throughout the life of the case and Father’s failure to be involved in
his treatment and daily care. Id. at 38. Ms. Burke stated that there would
be no irreparable harm done to Child if Father’s rights were terminated. Id.
at 38-39. Ms. Burke concluded that it is in the best interest of Child to be
adopted. Id. at 39.
Father, during his testimony, acknowledged that he pled guilty to
indecent assault-forcible compulsion and indecent exposure and became
subject to Megan’s Law in 2009. Id. at 58-59. Father was sentenced to four
years’ probation on or about February 2015 for failure to register under the
Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Id. Father
admitted that since he was on Megan’s Law, he could only have supervised
visits with Child. Id. at 58.
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Father testified that he could not read or write and had trouble
remembering things and dates clearly. Id. at 45-46. Father claimed that
Paternal Aunt informed him that Child was taken by DHS in 2015. Id. at 45,
56. Father admitted that over the two year period that Child was in foster
care, his only efforts to find Child was a couple of phone calls to Mother. Id.
at 56-57. Father further admitted that he did not visit Child. Id. at 50.
According to Father, he wanted to see Child, but thought that there was
nothing he could do. Id. at 50-51. Father claimed that if he were allowed to
visit Child, he would have done so. Id. at 52.
Father testified that he lived at the same address since April of 2015.
Id. at 46-47. Father claimed that he did not receive any letters or information
about court dates, Child’s status, or his SCP plan. Id. at 48. Father also
testified that he returned Ms. Johnson-White’s two phone calls, but got her
voicemail both times. Id. at 47. Father stated that as soon as he received a
letter about a court hearing for Child, he attended the hearing in 2017. Id.
at 49. Father testified that since he became aware of the things that he was
supposed to do for DHS concerning Child, he has tried to do them. Father
also testified that he went to ARC and got a contact card, but when he tried
to call, he never got an answer. Id. at 50.
Father testified that he was an active parent for the first year of Child’s
life. Id. at 44. Father stated that he would visit Child with Paternal Aunt at
Mother’s house and provide clothing for him. Id. at 43. Father further
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testified that before April of 2015, he would see Child when Mother would
bring him to her cousin’s house. Id. at 54. Father testified that the last time
he saw Child was either in 2014 or 2015, and Child called him “Daddy.” Id.
Father stated he enjoyed seeing Child and Child enjoyed seeing him. Id.
At the conclusion of the termination hearing, the trial court deemed the
two case managers’ testimony credible, and found them knowledgeable about
Child, the history of the case, and Child’s foster placement. Id. at 62. The
trial court deemed Father not credible and placed no weight on his testimony.
Id. The trial court found that Father did nothing to maintain his parental
relationship with Child. Id. at 63. The trial court found Father’s attempts at
complying with or taking advantage of the services offered by the agencies
were minimal or nonexistent. Id. The trial court opined that Child might have
recognized Father, but Father has not served in the role as a father to Child
since at least 2015. Id.
The trial court entered its orders involuntarily terminating Father’s
parental rights and changing Child’s permanency goal to adoption on October
31, 2017. On November 28, 2017, Father timely filed a notice of appeal, along
with a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). The trial court filed a responsive opinion.
Father raises the following issue for our review.
1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion and erred as a
matter of law in terminating Father’s rights when petitioner
failed to meet its burden that termination of parental rights
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was warranted under 23 Pa.C.S. 2511(a) and the judge’s
decision was not supported by competent evidence?
Father’s Brief at 7.6
In matters involving involuntary termination of parental rights, our
standard of review is as follows:
The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
requires appellate courts “to accept the findings of fact and
credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
by the record.” In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d 817, 826 (Pa.
2012). “If the factual findings are supported, appellate courts
review to determine if the trial court made an error of law or
abused its discretion.” Id. “[A] decision may be reversed for an
abuse of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest
unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will.” Id. The
trial court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely
because the record would support a different result. Id. at 827.
We have previously emphasized our deference to trial courts that
often have first-hand observations of the parties spanning
multiple hearings. See In re R.J.T., [9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa.
2010)].
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013). “The trial court is free to believe
all, part, or none of the evidence presented and is likewise free to make all
credibility determinations and resolve conflicts in the evidence.” In re M.G.
& J.G., 855 A.2d 68, 73-74 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation omitted). “[I]f
competent evidence supports the [trial] court’s findings, we will affirm even if
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6 Father did not challenge the trial court’s order changing Child’s permanency
goal to adoption in his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal or
his appellate brief. Thus, this issue is waived. See Krebs v. United Refining
Co., 893 A.2d 776, 797 (Pa. Super. 2006) (holding that an appellant waives
issues that are not raised in both his concise statement of errors complained
of on appeal and the statement of questions involved in his brief on appeal).
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the record could also support the opposite result.” In re Adoption of T.B.B.,
835 A.2d 387, 394 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation omitted).
Section 2511 of the Adoption Act controls the termination of parental
rights, and requires a bifurcated analysis.
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): determination of the
needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best interests
of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis
concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between
parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect on the child
of permanently severing any such bond.
In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted). We
have defined clear and convincing evidence as that which 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.” In re
C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1201 (Pa. Super. 2000) (en banc) (quoting Matter of
Adoption of Charles E.D.M. II, 708 A.2d 88, 91 (Pa. 1998)).
In this case, the trial court terminated Father’s parental rights pursuant
to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), and (b). We have long held that in order to
affirm a termination of parental rights, we need only agree with the trial court
as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well as Section 2511(b). See
In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super. 2004) (en banc). Here, we
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analyze the trial court’s decision to terminate under Sections 2511(a)(2) and
(b), which provide as follows:
(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.
***
(b) Other considerations.—The court in terminating the
rights of a parent shall give primary consideration to the
developmental, physical and emotional needs and welfare
of the child. The rights of a parent shall not be terminated
solely on the basis of environmental factors such as
inadequate housing, furnishings, income, clothing and
medical care if found to be beyond the control of the parent.
With respect to any petition filed pursuant to subsection
(a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any efforts by
the parent to remedy the conditions described therein which
are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the
filing of the petition.
23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2), (b).
We first examine Father’s claim that the trial court erred in terminating
his parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2). Father contends that the trial
court abused its discretion and erred as a matter of law in terminating his
parental rights because there was no competent evidence to satisfy Section
2511(a)(2). Father’s Brief at 10. Father claims that the trial court erred in
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finding that Father did nothing to maintain his parental relationship with Child,
and Father’s attempts at complying or taking advantage of the services offered
were minimal or nonexistent. Id. at 11.
In support, Father argues that the trial court’s finding that his
compliance is nonexistent is not supported by competent evidence considering
that reasonable efforts were not made to assist Father in being compliant and
successful in reunification. Id. Father points out that: (1) he was not properly
and timely notified of the proceedings concerning Child, and he tried to do
what he was supposed to do when he was finally contacted; (2) he was not
given his SCP goals until after the petition to terminate was filed; (3) he is
unable to read his SCP goals; (4) CUA never explained his SCP goals to him;
and (5) his visitation was immediately suspended despite the fact that he was
allowed supervised contact with Child. Id.
It is well settled that
In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. §
2511(a)(2), the following three elements must be met: (1)
repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to
be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the
causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
not be remedied.
In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation
omitted). “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity that cannot
be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct. To the contrary, those
grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to perform parental
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duties.” In re Adoption of C.D.R., 111 A.3d 1212, 1216 (Pa. Super. 2015)
(quoting In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002)).
Further, this Court has stated that a parent is required to make diligent
efforts towards the reasonably prompt assumption of full parental
responsibilities. In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d at 337. 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. at 340.
Instantly, the trial court concluded that the evidence is clear and
convincing to terminate Father’s parental rights pursuant to Section
2511(a)(2). Trial Ct. Op., 1/30/18, at 18. The trial court reasoned that Father
cannot or will not be able to remedy the conditions that brought Child into
supervision. Id. The trial court opined that it was not persuaded by Father’s
testimony that he will be able to fulfill his parental responsibilities in the future.
Id.
We conclude that Father’s arguments regarding Section 2511(a)(2)
essentially ask this Court to make credibility and weight determinations
different from those of the trial court. The testimony of Ms. Johnson-White
and Ms. Burke, which the trial court credited, clearly revealed that Father did
not make diligent efforts towards the reasonably prompt assumption of full
parental responsibilities. See In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d at 337. Child has been
in foster placement since approximately April of 2015, at which time he was
nearly five years old. By the time of the termination hearing, Child had been
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in foster placement approximately two years and five months, and is now
seven years old. Over the duration of two years and five months, Father has
been absent from Child’s life as he has made no efforts to contact DHS to
inquire about Child, provide essential care for him, or obtain supervised
visitation. Although Father was referred to ARC for services, he did not follow
through. Thus, Father did not engage in reasonable efforts to reunify with
Child.
Accordingly, we find the competent evidence in the record supports
termination of Father’s parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(2) in
that Father’s repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect, or refusal has
caused Child to be without essential parental care, control, or subsistence
necessary for Child’s physical or mental well-being. In addition, the evidence
established that the causes of Father’s incapacity, neglect, or refusal could not
be remedied. Thus, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in terminating
Father’s parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2). In re Adoption of S.P.,
47 A.3d at 826-27.
To the extent, Father contends that DHS did not engage in reasonable
efforts to help him reunify with Child, this argument warrants no relief. When
reviewing a termination order on appeal, we do not consider whether DHS
made reasonable efforts. Our Supreme Court has rejected the argument that
the provision of reasonable efforts by the county children’s services agency is
a factor in termination of the parental rights. See In the Interest of: D.C.D.,
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105 A.3d 662, 673-74, 676 (Pa. 2014) (rejecting the suggestion that an
agency must provide reasonable efforts to enable a parent to reunify with a
child prior to the termination of parental rights, and rejecting the suggestion
that Section 2511 of the Adoption Act should be read in conjunction with
Section 6351 of the Juvenile Act, particularly Section 6351(f)(9)(iii)).
We next consider Father’s claim that the trial court erred in concluding
that termination was appropriate under Section 2511(b). Father contends
that the trial court erred in finding that the termination of his parental rights
serves the best interests of Child. Father’s Brief at 17. Father argues that
the evidence does not support his absence of a bond with Child. Id. at 19.
Father claims that he was not in Child’s life after Child was placed in foster
care because: (1) he was not allowed visitation; (2) he was not properly
contacted or located; (3) he is illiterate; and (4) he did not understand what
he was supposed to do when he was contacted. Id. Father claims that his
diminished parental bond with Child should not be held against him when it
was through no fault of his own and he made his best efforts under the
circumstances considering the limitations caused by the efforts of CUA, the
court, and his own illiteracy. Id.
At the outset, we note that issues not raised in a Rule 1925(b) statement
will generally be deemed waived. Krebs, 893 A.2d at 797; Commonwealth
v. Castillo, 888 A.2d 775, 780 (Pa. 2005) (quoting Commonwealth v. Lord,
719 A.2d 306, 309 (Pa. 1998)). Rule 1925 waiver standards apply in the
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family law context. See In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505 (Pa. Super. 2007) (applying
Lord standard to appeal from order terminating parental rights); In re C.P.,
901 A.2d 516 (Pa. Super. 2006); In re C.M., 882 A.2d 507 (Pa. Super. 2005).
Moreover, the failure to preserve a claim challenging the best interests of the
Child under Section 2511(b) has been held to result in waiver. See In re
M.Z.T.M.W., 163 A.3d 462, 466 & n.3 (Pa. Super. 2017) (finding waiver of
an appellant’s challenge under Section 2511(b) for failure to preserve that
issue in a Rule 1925(b) statement and include it in the statement of questions
involved). But see In re C.L.G., 956 A.2d 999, 1009 (Pa. Super. 2008) (en
banc) (addressing the best interests of the child under Section 2511(b) sua
sponte).
Here, Father discussed the best interests of Child under Section 2511(b)
in his appellate brief, but failed to raise a Section 2511(b) claim in his Rule
1925(b) statement or include the issue in his statement of questions involved.
Father’s Brief at 17-20. Therefore, we are constrained to conclude that this
claim is waived. See In re M.Z.T.M.W., 163 A.3d at 466. Nevertheless, for
the reasons that follow, we discern no merit to his claim. See In re C.L.G.,
956 A.2d at 1009.
Our Supreme Court recently 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,
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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).
When evaluating a parental bond, “the court is not required to use
expert testimony. Social workers and caseworkers can offer evaluations as
well. Additionally, Section 2511(b) does not require a formal bonding
evaluation.” In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1121 (Pa. Super. 2010) (internal
citations omitted). Although it is often wise to have a bonding evaluation and
make it part of the certified record, “[t]here are some instances . . . where
direct observation of the interaction between the parent and the child is not
necessary and may even be detrimental to the child.” In re K.Z.S., 946 A.2d
753, 762 (Pa. Super. 2008).
Here, the trial court found Father’s testimony regarding his relationship
with Child prior to the time he entered foster care was not credible and
afforded no weight to his testimony. Trial Ct. Op., 1/30/18, at 20. The trial
court found that Ms. Johnson-White and Ms. Burke presented credible
testimony regarding Father’s absence in Child’s life, as well as Child’s needs
and best interests. Id. The trial court noted that Child came into foster care
when he was almost five years old. Id. The trial court further noted that
Father is a registered Megan’s Law Offender and may not have unsupervised
contact with any children including Child. Id. The trial court concluded that
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terminating Father’s parental rights best serves Child’s physical and emotional
needs and welfare under Section 2511(b). Id.
At the hearing, the trial court also concluded that there is no parental
bond between Child and Father. Id. at 63. The trial court found that Child
may recognize and know who Father is, but Father is not a father-figure to
Child. Id. The trial court determined that Father has not been a father to
Child since at least 2015. Id. The trial court thus concluded that it was in the
best interest of Child to be adopted. Id. at 63.
Based on the totality of the record evidence, we discern no abuse of
discretion or legal error by the trial court in concluding that termination of
Father’s parental rights would best serve Child’s interest. The trial court
thoroughly considered Child’s bond with Father and the effect of severing that
bond. The record supports the trial court’s determination that there is no bond
or substantial relationship between Child and Father that, if severed, would
detrimentally affect Child. The evidence also establishes Child’s desire to
remain at his current foster home where he has consistency and permanency.
As such, the trial court correctly prioritized Child’s emotional well-being and
his need for safety, permanency, and stability over Father’s wishes.
While Father may profess to love Child, a parent’s own feelings of love
and affection for a child, alone, will not preclude termination of parental rights.
See In re Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1121. As we stated, a child’s life “simply cannot
be put on hold in the hope that [a parent] will summon the ability to handle
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the responsibilities of parenting.” Id. at 1125. Rather, “a parent’s basic
constitutional right to the custody and rearing of his child is converted, upon
the failure to fulfill his or her parental duties, to the child’s right to have proper
parenting and fulfillment of his or her potential in a permanent, healthy, safe
environment.” In re B., N.M., 856 A.2d 847, 856 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation
omitted). It is well-settled that “we will not toll the well-being and
permanency of [a child] indefinitely.” In re C.L.G., 956 A.2d at 1007. As
there was competent evidence in the record that supported the trial court’s
findings and credibility determinations, we find no abuse of the trial court’s
discretion in terminating Father’s parental rights to Child under Section
2511(b). In re Adoption of S.P., 47 A.3d at 826-27.
In sum, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
involuntarily terminating Father’s parental rights pursuant to Sections
2511(a)(2) and (b), and we affirm the order of the trial court.
Order affirmed.
P.J.E. Stevens joins the memorandum.
Judge Shogan files a concurring & dissenting memorandum.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 7/23/18
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J-S23017-18
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