In the Matter of the Involunatary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of K.B., Minor Child, and Her Mother, M.B., M.B. v. Indiana Department of Child Services

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before
any court except for the purpose of Jan 28 2014, 11:30 am
establishing the defense of res judicata,
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE INDIANA
DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SERVICES:
LEANNA WEISSMANN
Lawrenceburg, Indiana GREGORY F. ZOELLER
Attorney General of Indiana

ROBERT J. HENKE
Office of the Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana

CHRISTINE REDELMAN
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana

ATTORNEY FOR COURT APPOINTED
SPECIAL ADVOCATE:

JENNIFER A. JOAS
Joas & Stotts
Madison, Indiana

IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

IN THE MATTER OF THE INVOLUNTARY )
TERMINATION OF THE PARENT-CHILD )
RELATIONSHIP OF K.B., MINOR CHILD, )
AND HER MOTHER, M.B., )
)
M.B., )
)
Appellant-Respondent, )
)
vs. ) No. 69A05-1305-JT-230
)
INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD )
SERVICES, )
 )
Appellee-Petitioner. )

APPEAL FROM THE RIPLEY CIRCUIT COURT
The Honorable Carl H. Taul, Judge
Cause No. 69C01-1209-JT-1

January 28, 2014

MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

BRADFORD, Judge

CASE SUMMARY

Appellant-Respondent M.B. (“Mother”) appeals the juvenile court’s order terminating

her parental rights to K.B. K.B. was removed from Mother’s care after the Department of

Child Services (“DCS”) received a report that Mother had been arrested on a warrant for

neglect of a dependent and that there was no appropriate caregiver for K.B. On appeal,

Mother contends that DCS did not provide sufficient evidence to support the termination of

her parental rights. Concluding that the evidence was sufficient to support the termination of

Mother’s parental rights, we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

K.B. was born to Mother on September 30, 2009.1 With respect to K.B., DCS became

involved with the family after receiving a report on May 1, 2010, that Mother had been

arrested on a warrant for Neglect of a Dependent. When K.B. was found, she was dirty and

had a pungent odor, K.B. was found in a room that had a strong smell of marijuana and

1
The identity of K.B.’s father is unclear from the record on appeal, and the termination of father’s
parental rights is not at issue in this appeal.

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contained drug paraphernalia, and there were no appropriate caregivers for K.B.2

A few days later, on May 5, 2010, DCS filed a verified petition alleging that K.B. was

a child in need of services (“CHINS”). On May 24, 2010, the juvenile court held a hearing

during which Mother admitted to all but the drug-related allegations in the CHINS petition.

The juvenile court adjudicated K.B. to be a CHINS. The juvenile court issued a dispositional

order and parental participation decree on June 21, 2010, in which it ordered Mother to

complete certain services.

On August 6, 2010, the juvenile court suspended Mother’s visitation at the Dearborn

County Jail, due to the trauma it placed on K.B. On December 8, 2010, the juvenile court

held a review hearing during which it determined that in light of Mother’s failure to

cooperate with DCS or participate in K.B.’s case plan, DCS was no longer required to make

reasonable efforts to reunify K.B. with Mother. During a January 4, 2011 permanency

hearing, the juvenile court found that Mother had not participated in services. At this time,

the juvenile court changed the permanency plan for K.B. to termination of Mother’s parental

rights and adoption. On May 17, 2011, the juvenile court found that although Mother had

participated in some counseling sessions, the permanency plan for K.B. should continue to

include adoption because Mother had failed to participate in home-based services to address

parenting issues and drug education.

On December 20, 2010, DCS filed a petition seeking the termination of Mother’s

parental rights to K.B. The juvenile court denied this termination petition. On November 15,

2
It was also noted that Mother had a substantial history with DCS that included prior substantiations
for lack of supervision and neglect as well as the termination of her parental rights to numerous other children.

3
2011, the juvenile court changed the permanency plan to concurrent plans of reunification

and termination given the denial of the December 20, 2010 termination petition, and ordered

Mother to participate in reunification services.

After receiving reports that K.B. was regressing and not talking, on January 27, 2012,

the juvenile court issued an order decreasing the frequency and intensity of Mother’s visits

with K.B. until K.B. became “more used to seeing and interacting” with Mother. Appellant’s

App. p. 191. On February 24, 2012, the juvenile court appointed Tonya Richter as K.B.’s

court appointed special advocate (“CASA”) and guardian ad litem (“GAL”).

On May 2, 2012, the juvenile court ordered Mother to undergo a psychological

evaluation after it found that although Mother was attending services consistently, her

behaviors had become erratic and she did not fully understand K.B.’s needs or age-

appropriate behaviors. On August 24, 2012, the permanency plan for K.B. was again

changed to adoption based on Mother’s failure to cooperate with the case plan. Visitation

continued despite concerns regarding Mother’s behavior. Visitation was suspended on

November 15, 2012, “to protect [K.B.] from [Mother’s] behaviors” after Mother failed to

modify her behaviors despite repeated warnings. DCS Ex. 21, ¶ 11.

On September 12, 2012, DCS filed a second petition seeking the termination of

Mother’s parental rights to K.B. On March 11, 2013, and March 14, 2013, the juvenile court

conducted an evidentiary termination hearing at which Mother appeared and was represented

by counsel. During the termination hearing, DCS introduced evidence relating to continued

concerns regarding Mother’s inability or refusal to properly care for K.B., as well as

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Mother’s failure to participate in or benefit from the services offered by DCS. DCS also

introduced evidence indicating that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in K.B.’s best

interests, and that its plan for the permanent care and treatment of K.B. was adoption.

Mother presented evidence which she claimed demonstrated that she was beginning to make

progress and, as such, should be given more time before her parental rights were terminated.

Following the conclusion of the termination hearing, the juvenile court terminated Mother’s

parental rights to K.B. Mother now appeals.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the traditional

right of a parent to establish a home and raise her child. Bester v. Lake Cnty. Office of

Family & Children, 839 N.E.2d 143, 145 (Ind. 2005). Further, we acknowledge that the

parent-child relationship is “one of the most valued relationships of our culture.” Id.

However, although parental rights are of a constitutional dimension, the law allows for the

termination of those rights when a parent is unable or unwilling to meet her responsibility as

a parent. In re T.F., 743 N.E.2d 766, 773 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied. Therefore,

parental rights are not absolute and must be subordinated to the child’s interests in

determining the appropriate disposition of a petition to terminate the parent-child

relationship. Id.

The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to punish the parent but to protect the

child. Id. Termination of parental rights is proper where the child’s emotional and physical

development is threatened. Id. The juvenile court need not wait until the child is irreversibly

harmed such that her physical, mental, and social development is permanently impaired

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before terminating the parent-child relationship. Id.

I. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Mother contends that the evidence presented at the evidentiary hearing was

insufficient to support the juvenile court’s order terminating her parental rights. In reviewing

termination proceedings on appeal, this court will not reweigh the evidence or assess the

credibility of the witnesses. In re Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights of S.P.H., 806

N.E.2d 874, 879 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). We only consider the evidence that supports the

juvenile court’s decision and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. Id. Where, as here, the

juvenile court includes findings of fact and conclusions thereon in its order terminating

parental rights, our standard of review is two-tiered. Id. First, we must determine whether

the evidence supports the findings, and, second, whether the findings support the legal

conclusions. Id.

In deference to the juvenile court’s unique position to assess the evidence, we set

aside the juvenile court’s findings and judgment terminating a parent-child relationship only

if they are clearly erroneous. Id. A finding of fact is clearly erroneous when there are no

facts or inferences drawn therefrom to support it. Id. A judgment is clearly erroneous only if

the legal conclusions made by the juvenile court are not supported by its findings of fact, or

the conclusions do not support the judgment. Id.

In order to involuntarily terminate a parent’s parental rights, DCS must establish by

clear and convincing evidence that:

(A) one (1) of the following exists:
(i) the child has been removed from the parent for at least six (6)

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 months under a dispositional decree;
(ii) a court has entered a finding under IC 31-34-21-5.6 that reasonable
efforts for family preservation or reunification are not required,
including a description of the court’s finding, the date of the finding,
and the manner in which the finding was made; or
(iii) the child has been removed from the parent and has been under the
supervision of a county office of family and children or probation
department for at least fifteen (15) months of the most recent twenty-
two (22) months, beginning with the date the child is removed from the
home as a result of the child being alleged to be a child in need of
services or a delinquent child;
(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) termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child.

Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2) (2011). Specifically, Mother claims that DCS failed to establish

that either (1) the conditions that resulted in K.B.’s removal or the reasons for K.B.’s

continued placement outside of her care will not be remedied, or (2) there is a reasonable

probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-

being of K.B. Mother also claims that DCS failed to establish that termination of her

parental rights was in K.B.’s best interests.

A. Conditions Resulting in Removal Not Likely to Be Remedied

On appeal, Mother argues that DCS failed to establish by clear and convincing

evidence that the conditions resulting in K.B.’s removal from and continued placement

outside her care will not be remedied. Mother also argues that DCS failed to establish by

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clear and convincing evidence that the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a

threat to K.B. However, it is well-settled that because Indiana Code section 31-35-2-

4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive, the juvenile court need only find either that the

conditions resulting in removal will not be remedied or that the continuation of the parent-

child relationship poses a threat to K.B. In re C.C., 788 N.E.2d 847, 854 (Ind. Ct. App.

2003), trans. denied. Therefore, where, as here, the juvenile court specifically finds that

there is a reasonable probability that the conditions which resulted in the removal of the child

from or the reasons for the continued placement of the child outside of the parent’s care

would not be remedied, and there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting the juvenile

court’s conclusion, it is not necessary for DCS to prove or for the juvenile court to find that

the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the child. In re S.P.H., 806

N.E.2d at 882.

In order to determine whether the conditions will be remedied, the juvenile court

should first determine what conditions led DCS to place K.B. outside of Mother’s care or to

continue K.B.’s placement outside Mother’s care, and, second, whether there is a reasonable

probability that those conditions will be remedied. In re A.I., 825 N.E.2d 798, 806 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2005), trans. denied; In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 882. When assessing whether a

reasonable probability exists that the conditions justifying a child’s removal or continued

placement outside her parent’s care will not be remedied, the juvenile court must judge the

parent’s fitness to care for her child at the time of the termination hearing, taking into

consideration evidence of changed conditions. In re A.N.J., 690 N.E.2d 716, 721 (Ind. Ct.

8
App. 1997). The juvenile court must also evaluate the parent’s habitual patterns of conduct

to determine whether there is a substantial probability of future neglect or deprivation. Id. A

juvenile court may properly consider evidence of the parent’s prior criminal history, drug and

alcohol abuse, history of neglect, failure to provide support, and lack of adequate

employment and housing. McBride v. Monroe Cnty. Office of Family & Children, 798

N.E.2d 185, 199 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Moreover, a juvenile court “‘can reasonably consider

the services offered by [DCS] to the parent and the parent’s response to those services.’” Id.

(quoting In re A.C.C., 682 N.E.2d 542, 544 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)). The evidence presented by

DCS “need not rule out all possibilities of change; rather, DCS need establish only that there

is a reasonable probability that the parent’s behavior will not change.” In re Involuntary

Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of Kay L., 867 N.E.2d 236, 242 (Ind. Ct. App.

2007).

Here, the juvenile court determined that DCS presented sufficient evidence to prove

that it was unlikely that the reasons for K.B.’s continued placement outside of Mother’s care

would be remedied, and upon review, we conclude that the juvenile court’s determination to

this effect is supported by the record. In support of its determination that there is a

reasonable probability that the conditions which resulted in K.B.’s removal from Mother’s

care will not be remedied, the juvenile court made a number of findings, some of which

Mother now claims are clearly erroneous.

With respect to K.B.’s continued placement outside of Mother’s care, the juvenile

court found as follows:

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11. After formal removal of [K.B.] per the Dispositional Decree of June 21,
2010, [K.B.] was never returned to [Mother’s] care and custody.
****
13. Mother and [K.B.] began therapeutic supervised visits at the end of
January 2012. Jodi Alexander and Stacy Cornett from Community Mental
Health Center supervised the visits and worked on skill building with Mother
and [K.B.] during the visits.
14. The visits between Mother and [K.B.] went well in the beginning.
However the supervisors would have to intervene occasionally due to Mother
having inappropriate age expectations. Mother was initially receptive to these
interventions.
15. Supervised visits were originally at the DCS office, but then
transitioned to [Mother’s] home. It was after the transition to Mother’s home
that the visits began to deteriorate.
16. The first three months of supervised visits the supervisors were very
hands on, modeling parenting skills for Mother and intervening. The team
decided that at the end of March 2012 or the beginning of April 2012 the
modeling was going to back off and Mother was going to be more in charge of
the visits.
17. During the visits, [K.B.] would go to the adults supervising the visits to
meet her needs instead of to Mother. This would upset Mother and she would
tell [K.B.] that if she treats [Mother] that way then [Mother] will treat her the
same way.
18. There were growing concerns as the visits progressed. [Mother]
engaged less as the visits went on; there was a visit where Mother spent a lot
of time on the phone. Mother would also respond inappropriately with
comments [K.B.] made; [K.B.] would say “I want to go home” and Mother
would respond “I love you too.” Mother had difficulty parenting the baby that
was in her care and [K.B.] simultaneously during the visits. Mother would
also criticize [K.B.] during the visits. Further, [K.B.] resisted going into the
visits and would scream and cry.
19. Mother expressed that she believed in blind obedience in that she felt
that she should only have to tell [K.B.] one time what she wanted her to do and
that it was unacceptable if [K.B.] did not follow the instruction.
20. In June 2012 the visits began being supervised by Crystal Berberich
from Community Mental Health Center and Michelle Jury the Family Case
Manager and were transitioned to the Park in Versailles due to the visits not
being successful at [Mother’s] home.
21. At the park, Mother would bring up topics that were not appropriate to
deal with in front of [K.B.], but would often continue to bring them up even
after the supervisors asked that she stop those conversations. Mother was

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directed to look at [K.B.’s] face because [K.B.] was upset and Mother would
say that she (Mother) was calm.
22. A warning system was implemented wherein the visit would terminate
after Mother was given multiple warnings to provide Mother with clear
guidelines.
23. As the visits progressed [K.B.] showed some concerning behaviors.
[K.B.] would not want to get out of the vehicle for the visits to start and would
on occasion have to be forced into the visit. [K.B.] also expressed that Mother
would pinch her under a blanket and whisper hateful and negative comments
to [K.B.]. [K.B.] was provided therapeutic play after visits to help her stress
levels during the visits. During these, [K.B.] refused to talk about Mother and
when brought up by the therapist would refer to her as “Mean [Mother].”
[K.B.] also vomited at a visit after Mother provided snacks. The visitation
supervisors enacted rules for the visits after these concerns were brought to
their attention. [K.B.] was not to be covered by a blanket during the visits.
[Mother] was not to whisper to [K.B.]. Lastly, no food or drink was to be
brought to the visits.
24. [K.B.] was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder and
disruptive reactive disorder. And her behaviors, although typical in some
respects to a normal toddler also required additional skills and techniques
beyond those needed for a normal toddler. Attempts were made to model and
teach those to Mother, but she was unreceptive.
25. DCS had the recommendation of completing Skill Building with [K.B.]
and Mother to work with Mother on parenting and dealing with [K.B.’s]
behaviors. The Skill Building was going to include Foster Mother in order for
her to share what works for her when dealing with [K.B.]. Originally, Skill
Building was going to occur at the Foster Parent’s home, but Mother refused.
DCS was going to move it to Mother’s home, but Mother still refused. Finally,
it ended up occurring at the DCS office, but shortly after it started, Mother
blew up towards the Foster Mother and stated that she did not need help
parenting her child all she needed was for [K.B.] to be returned. Mother
stormed out of the DCS office.
26. In the end of August and beginning of September, the visits began to
sharply decline and many of the visits were terminated early.
27. The last visit occurred in September and at that visit and Mother
became verbally aggressive towards Family Case Manger Michelle Jury.
Family Case Manager told Mother that they were going to have to terminate
the visit and went to get [K.B.] out of the swing. Mother went and took [K.B.]
out of the swing and would not put her down. [K.B.] was clearly under
distress asking to go home and saying that she wanted her mommy, referring to
the foster mother. Family Case Manager told Mother that she would have to
call the Police if Mother would not give [K.B.] back, Mother refused. The

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Police were called and Mother finally put [K.B.] down only when the Police
arrived.
****
30. In May 2012 Mother on her own signed up for a volunteer program
with Healthy Families Indiana and was assigned Joyce Consley as her worker.
31. Through Healthy Families Mother was able to gain parenting
knowledge for her child. When Mother filled out the paper work that involved
current parenting knowledge Mother would answer with what she felt was the
right answer, but when talking through the skills, Mother’s true answer was
generally developmentally inappropriate. Mother had unrealistic ideas of the
development of a child.
32. Mother was unable to focus on the Healthy Families program and
demonstrated paranoid behavior. Mother stated that DCS was out to get her
and had put cameras in the walls of her home to watch her. Mother also stated
that the United States Postal Service was intercepting her mail and that the
maintenance man at her building was watching her for the foster parents.
33. Mother did not learn anything from the program. The Healthy Families
caseworker has no knowledge of whether Mother followed up on the
recommendations due to terminating her case because of Mother’s paranoia.
34. Mother testified that she no longer uses drugs and there was no
evidence presented to controvert that testimony.
35. Of some concern, however, was Mother’s testimony that she would not
have [her] father, a convicted sex offender, watch [K.B.] or her other child
merely because he was currently too ill to watch children. Mother has been
unwilling to address her own past abuse, including alleged sex abuse by her
father, and Mother appears to not understand why her father might not be a
good caregiver for her children.
36. In July and August of 2012 Mother met with Dr. Linda McIntire to have
a parenting and psychological evaluation. Mother was dishonest and
invalidated many of the testing instruments due to her trying to show herself in
a better light and telling people what she believes they want to hear.
37. Based on the testing that Dr. McIntire administered with Mother, it
appears that Mother is paranoid, rigid, easily irritated and retreats to fantasy.
Mother has a negative approach to the world and felt that the world was out to
get her.
38. Mother is diagnosed with Axis Two personality disorder with
borderline intellectual functioning. Based on this diagnosis Mother is
narcissistic, anti-social with a disregard for the law and places her own needs
above others. This is a chronic condition that needs continuing treatment, and
significantly decreases her ability to raise a child. Mother has no ability to
notice a child’s needs and cannot parent a child with [K.B.’s] special needs.

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 39. Mother displayed all of these behaviors in the dates Mother was at Dr.
McIntire’s office, particularly that Mother stormed out of each meeting after
not getting what Mother wished or being caught in lies. Further, Mother was
unable to read the cues of her infant while at Dr. McIntire’s office, allowing
the child to cry while Mother screamed at Dr. McIntire and later noting that the
child might be hungry.
40. Throughout most of the case, Mother put her desires before [K.B.’s]
needs; Mother was not open to learning from service providers and taking
direction from them as to improving her parenting abilities in order to effect
reunification. She has anger issues, especially as related to dealing with foster
mother and Family Case Manager and at one time had to have the Police called
to a visit with [K.B.] due to her unwillingness to return [K.B.] to the caregiver.
Mother would criticize [K.B.] and whisper negative comments to [K.B.].
Mother had expectation of [K.B.] which were beyond [K.B.’s] age and
abilities. In general, although appropriate behaviors were consistently
modeled for Mother, Mother failed, refused, or was unable to benefit from the
services provided. When Mother showed some improvement, it was for short
periods, and Mother would regress to her prior conduct; as evidenced by
Mother’s dealing with service providers, as well her regressive behavior
demonstrated during supervised visits.
41. Throughout the underlying CHINS’ case, Mother did not demonstrate
that she was ready and able to parent [K.B.]: Mother was resistant to services,
was not forthcoming with information, failed to complete services, and failed
to demonstrate an ability to benefit from services she had received.
42. During the supervised visits between [K.B.] and Mother [K.B.] began to
regress at the end of those visits. [K.B.] had tantrums after the visits, would
not want to go to the visits and was at one time potty trained and regressed and
was no longer using the toilet.
43. No service provider was ever able to recommend that Mother and
[K.B.] be reunified. This was either because Mother failed to improve her
parenting abilities and demonstrate that she was able to care for [K.B.], or
because she always put her own needs above the needs of [K.B.] or both.

Appellant’s App. pp. 424-26; Appellant’s Br. pp. 40-45. In light of these findings, the

juvenile court concluded that DCS established by clearing and convincing evidence that the

reasons for K.B.’s continued placement outside Mother’s home would not be remedied. In

making this conclusion, the juvenile court “particularly note[d]” that:

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 a. The visits were stopped between [Mother] and [K.B.] due to Mother’s
failure to follow safety plans and visit plans.
b. That it was also testified to that Mother has a personality disorder that
would render her highly unlikely to be able to raise a child without special
needs let alone a child like [K.B.] who has special needs.
c. [K.B.] was removed in part due to Mother wanting [K.B.] to go to
inappropriate caregivers. Mother still shows a lack of understanding who is an
appropriate or inappropriate caregiver and why they are or are not appropriate
caregivers.

Appellant’s App. pp. 428-29; Appellant’s Br. pp. 47-48.

In challenging the juvenile court’s findings, Mother does not challenge many of the

specific findings set forth by the juvenile court. Instead, Mother argues that the juvenile

court’s general determinations that her visitation with K.B. was stopped due to her failure to

follow safety and visit plans, that her personality disorder renders her unlikely to be able to

raise a child with K.B.’s special needs, and that she continues to show a lack of

understanding as to who is an appropriate caregiver are not supported by the evidence. In

support, Mother points to evidence that she claims proves otherwise. However, despite

Mother’s claim to the contrary, upon review, we conclude that the record establishes that

Mother’s visitation with K.B. was stopped due to her failure to follow safety and visit plans,

that her personality disorder renders her unlikely to be able to raise a child with K.B.’s

special needs, and that she continues to show a lack of understanding as to who is an

appropriate caregiver.

1. Evidence Relating to Termination of Mother’s Visitation with K.B.

The record reveals that Mother has a long history with DCS. Mother’s parental rights

to six other children have previously been terminated. However, despite this long history,

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Mother has failed to respond to services in a manner which would allow for K.B. to be

returned to Mother’s care.

With respect to K.B., Mother initially displayed positive interaction during her visits

with K.B. and seemed to be making progress. In light of this progress, visits were moved

from the DCS office to Mother’s home. However, shortly after the home-based visits began,

“things kind of started going down hill.” Tr. p. 32.

Multiple service providers indicated that they had many concerns regarding Mother’s

behavior during visits. Specifically, the service providers expressed a concern over the high

level of agitation that Mother exhibited during visits. Mother was often uncooperative during

visits and would often use a loud tone of voice and appear angry. On several occasions,

Mother indicated that she believed in “blind obedience,” meaning that children should

blindly listen to her on the first time of being told something and would become agitated

“pretty instantly whenever [K.B.] wanted … to respond” or failed to “listen directly

whenever [Mother] would say something.” Tr. p. 39. CASA Richter indicated that out of

approximately twenty visits, there were only three visits that did not include concerning

behavior.

Mother also expressed an unwillingness to work with the service providers and often

accused the service providers of lying. Mother asserted that she did not need assistance and

that “she just needed [K.B.] back.” Tr. p. 31. Case Manager Jury expressed that, at times,

she became concerned that Mother might hit her. In addition, Case Manager Jury expressed

concerns for DCS staff due to Mother’s behavior. At some point prior to the termination

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hearing, it became necessary for the DCS clerical staff to keep the office lobby and

receptionist area locked at all times because Mother would come into the office “yelling and

screaming.” Tr. p. 41. In addition, CASA Richter stopped having one-on-one sessions with

Mother because she was argumentative and combative.

Following a visit in April of 2012, K.B. reported an incident that had occurred while

Mother and K.B. were in the bathroom of Mother’s home together, without supervision, for

approximately twenty minutes. K.B. reported that Mother pulled K.B.’s pants down and was

looking at her. A safety plan was subsequently put in place by which Mother could not be in

a room with K.B. without supervision. After the bathroom incident occurred, K.B. indicated

that she was scared of Mother and was especially scared of Mother’s bathroom. K.B. soon

thereafter began throwing tantrums and expressed a reluctance to attend visits with Mother.

Visitation was subsequently moved from Mother’s home to a park. A safety plan was

eventually put in place which provided that Mother could no longer lie under a blanket with

K.B. following complaints from K.B. that Mother was pinching her under the blanket.

Another safety plan provided that Mother could not provide K.B. with any food or drinks

during visits after K.B. fell ill following a visit during which Mother had provided her with

food. Yet another safety plan provided that Mother could not whisper into K.B.’s ear after

complaints from K.B. that Mother would whisper mean or inappropriate comments to K.B.

Mother was especially verbally aggressive during the last visit between Mother and K.B.

when police had to be called to diffuse the situation. During this visit, Case Manager Jury

became concerned for K.B.’s safety after Mother picked K.B. up out of a swing and would

16
not put K.B. down, despite K.B.’s requests that she do so. Mother did not put K.B. down

until the police arrived. At the end of September of 2012, following this incident, visitation

was suspended due to concerns for K.B.’s safety and Mother’s inability to follow the safety

and visitation plans.

The evidence supports the juvenile court’s determination that Mother’s visits with

K.B. were terminated due to Mother’s failure to follow safety and visit plans. Further,

although Mother points to evidence which she claims indicates that her visits with K.B. most

often went well, it was within the province of the juvenile court, as the finder of fact, to

minimize any contrary evidence of changed conditions in light of its determination that the

conditions that have resulted in K.B.’s continued removal from Mother’s care were unlikely

to change. See In re L.S., 717 N.E.2d 204, 210 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999), trans. denied.

2. Evidence Relating to Mother’s Inability to Parent
Due to Mother’s Personality Disorder

The record reveals that Mother suffers from a personality disorder that renders her

unable to care for K.B.’s special needs. Specifically, Dr. Linda McIntire, a psychologist who

treated Mother, testified that Mother’s “ability to parent a normal, healthy child without

behavioral or affective concerns is grossly compromised at best. But her ability to parent a

child [with K.B.’s special] emotional needs … is even more compromised. I don’t believe

that she can do it.” Tr. p. 130. Dr. McIntire testified that it would be difficult for Mother to

tune into K.B.’s needs. Dr. McIntire further testified that it was difficult to analyze Mother’s

abilities due to Mother’s lying. In addition, Dr. McIntire opined that it would be “years if

ever” before Mother would be able to parent K.B. Tr. p. 146. Mother displays outbursts and

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periods of paranoia. Mother also displays an ongoing disregard of rules, laws, or

expectations of others; a lack of empathy, an inability to connect with others, and an inability

to put others before herself. This evidence supports the juvenile court’s determination that

Mother’s personality disorder would render her highly unlikely to be able to raise K.B. and

provide for K.B.’s special needs.

3. Evidence Relating to Mother’s Lack of Understanding of Who Makes an
Appropriate Caregiver

The record reveals that Mother has a long history of leaving her children with

inappropriate caregivers. In the instant matter, Mother claimed that her father would make

an appropriate caregiver despite the fact that he had previously been arrested, prosecuted, and

served time for sexually abusing Mother and her siblings. Mother indicated that she had no

concerns about her father watching her children. Further, at the time when K.B. was first

removed from Mother’s care, Mother wanted to have K.B. left with her brother, who, at the

time, appeared to be under the influence of drugs and had a prior substantiation for sexual

abuse allegations. This evidence supports the juvenile court’s determination that Mother

demonstrated a lack of understanding of who makes an appropriate caregiver and why they

are or are not an appropriate caregiver.

Furthermore, while the record indicates that the juvenile court considered the evidence

presented by Mother in support of the progress that she claimed to be making, it is well-

established that the juvenile court, acting as a trier of fact, was not required to believe or

assess the same weight to the testimony as Mother. See Thompson v. State, 804 N.E.2d 1146,

1149 (Ind. 2004); Marshall v. State, 621 N.E.2d 308, 320 (Ind. 1993); Nelson v. State, 525

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N.E.2d 296, 297 (Ind. 1988); A.S.C. Corp. v. First Nat’l Bank of Elwood, 241 Ind. 19, 25,

167 N.E.2d 460, 463 (1960); Haynes v. Brown, 120 Ind. App. 184, 189, 88 N.E.2d 795, 797

(1949), trans. denied. We conclude that the evidence, when considered as a whole, is

sufficient to demonstrate a reasonable probability that the reasons for K.B.’s continued

removal from Mother’s care will not be remedied. Mother’s claim to the contrary effectively

amounts to an invitation for this court to reassess witness credibility and reweigh the

evidence, which, again, we will not do. See In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 879.

Under these circumstances, we cannot say that the juvenile court erred in determining

that DCS established that it is unlikely that the conditions resulting in K.B.’s removal would

be remedied. See In re C.M., 675 N.E.2d 1134, 1140 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997). Having

concluded that the evidence was sufficient to support the juvenile court’s determination, and

finding no error by the juvenile court, we need not consider whether the continuation of the

parent-child relationship poses a threat to K.B.’s well-being because DCS has satisfied the

requirements of Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) by clear and convincing evidence.

B. K.B.’s Best Interests

Next, we address Mother’s claim that DCS failed to prove by clear and convincing

evidence that termination of her parental rights was in K.B.’s best interests. In determining

what is in the best interests of the child, the trial court is required to look at the totality of the

evidence. In re A.K., 924 N.E.2d 212, 224 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).

In so doing, the trial court must subordinate the interests of the parent to those
of the child. [McBride, 798 N.E.2d at 203.] The court need not wait until a
child is irreversibly harmed before terminating the parent-child relationship.
Id. Moreover, we have previously held that the recommendations of the case

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 manager and court-appointed advocate to terminate parental rights, in addition
to evidence that the conditions resulting in removal will not be remedied, is
sufficient to show by clear and convincing evidence that termination is in the
child’s best interests. In re M.M., 733 N.E.2d 6, 13 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000).

In re J.S., 906 N.E.2d 226, 236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). A child’s need for permanency is an

important consideration in determining the best interests of a child. In re A.K., 924 N.E.2d at

224. Additionally, a parent’s historical inability to provide a suitable environment along with

the parent’s current inability to do the same supports a finding that termination of the parental

rights is in the best interests of the child. Lang v. Starke Cnty. Office of Family and Children,

861 N.E.2d 366, 373 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

In the instant matter, both Case Manager Jury and CASA Richter testified that they

believed that the termination of Mother’s parental rights was in K.B.’s best interests.

Specifically, CASA Richter testified that she believed the termination of Mother’s parental

rights was in K.B.’s best interests because she does not feel as if there is any indication that

there would be anything resolved for K.B. “if it were to go any other way.” Tr. p. 330.

CASA Richter explained that K.B. had been removed from Mother’s home for three years,

Mother is currently unable to care for K.B. due to her personality disorder, and K.B. would

be required to remain “in the system” for a long time if she were to wait for Mother to be

capable of providing appropriate care. Tr. p. 325. CASA Richter also testified that she

believed that at this point, it would be traumatic for K.B. to be removed from her foster

parents’ home. In addition, both Case Manager Jury and CASA Richter expressed concerns

about Mother’s ongoing lack of stability.

The juvenile court did not have to wait until K.B. was irreversibly harmed such that

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her physical, mental, and social development was permanently impaired before terminating

Mother’s parental rights. See In re C.M., 675 N.E.2d at 1140. In light of the testimony of

Case Manager Jury and CASA Richter, considered with the totality of the evidence, we

conclude that the evidence is sufficient to satisfy DCS’s burden of proving that termination

of Mother’s parental rights is in K.B.’s best interests. Again, Mother’s claim to the contrary

merely amounts to an invitation for this court to reweigh the evidence, which again, we will

not do. See In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d at 879.

Having concluded that the evidence was sufficient to prove the statutory requirements

set forth in Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2) by clear and convincing evidence, we

affirm the judgment of the juvenile court.

The judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.

MATHIAS, J., and PYLE, J., concur.

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