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ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION IV
No. CV-15-351
ALEASHA BLANKENSHIP Opinion Delivered November 4, 2015
APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM THE CLEVELAND
V. COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
[NO. JV-14-1]
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HONORABLE DAVID W. TALLEY,
HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR JR., JUDGE
CHILD
APPELLEES AFFIRMED; MOTION TO
WITHDRAW GRANTED
RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON, Judge
Aleasha Blankenship appeals from the January 21, 2015 order of the Cleveland
County Circuit Court terminating her parental rights to her daughter, H.S., who was then
one year old. Blankenship’s counsel has filed a no-merit brief pursuant to Linker-Flores v.
Arkansas Department of Human Services, 359 Ark. 131, 194 S.W.3d 739 (2004), and Arkansas
Supreme Court Rule 6-9(i), asserting that there are no issues of arguable merit to support the
appeal and requesting to be relieved as counsel. Counsel’s brief contains an abstract and
addendum of the proceedings below and explains why there is no meritorious ground for
reversal.
The clerk of this court sent copies of the brief and motion to withdraw to
Blankenship’s last-known address, informing her of her right to file pro se points for reversal
under Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(i)(3), but the packet was returned “Unclaimed,
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Unable to Forward.” Blankenship’s attorney has no additional contact information for her.
On December 30, 2013, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS)
petitioned for and obtained emergency custody of H.S. after she had tested positive for
amphetamines at birth and had to be hospitalized for treatment of severe withdrawal
symptoms. Blankenship admitted that she had been using methamphetamine on a weekly
basis.
On February 10, 2014, the trial court found probable cause for H.S. to remain in the
custody of DHS and simultaneously adjudicated H.S. dependent-neglected due to
Blankenship’s drug use. The circuit court ordered Blankenship to complete a drug-and-
alcohol assessment and to follow its recommendations, obtain and maintain stable housing,
obtain and maintain stable employment or income, complete a psychological evaluation, and
submit to random drug screens.
On April 8, 2014, the court found that Blankenship had partially complied with the
case plan because she had completed the psychological evaluation, had attended parenting
classes and had cooperated with paternity testing. But the court also noted that DHS had
difficulty locating Blankenship since she entered inpatient drug treatment on March 3, 2014,
and left the same day without completing the program. In its order, the court acknowledged
that Blankenship needed long-term, inpatient drug treatment and ordered her to complete an
inpatient drug-treatment program that was longer than thirty days.
At the May 20, 2014 review hearing, the court found that Blankenship had not made
herself available for random drug screens and had failed to enter inpatient drug treatment as
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previously ordered. On June 11, 2014, DHS filed its formal petition for termination of
parental rights. On September 9, 2014, the circuit court held a hearing on the petition for
termination of parental rights, but it was denied. The court reasoned that it would allow
Blankenship additional time to reunify with her daughter, who was less than one year old at
the time.
On November 21, 2014, the court held a permanency-planning hearing and changed
the goal to adoption because Blankenship had still not entered an inpatient drug-treatment
program and had made no further progress in the case. In response, DHS filed a petition for
termination of parental rights on December 31, 2014, which was amended on January 5,
2015. In the petition, DHS alleged that termination was in H.S.’s best interest and set forth
three grounds for termination: (1) that H.S. had been adjudicated dependent-neglected and
had been out of Blankenship’s home for twelve months despite a meaningful effort by DHS
to provide services; (2) that other factors or issues arose subsequent to the filing of the original
petition for dependency-neglect to demonstrate that the placement of H.S. in Blankenship’s
custody would be contrary to the juvenile’s health, safety, or welfare, and that despite the offer
of appropriate family services, Blankenship had manifested the incapacity or indifference to
remedy the situation; and (3) that Blankenship had subjected H.S. to aggravated circumstances
in that it was unlikely that services would lead to reunification.
Felicia Cobb, the DHS caseworker, testified at the termination hearing that she
believed DHS had done all it could do in an effort to reunite Blankenship with her daughter.
Blankenship’s willingness and ability to complete inpatient drug treatment was crucial for
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reunification. Blankenship did not pursue these services. Cobb also testified that H.S. was
adoptable and that returning custody to Blankenship would subject H.S. to potential harm
because Blankenship would not address her drug issues, and she could not take care of H.S.
while addicted to drugs. Following the hearing, the court entered an order on January 21,
2015, terminating Blankenship’s parental rights. This appeal follows.
There is a heavy burden placed upon the party seeking to terminate the parent-child
relationship. Fox v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2014 Ark. App. 666, 448 S.W.3d 735.
Termination of parental rights is an extreme remedy and in derogation of the natural rights
of the parents. Id. Parental rights, however, will not be enforced to the detriment or
destruction of the health and well-being of the child. Id.
An order forever terminating parental rights must be based on clear and convincing
evidence that termination is in the child’s best interest. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A)
(Supp. 2015). In determining whether termination is in the child’s best interest, the circuit
court must consider the likelihood that the child will be adopted if the termination petition
is granted and the potential harm, specifically addressing the effect on the health and safety of
the child, caused by returning the child to the custody of the parent, parents, or putative
parent or parents. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A)(i) & (ii).
Additionally, DHS must prove at least one statutory ground for termination by clear
and convincing evidence. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(B). Clear and convincing
evidence is defined as that degree of proof that will produce in the fact finder a firm
conviction as to the allegation sought to be established. Dinkins v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs.,
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344 Ark. 207, 40 S.W.3d 286 (2001). This court does not reverse a termination order unless
the circuit court’s findings were clearly erroneous. Meriweather v. Ark. Dep’t of Health &
Human Servs., 98 Ark. App. 328, 255 S.W.3d 505 (2007). In determining whether a finding
is clearly erroneous, an appellate court gives due deference to the opportunity of the trial
court to judge the credibility of witnesses. Dinkins, supra.
Here, the statutory requirements were met, and the trial court correctly applied the law
to the facts of this case. While there was evidence to indicate that Blankenship had completed
some of the court’s orders, her success does not determine whether DHS’s petition should be
granted. What matters is whether her completion of those orders achieved the intended result
which was to make her capable of caring for her child. Wright v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs.,
83 Ark. App. 1, 115 S.W.3d 332 (2003). It did not. The most critical requirement imposed
by the court was for Blankenship to complete inpatient drug treatment, but she never took
personal responsibility for her addiction, which demonstrated that she manifested the
incapacity or indifference to remedy the issues that caused the removal of her child. See Ullom
v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 340 Ark. 615, 12 S.W.3d 204 (2000). In light of the testimony
presented at the termination hearing, we hold that the circuit court’s order terminating
Blankenship’s parental rights was not clearly erroneous, and we therefore affirm.
In accordance with Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9(i)(1)(A), Blankenship’s counsel
has reviewed the record for all adverse rulings to the appellant made by the trial court on all
objections, motions, and requests made by the party at the hearing from which the appeal
arose. The termination was the only adverse ruling.
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From our review of the record and the brief presented to us, we conclude that there
was compliance with Rule 6-9 and that the appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we grant
counsel’s motion to be relieved and affirm the termination order.
Affirmed; motion to withdraw granted.
VAUGHT and HIXSON, JJ., agree.
Leah Lanford, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.
No response.
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