In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: C.A. (Minor Child) and M.A. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Jan 25 2018, 9:20 am
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
CLERK
precedent or cited before any court except for the Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, and Tax Court
collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Gregg S. Theobald Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Lafayette, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Katherine A. Cornelius
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In the Matter of the Termination January 25, 2018
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of: 79A05-1708-JT-2066
Appeal from the Tippecanoe
C.A. (Minor Child) Superior Court
and The Honorable Faith A. Graham,
Judge
M.A. (Father),
Trial Court Cause No.
Appellant-Respondent, 79D03-1701-JT-4

v.

The Indiana Department of Child
Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.

Bradford, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 79A05-1708-JT-2066 | January 25, 2018 Page 1 of 19
 Case Summary
[1] In September of 2015, C.A. (“Child”) was born to Appellant-Respondent M.A.

(“Father”) and W.B. (“Mother”)1 (collectively, “Parents”). Child tested

positive for illegal drugs and Appellee-Petitioner the Indiana Department of

Child Services (“DCS”) became involved. Child was removed from Parents’

care and placed with foster parents, where he remains. In November of 2015,

the juvenile court found Child to be a child in need of services (“CHINS”) and

ordered Father to participate in parenting services; complete parenting,

substance-abuse, and mental-health assessments; follow all recommendations

from each assessment; submit to random drug screens; and participate in

visitation with Child.

[2] Over the course of the next year, Father’s compliance with the juvenile court’s

order was sporadic, at best. Father failed to complete parenting services, submit

to any random drug screens after a positive result in September of 2016,

consistently pursue treatment for his mental-health issues, or behave

appropriately during visitation with Child. In January of 2017, DCS filed a

petition to terminate Parents’ parental rights in Child (“TPR petition”).

Following a two-day evidentiary hearing, the juvenile court granted the TPR

petition. Father contends that the juvenile court erred in concluding that DCS

1
Mother does not participate in this appeal.

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 produced sufficient evidence to sustain a termination of his parental rights in

Child. Because we disagree, we affirm.

Facts and Procedural History
[3] On September 4, 2015, Child was born drug-positive, suffered from withdrawal

symptoms, and received intensive care for a few days. Mother also tested

positive for illegal and non-prescribed substances, and Father admitted to drug

abuse. Because of Parents’ chronic mental-health and substance-abuse issues,

they were already being assisted by the Assertive Community Treatment

program (“ACT”). On September 8, 2015, DCS began its investigation of

Child.

[4] When DCS began investigating, Father threatened the assessment worker. At

the hospital, Father spoke about unrelated topics, such as his political

affiliation, how DCS workers could only work in one county, and Kentucky

CPS. Father also explained that the reason for the September 11, 2001, attacks

was that the United States bombed Pearl Harbor. Father did not know how to

hold Child and was unemployed and homeless at the time. On September 14,

2015, DCS requested removal of Child from Parents’ care, which request was

granted. Child was placed in foster care, where he remains. Bauer Family

Resources (“Bauer”) became involved with the case on October 19, 2015.

[5] On November 9, 2015, the juvenile court found Child to be a CHINS, finding,

inter alia, that Father was in need of treatment for his mental health and

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 substance abuse issues and had no income or housing. On December 7, 2015,

the juvenile court ordered Father to participate in Fatherhood Engagement

Services through Bauer; complete parenting, substance-abuse, and mental-

health assessments; follow all recommendations from each assessment; submit

to random drug screens; and participate in visitation with Child. On January 9,

2017, DCS petitioned to terminate Parents’ rights in Child. On March 22 and

May 11, 2017, the juvenile court conducted a two-day evidentiary hearing on

the TPR petition, during which it heard evidence regarding Father’s compliance

with its order of December 7, 2015.

[6] Father contacted Bauer in November of 2015 but ceased participation in

Fatherhood Engagement programs at some point around August of 2016,

having failed to accomplish any parenting-skills training. The counselor

indicated that Father was challenging to work with because of his variability of

mood, low cognitive function, and inability to focus. Father eventually stopped

working with Fatherhood Engagement because he felt that the counselor had a

bad attitude and did not give Father a bed or clothing for Child.

[7] On November 16, 2015, Father completed a substance-abuse assessment

conducted by clinical psychologist Jeff Vanderwater-Piercy, Ph.D., H.S.P.

Father exhibited disorganized thought during intake; although he had divorced

Mother, he still referred to her as his wife and believed that the State should

recognize them as married because they have a child together. Father initially

said that he had other children but later said that he was a first-time father.

Father alleged that the ACT team had fed illegal drugs to Mother before Child’s

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 birth. When asked about having friends, Father said, “I don’t want any close

friends, close friends are your enemies but since you are twisting my arm I

guess President Obama is my support because he is for the people.” Ex. Vol. II

p. 151.

[8] Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy diagnosed Father with marijuana use disorder in early

remission and methamphetamine use disorder in sustained remission. Dr.

Vanderwater-Piercy recommended a full psychological assessment, individual

counseling to process feelings and explore behaviors and choices, case

management, and that all visits with Child be supervised to ensure that Child’s

needs are met and that he is safe. Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy also recommended

that Father attend at least two narcotics anonymous (“NA”) and/or alcoholics

anonymous (“AA”) meetings per week and participate in random urine screens

to monitor his sobriety.

[9] Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy also completed Father’s psychological evaluation on

February 3, 2016, and diagnosed Father with moderate, persistent depressive

disorder with anxious distress; unspecified delusional disorder; alcohol use

disorder in sustained remission; marijuana use disorder in early remission;

antisocial personality disorder; and borderline intellectual functioning. These

conditions caused Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy to have significant concerns about

Father’s ability to adequately parent Child without ongoing intervention and

assistance. The report termed Father’s conditions “significant” and raised

concerns about Father’s violent behavior. Ex. Vol. II p. 224.

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[10] As for visitation, Father had supervised visitation with Child beginning in

September of 2015, for three hours each week, usually divided into two

sessions. At times, the visitation supervisor needed to redirect Father to what

would be appropriate food for Child during visits. Jolene Todd, from Wabash

Valley Alliance (“Wabash”) testified that Father was, at times, very controlling

and verbally aggressive. (Tr. 29). Father did not understand Child’s

developmental stages. Father struggled to be patient with Child when he cried

or when changing a diaper because Child wiggled.

[11] Father also struggled to retain instructions on parenting skills. In November of

2016, despite numerous reminders, Father tried to leave Child behind,

unsupervised, in the visitation room when he went to use the kitchen. Lauren

Schneider, also from Wabash, testified that Father struggled to understand

Child’s social clues for when he needed changing, food, or attention. Father

showed belligerent behaviors and would need to be redirected, and one visit

was cancelled because of Father’s anger. Father appeared to be under the

influence of illegal substances during some visits. On four occasions early in

2017, Father did not attend scheduled visitation with Child.

[12] Father was not compliant with the drug screening ordered by the juvenile court

and as recommended by the substance-abuse assessment. Father was frequently

contacted to submit urine for screening, but rarely did. After testing positive for

methamphetamine around September of 2016, Father failed to submit to any

further drug screens. Father testified that DCS should have given him a drug-

screening schedule in advance. Father did not go to NA or AA meetings

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 because he believed they sold “spice” on the corner near where the meetings

occurred. Tr. p. 107. Those who worked with Father often believed he was

under the influence of illegal or non-prescribed substances.

[13] The juvenile court also heard evidence related to Father’s current mental state

and overall fitness to be a parent. Psychologist James Toth, Psy.D., H.S.P.P.,

had treated Father on two other occasions over the previous two to three years

before reopening services on February 15, 2017. Dr. Toth testified that Father

has major depressive disorder with psychotic features and has troubles with

mood stability and anger management. Father has difficulties with cognitive

approaches to managing his moods and frustration or anger. Dr. Toth

expressed concerns about Father parenting Child because of Father’s mood

instability. (Tr. 89). Dr. Toth felt that, because of Father having problems

stabilizing his mood and his anger issues, “there is probably some concern”

about Father parenting Child. Tr. p. 91. As of the second day of trial on May

11, 2017, Father had missed three of the six scheduled appointments since

restarting treatment with Dr. Toth.

[14] Father also lacked the consistent means to financially provide for Child. Father

had once worked for an awning company but was terminated because he had

no driver’s license. Although Father indicated that he had not been let go from

any other job, he stated that “I’ve walked off before they had a chance to.” Ex.

Vol. II p. 219. Father has been unemployed since 2009. Father testified that he

had resided with his mother for ten to fifteen years, while she paid the rent and

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 utilities. Father also testified that he worked three or four hours a week for ten

dollars an hour and collected cans for cash.

[15] The juvenile court admitted exhibits indicating that Father has an extensive

criminal history. Father indicated that he had a previous conviction for “sexual

battery in which he received 10 years in jail” and evidence was admitted that

Father accumulated twenty-three other charges in Tippecanoe county,

including operating a vehicle with a suspended license, disorderly conduct,

battery, resisting law enforcement, and public intoxication. Ex. Vol. II p. 153.

On July 17, 2016, Father was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and

intimidation and was incarcerated until September 14, 2016.

[16] DCS family case manager (“FCM”) Sally Messmer testified that she has been

involved in Child’s case since September 4, 2015. FCM Massmer testified that

the permanency plan for Child was adoption and that it was in his best interests

to stay in his current foster-care placement, where he had been since removal.

FCM Messmer testified that Child was “thriving” in his current placement, his

needs were being met, and his needs would not be met were he to be returned to

either Parent’s care. Tr. Vol. II p. 54.

[17] On July 13, 2017, the juvenile court ordered the termination of Father’s and

Mother’s parental rights in Child. The order provided, in part, as follows:

9. … Father had been unemployed since 2009 and was without
housing.
….

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 18. Father is diagnosed with Persistent Depressive Disorder with
Anxious Distress (Moderate), Delusional Disorder (Unspecified
Type), Alcohol Use Disorder (In Sustained Remission),
Marijuana Use Disorder (In Early Remission), Antisocial
Personality Disorder, and Borderline Intellectual Functioning.
Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy noted these diagnoses raise “significant
concern regarding Father’s ability to adequately parent a child
over an extended period of time without ongoing intervention
and assistance.” Father has failed to demonstrate an investment
utilizing the necessary assistance.
19. Father participated in case management services prior to
incarceration. After release from incarceration, Father never
reengaged in services. Father struggles with retaining
information regarding safe parenting. Father made no progress
toward becoming a primary custodian of the child. Father failed
to commence therapy until February 2017 and still makes
grandiose statements in sessions.
20. Father has a long-term history of substance use starting with
alcohol at age twelve (12) and marijuana at age thirteen (l3). A
substance abuse assessment concluded with a diagnosis of
Marijuana Use Disorder (In Early Remission) and
Methamphetamine Use Disorder (In Sustained Remission).
Father failed to submit to all requested drug screens and
continues to actively use drugs.
21. Father’s criminal history includes Criminal Deviant
Conduct, Public Intoxication, Operating While Suspended,
Resisting Law Enforcement, Battery and various other unknown
misdemeanors and felonies. During the CHINS case, Father was
arrested on July 7, 2016 for Trespass and Intimidation Father
was released from incarceration on September 14, 2016.
22. Both parents have missed scheduled visits. Both parents
have appeared at scheduled visits acting “odd” resulting in
suspicion of being under the influence of a substance. Both
parents struggle to catch social cues regarding the child’s basic
needs and must be directed regarding hunger and thirst. Both

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 parents have displayed belligerent and threatening behavior
toward service providers. Neither parent has demonstrated an
ability to provide for the child’s basic needs.
23. The child is now nineteen (19) months old and has remained
in the only home he has ever known. The child has thrived in
placement and is developmentally on target. The child is bonded
with the concurrent [sic] foster family. The child is adoptable
even if the concurrent [sic] foster parents are unable to adopt for
any reason.
….
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. There is a reasonable probability the conditions that resulted
in removal of the child from the home or the reasons for
continued placement outside the home will not be remedied.
There is no reasonable probability that either parent will be able
to maintain stability to care and provide for the child.
2. Continuation of the parent-child relationships pose[] a threat
to the well-being of the child. The child needs stability in life.
The child needs parents with whom the child can form a
permanent and lasting bond to provide for the child’s emotional
and psychological as well as physical well-being. The child’s
well-being would be threatened by keeping the child in parent-
child relationships with either parent who are unable to meet
their own needs let alone the needs of the child.
3. DCS has a satisfactory plan of adoption for the care and
treatment of the child following termination of parental rights.
The child can be adopted and there is reason to believe an
appropriate permanent home has or can be found for the child.
4. For the foregoing reasons, it is in the best interests of [Child]
that the parental rights of [Mother and Father] be terminated.
Order pp. 3–5.

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 Discussion and Decision
[18] The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the

traditional right of a parent to establish a home and raise his 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 his 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 interest

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

child relationship. Id.

[19] 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 his physical, mental,

and social development is permanently impaired before terminating the parent-

child relationship. Id.

[20] Father contends that the evidence presented during the evidentiary hearing was

insufficient to support the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights

to Child. In reviewing termination proceedings on appeal, this court will not

reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. In re Invol. Term.

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 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.

[21] 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.

[22] In order to involuntarily terminate Father’s parental rights in Child, DCS must

have established by clear and convincing evidence that:

(i) The child has been removed from the parent for at least
six (6) months under a dispositional decree.
….
(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.

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 (ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation
of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-
being of the child.
…
(C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of
the child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2).
[23] Father contends that DCS presented insufficient evidence to establish that (1)

the conditions leading to the removal of Child would not be remedied, (2)

continuation of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to Child, (3)

termination was in Child’s best interests, and (4) DCS has a satisfactory plan for

the care and treatment of Child.

I. Reasonable Probability that the Conditions Resulting
in Continued Removal Would Not be Remedied
[24] Father contends that the record does not establish that the reasons for Child’s

continued removal would not be remedied.

In determining whether “the conditions that resulted in the
child’s removal ... will not be remedied,” id., we “engage in a
two-step analysis,” [K.T.K. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., Dearborn
Cnty. Office, 989 N.E.2d 1225, 1231 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013)]. First,
we identify the conditions that led to removal; and second, we
“determine whether there is a reasonable probability that those
conditions will not be remedied.” Id. (quoting [In re I.A., 934
N.E.2d 1127, 1134 (Ind. 2010)]) (internal quotation marks
omitted). In the second step, the trial court must judge a parent’s
fitness “as of the time of the termination proceeding, taking into
consideration evidence of changed conditions,” Bester v. Lake Cty.

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 Office of Family & Children, 839 N.E.2d 143, 152 (Ind. 2005)—
balancing a parent’s recent improvements against “habitual
pattern[s] of conduct to determine whether there is a substantial
probability of future neglect or deprivation.” K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d
at 1231 (quoting Bester, 839 N.E.2d at 152) (internal quotation
marks omitted). We entrust that delicate balance to the trial
court, which has discretion to weigh a parent’s prior history more
heavily than efforts made only shortly before termination. See
K.T.K., at 1234. Requiring trial courts to give due regard to
changed conditions does not preclude them from finding that
parents’ past behavior is the best predictor of their future
behavior.
In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 642-43 (Ind. 2014) (footnote omitted).

[25] Here, the condition that led to Child’s removal was that he tested positive for

the presence of illegal drugs upon his birth. Since then, it seems clear that Child

has not been returned to Father’s care because of Father’s lack of progress with

his parenting skills, mental health, and substance abuse. The question is

whether the record is sufficient to sustain a finding that these issues are unlikely

to be remedied.

[26] Father never made significant progress in, much less successfully completed,

Fatherhood Engagement Services. Father began in December of 2015 and

ceased participation in around August or September of 2016, with no progress

having been made on his treatment goals for at least a few months. In a

September of 2016 report, Father’s counselor recommended that Father be

dismissed from Fatherhood Engagement and that Father had “made little

progress toward any of his outlined goals.” Ex. Vol. II p. 143. Father’s

counselor frequently noted Father’s lack of engagement and indicated that

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 Father was a challenge to work with because of his variability of mood, low

cognitive function, and inability to focus. Father eventually stopped working

with Fatherhood Engagement because he felt that the counselor had a bad

attitude and never gave Father a bed or clothing for Child. Father’s failure to

take advantage of the opportunity to improve his parenting skills supports an

inference that this reason for continued removal will not be remedied.

[27] The record also contains little to suggest that Father will successfully address

his serious and ongoing mental-health issues. Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy

diagnosed Father with moderate, persistent depressive disorder with anxious

distress; unspecified delusional disorder; alcohol use disorder in sustained

remission; marijuana use disorder in early remission; antisocial personality

disorder; and borderline intellectual functioning. Dr. Toth testified that Father

has major depressive disorder with psychotic features and has troubles with

mood stability and anger management. Father has difficulties with cognitive

approaches to managing his moods and frustration or anger. During his

evaluation with Dr. Vanderwater-Piercy, Father reported that he believed DCS

had once brought the wrong baby to one of his visits. Father also expressed the

belief that ISIS and the United States had developed the technology to make a

person invisible and saw no reason that DCS would not use this technology

against him.

[28] When tested for intellectual functioning, Father tested in the “low” category.

Ex. Vol. II p. 223. Father’s composite score for the Shipley-2 test of intellectual

functioning was in the first percentile. Father attempted the MMPI-2-RF and

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 the MCMI-III to assess clinical symptoms, personality traits, and behavioral

tendencies. Father’s scores on the MMPI-2-RF were invalid due to excessively

inconsistent answers. The results of the MCMI-III were reliable and showed

high levels of anxiety and a tendency to be outwardly conforming and inwardly

temperamental, edgy, suspicious, and mistrustful.

[29] Despite such serious mental-health issues, Father has shown little enthusiasm

for addressing them. Father was born in 1969 and first saw a counselor when

six or seven years old. In his thirties, Father saw a psychiatrist because of

“angry outbursts” but did not follow through with treatment because he was

uncomfortable with the medications prescribed. Ex. Vol II p. 222. Dr. Toth

had treated Father previously and began seeing him again in February of 2017,

the month before the termination hearing. As of the second day of trial on May

11, 2017, however, Father had missed three of the six scheduled appointments

with Dr. Toth. Even assuming that Father were demonstrating a clear

commitment to his counseling with Dr. Toth, “[i]t is a parent’s habitual pattern

of conduct that must be considered in determining whether to terminate

parental rights, and a trial court is not required to accept evidence of a last-

minute change in conditions as trumping evidence of years of a different pattern

of behavior.” In re D.K., 968 N.E.2d 792, 799 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012). Given the

evidence of Father’s lack of commitment to addressing his serious mental-

health issues, the record supports a conclusion that they will not be remedied.

[30] Finally, the record supports a conclusion that Father’s issues with illegal drug

use will not be remedied. There is evidence that Father’s compliance with

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 court-ordered drug screening was, at best, sporadic before ceasing altogether in

September of 2016, following a positive screen for methamphetamine.

Although Father offers excuses for his refusal to submit to further screens or

attend NA or AA meetings—also as ordered—a reasonable inference is that

Father’s illegal drug use continues unabated and unaddressed. Father has failed

to establish error in the juvenile court’s conclusion that the reasons for the

continued placement of Child away from Father’s care would not be remedied.

II. Parent-Child Relationship
Posed a Threat to Child
[31] Father also contends that the juvenile court erred in concluding that the

continued parent-child relationship posed a threat to Child. Because we have

already concluded that the juvenile court did not err in concluding that the

conditions that led to the Children’s removal would not likely be remedied, we

need not address Father’s argument in this regard. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-

4(b)(2)(B) (providing that DCS must establish that one the following is true:

“[t]here 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[, t]here is a reasonable probability that the continuation of

the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the child[, or

t]he child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been adjudicated a child in need

of services”).

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 III. Child’s Best Interests
[32] We are mindful that in determining what is in the best interests of Child, the

juvenile court is required to look beyond the factors identified by DCS and look

to the totality of the evidence. McBride v. Monroe Cnty. Office of Family &

Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 203 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). In doing so, the juvenile

court must subordinate the interests of the parents to those of the child

involved. Id. Furthermore, this court has previously determined that the

testimony of a GAL regarding a child’s need for permanency supports a finding

that termination is in the child’s best interests. In the matter of Y.E.C., 534

N.E.2d 273, 276 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992).

[33] FCM testified that it was in Child’s best interests to stay in his current

placement, where he had been since removal. FCM Messmer testified that

Child was “thriving” in his current placement, his needs were being met, and

his needs would not be met were he to be returned to either Parent’s care. Tr.

Vol. II p. 54. Although this evidence alone is likely sufficient to sustain the

juvenile court’s finding that termination is in Child’s best interests, see, e.g., In re

T.F., 743 N.E.2d 766, 776 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (concluding that testimony of

GAL and FCM was sufficient to sustain finding that termination was in the

child’s best interests), there is much more. We have already covered in detail

the substantial evidence of Father’s unaddressed substance abuse, unaddressed

mental illness, history of criminal behavior, lack of parenting skills, lack of

financial means to appropriately care for Child, and general instability. Given

the positive evidence regarding Child’s current placement and the negative

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 evidence regarding Father’s ability to provide for Child’s needs, Father has

failed to establish error in this regard.

IV. Satisfactory Plan for Child’s Care and Treatment
[34] Finally, Father contends that the juvenile court’s conclusion that DCS has a

satisfactory plan for the placement of Child is unsupported by the record. “For

a plan to be ‘satisfactory,’ for purposes of the statute, it ‘need not be detailed, so

long as it offers a general sense of the direction in which the child will be going

after the parent-child relationship is terminated.’” Lang v. Starke Cty. Office of

Family & Children, 861 N.E.2d 366, 374 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting In re

Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of D.D., 804 N.E.2d 258, 268 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2004), trans. denied), trans. denied. DCS’s plan for continued placement

with his foster family and eventual adoption (whether by them or somebody

else) easily satisfies this test. Indeed, even if we assume that Child’s current

placement cannot become permanent, “(a)ttempting to find suitable parents to

adopt [Child] is clearly a satisfactory plan.” Id. at 375 (citing Matter of A.N.J.,

690 N.E.2d 716, 722 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997)). Father has not established error in

this regard.

[35] The judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.

Robb, J., and Crone, J., concur.

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