In re the Matter of K.J. and J.J., Minor Children, and J.J., Mother v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Nov 15 2018, 10:21 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Daniel G. Foote Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Katherine A. Cornelius
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In re the Matter of K.J. and J.J., November 15, 2018
Minor Children, and J.J., Court of Appeals Case No.
Mother, 18A-JC-699
Appellant-Respondent, Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
v. The Honorable Marilyn A.
Moores, Judge
The Indiana Department of The Honorable Heather Welch,
Child Services, Special Judge
Appellee-Petitioner. Trial Court Cause Nos.
49D09-1707-JC-2391
49D09-1707-JC-2392

Brown, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JC-699 | November 15, 2018 Page 1 of 23
[1] J.J. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order determining that K.J. and J.J. (the

“Children”) are children in need of services (“CHINS”). Mother raises two

issues which we consolidate and restate as whether the evidence is sufficient to

support the court’s determination that the Children are CHINS. We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History

[2] On June 12, 2016, Mother gave birth to K.J. On June 29, 2017, this Court

issued an opinion reversing the CHINS adjudication of K.J. See In re Matter of

K.S., 78 N.E.3d 740, 742 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017).1 We stated:

Mother specifically contends that DCS failed to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that [K.J.’s] physical or mental
condition was seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a
result of Mother’s inability, refusal, or neglect to supply [K.J.]
with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or
supervision. We agree.

As set forth in the relevant CHINS statute, it is DCS’s burden to
prove that a parent’s actions or inactions have seriously
endangered her child and that the child’s specific needs have not
been met. The trial court adjudicated [K.J.] to be a CHINS after
concluding that Mother used marijuana and did not have stable
housing. As to the first finding, Mother admitted that she had
used marijuana two months before [K.J.’s] birth to increase her
appetite during pregnancy. However, there is no evidence
showing how, specifically, Mother’s use of marijuana two
months prior to giving birth seriously impaired or seriously
endangered [K.J.]. DCS presented no evidence that he tested
positive for marijuana, or, even if he did, how a positive

1
In In re Matter of K.S., K.J. was referred to as K.S. On August 16, 2017, this Court’s opinion in In re Matter
of K.S., 78 N.E.3d 740, was certified.

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 marijuana test would have or did endanger him. See In the Matter
of S.M., 45 N.E.3d 1252, 1255-56 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015)
(concluding that there was no evidence presented that infant
H.G. was endangered when he was born with marijuana-positive
meconium). In fact, testimony at the hearing revealed that
during his first days of life, [K.J.] was “feeding well” and that
there was nothing other to note. (Tr. 25). During supervised
visits with [K.J.] shortly after his birth, Mother was engaged and
loving and “did everything you expected a mother to do.” (Tr.
53). At the time of the fact-finding hearing, [K.J.’s] foster mother
testified that he was developing well and meeting his milestones.

As to the second finding, DCS presented absolutely no evidence
that Mother did not have stable housing. Rather, our review of
the evidence reveals that within twenty-four hours of [K.J.’s]
birth, Mother told FCM Johnson that she and her son planned to
live with her cousin when they were discharged from the
hospital. Mother’s testimony at the fact-finding hearing
confirmed that Mother had moved in with her cousin and had
lived there for several months. Mother’s statement to Case
Manager Simpson that she felt that she “wasn’t really wanted” at
her cousin’s house does not support the juvenile court’s finding
that Mother did not have stable housing. (Tr. 48). Although the
trial court may have been concerned that at some point, Mother
and [K.J.] would be asked to move out of Mother’s cousin’s
house, at the time of the fact-finding hearing, this had not
happened. See S.M. (explaining that future concerns rather than
present facts are not enough to support a CHINS adjudication).
Based upon the totality of this evidence, there is insufficient
evidence to support the CHINS adjudication.

Id. at 745.

[3] On July 13, 2017, Mother gave birth to J.J. On July 24, 2017, the Indiana

Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed a petition alleging that the

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 Children were CHINS based in part upon Mother’s failure to provide them

with a safe and appropriate living environment free from substance abuse. That

same day, the court held an initial hearing and ordered the continued removal

of K.J. from Mother’s care, and placement of J.J. with Mother in home

contingent upon her participation in a substance abuse assessment, home based

case management, home based therapy, and random screens and following all

recommendations. The court ordered that Mother have no less than six hours

per week of supervised parenting time with K.J.

[4] On September 6, 2017, the trial court held a pretrial conference, scheduled an

adjudication hearing for November 6, 2017, and ordered Mother to submit to a

drug screen within forty-eight hours. On September 8, 2017, Mother filed a

Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for Immediate Temporary

Trial In-Home Visitation or Relative Care. She argued that the case should be

dismissed based upon this Court’s previous opinion reversing the CHINS

adjudication of K.J., res judicata, and the allegations in DCS’s petition. In the

alternative, she requested that the court order immediate temporary trial in-

home visitation with K.J. That same day, the court entered an order indicating

that it would take the motion under advisement until the September 19, 2017

hearing. On September 15, 2017, DCS filed a request for removal of J.J. from

in-home placement with Mother, objected to Mother’s request for dismissal,

and objected to immediate placement of K.J. in home with Mother.

[5] On September 19, 2017, the court held a hearing and entered an Order of

Detention with respect to J.J. finding that it was in the best interests of the child

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 to be removed from the home environment, and that remaining in the home

would be contrary to the child’s welfare because of: an inability, refusal or

neglect to provide shelter, care, and/or supervision; the child needing

protection that cannot be provided in the home; Mother’s continued use of

marijuana prior to and following this child’s birth; Mother’s instability of

housing; Mother’s lack of knowledge as to where [J.J.] is physically at this time;

Mother’s failure to participate in court ordered services designed to assure the

child’s safety; and Mother’s lack of communication with DCS, the guardian ad

litem, and service providers. The court ordered Mother to relinquish J.J. to

DCS custody and also denied her motion to dismiss. It ordered her to

participate in random drug screens, a substance abuse assessment, home based

case management, home based therapy, and supervised parenting time.

[6] On November 6, the court held a hearing. Family Case Manager Dermita

Johnson (“FCM Johnson”) testified that she came into contact with Mother on

July 14, 2017, at Community Hospital when J.J. was one or two days old.

FCM Johnson later went to Mother’s home where Mother informed her that

she knowingly, while pregnant, smoked marijuana every other day. She

testified that she attended a child and family team meeting on July 31, 2017,

which was a date confirmed by Mother, but Mother did not attend.

[7] Carol Cliff, a visit supervisor and parent aid, testified that she received a referral

in July for supervised visits between K.J. and Mother. She testified that it was

initially “a little hard” to contact Mother, but eventually developed a schedule

with Mother’s participation. Transcript Volume II at 54. She testified that the

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 schedule did not work out well because Mother had a difficult time with

transportation and that the only visit Mother had was when she provided

transportation for her. For the following visit, Mother had stated that she had

transportation to the visit, but she did not show up. For the next scheduled

visit, Mother texted Cliff about a half hour before the visit to cancel it due to

“her being exhausted from being up with the new baby.” Id. at 56. Cliff

subsequently attempted to make contact with Mother by calling and texting but

was unable to do so to proceed with other visits.

[8] Bethany Crismore, a therapist, testified that she received a referral on August

15, 2017, and was assigned to perform an intake with Mother to begin services.

Crismore made eight phone calls and went to Mother’s apartment to attempt to

meet her face to face, but Mother did not answer the door. Crismore testified

that she connected with Mother on four phone calls, but Mother twice told her

she was busy and asked if she could call her back, one time said she had a

kidney infection and that she would call her back, and another time Mother did

not “actually say anything” to her. Id. at 65. Crismore stated that Mother did

not call her back, Mother did not complete an intake, and the referral was sent

back on August 30, 2017.

[9] Latrice Smith (“Smith”), a home based case manager, testified that she received

a referral for Mother at the end of September for case management and

supervised visits. She testified that she spoke with Mother in “maybe mid-

September to schedule a visit,” but “[t]hat did not happen.” Id. at 69. She

stated that she supervised eight visits between Mother and K.J. and J.J.

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 beginning on September 19th. When asked about the visits, Smith testified that

they never had any major incidents, there was “some lack in parenting” in

being able to manage both children at the same time, and that K.J. walked off a

couple of times in the parking lot because Mother struggled with the “logistics

of getting both kids to the car.” Id. at 70-71. She also testified that K.J.

wandered off in the visit area, and that she had to ask Mother to go get K.J.

“maybe at least four times.” Id. at 72.

[10] Smith also testified that she provided transportation to Mother and picked her

up “from a couple of motels and from a house – apartment.” Id. at 74. Mother

told her that she was having issues paying for the motel and asked to borrow

some money. She testified that she made a plan to meet Mother two times per

week regarding employment, housing, and parenting skills, but she met with

her only once in six weeks because Mother cancelled a number of meetings due

to job interviews “or something like that.” Id. at 78. Smith testified that there

were some “no call, no shows” with respect to visits with the Children and that

one visit ended early so that Mother could make sure she entered the home

where she was staying. Id. at 78. On cross-examination by the guardian ad

litem’s counsel, Smith stated that she reduced the available visits from six hours

to three hours because Mother was having issues making it both days for six

hours.

[11] Brittany Smith (“Brittany”), a home based case management service provider,

testified that she received a referral for Mother on October 13, 2017, contacted

Mother, and scheduled an intake for October 18th. She stated that she

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 informed Mother that she could meet her at Mother’s home, Mother told her

that was not possible, and they scheduled to meet at a local library. Brittany

went to the library and called Mother and Mother stated that she “wasn’t going

to be able to get there right away because her ride had something wrong with

her car and had to get it fixed.” Id. at 108. They rescheduled for October 23rd,

but Mother sent Brittany a text message that morning saying that she could not

obtain a ride. Brittany offered to meet Mother where she was, but Mother said

“that wasn’t possible.” Id. They rescheduled for the next day, but Mother

again said she “didn’t have a ride to be able to meet,” Brittany told her that she

could meet Mother where she was, and Mother said she was at her cousin’s

home and her cousin did not have furniture yet. Brittany told her that was fine,

but Mother declined to meet with her. Brittany scheduled a meeting for

October 27th and told Mother she would have to close out the referral if Mother

cancelled, Mother expressed understanding, and Brittany was unable to reach

Mother on the day of the appointment.

[12] Taylor Yeskie, a home based caseworker and visitation facilitator, testified that

she was assigned to Mother in March 2017 and provided transportation for

prenatal doctor appointments and trips to the pharmacy, work, and court. She

testified that Mother told her that she would screen positive for marijuana and

that she used marijuana in order to have an appetite. Yeskie stated that when

Mother picked out chips and a drink at a gas station, Yeskie told her that she

could get peanut butter and bread that would last her longer than just that

evening because Mother was complaining that she was not making enough

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 money to eat. Mother twice “no showed on” Yeskie, and Yeskie subsequently

“basically just did the transportation to and from wherever [Mother] needed.”

Id. at 119.

[13] Randi Turner, a home based caseworker, testified that he was Mother’s

caseworker from June until August 2017, and that he saw Mother once a week

in the beginning but “it just kind of died off.” Id. at 128. He stated that he

made efforts to contact Mother but would receive no response and closed the

referral.

[14] On November 9, 2017, the court continued with the hearing. Cindy

Strietelmeier, an employee of Families First who processed referrals from DCS

and initiated the first appointments for all clients, testified that she received a

referral from DCS for Mother for a substance abuse assessment and contacted

her on June 29, 2017. Strietelmeier informed Mother that assessments can

occur anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays.

Mother agreed that she would do a walk in on one of those days but never

showed up.

[15] Guardian ad litem Greg Huff (“GAL Huff”) testified that he was assigned to

the Children on July 24, 2017. He stated that he met with Mother on August 2,

2017, at the Beech Hollow address,2 that Mother admitted she tested positive

for marijuana at the initial hearing, that she stated she was “possibly interested

2
At some points in the transcript, Beech Hollow is spelled Beech Hallow.

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 in leaving [K.J.] where he was in the foster home because she hadn’t seen him

in so long . . . as long as she could keep [J.J.] with her,” and that she was in her

apartment “for a while but she wasn’t going to be there indefinitely.”

Transcript Volume III at 17. GAL Huff testified that he was somewhat

concerned with J.J. remaining in the home and that he attempted to contact

Mother to see J.J. but was unsuccessful in reaching her at Beech Hollow or

elsewhere. He stated his agreement that Mother complete services related to

her stability and substance abuse “[b]ecause it’s necessary for the children” and

“[t]hey need the stability of a home and a mother that is going to be able to be

there that does not have a history of homelessness and concerns regarding

substance abuse.” Id. at 28. When asked why it was important that Mother

verify her sobriety, he answered: “Because if she’s – if she can do that, that’s a

positive. But in this situation, I don’t see that that’s happening at this time

because of the usage of the marijuana that she had been doing quite a bit of.”

Id. at 34-35. He testified that he did not believe the Children would be safe with

Mother due to her homelessness and marijuana usage. He also testified that

Mother’s inconsistent pattern of visitation with the Children was a concern.

[16] Mother testified that she was living at the same Beech Hollow address and that

she gave an address on Byrum Avenue in K.J.’s case because that was where

she was staying when K.J. came home from the hospital. She testified that her

case manager picked her up at different hotels because her friend was staying

there. She testified that she used marijuana when she was pregnant with K.J.

and J.J., and that she used marijuana a couple of months after J.J. was born to

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 calm her nerves. When asked if J.J. was with someone else for a day or part of

a day, she answered: “She didn’t never go with nobody.” Id. at 63. When

asked “[e]xcept for the day you came to court,” Mother answered affirmatively.

Id. When asked “[a]nd she was with her father,” Mother answered: “Yeah, but

the only reason I did that was because I had to take the bus.” Id. at 64. She

testified that she would not leave her child in the care of someone who uses

marijuana because she “wouldn’t leave my child with nobody.” Id. The

following exchange then occurred:

Q. Okay, but why wouldn’t you want – would you want
somebody who’s high on marijuana taking care of your kids?

A. What do you mean? I don’t be around nobody that smokes.
My roommate don’t smoke.

Q. My question is, would you – if you knew the caregiver, if you
knew who you were going to have babysitting your child, if you
knew they were using marijuana, would you allow them to watch
your child?

A. Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with marijuana. They prescribe
it in California. It’s free, like there’s nothing wrong with
marijuana. You’re not going to hurt a child off of smoking
marijuana. I’m sorry. I could see if it was heroin or all them
other drugs, then no – hell no. I’m not stupid.

Id.

[17] Mother testified that she did not have a job, that she receives food stamps and

TANF, she does not pay rent, and that she pays for only “lights.” Id. at 76.

When asked why she frequently missed visits with the Children, she stated:

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 “Well, a couple of times I had interviews. A couple of times it was because of

the caseworker – because of the caseworker but (indiscernible).” Id. at 77.

When discussing marijuana, the guardian ad litem’s attorney asked mother,

“And [J.J.] was in your care when you used?” Id. at 80. Mother answered:

“Yes.” Id. She testified that she obtains her marijuana “from people,” that she

does not buy marijuana, and that people who are not her friends give it to her.

Id. She stated that when she goes out to obtain the marijuana she leaves J.J.

with her roommate. She testified that J.J.’s father was Isaiah but she did not

remember his last name and that she did not know K.J.’s father. She stated that

she was in a relationship with a person who she considers her boyfriend but she

did not know his name, where he lived, whether he had a job, or the names of

his children. Mother denied having sex in exchange for money, marijuana, or

housing.

[18] On November 16, 2017, the court continued with the hearing. Angela Snyder,

a registered nurse, testified that she discussed Mother’s substance abuse history

with her and that Mother said she had smoked marijuana but not in a long

time. She testified that Mother did not want to talk to the case worker at the

hospital or anyone in DCS and was “very upset.” Transcript Volume IV at 37.

[19] Smith, the home based case manager, testified that a visitation was scheduled at

noon on November 10th, she picked up the children and arrived at the office,

but Mother did not show. She testified that she texted Mother but did not

receive a timely response.

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[20] Family Case Manager Nokwakhe Fuyana (“FCM Fuyana”) testified that she

was assigned to work with K.J. in December 2016. Between then and March

2017, FCM Fuyana attempted to communicate with Mother but Mother would

not respond to any of her emails. After FCM Fuyana eventually received

Mother’s phone number, Mother said that she had no reason to speak with

DCS and later stated that she was busy and could not talk to her on the phone.

Mother also did not respond to text messages. FCM Fuyana testified that she

discussed drug screens with Mother in March 2017 and that Mother refused to

take a drug screen. She testified that she attended the June 8, 2017 hearing, that

she had a discussion with Mother on that date about services and asked Mother

to screen before and after the hearing, and Mother refused. She also testified

that Mother refused to screen after the July 25th hearing. She stated that

Mother participated in choosing a date for a team meeting, the meeting was

scheduled for July 31st, she called Mother prior to the meeting but Mother

would not answer her phone, she texted Mother, and Mother told her that she

was babysitting and trying to make some income and she would not make it to

the meeting. Mother also failed to attend a subsequent team meeting and did

not respond to FCM Fuyana’s calls or text messages. She testified that Mother

refused to perform a screen after the November 9th hearing. FCM Fuyana

recommended continued placement of K.J. and J.J. with the current foster

parents and that services continue for Mother including home based therapy,

home based casework, substance use assessment, and supervised visitation.

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[21] FCM Fuyana testified that she had a BSA in psychology and sociology, a BSA

Honors in social development, and went through Core Training from June 2015

until October 2015. She testified that drug use by a parent is a safety concern

and “[t]here is more concern if the child is very young because the child cannot

make decisions – safety decisions on their own.” Id. at 88. She also testified

that she was recommending home based case management because it assists

clients with maintaining stability in housing. When asked what caused her to

request that J.J. be removed from Mother in September, she stated:

At that time I had made numerous attempts – um – to see [J.J.]
at the home. And one of my duties as a family case manager is
to have face to face contact with the child in the home – uh – to
determine if the child is safe in the home. Is the child in a secure
environment. If the child is [in] a stable environment. If the
environment has all the needed utilities. And with [J.J.] I was
not able to do that. Um – with [J.J.] I was not able to also
establish if the child was in a drug free environment.

Id. at 94. She indicated that she was concerned for J.J.’s safety at the time she

recommended her removal from Mother’s care. When asked why, she

answered:

Because . . . we had established – um – [Mother’s] substance
abuse – continued substance use. And we have not found a
home where [Mother] was currently living with the child. And I
made repeated attempts – um – to get to see the child in the home
or let alone just to see the child. Um – even at the date of
removal I was not able to see the child at the day of removal. It
had to be another DCS worker because [Mother] would not avail
the child. So, it’s a cause of safety concern for DCS not to be
able to have access to the child as in – as in when needed.
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 Id. at 97.

[22] On February 8, 2018, the court entered a nineteen-page order adjudicating the

Children as CHINS. The court found that Mother had used marijuana, had

unstable housing, was not able to meet her own basic needs or those of the

Children, and lacked the parenting skills necessary to keep the Children safe.

The court also found that Mother’s inconsistency with visits was harmful to her

relationship with the Children, that Mother would not participate in services

without the coercive intervention of the court, that Mother failed to comply

with court orders, that her continued drug use was detrimental to the health and

well-being of her children, and that Mother’s lack of employment causes

concern about her ability to provide food, clothing, and shelter for the Children.

The court concluded that the Children were both CHINS “because they are

victims of neglect as pursuant to I.C. § 31-34-1-1 as evidence[d] by Mother’s

unstable housing, ongoing substance abuse during pregnancy and after, and

failure to engage in the services designed to allow the children to remain in her

care.” Appellant’s Appendix Volume II at 202. The court also stated: “It was

clear from Mother’s demeanor during the three-day hearing that she did not

take this hearing seriously and did not take parenting small children seriously.

She would roll her eyes at the testimony of witnesses she did not like, make

other inappropriate faces, and have outbursts during the trial.” Id. at 203-204.

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[23] On March 1, 2018, the court held a dispositional hearing at which Mother was

not present and her substitute counsel did not know where she was.3 FCM

Fuyana testified that she requested random drug screens and a substance abuse

assessment because Mother had admitted to drug use before, during, and after

pregnancies of K.J. and J.J. She testified that Mother had shown instability in

terms of housing, that “nobody has actually made any contact with her in the

said address that she gave us,” that Mother has “been known to move from

hotel to hotel,” that she has shown “instability for transportation issues,” has

issues with her financial situation, and has shown that she is not able to manage

herself. Transcript Volume V at 15. She also testified that Mother had not

voluntarily participated in any services. She indicated that Mother had not

made any progress in alleviating her concerns with Mother’s housing since the

November 16, 2017 hearing. On cross-examination by Mother’s counsel, she

testified that Mother told her where she was living and that she went to the

address only to find a person who kept insisting that Mother does not reside

there. On redirect, FCM Fuyana testified that Mother has missed and has

refused to take drug screens.

[24] Mother’s counsel requested that the court bifurcate the hearing so that Mother

could be present. Counsel for the guardian ad litem and DCS objected. The

court called Mother’s cell phone and then FCM Fuyana called Mother’s cell

3
Rachel Johnson stated at the beginning of the hearing that she was filling in for Mother’s counsel that
morning.

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 phone, but there was no answer. The court clarified that FCM Fuyana

reminded Mother of the date of the hearing, and Mother’s substitute counsel

indicated that she knew Mother’s counsel and Mother had been in contact

about the hearing. The court stated in part:

[Mother] just has this history of – um – not appearing and then
kind of like today, I anticipated she wasn’t gonna answer. Cause
they then do the same thing, right, Ms. – and you then call her
and try to say hey, we – we wanna give you a ride. We wanna
make this happen, we wanna help you. And so – uh – she’s just
elected not to participate.

Id. at 42-43.

[25] The court also stated: “I watched [Mother] very closely because she – she had

several outbursts when other people were on the witness stand. Um – when she

was on [the] witness stand her demeanor I found to be – uh . . . I didn’t believe

everything she was telling the Court and so I had concerns.” Id. at 53. The

court also stated:

[Mother] admitted that when she was staying for a short time at
the Beech [Hollow] address that the lady – uh – who she was
staying with – she let the lady hold her baby. She went out and
she – uh – smoked marijuana and she came back and cared for
the baby. And this is within – um – August or September. The
baby was born in July. The baby was little. Um – and she quite
frankly and I think she – she was very honest with the Court.
She didn’t see why that’s a problem. She thought it was okay to
use controlled substances or alcohol and then care for a baby.
She didn’t think it was an issue. She can’t understand why the
Court would find that to be an issue.

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 Id. at 55.

[26] On March 7, 2018, the court entered a dispositional order, incorporated its

February 2018 order, found that Mother does not have stable housing or

employment, uses marijuana on a regular basis and has done so while pregnant

with both children and while caring for J.J., demonstrated erratic and unusual

behavior, refused to take drug screens, and elected to not appear in court,

cooperate with DCS, or exercise regular parenting time.

Discussion

[27] The issue is whether sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s determination

of the Children’s status as CHINS. In reviewing a trial court’s determination

that a child is in need of services, we neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the

credibility of witnesses. In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d 1283, 1286-1287 (Ind. 2014), reh’g

denied. Instead, we consider only the evidence that supports the trial court’s

decision and reasonable inferences drawn therefrom. Id. at 1287. As to issues

covered by findings, we apply the two-tiered standard of whether the evidence

supports the findings and whether the findings support the judgment. Id. We

review remaining issues under the general judgment standard, under which a

judgment will be affirmed if it can be sustained on any legal theory supported

by the evidence. Id. “We will reverse a CHINS determination only if it was

clearly erroneous.” In re D.J. v. Indiana Dep’t of Child Servs., 68 N.E.3d 574, 578

(Ind. 2017). A decision is clearly erroneous if the record facts do not support

the findings or if it applies the wrong legal standard to properly found facts. Id.

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[28] Ind. Code § 31-34-1-1 provides:

A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes
eighteen (18) years of age:

(1) the child’s physical or mental condition is seriously impaired
or seriously endangered as a result of the inability, refusal, or
neglect of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian to supply the
child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care,
education, or supervision; and

(2) the child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:

(A) the child is not receiving; and

(B) is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the
coercive intervention of the court.

[29] The CHINS statute, however, does not require that a court wait until a tragedy

occurs to intervene. In re A.H., 913 N.E.2d 303, 306 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).

Rather, a child is a CHINS when he or she is endangered by parental action or

inaction. Id. The purpose of a CHINS adjudication is not to punish the

parents, but to protect the child. Id.

[30] Mother argues that the trial court’s findings regarding her use of marijuana are

insufficient to support the CHINS determination. She argues that she testified

that she never used marijuana around the Children and points out that

possession of small amounts of marijuana is only a class B misdemeanor in

Indiana, and other states have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Mother

asserts that the court’s findings regarding her housing are insufficient to support

the CHINS determination because she testified she had never been homeless.

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 She argues that the court’s findings regarding her employment, financial

situation, supervision, parenting skills, demeanor, and compliance with services

are not supported by the evidence and are insufficient to support the CHINS

determination.

[31] With respect to Mother’s marijuana use, the record reveals that FCM Johnson

testified that Mother informed her that she smoked marijuana every other day

and that caseworker Yeskie testified that Mother told her that she would screen

positive for marijuana. GAL Huff testified that Mother admitted she tested

positive for marijuana. GAL Huff also indicated that it was important that a

parent ensure sobriety before he recommends placement of the child back into

the home and that this is especially true when a baby is involved. He testified

that he did not believe the Children would be safe with Mother at this point

“[b]ecause I think that the situation of the fact that [what I] call homelessness

and the fact of the intense use of marijuana . . . .” Transcript Volume III at 36.

FCM Fuyana testified that drug use by a parent is a safety concern, especially

for a baby. Mother testified that she used marijuana, and the guardian ad

litem’s counsel asked Mother, “And [J.J.] was in your care when you used?”

Id. at 80. Mother answered: “Yes.” Id. She also testified that she goes out and

meets people to obtain marijuana and leaves J.J. with her roommate.

[32] To the extent Mother challenges the court’s findings and conclusion regarding

her housing instability, the record reveals that Indianapolis Metropolitan Police

Officer Ivan Ivanov testified that he was dispatched to Motel Super 8 on May

27, 2016, and came into contact with Mother who was staying there and was a

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victim of a robbery. Case manager Smith testified that she provided

transportation to Mother and picked her up “from a couple of motels and from

a house – apartment.” Transcript Volume II at 74. Brittany, a home based case

management service provider, testified that Mother told her that meeting at

Mother’s home was not possible, Mother said she did not have transportation,

and Mother could not meet her at her cousin’s home where she was because her

cousin did not have furniture yet and thereafter declined to meet with Brittany.

GAL Huff testified that he became concerned that Mother was no longer living

at the Beech Hollow address with J.J., attempted to contact Mother to see J.J.,

was unsuccessful in reaching Mother, went back to Beech Hollow on

September 15th, and did not see Mother at the Beech Hollow address. He

testified that he tried to make phone calls and determine Mother’s location but

was unable to make contact with her. When asked why he agreed with the

court’s order that Mother complete certain services, GAL Huff answered:

Because I had a concern about what I would consider the
homelessness and the substance abuse regarding the children.
That has been one issue because the thing is, I had not been able
to get a hold of [Mother]. It seems like she’s been somewhat
evasive regarding from the beginning of this case and that is a
concern because my child – my children that I deal with, need
stability. That is one of the main reasons.

Id. at 33. While Mother testified that she was living at the same Beech Hollow

address, GAL Huff testified that he was confident that Mother was not living at

the Beech Hollow address when he left that address on September 15th and

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 FCM Fuyana testified that she made three attempts to visit Mother at the Beech

Hollow address in September 2017.

[33] As for Mother’s employment and financial situation, Mother testified that she

did not have a job at the moment. Smith testified that Mother told her that she

was having issues paying for the motel and asked to borrow some money.

[34] With respect to her supervision and parenting skills, Smith, the home based

case manager, testified that there was “some lack in parenting” being able to

manage both children at the same time, that K.J. walked off a couple of times

in the parking lot because Mother struggles with the “logistics of getting both

kids to the car,” and that she had to ask Mother “maybe at least four times” to

“go grab [K.J.] and see where he’s at.” Transcript Volume II at 70-72.

[35] We note that Mother does not challenge the court’s findings relating to her

failure to comply with services. Rather, Mother asserts that it is not surprising

that she showed little willingness to work with service providers given the

history of her initial encounter “and the ongoing knowledge that any disclosure

she makes to [DCS] or its contractors may be used against her and in support of

removal of her children.” Appellant’s Brief at 38.

Conclusion

[36] Based upon the evidence and testimony presented at the fact-finding hearing

and in light of the unchallenged findings, we cannot say that the trial court’s

findings of fact, conclusions, and judgment are clearly erroneous. The evidence

supports the conclusion that the Children are CHINS.

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[37] For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s conclusion that the

Children are CHINS.

[38] Affirmed.

Altice, J., and Tavitas, J., concur.

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