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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: A.L., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
APPEAL OF: A.M.T., NATURAL :
MOTHER :
:
:
:
: No. 949 MDA 2018
Appeal from the Order Entered May 16, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Juvenile Division at
No(s): 001-Adopt-2018,
CP-21-DP-0000075-2017
IN RE: ADOPTION OF: A.L., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
APPEAL OF: A.M.T., NATURAL :
MOTHER :
:
:
: No. 966 MDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree May 16, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Orphans' Court at
No(s): 001-Adopt-2018
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and MURRAY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MURRAY, J.: FILED NOVEMBER 16, 2018
A.M.T. (Mother) appeals from the order which changed the permanency
goal of A.L. (Child) (born July 2016) to adoption, pursuant to the Juvenile Act,
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6351, and the decree involuntarily terminating her parental
rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b) of the Adoption
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Act.1 Additionally, Mother’s counsel, R.H. Hawn, Jr., Esquire, seeks to
withdraw his representation of Mother pursuant to Anders v. California, 87
S. Ct. 1936 (1967), Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978 A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009),
and In re V.E., 611 A.2d 1267, 1275 (Pa. Super. 1992) (extending Anders
briefing criteria to appeals by indigent parents represented by court-appointed
counsel in involuntary termination matters). After careful review, we affirm
and grant counsel’s petition to withdraw.
We summarize the following facts from the orphans’ court opinion, and
from the record. See Orphans’ Court Opinion, 8/14/18, at 1-3; see also N.T.,
5/16/18, at 1-44. The family has a long involvement with the Cumberland
County Children and Youth Services (CYS or Agency). Prior to her involvement
with Father, Mother had three children with other men. In 2013, Mother was
driving under the influence of cocaine when she had an accident with the three
children in the car. Since that time, the older children have resided with their
respective fathers, and Mother voluntarily relinquished her parental rights to
them. Mother and Father have a total of five children together, three older
than Child and one younger than Child. The three older children were
previously placed and adopted.2
____________________________________________
1The court terminated the parental rights of G.L. (Father) pursuant to Section
2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (b). Father did not separately appeal and is not a
party to the instant appeal.
2 Parents’ parental rights to G.L., Jr., were terminated some time in 2012,
their parental rights to C.L. were terminated in October 2014, and their
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In December 2016, Mother completed a Functional Assessment
Screening Tool (FAST) evaluation. Three months of supervision was
recommended to allow Mother to demonstrate she could follow through with
medication management, counseling, stable housing, avoid domestic violence
and police involvement, maintain negative drug screens, and set up and follow
through with medical appointments for Child (including a hip specialist).
In June 2017, CYS filed a shelter care application. The application
alleged that Mother and Father had issues with domestic violence, drug abuse,
mental health, and a lack of stable housing. Child had not been taken to his
nine-month checkup. Additionally, CYS had received a referral indicating that
Mother and Father were living with Child in a tent in a state park. Child was
removed from the parents and placed in non-kinship foster care.
The Agency filed a dependency petition, and on July 7, 2017, Child was
adjudicated dependent. At that time, Mother’s goals were identified as: get
out of jail; obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and follow through with any
recommended treatment; obtain a mental health evaluation; complete
parenting classes; and break the cycle of domestic violence. In September
2017, Mother did not appear for a judicial conference, but the court found she
was making substantial progress, had obtained a drug and alcohol evaluation,
a FAST evaluation, and a mental health evaluation.
____________________________________________
parental rights to J.L. were terminated in November 2014. It appears that
these terminations were voluntary. Child’s youngest sibling, V.L., was placed
at birth with the same foster parents as Child.
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However, during a permanency review hearing in December 2017,
Mother was found to be in minimal compliance, and had not made progress
toward achieving independent, appropriate housing. As a result, she was
discharged from Alternative Behavioral Consultants (ABC). Her visits with
Child were inconsistent, and since August 2017, she had not pursued domestic
violence counseling services, nor had she received mental health counseling
since October 2017. Also, Mother stopped appearing for drug screens in
October 2017, and did not follow recommendations to pursue outpatient drug
and alcohol counseling. Further, Mother was charged with new crimes.3
In January 2018, CYS filed a petition requesting that Child’s goal be
changed to adoption, and a petition requesting that the court involuntarily
terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights pursuant to Section
2511(a)(1), (2), (5), and (8).
In March 2018, Mother tested positive for methylenedioxy-
methamphetamine (MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy), and later in
the month, attempted to falsify her urine sample. After giving a true screen
sample, she tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl. In April 2018, Child’s
younger sibling V.L. was born, and Mother and V.L. tested positive for cocaine
and marijuana at V.L.’s birth. Mother was then incarcerated for approximately
____________________________________________
3 On October 5, 2017, Mother was charged with theft and receiving stolen
property. On October 24, 2017, Mother was charged with four counts of
harassment. On December 7, 2017, Mother was charged with criminal
trespass and disorderly conduct. See Permanency Review Order, 12/20/17,
at 1-2.
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three months. At the time, she was unsuccessfully discharged from her drug
treatment program, and had not obtained mental health services.
On May 16, 2018, the court convened a hearing on the combined goal
change and termination petitions. CYS presented the testimony of Shelly
Barrick, CYS caseworker, and T.R., Child’s foster mother. Mother, represented
by counsel, testified on her own behalf. Father, represented by counsel, did
not appear at the hearing. Child was represented by the Children’s Advocacy
Clinic as guardian ad litem and legal counsel.4
Ms. Barrick testified that Child is doing well in foster care with his
younger sister V.L., and is very bonded to his foster parents. See N.T.,
5/16/18, at 12-13. T.R. testified that Child is doing well in her home, and that
she and her wife, P.E.-R., wish to adopt Child. Id. at 16. He is very bonded
with both foster mothers. Id. at 17. T.R. described one visit with Mother in
prison where Child seemed happy to see Mother, but another visit where Child
clung to foster mother and refused to let go. Id. at 18. Mother visited Child
four times in 2018. Id. at 20. Foster mothers are open to Mother having
post-adoption contact with Child. Id. at 21.
____________________________________________
4 Lucy Johnston-Walsh, Esquire, appeared for the Children’s Advocacy Clinic.
See N.T., 5/16/18, at 1. This representation satisfied the representation
requirements of In re Adoption of L.B.M., 161 A.3d 172, 183 (Pa. 2017)
(plurality) and In re T.S., 192 A.3d 1080, 1092-93 (Pa. 2018). Here, counsel
noted on the record that Child was non-verbal due to his young age, but that
he appeared happy in his placement. See N.T., 5/16/18, at 39; see also
T.S., supra (noting that there is no conflict between child’s best and legal
interests if child is non-verbal due to young age).
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Mother testified that she is on the housing authority’s list for Section 8
housing, and that her name is near the top of the list. Id. at 25. She averred
that she had taken parenting classes, but services were discontinued until she
could find housing. Id. at 26-27. Mother continued visitation with Child while
incarcerated; she averred that Child, who calls her “mom mom,” recognizes
and loves her. Id. at 29-30, 36-37. Mother denied testing positive for drugs
at V.L.’s birth. Id. at 30-31. She testified that she was attending Narcotics
Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while in the prison, receiving
dialectical behavior therapy, and attending domestic violence counseling. Id.
at 30-34. Mother stated she had not seen Father for close to three months
and that she was no longer in a relationship with him. Id. at 32-33.
Child’s counsel noted that Child was too young to verbalize his desires
but that, after observation, counsel concluded that Child was happy and well-
adjusted with foster family. Id. at 39. At the conclusion of the hearing, the
court changed Child’s permanency goal to adoption, and terminated Mother’s
parental rights. Id. at 43-44.
Mother appealed and filed a concise statement of errors complained of
on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). In this Court, Mother’s
counsel has filed an Anders brief, asserting two issues that Mother might seek
to raise:
1. Did the [orphans’] court abuse its discretion and commit an
error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear and convincing
evidence, that the child’s permanent placement goal of
reunification [was] neither appropriate, nor feasible and ordered
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a goal change to adoption, thus contravening section 6351(f) of
the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351(f)?
2. Did the [orphans’] court abuse its discretion and commit an
error of law when it found, despite a lack of clear and convincing
evidence, that sufficient grounds existed for a termination of
[Mother’s] parental rights [to] her child, and when it failed to
primarily consider the child’s developmental, physical, and
emotional needs and welfare, thus contravening sections 2511(a)
and 2511(b) of the Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2511(a) and
2511(b)?
Anders Brief at 4 (suggested answers omitted).5
When faced with a purported Anders brief, this Court may not review
the merits of any possible underlying issues without first examining counsel’s
request to withdraw. Commonwealth v. Goodwin, 928 A.2d 287, 290 (Pa.
Super. 2007) (en banc). Prior to withdrawing as counsel on direct appeal
under Anders, counsel must file a brief that meets the requirements
established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Santiago, namely:
(1) provide a summary of the procedural history and facts, with
citations to the record;
(2) refer to anything in the record that counsel believes arguably
supports the appeal;
(3) set forth counsel’s conclusion that the appeal is frivolous; and
(4) state counsel’s reasons for concluding that the appeal is
frivolous. Counsel should articulate the relevant facts of record,
controlling case law, and/or statutes on point that have led to the
conclusion that the appeal is frivolous.
Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.
____________________________________________
5Mother has not pro se filed a response to the Anders brief or retained new
counsel.
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Counsel also must provide a copy of the Anders brief to his client.
Attending the brief must be a letter that advises the client of his
right to: “(1) retain new counsel to pursue the appeal; (2) proceed
pro se on appeal; or (3) raise any points that the appellant deems
worthy of the court[’]s attention in addition to the points raised
by counsel in the Anders brief.” Commonwealth v. Nischan,
928 A.2d 349, 353 (Pa. Super. 2007), appeal denied, 594 Pa.
704, 936 A.2d 40 (2007).
Commonwealth v. Orellana, 86 A.3d 877, 879-880 (Pa. Super. 2014).
After determining that counsel has satisfied these technical requirements of
Anders and Santiago, only then may this Court “conduct an independent
review of the record to discern if there are any additional, non-frivolous issues
overlooked by counsel.” Commonwealth v. Flowers, 113 A.3d 1246, 1250
(Pa. Super. 2015) (citations and footnote omitted).
Attorney Hawn’s Anders brief complies with these requirements. He
includes a summary of the relevant factual and procedural history; he refers
to the portions of the record that could arguably support Mother’s claim; and
he sets forth a conclusion that the appeal is frivolous and no other issues could
be raised. He explains his reasoning and supports his rationale with citations
to the record and pertinent legal authority. Additionally, Attorney Hawn has
supplied Mother with a copy of the Anders brief and letter explaining the
rights enumerated in Nischan, supra. Thus, counsel has complied with the
technical requirements for withdrawal. We now independently review the
record to determine if the issues raised are frivolous and to ascertain whether
there are non-frivolous issues Mother may pursue on appeal.
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We review cases involving the termination of parental rights according
to the following:
The standard of review in termination of parental rights cases
requires appellate courts to accept the findings of fact and
credibility determinations of the trial court if they are supported
by the record. If the factual findings are supported, appellate
courts review to determine if the trial court made an error of law
or abused its discretion. A decision may be reversed for an abuse
of discretion only upon demonstration of manifest
unreasonableness, partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill-will. The trial
court’s decision, however, should not be reversed merely because
the record would support a different result. We have previously
emphasized our deference to trial courts that often have first-hand
observations of the parties spanning multiple hearings.
In re T.S.M., 71 A.3d 251, 267 (Pa. 2013) (internal citations and quotations
omitted).
Termination requires a bifurcated analysis:
Initially, the focus is on the conduct of the parent. The party
seeking termination must prove by clear and convincing evidence
that the parent’s conduct satisfies the statutory grounds for
termination delineated in Section 2511(a). Only if the court
determines that the parent’s conduct warrants termination of his
or her parental rights does the court engage in the second part of
the analysis pursuant to Section 2511(b): determination of the
needs and welfare of the child under the standard of best interests
of the child. One major aspect of the needs and welfare analysis
concerns the nature and status of the emotional bond between
parent and child, with close attention paid to the effect on the child
of permanently severing any such bond.
In re L.M., 923 A.2d 505, 511 (Pa. Super. 2007) (citations omitted). As CYF
argues that it proved by clear and convincing evidence that grounds for
termination existed under 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511(a)(2), we focus our analysis
on subsection (a)(2) and (b).
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The relevant subsections of 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511 provide:
(a) General rule.--The rights of a parent in regard to a child
may be terminated after a petition filed on any of the
following grounds:
***
(2) The repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect
or refusal of the parent has caused the child to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary for
his physical or mental well-being and the conditions and
causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or
will not be remedied by the parent.
***
(b) Other considerations.--The court in terminating the rights
of a parent shall give primary consideration to the developmental,
physical and emotional needs and welfare of the child. The rights
of a parent shall not be terminated solely on the basis of
environmental factors such as inadequate housing, furnishings,
income, clothing and medical care if found to be beyond the
control of the parent. With respect to any petition filed pursuant
to subsection (a)(1), (6) or (8), the court shall not consider any
efforts by the parent to remedy the conditions described therein
which are first initiated subsequent to the giving of notice of the
filing of the petition.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 2511.
To satisfy the requirements of § 2511(a)(2), the moving party must
prove “(1) repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
that such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal caused the child to be without
essential parental care, control or subsistence; and (3) that the causes of the
incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will not be remedied.” See In
Interest of Lilley, 719 A.2d 327, 330 (Pa. Super. 1998). The grounds for
termination are not limited to affirmative misconduct, but concern parental
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incapacity that cannot be remedied. In re Z.P., 994 A.2d 1108, 1117 (Pa.
Super. 2010). Parents are required to make diligent efforts toward the
reasonably prompt assumption of full parental duties. Id.
Here, Mother contends that there was insufficient evidence to support
the termination of her parental rights because she was in compliance with and
making progress towards her objectives, and the court failed to assess her
progress in light of what would be expected of a similarly situated adult. See
Anders Brief at 14. Mother claims that she only needed a few months to
complete her prison sentence, return to the community, and resume parenting
responsibilities, and that she had maintained sobriety and attended substance
abuse intervention programs while incarcerated. Id. at 14-15.
In the instant case, the orphans’ court explained:
We made it clear to Mother what she needed to do to reunify with
[Child] when we met with her in July, 2017. As stated at the
conclusion of the adjudication hearing,
“[I]t is clear to this [c]ourt that the root of
dependency here is, among other things, but most
importantly, the history of domestic violence in the
household. The domestic violence leads to the
instability that has plagued the parents throughout
their lengthy involvement with Children and Youth.
Mother has indicated that she is committed to
reunification with [Child]. We have indicated to her
that we hope that will be accomplished, but in order
to do so, she must . . . obtain a drug and alcohol
evaluation and follow through . . . obtain a mental
health evaluation . . . and [] most importantly, break
the cycle of domestic violence between her and her
paramour and Father of [Child].”
She did none of those things.
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Mother was offered numerous services to assist her in doing what
she needed to do to resume her parenting of her child. Instead
of taking advantage of those services, she continued to abuse
drugs and stayed in her toxic relationship with her abuser. In
addition, her contact with [Child] became increasingly sporadic
until her re-incarceration in April of this year.
The above facts yield the hallmarks of someone who refuses to
carry out her parental duties or is incapable of remedying the
cause of her incapacity with the resources at her disposal. She
has not put any investment into her addiction treatment, mental
health services, domestic violence services, or her child. Mother
has long refused to put her child (in fact, children) before drugs
and her abusive paramour. Her addiction is the source of her past
and present parental incapacity, and her current instability is a
foreseeable consequence of her inability to lead a life free from
illegal drugs and her toxic relationship with Father. Thus, Mother’s
issues continued to impact [Child] and precluded her from
providing essential parental care, control or subsistence necessary
for his physical or mental well-being. Whether Mother’s failure to
provide parental care is the result of true incapacity or is simply
her refusal, differentiating is not important; the result is the
same—the Child is without essential parental care.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/16/18, at 4-6. Upon review, we discern no error in this
analysis and, accordingly, agree with the orphans’ court that CYS proved by
clear and convincing evidence that Mother evinced parental incapacity, the
causes of which could not be remedied. Lilley, 719 A.2d at 330; Z.P., 994
A.2d at 1117.
Accordingly, we consider next whether Child’s needs and welfare will be
met by termination pursuant to Subsection (b). Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1121. “In
this context, the court must take into account whether a bond exists between
child and parent, and whether termination would destroy an existing,
necessary and beneficial relationship.” Id. The court is not required to use
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expert testimony, and social workers and caseworkers may offer evaluations
as well. Id. Ultimately, the concern is the needs and welfare of a child. Id.
Where there is no evidence of a bond between the parent and child, it is
reasonable to infer that no bond exists. In re: K.Z.S., 946 A.2d 753, 763
(Pa. Super. 2008).
We have noted:
[b]efore granting a petition to terminate parental rights, it is
imperative that a trial court carefully consider the intangible
dimension of the needs and welfare of a child—the love, comfort,
security, and closeness—entailed in a parent-child relationship, as
well as the tangible dimension. Continuity of relationships is also
important to a child, for whom severance of close parental ties is
usually extremely painful. The trial court, in considering what
situation would best serve the child’s needs and welfare, must
examine the status of the natural parental bond to consider
whether terminating the natural parents’ rights would destroy
something in existence that is necessary and beneficial.
Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1121 (quoting In re C.S., 761 A.2d 1197, 1202 (Pa. Super.
2000)).
The orphans’ court observed:
We found little to no evidence that severing the ties between
Mother and [Child] would have any detrimental effect on [Child].
Furthermore, we are satisfied that if there would be any adverse
effect, it could be easily overcome by the love and support of his
foster family. [Child] is thriving in the foster home. He is an
integral part of the foster family. They love him and want to adopt
him. With his foster family he has stability, and most importantly,
permanency. Consequently, we are satisfied that the needs and
welfare of [Child] would be best served by terminating parental
rights and allowing him to be adopted by his foster parents.
Trial Court Opinion, 8/16/18, at 6. Again, we agree with the orphans’ court;
although there was some testimony that Child recognizes Mother, and despite
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Mother’s testimony that Child loves her, we are mindful that “a child’s life
cannot be held in abeyance.” See In re R.J.S., 901 A.2d 502, 513 (Pa. Super.
2006).
Accordingly, we conclude that clear and convincing evidence of record
supports the termination of Mother’s parental rights under Section 2511(a)(2),
and Section 2511(b), where termination would best serve Child’s needs and
welfare. See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1126-27.
Mother additionally challenges the goal change to adoption, pursuant to
the Juvenile Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 6351, and contends that the court did not give
appropriate weight to Mother’s recent compliance with her objectives and did
not properly weigh the evidence of her progress towards alleviating the
circumstances underlying Child’s dependency. Anders Brief at 12.
With regard to dependency cases:
[t]he standard of review which this Court employs in cases of
dependency is broad. However, the scope of review is limited in
a fundamental manner by our inability to nullify the fact-finding of
the lower court. We accord great weight to this function of the
hearing judge because he is in the position to observe and rule
upon the credibility of the witnesses and the parties who appear
before him. Relying upon his unique posture, we will not overrule
his findings if they are supported by competent evidence.
In re N.A., 116 A.3d 1144, 1148 (Pa. Super. 2015). Thus, we employ an
abuse of discretion standard. In re L.Z., 111 A.3d 1164, 1174 (Pa. 2015).
Regarding the disposition of dependent children, the Juvenile Act, 42
Pa.C.S. §§ 6351(e)-(g), provides the criteria for a permanency plan. The
court must determine a disposition best suited to the safety and protection,
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as well as the physical, mental, and moral welfare of the child. See 42 Pa.C.S.
§ 6351(g). With a goal change petition, the trial court:
considers the continuing necessity for and appropriateness of the
placement; the extent of compliance with the service plan
developed for the child; the extent of progress made towards
alleviating the circumstances which necessitated the original
placement; the appropriateness and feasibility of the current
placement goal for the child; and, a likely date by which the goal
for the child might be achieved.
In Interest of A.N.P., 155 A.3d 55, 67 (Pa. Super. 2017) (quoting In re
A.K., 936 A.2d 528, 533 (Pa. Super. 2007).
We have further noted:
[w]hen a child is adjudicated dependent, the child’s proper
placement turns on what is in the child’s best interest, not on what
the parent wants or which goals the parent has achieved.
Moreover, although preserving the unity of the family is a purpose
of the [Juvenile] Act, another purpose is to “provide for the care,
protection, safety, and wholesome mental and physical
development of children coming within the provisions of this
chapter.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6301(b)(1.1). Indeed, “[t]he relationship
of parent and child is a status and not a property right, and one
in which the state has an interest to protect the best interest of
the child.”
In re K.C., 903 A.2d 12, 14-15 (Pa. Super. 2006) (some citations omitted).
As noted above, the orphans’ court determined that Child’s needs and
welfare would be best served by adoption. Additionally, although Mother had
made some progress while incarcerated, she had not shown any progress
while not incarcerated. Essentially, Mother’s argument requests that we –
impermissibly – re-weigh the orphans’ court’s findings and conclusions. N.A.,
116 A.3d at 1148.
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Thus, we find no error of law or abuse of discretion in the orphans’
court’s finding that Mother failed to make appropriate progress to alleviate the
circumstances necessitating placement; finding that it was in the best
interests of Child to be adopted; and changing Child’s permanency goal to
adoption. N.A., 116 A.3d at 1148; A.N.P., 155 A.3d at 67; K.C., 903 A.2d at
14-15.
In sum, we agree with Attorney Hawn that Mother’s issues are frivolous.
We have independently reviewed the record and find no other issues of
arguable merit that he or Mother could pursue on appeal. Accordingly, we
grant counsel’s petition to withdraw and conclude that clear and convincing
evidence of record supports the termination of Mother’s parental rights under
Sections 2511(a)(2) as well as the Section 2511(b) findings that severing the
bond between Mother and Child would not cause harm to Child; that adoption
would best serve Child’s needs and welfare; and that Child’s permanency goal
should be changed to adoption. See Z.P., 994 A.2d at 1126-27.
Order affirmed. Decree affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 11/16/2018
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