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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.G.K., A MINOR IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
APPEAL OF: R.M.F., MOTHER
No. 1045 MDA 2018
Appeal from the Decree Entered May 31, 2018
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County
Orphans' Court at No(s): 2018-00469
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and MURRAY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY BENDER, P.J.E.: FILED DECEMBER 24, 2018
R.M.F. (Mother) appeals from the decree entered May 31, 2018, that
granted the petition filed by the Lancaster County Children and Youth Social
Services Agency (Agency) to involuntarily terminate Mother’s parental rights
to her son, D.G.K. (Child), born in February of 2017.1 Additionally, Mother’s
counsel has filed a petition to withdraw and a brief pursuant to Anders v.
California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 978
A.2d 349 (Pa. 2009). After review, we grant counsel’s petition to withdraw
and affirm the termination decree.
The trial court provided a short summary of the facts of this case,
stating:
In 2014, the Agency became involved with Mother and her two
oldest children because of Mother’s drug abuse. That involvement
ended when Mother’s parental rights to those two children were
involuntarily terminated in April of 2016. The Agency became re-
involved with Mother involving this child, D.G.K., in February of
____________________________________________
1In the same decree, the court involuntarily terminated the parental rights of
Child’s father, D.M.K. (Father). We are not aware of any appeal filed by
Father.
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2017[,] after receiving a report that Mother had tested positive
for opiates on January 17, 201[7]. Mother was incarcerated from
that date until February 2, 201[7], at which time she was
furloughed to give birth. The Agency attempted to implement a
Safety Plan but Mother refused, forcing [C]hild to be placed in
Agency custody.
Trial Court Opinion (TCO), 7/30/18, at 1-2 (unnumbered) (citations to record
omitted).
The Agency initially received physical custody of Child on February 6,
2017, after it had filed a petition in the trial court. Child was found to be
dependent following an adjudication and disposition hearing held on March 2,
2017. At that hearing, Mother was determined to have aggravated
circumstances because of the prior involuntary termination of her parental
rights to the two older children. Despite this determination, the court
approved a child permanency plan and set forth objectives for Mother.
Subsequently, on February 27, 2018, the Agency petitioned to terminate
Mother’s parental rights to Child pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 2511(a)(1), (2), (5)
and (b), and after a hearing held on May 29, 2018, the court issued the decree
that is presently on appeal.
Before reaching the merits of Mother’s appeal, we must first address
counsel’s request to withdraw. See Commonwealth v. Rojas, 874 A.2d
638, 639 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“‘When faced with a purported Anders brief, this
Court may not review the merits of the underlying issues without first passing
on the request to withdraw.’”) (quoting Commonwealth v. Smith, 700 A.2d
1301, 1303 (Pa. Super. 1997)). “In In re V.E., … 611 A.2d 1267 (Pa. Super.
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1992), this Court extended the Anders principles to appeals involving the
termination of parental rights.” In re X.J., 105 A.3d 1, 3 (Pa. Super. 2014).
To withdraw pursuant to Anders, counsel must:
1) petition the court for leave to withdraw stating that, after
making a conscientious examination of the record, counsel has
determined that the appeal would be frivolous; 2) furnish a copy
of the [Anders] brief to the [appellant]; and 3) advise the
[appellant] that he or she has the right to retain private counsel
or raise additional arguments that the [appellant] deems worthy
of the court’s attention.
Commonwealth v. Cartrette, 83 A.3d 1030, 1032 (Pa. Super. 2013) (en
banc) (citing Commonwealth v. Lilley, 978 A.2d 995, 997 (Pa. Super.
2009)). With respect to the third requirement of Anders, that counsel inform
the appellant of his or her rights in light of counsel’s withdrawal, this Court
has held that counsel must “attach to their petition to withdraw a copy of the
letter sent to their client advising him or her of their rights.” Commonwealth
v. Millisock, 873 A.2d 748, 752 (Pa. Super. 2005).
Additionally, an Anders brief must comply with the following
requirements:
(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.
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Santiago, 978 A.2d at 361.
In the instant matter, counsel has filed a petition to withdraw, certifying
that she has reviewed the case and determined that Mother’s appeal is wholly
frivolous. Counsel also has filed a brief that includes a summary of the history
and facts of the case, issues raised by Mother, and counsel’s assessment of
why those issues are meritless, with citations to relevant legal authority.
Counsel has attached to her brief a copy of her letter to Mother, advising
Mother that she may obtain new counsel or raise additional issues pro se.
Accordingly, counsel has substantially complied with the requirements of
Anders and Santiago. See Commonwealth v. Reid, 117 A.3d 777, 781
(Pa. Super. 2015) (observing that substantial compliance with the Anders
requirements is sufficient). We, therefore, may proceed to review the issues
outlined in the Anders brief. In addition, we must “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) (footnote omitted).
Counsel’s Anders brief raises the following issues for our review:
A. Whether the [c]ourt erred when [it] terminated [M]other’s parental
rights when the evidence presented showed that [M]other had
undertaken work on all of her reunification objectives[?]
B. Whether termination of [M]other’s parental rights was in the best
interests of [C]hild[?]
Anders brief at 7.
We consider these issues mindful of our well-settled standard of review.
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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) (citations and quotation marks
omitted).
Termination of parental rights is governed by Section 2511 of the
Adoption Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 2101-2938, which 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).
In this case, the trial court terminated Mother’s parental rights pursuant
to Sections 2511(a) (1), (2), and (5) and (b). We need only agree with the
trial court as to any one subsection of Section 2511(a), as well as Section
2511(b), in order to affirm. In re B.L.W., 843 A.2d 380, 384 (Pa. Super.
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2004) (en banc). Here, we analyze the court’s decision to terminate under
Sections 2511(a)(2) and (b), which provide as follows:
(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. § 2511(a)(2), (b).
We first address whether the trial court abused its discretion by
terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(a)(2).
In order to terminate parental rights pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.[] §
2511(a)(2), the following three elements must be met: (1)
repeated and continued incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal; (2)
such incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal has caused the child to
be without essential parental care, control or subsistence
necessary for his physical or mental well-being; and (3) the
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causes of the incapacity, abuse, neglect or refusal cannot or will
not be remedied.
In re Adoption of M.E.P., 825 A.2d 1266, 1272 (Pa. Super. 2003) (citation
omitted)). “The grounds for termination due to parental incapacity that
cannot be remedied are not limited to affirmative misconduct. To the
contrary, those grounds may include acts of refusal as well as incapacity to
perform parental duties.” In re A.L.D., 797 A.2d 326, 337 (Pa. Super. 2002)
(citations omitted).
Here, the trial court found that,
[d]espite [Child’s] being in Agency custody for fifteen months,
Mother has failed to complete her plan’s objectives. As part of
Mother’s mental health objective, she received an evaluation with
a recommendation to follow through with her drug and alcohol
treatment. Mother also had an objective to remain free from drug
use. When the [A]gency first came into contact with Mother in
2014, she was struggling with a heroin addiction. The Agency was
contacted again when Mother was pregnant with this [C]hild,
D.G.K. Mother tested positive for opiates a month prior to
[C]hild’s birth. On May 8, 2017, Mother received a substance
abuse evaluation which recommended she receive intensive
outpatient drug and alcohol treatment individually once a week
and group sessions twice a week. Mother began substance abuse
case management services with Family Alternatives. On August
2, 2017, Family Alternatives conducted a random drug screen, and
Mother tested positive for morphine. Mother was again screened
on October 1, 2017, and tested positive for opiates. She claimed
to have a prescription but was unable to provide any
documentation. Mother was unsuccessfully discharged from the
Family Alternatives program on November 3, 2017. On November
8, 2017, Addiction Recovery Services, where Mother was
methadone dosing, reported that she had relapsed. At the time
of the hearing, Mother was not actively involved in any drug
rehabilitation program.
Mother failed to complete her objective of remaining crime free.
Mother was charged with a felony theft in September, 2017. In
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November[,] 2017, Mother’s probation officer reported to the
Agency that Mother was not complaint [sic] with her probation
and had been out of contact since September[,] 2017. Mother
was incarcerated on January 3, 2018 and released to a
rehabilitation facility on April 18, 2018.
In July of 2017, an objective of remaining free of domestic
violence was added to Mother’s plan after a report of a domestic
violence incident. Both parents acknowledged to the police that
there was a physical altercation between them with [C]hild
present. Mother participated in a domestic violence evaluation on
August 31, 2017. She was scheduled for an intake session on
September 28, 2017, but did not appear and was subsequently
discharged for noncompliance and for failing to attend sessions.
As a result of the domestic violence incident, the Agency required
the parents to participate in couple’s therapy. Mother and
[F]ather began denying they were in a relationship. Despite their
denial, they were together when they were both arrested on
September 27, 2017. Furthermore, their refusal was undeniably
refuted by their phone conversations, recorded while Mother was
incarcerated in 2018, in which they discussed how they deceived
the [A]gency and the court.
Mother has not completed the objective of financial stability.
Mother provided no proof of income to the Agency and made no
progress on this goal.
Mother failed to learn and use good parenting skills. Mother never
began the parent educator program and made no progress on this
goal.
Mother had an objective to maintain a commitment to her [C]hild.
Mother’s last visit with [C]hild was in September of 2017, and her
visits were suspended in November[,] 2017.
TCO at 4-6 (unnumbered) (citations to record omitted).
After a thorough review of the record in this matter, we conclude that
the trial court did not abuse its discretion by terminating Mother’s parental
rights pursuant to Section 2511(a). The court’s findings, stated above, are
based upon the testimony provided at the termination hearing and support
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the court’s finding that Mother is incapable of providing Child with the essential
parental care, control and subsistence necessary for his mental and physical
well-being, and that Mother is unable to remedy the causes of her parental
incapacity. At the time the court entered its termination decree, Child had
been in foster care for more than fifteen months and Mother had failed to
successfully accomplish any of her goals. It is clear that Mother simply will
not, and apparently cannot, become a capable parent for Child at any point in
the foreseeable future. Thus, Mother is not entitled to relief as to Section
2511(a)(2).
We next consider whether the trial court abused its discretion by
terminating Mother’s parental rights pursuant to Section 2511(b). We have
discussed our analysis under Section 2511(b) as follows:
Subsection 2511(b) focuses on whether termination of parental
rights would best serve the developmental, physical, and
emotional needs and welfare of the child. In In re C.M.S., 884
A.2d 1284, 1287 (Pa. Super. 2005), this Court stated, “Intangibles
such as love, comfort, security, and stability are involved in the
inquiry into the needs and welfare of the child.” In addition, we
instructed that the trial court must also discern the nature and
status of the parent-child bond, with utmost attention to the effect
on the child of permanently severing that bond. However, in cases
where there is no evidence of a bond between a parent and child,
it is reasonable to infer that no bond exists. Accordingly, the
extent of the bond-effect analysis necessarily depends on the
circumstances of the particular case.
In re Adoption of J.M., 991 A.2d 321, 324 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citations
omitted).
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Relating to Section 2511(b), the trial court found that terminating
Mother’s parental rights would best serve Child’s needs and welfare, stating:
The best interests of [Child] [are] served by remaining in foster
care and being adopted. He has been in care most of his life. The
[c]ourt is convinced Mother will not resolve her significant issues
in a reasonable amount of time. [Child] remains in a loving and
healthy home which is a potentially permanent resource. [Child]
cannot wait for an indefinite period of time for the stability and
care of a permanent family in the hope that his Mother will
drastically change her behavior and accomplish her goals. The
[g]uardian ad litem concurs with the termination of paternal [sic]
rights.
TCO at 6 (unnumbered) (citations to record omitted).
Again, our review of the record reveals that it supports the trial court’s
conclusion that terminating Mother’s parental rights would best serve Child’s
needs and welfare. Child has spent nearly his entire life with his foster parents
and thus it is clear that Child should not be removed from their care. Child
will not suffer irreparable harm if Mother’s parental rights are terminated.
Accordingly, our independent review of Mother’s claims demonstrates
that they do not entitle her to relief. Moreover, our review of the record does
not reveal any non-frivolous issues overlooked by counsel. See Flowers, 113
A.3d at 1250. Therefore, we grant counsel’s petition to withdraw, and affirm
the trial court’s decree.
Decree affirmed. Petition to withdraw granted.
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Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/24/2018
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