IN THE MATTER OF: A.W., M.P. AND M.P. NEGLECTED/DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Case No. 2013AP080035
COURT OF APPEALS TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
December 18, 2013
[Cite as In re A.W., 2013-Ohio-5617.]
Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J., Hon. John W. Wise, J., Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division, Case No. 12 JN 00158. JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
For Appellant, Mother - Michelle Phillips: ADAM WILGUS, 401 Tuscarawas Street West, Suite 200, Canton, Ohio 44702
For Father - Derrick Waldren: MICHAEL JOHNSON, 117 South Broadway, P.O. Box 1007, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
For Appellee: DAVID W. HAVERFIELD, Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services, 389 16th Street, SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
Guardian ad Litem: KAREN DUMMERMUTH, 349 East High Avenue, P.O. Box 494, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663
Hoffman, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant Michelle Phillips (Mother) appeals the July 19, 2013 Judgment Entry entered by the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, which terminated her parental rights, privileges and responsibilities with respect to her three minor children, granted permanent custody of the two youngest children to Appellee Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services (the Agency), and granted legal custody of the oldest child to his father, Appellee Derrick Waldren (Waldren).
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} Mother and Waldren are the biological parents of A.W. (dob 6/20/06). The two are not married. Mother and Shawn Cooper (Cooper) are the biological parents of Mir.P. (dob 4/8/10) and Mic.P. (dob 3/12/12).1 The Agency has a long history of involvement with Mother and the children due to concerns regarding Mother‘s ability to meet the children‘s basic needs as well as the specialized medical needs of Mir.P. The Agency was also involved during an investigation concerning the sexual molestation of A.W. by Cooper.
{¶3} On March 22, 2012, the Agency filed a complaint, alleging A.W., Mir.P., and Mic.P. were neglected and dependent children, and seeking temporary custody. The trial court placed the children in the temporary custody of the Agency following an emergency shelter care hearing. The trial court appointed Attorney Karen Dummermuth as guardian ad litem for the children.
{¶4} The trial court conducted an adjudicatory hearing on May 15, 2012. Mother and Waldren stipulated to a finding of neglect and dependency. The trial court
{¶5} On February 14, 2013, the Agency filed a motion to modify prior dispositions, seeking permanent custody of Mir.P. and Mic.P., and moving the trial court to grant legal custody of A.W. to Dianna Waldren. Subsequently, the Agency moved to modify its motion to modify with respect to A.W. only, withdrawing its request to place A.W. in the legal custody of Dianna Waldren and requesting the boy be placed in the legal custody of Waldren.
{¶6} The matter came on for hearing on July 11, and 16, 2013.
{¶7} Elizabeth Benedetto, the ongoing case worker assigned to the family, testified the Agency became involved with Mother and the children in March, 2012, due to concerns regarding Mir.P.‘s having a feeding tube and Mother‘s inability to appropriately feed the girl despite the assistance of service providers. Also, A.W. had significant behavior issues. Further, A.W. was providing much of the care to his siblings. Benedetto stated Mother‘s case plan required her to undergo a psychological evaluation and follow recommendations, complete parenting classes, attend individual counseling, and participate in visitation. Further, Mother was required to maintain stable housing and income. Bendetto acknowledged Mother had completed her case plan, however, Mother has not made the necessary behavioral changes. Bendetto explained Mother had not arrived at a point where the children would be safe in her home without 24/7 monitoring. Bendetto expressed concerns regarding Mother‘s ability to meet the ever-
{¶8} Dr. Steven Dean, a psychologist, completed Mother‘s psychological evaluation. Dr. Dean interviewed Mother and administered the standard tests. Dr. Dean diagnosed Mother with dependent personality disorder, which manifests itself in a lack of confidence, difficulty setting boundaries, and enduring suffering and/or mistreatment to maintain a relationship. He noted individuals with this personality have difficulty with confrontations and gravitate toward unhealthy relationships. Counseling of such an individual would be a long term process. Dr. Dean correlated some of the problems suffered by the children with Mother‘s mental health diagnosis.
{¶9} Wendy Smitley, a family service aide, provided parenting education to Mother, once in a group, and another individually. Smitley testified at the time the children were removed from Mother‘s care, A.W. was taking on much of the parenting responsibilities. At parenting classes, Mother was cooperative and responsive to the material presented. Mother‘s visits with the children were chaotic and unstructured. She provided excessive items to the children despite her lack of measurable income. Mother did not seem to understand what she needed to do for or with the children. Mother‘s visitation remained supervised throughout the case.
{¶10} Via Judgment Entry filed July 19, 2013, the trial court terminated Mother‘s parental rights with respect to all three children, granted permanent custody of Mir.P. and Mic.P. to the Agency, and placed A.W. in the legal custody of Waldren. The trial court found the children could not be placed with Mother within a reasonable time, it
{¶11} It is from this judgment entry Mother appeals, raising the following assignments of error:
{¶12} I. THE JUDGMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT THAT THE MINOR CHILDREN CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT BE PLACED WITH APPELLANT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.
{¶13} II. THE JUDGMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT THAT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MINOR CHILDREN WOULD BE SERVED BY THE GRANTING OF PERMANENT CUSTODY WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.
I, II
{¶14} We elect to address Mother‘s assignments of error together. In her first assignment of error, Mother maintains the trial court‘s finding the children could not be placed with her within a reasonable time was against the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence. In her second assignment of error, Mother contends the trial court‘s finding an award of permanent custody was in the best interest of the children was against the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence.
{¶15} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent and credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base its judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries, Stark App. No. CA5758 (Feb. 10, 1982). Accordingly, judgments
{¶16}
{¶17} Following the hearing,
{¶18} In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody hearing,
{¶19} Therefore,
{¶20} If the child is not abandoned or orphaned, the focus turns to whether the child cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable period of time or should not be placed with the parents. Under
{¶21} As set forth in our statement of the facts and case, supra, we find there was both sufficient and substantial competent evidence Mother failed to remedy the problems which initially caused the removal of the child from the home. Although she completed all of her case plan requirements, Mother was unable to utilize the information she obtained to properly parent the children. Mother continued to have a live-in boyfriend despite Dr. Dean‘s recommendation to the contrary. Mother lied to
{¶22} With respect to the best interest finding, the evidence revealed Mir.P. and Mic.P. were thriving in foster care and the foster family desire to adopt the girls. Mir.P. no longer needed a feeding tube. When Mir.P. first arrived in foster care, she exhibited a lack of affect and had speech delays. Such issues were quickly resolved once she entered foster care. Mic.P. had been placed in foster care as a newborn. She has no known developmental issues.
{¶23} Based upon the foregoing, we find the trial court‘s findings the children could not be placed with Mother within a reasonable time, and an award of permanent custody was in the best interest of the children were not against the manifest weight of the evidence and were based upon sufficient evidence. Mother‘s first and second assignments of error are overruled.
{¶24} The judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.
By: Hoffman, P.J.
Wise, J. and
Baldwin, J. concur
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
HON. JOHN W. WISE
HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN
IN THE MATTER OF: A.W., M.P. AND M.P. NEGLECTED/DEPENDENT CHILDREN
Case No. 2013AP080035
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion, the judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed. Costs to Appellant.
HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN
HON. JOHN W. WISE
HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN