ÿWPCé …# VUNa %¯ 0 (µw@Ý4 1 @ 0lH 0D´ 0Jø 0TB 0^– 0hô 0r\ 0|Î 0†J 0Ð 1u` U,Õ 0dU,eU>‘B)ÏDCø AM;U*ˆý²ã¯*’ D3¼ Bïà  0@ÏÝv~óvÓq AODÆ“ 0DY D/ B̘HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ± ²£³£´µ£¶·¸D¹Ó€Å;p‚ 3|xÅ((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d####7Border 1dd€-$Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial óÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÔ€&ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌò òMay€22,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€&ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó ÙÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAt€the€time€of€the€termination€hearing,€the€children€were€ages€4€and€3,€respectively.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝT.C.A.€ðð€37„1„147,€which€is€discussed€more€fully€in€a€subsequent€portion€of€thisÏopinion.€€This€statute€has€since€been€amended€effective€January€1,€1996.Ì++++'ÿÿdxd d ¹Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝMr.€Fillinger€is€the€step„father€of€the€eldest€child.Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ýÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€statute€sets€forth€the€required€contents€of€a€foster€care€plan.€€It€has€since€beenÏamended€effective€January€1,€1996.Ì ÓÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAccording€to€the€agencyððs€January€18,€1994€progress€report,€this€hearing€was€alsoÏpostponed€because€of€the€Fillingersðð€insistence€that€they€ð ðwould€act€on€the€foster€care€plan.ðð€€TheÏhearing€was€also€delayed€two€other€times€for€different€reasons.€€The€trial€court€referred€to€theseÏcontinuances€in€its€ruling€from€the€bench.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€!!X„d&ÓÑ#€!!Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÓ` Ü` p”XÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›à@ àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE,€WESTERN€SECTIONÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÌà@ à_______________________________________________________ÌÌó óà à)ò òÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:ó óà à)à àShelby€County€Juvenile€Court€No.€E4059Ìà à)Ìò òDANNY€RAY€FILLINGER,€JR.ó ó,à à)ÌDOB:€€6/27/89,à à)Ìà à)Ìò òAMY€MICHELLE€FILLINGERó ó,à à)à àC.€A.€No.€02A01„9409„JV„00223ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€%'$;+'h|y` Å `€€Lß›DOB:€6/1/90,à à)Ìà à)à àÌChildren€Under€Eighteen€Years€of€Age,à à)Ìà à)Ìò òAGAPE€CHILD€AND€FAMILY€ó óà à)ò òÌSERVICES,€INCó ó.à à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Petitioner/Appellee,à à)Ìà à)ÌVS.à à)Ìà à)Ìò òDANNY€FILLINGER,€SR.€andó óà à)Ìò òTERESA€FILLINGERó ó,à à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Respondents/Appellants.à à)Ìà à)Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌFrom€the€Juvenile€Court€of€Shelby€County€at€Memphis.Ìò òHonorable€A.€V.€McDowell,€Special€Judge€€ó óÌÌÌò òBarbara€B.€Johnsonó ó,ÌMemphis€Area€Legal€Services,€Inc.,€Memphis,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Respondents/Appellants.ÌÌò òLeah€J.€Roenó ó,€Memphis,€TennesseeÌGuardian€Ad€Litem€for€Danny€Ray€Fillinger,€Jr.€and€Amy€Michelle€Fillinger,ÌÌò òB.€R.€Hesteró ó,€Bartlett,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€œPetitioner/Appellee›€Agape€Child€and€Family€Services,€Inc.ÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:ÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌHIGHERS,€J.€ó ó:€(Concurs)Ìò òLILLARD,€J.€ó ó:€œ(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ` Ü` ˜XÓÓÓà àThe€parental€rights€of€Danny€and€Teresa€Fillinger€to€their€children,€Danny€Ray,€Jr.Ïand€Amy€Michelle,× ƒ( ××  ×€were€terminated€by€the€Juvenile€Court€of€Memphis€and€Shelby€County€after€aÏhearing€on€May€4,€1994.€€The€hearing€was€pursuant€to€a€petition€filed€by€Agape€Child€and€FamilyÏServices,€Inc.€(Agape)€in€whose€custody€the€children€had€remained€since€August€1992.€€The€trialÏcourt€granted€the€petition€after€making€the€requisite€statutory× ƒ) ××  ×€findings.€€The€Fillingers€haveÏappealed,€presenting€the€following€issues€for€our€review:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à1.€€Whether€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€in€theÏrecord€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€decision€that€it€is€in€the€bestÏinterest€of€the€children€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€the€naturalÏparents€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€37„1„147.ÌÌà8 àà à2.€€Whether€termination€of€parental€rights€was€proper€whenÏthe€evidence€in€the€record€indicates€that€[Agape]€did€not€comply€withÏthe€requirements€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€37„2„403.ÌÌà8 àà à3.€€Whether€the€parents€were€denied€due€process€by€the€trialÏcourt€which€failed€to€appoint€counsel.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€record€indicates€that€Agape€first€came€into€contact€with€the€Fillinger€children€inÏJune€1992€when€they€were€living€with€their€maternal€grandmother€and€a€request€was€made€for€helpÏwith€their€care.€€Mrs.€Fillinger€was€incarcerated€and€Mr.€Fillinger€was€in€a€drug€rehabilitationÏprogram.€€The€Fillingers€have€three€older€children× ƒ, ××  ×€(not€subject€to€this€appeal)€who€were€at€the€timeÏof€the€termination€hearing€in€the€custody€of€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€(DHS).€€Ìà àAt€the€hearing,€Laura€Khokhar,€a€social€worker€with€Agape,€testified€that€Danny,ÏJr.€and€Amy€are€currently€in€foster€care.€€Khokhar€stated€that€in€January€1994,€she€discussed€aÏð ðplan€for€reunificationðð€with€the€Fillingers.€€The€plan€called€for€the€two€to€provide€the€agency€withÏcertain€items€of€proof€namely,€rent€receipts,€paycheck€stubs,€verification€of€active€involvement€inÏeither€the€AA€or€NA€organizations€and€drug€screens.€€According€to€Khokhar,€these€items€were€notÏprovided€as€requested.€€The€two€also€failed€to€pay€any€child€support€to€the€agency€after€April€1993.€ÏKhokhar€stated€that€she€had€no€ð ðverification€of€employmentðð€of€either€parent€at€the€time€of€theÏhearing.€€Khokharððs€testimony€further€indicates€that€the€utilities€at€the€Fillingersðð€current€residenceÏwere€disconnected€in€April€1994.€€The€Fillingersðð€landlord€testified€that€they€had€failed€to€pay€rentÏon€an€apartment,€leased€in€December€1993,€for€the€preceding€4€months€and€that€during€evictionÏproceedings,€the€Fillingers€filed€bankruptcy.€€ÌÌà àKhokhar€found€the€Fillingers€uncooperative€in€terms€of€satisfying€the€agencyððs€planÏwhich€would€have€restored€custody€of€their€children.€€She€opined,€ð ðIððve€had€meetings€with€themÏtelling€them€exactly€what€they€needed€to€do.€€And€if€they€could€provide€that€information€and€itÏcould€be€approved,€we€wouldnððt€be€here.€€But€they€continue€to€show€a€lack€of€housing€stability.ðð€€ÌÌà àMrs.€Fillinger€testified€that€she€and€her€husband€had€completed€parenting€classes.€ÏShe€stated€that€the€LeBonheur€Center€for€Children€in€Crisis€(CCC),€whom€the€record€indicatesÏevaluated€the€family€at€the€behest€of€DHS,€€requested€ð ðvery€little€counselingðð€of€her€and€that€ð ðallÏ[her]€drug€screens€have€[come]€back€negative.ðð€€She€stated€that€Agape€had€denied€her€request€forÏadditional€visitation€with€the€children€or€to€reschedule€their€visits€due€to€Mr.€Fillingerððs€hours€ofÏemploy.€€She€admitted€abusing€drugs€since€1991.€€She€stated€that€she€now€attends€AA€meetings€3Ïor€4€times€a€day€and€has€been€drug€and€alcohol€free€for€10€months.€€She€maintained€that€herÏcontinued€sobriety€along€with€her€children€are€her€ð ðmain€concern[s].ðð€€She€described€her€currentÏemploy€as€that€of€housekeeper€ð ðfor€a€few€people.ðð€€Prior€thereto,€she€was€employed€at€ShoneyððsÏfor€a€week.€€She€quit€because€her€shift€included€closing,€and€after€closing€hours,€people€wouldÍdrink€and€use€drugs.€€She€feared€a€relapse.€€ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination,€Mrs.€Fillinger€was€asked€to€describe€her€and€her€husbandððsÏwork€history.€€She€listed€various€places€of€employment,€all€of€which€were€for€relatively€short€timeÏperiods.€€She€admitted€that€she€and€her€husband€have€had€problems€with€job€stability,€but€reasonedÏthat€such€was€due€to€his€bout€with€pneumonia€and€a€job€related€injury€to€her€pelvis.€€According€toÏMrs.€Fillinger,€she€and€her€husband€planned€to€get€new€housing€within€three€to€six€monthsÏprovided€that€Mr.€Fillinger€maintained€a€job€he€was€to€begin€the€day€following€the€hearing.€€SheÏacknowledged€that€their€financial€problems€ð ð[look]€like€the€same€history€as€.€.€.€beforeðð,€butÏinsisted€that€their€inability€to€maintain€employment€is€due€to€their€physical€ailments.€€She€said€thatÏshe€and€her€husband€hit€rock€bottom€and€are€now€ð ðvery€slowly€climbing€up.ðð€€She€is€now€ð ðdoingÏeverything€.€.€.€to€get€things€in€order.ðð€€She€opined,€ð ð[e]verything€that€has€been€set€up€for€me€to€goÏto,€I€have€gone€to.ðð€€She€conceded€that€she€is€ð ðstill€messed€up,€but€[sheððs]€working€on€it.ðð€€ÌÌà àMrs.€Fillinger€admitted€that€she€had€been€incarcerated€three€times,€all€on€theftÏrelated€charges.€€Mr.€Fillinger€has€twice€been€incarcerated€for€robbery,€with€the€most€recentÏoccurring€eight€or€nine€years€prior€to€the€hearing.€€He€was€most€recently€arrested€(within€twoÏyears)€for€shoplifting€and€given€a€misdemeanor€citation.€€The€record€indicates€that€one€of€the€elderÏchildren€was€with€him€at€the€time€and€was€also€cited.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€ruled€from€the€bench€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àThese€cases€disturb€me€as€much€as€anything€that€I€have€to€deal€with.€ÏBut€here€Iððve€got€these€people€who€have€got€their€lives€messed€upÏand€weððve€jeopardized€these€children,€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà àBut€I€believe€I€have€done€everything€I€can.€€Iððve€had€theseÏpeople€from€AGAPE€down€here€about€three€or€four€times.€€I€knowÏtheyððre€getting€put€out€with€these€cases€being€continued.ÌÌà8 àà àIððve€done€everything€I€could€to€see€that€the€Fillingers€haveÏtheir€absolute€day€in€court€and€had€their€absolute€ability€to€show€meÍthat€they€are€the€right€people€for€these€children€to€be€with.€€I€cannotÏfind€that.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓThe€courtððs€final€judgment€expressly€found€that€the€Fillingers€had€failed€to€substantially€fulfill€theirÏresponsibilities€under€the€foster€care€plan;€that€the€conditions€under€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1)€wereÏpresent;€and€that€it€was,€therefore,€in€the€childrenððs€best€interests€that€the€Fillingersðð€parental€rightsÏbe€terminated.ÌÌà àIn€addressing€Appellantsðð€second€issue€first,€we€note€that€originally€it€was€€arguedÏthat€the€agency€failed€to€comply€with€the€requirements€of€T.C.A.€ðð€37„2„403.× ƒ. ××  ×€€The€issue€has€beenÏsomewhat€altered€to€reflect€the€supplementing€of€this€record€to€include€the€agencyððs€foster€care€fileÏon€the€family.€€It€is€now€Appellantsðð€contention€that€Agape€failed€to€make€reasonable€efforts€toÏrehabilitate€the€family€or€to€comply€with€its€own€plan,€including€establishing€communications€withÏthe€other€agencies€ð ðallegedlyðð€recommended€for€the€Fillingers.€€ÌÌà àThe€record€reveals€an€initial€court€approved€foster€care€plan€for€this€family€as€of€ÏAugust€5,€1992.€€It€declares€the€ð ðfoster€care€service€goalðð€as€a€ð ðreturnðð€to€the€parents€and€identifiesÏthe€problem€contributing€to€the€removal€of€the€children€as€ð ð[t]he€mother€and€father€both€are€battlingÏdrug€addiction€.€.€.€.€€There€is€no€stable€housing€and€the€father€has€just€now€begun€a€new€job.€€TheÏmother€is€not€due€for€release€from€prison€until€late€October,€1992.ðð€€The€plan€states€that€theÏservices€to€be€provided€are€help€in€arranging€substance€abuse€counseling,€parenting€classes€andÏencouragement€of€job€stability.€€The€ð ðtasksðð€identified€for€the€parents€were€to€obtain€substanceÏabuse€counseling,€attend€parenting€classes,€obtain€and€retain€stable€employment€and€adequateÏhousing,€visit€the€children€and€submit€to€random€drug€screens.€€The€agencyððs€ð ðtasksðð€were€toÏð ð[m]ake€referral€for€evaluation€and€counselingðð€and€ð ð[m]aintain€contact€with€other€agenciesÍoffering€services€to€the€family.ððÌÌà àA€ð ðprogress€report,ðð€dated€November€13,€1992,€states€that€the€children€areÏadjusting€€well€to€their€foster€homes.€€The€report€indicates€that€the€older€Fillinger€children€wereÏresiding€at€the€time€with€their€maternal€grandfather.€€Both€parents€were€employed€(Mrs.€FillingerÏhaving€been€released€from€incarceration)€and€residing€in€an€efficiency€apartment.€€The€report€statesÏthat€the€Fillingers€were€not€submitting€to€random€drug€screens€and€that€the€agency€had€made€aÏreferral€for€ð ðcounseling€and€career€development.ðð€€ÌÌà àThe€foster€care€plan€for€the€family€was€reviewed€by€the€Foster€Care€AdvisoryÏReview€Board€on€November€16,€1992€as€evidenced€by€a€ð ðcertificate€of€review.ðð€€The€certificateÏindicates€that€the€ð ðprojected€plan€for€permanencyðð€was€a€ð ðreturn€homeðð€and€that€the€parentsðð€andÏagencyððs€progression€towards€compliance€with€the€case€plan€was€ð ðsufficient.ððÌÌà àThe€next€progress€report€is€dated€January€16,€1993.€€It€indicates€that€the€three€olderÏchildren€were€living€with€their€parents.€€Mr.€Fillingerððs€work€in€construction€was€described€asÏsporadic€due€to€illness.€€It€states€that€Mrs.€Fillinger€was€arrested€in€October€1992€for€shoplifting.€ÏTheir€unaccomplished€tasks€at€this€time€were€failure€to€obtain€counseling€and€housing,€attendÏparenting€classes€or€submit€to€random€drug€screens.€€According€to€the€report,€the€agency€contactedÏMrs.€Fillingerððs€probation€counselor€who€confirmed€that€she€had€not€attended€counseling€sinceÏOctober.€€Also,€no€drug€screens€were€on€record€with€Med€Lab.€€The€ð ðcontinued€or€additional€riskÏfactorsðð€were€the€motherððs€re„arrest€the€month€following€her€release€from€incarceration,€her€failureÏto€attend€counseling€as€scheduled€and€both€parentsðð€failure€to€submit€to€drug€screens€as€requested.€ÏThe€report€notices€a€ð ðpattern€of€deceitðð€by€both€parents€when€questioned€about€these€failures.€€TheÏplan€was€again€reviewed€by€the€Board€on€February€16,€1993.€€At€this€time,€the€parentsððÏcompliance€with€the€case€plan€was€described€as€minimal€or€none€and€the€agencyððs€as€ð ðsufficient.ððÌÌà àThe€next€progress€report€was€completed€on€July€19,€1993.€€It€indicates€that€theÏchildren€had€been€placed€in€the€same€foster€home.€€Both€parents€were€unemployed.€€The€olderÏchildren€remained€with€them.€€The€Fillingers€were€evicted€from€their€apartment,€Mrs.€Fillinger€wasÏagain€arrested€for€shoplifting,€in€Mississippi.€€Both€had€failed€to€provide€requested€drug€screens,Ïattend€counseling€or€visit€their€children€as€scheduled.€€The€plan€states€that€the€Fillingers€had€notÏcompleted€any€activities€asked€of€them€and€that€Mr.€Fillinger€stated€that€he€had€no€intention€ofÏproviding€drug€screens€or€attending€counseling€sessions.€€The€agency€for€the€first€time€suggests€aÏð ðgoal€change.ðð€€Accordingly,€the€Boardððs€review€of€the€plan€on€July€19,€1993€resulted€in€aÏrecommendation€that€the€plan€be€changed€to€one€of€adoption€for€the€children.€€The€agencyððsÏcompliance€with€the€case€plan€was€viewed€as€ð ðsufficient.ððÌÌà àThe€next€report€is€dated€August€2,€1993,€again€recommending€that€the€children€beÏplaced€for€adoption€as€the€family€situation€remained€unchanged.€€Thus,€a€new€foster€care€plan€wasÏinitiated€by€the€agency€with€the€goal€being€adoption.€€This€plan€states€that€the€Fillingers€ð ðrefused€toÏattend€any€counseling€services€or€take€drug€screens€[as]€requested€or€follow€any€suggestionsÏoffered€by€their€social€worker.ðð€€ÌÌà àFinally,€a€report€dated€January€18,€1994€indicates€employment€for€the€FillingersÏand€foster€care€placement€for€the€three€older€children.€€It€notes€the€Fillingersðð€uncooperativeness.€ÏThe€Boardððs€review€on€January€18,€1994€found€minimal€or€no€progress€on€behalf€of€the€parentsÏand€the€agencyððs€efforts€ð ðsufficient.ððÌÌà àClearly,€the€record€in€this€case€establishes€the€agencyððs€implementation€of€a€fosterÏcare€plan€for€this€family€and€reasonable€efforts€on€its€behalf€to€reunify€the€family.€We€hold€thisÏissue€without€merit.ÌÌà àAppellants€additionally€question€whether€their€due€process€rights€were€denied€byÍthe€trial€courtððs€failure€to€appoint€them€counsel.€€In€òòò òState€ex€rel.€T.H.€by€H.€H.€v.€Minóóó ó,€802ÏS.W.2d€625€(Tenn.€App.€1990),€the€middle€section€of€this€Court€held€that€an€indigent€parent€doesÏnot€have€an€absolute€right€to€counsel€in€a€proceeding€affecting€their€parental€rights.€€òòò òMinóóó ó,€802ÏS.W.2d€at€626€(citing€òòò òLassiter€v.€Department€of€Social€Servicesóóó ó,€452€U.S.€18€(1981)).€€InÏdetermining€whether€due€process€entitles€the€parent€to€the€appointment€of€counsel,€the€court€is€toÏexamine€the€parentððs€interest,€the€stateððs€interest€and€the€risk€that€failure€to€appoint€counsel€willÏresult€in€an€erroneous€decision.€€òòò òMinóóó ó,€802€S.W.2d€at€626.€€òòò òMinóóó ó€continued:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àBecause€the€competing€interests€of€the€parents€and€the€stateÏare€evenly€balanced,€the€third€part€of€the€test€„„€the€chance€that€theÏfailure€to€appoint€counsel€will€result€in€an€erroneous€decision€„„Ïbecomes€the€main€consideration€in€this€case.€€Both,€the€parents€andÏthe€state,€share€an€interest€in€an€accurate€and€just€decision.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€€ToÏhelp€assess€the€risk€of€an€unfair€proceeding€resulting€in€an€erroneousÏdecision,€the€courts€in€òòò òLassiteróóó ó€and€[òòò òDavis€v.€Pageóóó ó,€714€F.2dÏ512€(5th€Cir.€1984)]€have€listed€several€factors€that€bear€on€theÏquestion.€€They€include:€(1)€whether€expert€medical€and/orÏpsychiatric€testimony€is€presented€at€the€hearing;€(2)€whether€theÏparents€have€had€uncommon€difficulty€in€dealing€with€life€and€lifeÏsituations;€(3)€whether€the€parents€are€thrust€into€a€distressing€andÏdisorienting€situation€at€the€hearing;€(4)€the€difficulty€and€complexityÏof€the€issues€and€procedures;€(5)€the€possibility€of€criminal€self„incrimination;€(6)€the€educational€background€of€the€parents;€and€(7)Ïthe€permanency€of€potential€deprivation€of€the€child€in€question.ÌÌÌÌÓÓòòò òIdóóó ó.€at€626„27.€€(Citations€omitted.)ÌÌà àThe€court€in€òòò òMinóóó ó€held€that€the€parents€there€were€entitled€to€the€appointment€ofÏcounsel€in€certain€proceedings€wherein€they€faced€the€possibility€of€losing€custody€of€their€child.€Ïòòò òIdó óóó.€at€627.€€In€considering€the€foregoing€factors,€òòò òMinóóó ó€reasoned€that€the€parents€were€poorlyÏeducated,€with€fourth€and€sixth€grade€educations;€that€medical€and€psychological€information€wasÏused€at€the€hearing€against€them€of€which€they€were€unaware€until€admitted€into€evidence;€thatÏmuch€of€the€testimony€at€the€hearing€was€hearsay;€that€the€parents€did€not€understand€the€basicÏcourt€procedure€and€had€trouble€asking€questions;€that€long„term€protective€services€had€beenÏprovided€to€the€parents,€including€assistance€with€their€bills€and€homemaker€services;€that€whenÍasked€by€the€court€to€make€a€statement,€one€parent€ð ðrambled€from€subject€to€subjectðð€and€the€otherÏð ðsaid€nothing€at€allðð;€and€finally,€that€one€parent€had€been€potentially€exposed€to€criminalÏprosecution€after€speaking.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.ÌÌà àIn€our€case,€the€record€shows€that€Mr.€Fillinger€has€an€eighth€grade€education€andÏthat€Mrs.€Fillinger€obtained€her€GED.€€Both€parties€testified€at€the€termination€proceeding€and€Mrs.ÏFillinger€cross„examined€witnesses.€€A€review€of€the€transcript€of€the€proceeding€clearly€showsÏthat€hearsay€testimony€was€presented.€€The€CCCððs€report€of€its€evaluation€on€the€family,€however,Ïcould€not€have€come€as€a€surprise€to€the€Fillingers€as€it€appears€based€solely€on€information€thatÏthey€provided.€€Most€importantly,€however,€the€record€indicates€that€the€termination€hearingÏscheduled€November€10,€1993€was€postponed€until€January€5,€1994,€due€to€the€Fillingersðð€requestÏthat€they€be€allowed€time€to€obtain€an€attorney.€€At€the€scheduled€hearing€on€January€5,€theÏFillingers€had€not€obtained€counsel.× ƒ/ ××  ×€€€The€record€does€not€suggest€that€they€requested€the€court€toÏappoint€them€counsel.ÌÌà àWe€conclude€that€the€facts€in€òòò òMinóóó ó€are€not€so€similar€to€the€current€ones€as€to€compelÏa€finding€of€error€by€the€trial€court€in€failing€to€appoint€counsel€for€the€Fillingers.€€The€FillingersÏwere€€active€participants€in€the€termination€proceeding€and€the€record€lends€no€indication€that€eitherÏfailed€to€understand€its€nature€or€consequences.€€Certainly€their€own€request€to€obtain€counselÏindicates€such€understanding.ÌÌà àWe€now€turn€our€attention€to€the€merits€of€this€case,€which€we€review€òòò òde€novoóóó óÏupon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact.€€Absent€errorÏof€law,€we€are€to€affirm€those€findings,€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€otherwise.€€Rule€13dÍT.R.A.P.;€€òòò òsee,€e.g.,€Tennessee€Depððt€of€Human€Services€v.€Rileyóóó ó,€689€S.W.2d€164Ï(Tenn.€App.€1984).€€The€trial€court€terminated€the€parental€rights€of€the€Fillingers€based€on€itsÏfinding€that€the€following€statutory€conditions€were€shown€to€exist€by€ð ðclear€and€convincingÏevidenceðð:€ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à(1)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€custody€of€theÏparent€by€the€court€for€at€least€one€(1)€year€and€the€court€finds€that:Ìà8 àà à(A)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€removal€or€otherÏconditions€which€in€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€the€childÏto€be€subjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,€therefore,Ïprevent€the€childððs€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€still€persists;Ìà8 àà à(B)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€be€returned€to€theÏparent€in€the€near€future;€andÌà8 àà à(C)€€The€continuation€of€the€legal€parent€and€childÏrelationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€earlyÏintegration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home;ÌÌÌÌÓÓT.C.A.€ðð€37„1„147(d).ÌÌà àThe€Fillingers€concede€that€at€the€time€of€the€termination€hearing,€they€ð ðwere€not€atÏa€point€to€have€custody€returned,ðð€but,€nonetheless,€argue€that€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€terminateÏwas€premature€considering€their€progress€towards€reunification.€€They€point€to€the€favorableÏrecommendation€made€by€the€CCC€in€its€report€released€just€prior€to€the€hearing,€and€those€ofÏDHS.€€Indeed,€it€appears€from€the€record€that€the€plans€of€DHS€remain€that€of€reunification€for€theÏthree€older€children€and€their€parents.€€As€to€the€CCC€evaluation,€after€interviewing€the€entireÏFillinger€family,€it€recommended€ð ðthat€custody€be€òògraduallyóó€returned€.€.€.€.ðð€€and€that€DHS€ð ðremainÏin€a€position€of€monitoring€the€family€to€assure€that€the€following€recommendations,€as€well€as€theÏother€needs€of€the€children€are€met.ðð€€The€recommendations€were€family€therapy,€individualÏpsychotherapy€for€Mrs.€Fillinger,€attendance€of€support€groups,€such€as€AA,€submission€toÏrandom€drug€screenings,€employment€and€verification€thereof€and€possibly,€individual€therapy€forÏMr.€Fillinger.€€The€evaluation€also€acknowledged€the€ð ðlongevityðð€of€the€Fillingersðð€problems.ÌÌà àIt€would€appear€that€the€CCCððs€recommendations€are€virtually€the€same€as€those€ofÏAgape€back€in€1992.€€Certainly€the€testimony€of€Mrs.€Khokhar€indicates€that€the€same€problemsÏremain€for€the€Fillingers€and€we€find€nothing€in€the€record€to€preponderate€against€the€trial€courtððsÏfinding€that€the€Fillingers€failed€to€fulfill€their€responsibilities€under€the€foster€care€plan.€€While€weÏappreciate€the€Fillingersðð€testimonies€that€they€are€now€attempting€to€change€their€lives,€and€weÏcertainly€hope€that€these€attestations€are€realized,€the€fact€that€they€are€still€confronting€the€sameÏproblems€as€in€1992€cannot€go€unnoticed.€€The€CCC€recommended€a€gradual€return€based€onÏinformation€received€from€the€Fillingers.€€Clearly€a€return€of€this€nature€greatly€diminishes€theÏchildrenððs€chances€of€an€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home€especially€whenÏconsidering€the€nature€and€ð ðlongevityðð€of€their€problems.€€Moreover,€the€recommendation€wasÏbased€on€the€parentsðð€willingness€to€follow€the€steps€suggested.€€Only€these€parents€know€forÏcertain€whether€they€are€willing€to€redress€the€problems€in€their€lives.€€The€record€before€this€CourtÏdoes€not€€indicate€such€resolve€on€their€part.€€In€the€two€years€the€children€were€with€Agape,€thisÏcertainly€is€not€apparent.€€Even€the€CCC€evaluation€fails€to€suggest€that€the€Fillingersðð€presentÏconditions€are€remediable€so€as€to€allow€the€childrenððs€return€to€them€ð ðin€the€near€future.ðð€€We€doÏnot€believe€these€children€should€be€made€to€bear€the€brunt€of€their€parentsðð€seemingly€one€stepÏforward,€two€steps€backwards€approach€to€life.ÌÌà àIt€is€extremely€unfortunate€that€we€must€ever€render€a€decision€such€as€this€toÏterminate€the€rights€of€any€parent.€€Under€the€record€that€exists€before€this€Court,€however,€weÏbelieve€that€such€a€decision€is€in€the€best€interests€of€these€children€which€is,€of€course,€ourÏparamount€concern.€€Accordingly,€we€hold€that€there€exists€clear€and€convincing€evidence€onÏwhich€to€base€the€trial€courtððs€decision€terminating€the€parental€rights€of€the€Fillingers.€€ÌÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€this€cause€remanded€for€any€furtherÏproceedings€necessary€and€consistent€herewith.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€Danny€and€Teresa€ÌFillinger,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓ` Ü` È“XÓÓÓà à________________________________Ìà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHIGHERS,€J.€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌLILLARD,€J.€(Concurs)›Ì