ÿWPCf <€Ãß-Z!j—9õ¶°5)Å<%mA,¶Àã£i'] Ü7½®Ò[Û©H¢a†ÂvVè…OhÁ‡ýpϳduUrÀÊ,KΑf¸úÕä-‡$F1Œ?êí•eÜêéÑqß:Ó·hòý+û\¨ò‘“Œ_8>;ãЗd¦>àé¼\§ìRDfšu_—¼£Öì`¥t&ñ´ˆÄ;á#%4 üÃþWÑ×Ü&¨Ê߯¶>B´ŽÚÍCàŹÁh²1dž´‚eì¥É(ÁB…Ì®Gjñ±'Љ xGOòLP>oÏh'[owd<¨–$(yf䤟Ø7ONüSëÐÄVHòúgŲ½Nð”"=Äõ¦›§æ'Ñ1æQ#çuôLš0¥ÅѬ¤–sC’s½²Xá|IÔPK˜CÏF£5ÍÚÚ‘^OUFUHÓUF 0xa 0DÙU>UF[UF¡ÅçUF¬ Úò UFÌU:ROUF¡ AQçÆ8 0Dþ 0DB 0D†† D/ÊÊ Bù D3 BI<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX3|xu«<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXxþ6X@ÉJQX@( ¤T$¡¡Ó  Ó©yË&Ó  ÓShelbyMcMURRAY cDdPefUgDhUiDjkÓ€u<èÀ( 9Z &Courier Regular<à09Z ‹.Courier New Regular<à09Z 0Courier (W1) Regular<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular(((3Ýé$¤¤Ý ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó<è\( 9Z &Courier Regular<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular »Ý ƒ Ýé$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€XÖFXXXÔÔ€ô÷yôXXÖFÔThis€statute€was€amended€with€an€effective€date€of€July€1,€1998.€€TheÐ `  ÐState€filed€its€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€on€June€30,€1998.€ÏThe€1998€amendment€substituted€ð ðInitiation€of€terminationðð€for€ð ðterminationðð;Ïin€(g)(3)(A)(i),€ð ðsafeðð€was€inserted€preceding€ð ðreturnðð;€in€(g)(3)(A)(ii)Ïð ðsafelyðð€was€inserted€preceding€ð ðreturnedðð;€in€(g)(3)(A)(iii)€ð ðsafeðð€wasÏinserted€preceding€ð ðstable.ðð€€òòSeeóó€Amendments,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113Ð H è Ð(Supp›.€1998).<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular ÐÝ ƒ Ýé$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€XÖFXXXÔÔ€ô÷yôXXÖFÔThis€statute€was€amended€with€an€effective€date€of€July€1,€1998.€€TheÐ `  ÐState€filed€its€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€on€June€30,€1998.€ÏThe€1998€amendment€added€a€new€(h)€and€redesignated€the€former€(h)„(p)€asÏpresent€(i)„(q);€in€present€(i)(1)€inserted€ð ðsafe€andðð€following€ð ðitðð;€inÏpresent€(i)(7)€inserted€ð ðin€a€safe€and€stable€mannerðð€following€ð ðchildðð€and€inÏpresent€(i)(8)€inserted€ð ðsafe€and€stableðð€preceding€ð ðcare.ðð€€òòSeeóó€Amendments,Ð H è ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113€(Supp›.€1998).<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XXXXÔÔ€2XXÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XX2ÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€2,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular HÝ ƒ Ýé$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€XÖFXXXÔÔ€ô÷yôXXÖFÔAlthough€the€State€refers€to€Tennessee€Code€Annnotated€ðð€36„1„101(1)(A)Ð `  Ðin€its€brief,€the€section€that€refers€to€a€willful€failure€to€visit€is€ðð€36„1„¼102(1)(A).<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd....'ÿÿdxd dÝ ƒ¤T!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ` °ÑÑ  ÑÑ7€RnXXdÈdÈ7ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  Ññkñ›ñkññuññkñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EÈf ` 8ttxP` ð  rßñkññuññuññuññuññkñ›ñkññuññuññuññuñ›ñuññuññuññuñ›ñuññuñßt€ )>.*jxÂùÿ` `€€@EŠ` ` 8ttxPÂ` ê tß›ñuñÌò òà  àà ` àà ¸ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€AT€NASHVILLEó óÐ ( È ÐÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à@°°*ìàà@@°°*ìà)ˆà0  àC/A€No.€01A01„9810„JV„00564Ш H(#(# ÐDEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDRENððSà@°°*ìà)ˆà  àDAVIDSON€COUNTYÐ p  ÐSERVICESà@°°*ìà)ˆà0  àCircuit€Nos:€Ð8Ø(#(# Ðà@°°*ìà)ˆà  à9719„39064Ð   Ðà  àPetitioner„Appelleeà h àà À àà  àà@°°*ìà)ˆà  à9719„39065à  àÐ Èh Ðà@°°*ìà)ˆà  à9719„39182Ð 0  Ðà  àv.€€€€€€à@°°*ìà)ˆà  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à@°°*ìà€ˆÐ Xø  Ðà@°°*ìà)ˆà  àÐ  À  ÐJAMES€BOSTICK€OSBORNE€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à@°°*ìà)ˆà  àÐ èˆ  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à@°°*ìà)ˆà  àÐ °P  Ðà  àRespondent„Appellantà@°°*ìà)ˆà  àÐ x  Ðà@°°*ìà)ˆÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à@°°*ìà)ˆà  àÐ ¨  ÐSHERRY€MONET€HENDRENà@°°*ìà)ˆÐ Ðp  ÐÌÌÌAPPEALED€FROM€THE€JUVENILE€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTY€ÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€BETTY€ADAMS„GREEN,€JUDGEÌà@ìì*ìàˆà  àÐ Hè ÐÌÌThomas€H.€MillerÌP.€O.€Box€681662ÌFranklin,€TN€37068„1662ÌÌà  àAttorney€for€Respondent„AppellantÌÌÌPaul€G.€SummersÌATTORNEY€GENERAL€AND€REPORTERÌÌDouglas€Earl€DimondÌASSISTANT€ATTORNEY€GENERALÌGeneral€Civil€DivisionÌCordell€Hull€Building,€2nd€FloorÌ425€Fifth€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€TN€37243„0499ÌÌà  àAttorneys€for€Petitioner„AppelleeÌÌÌà@0 0 ìàœ€€€€€€€€€€€€AFFIRMED€AND€REMANDED›ˆÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  à€€€€€€ò ò€€Houston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€Judgeó óÐ Ð/p&1 ÐÌCONCUR:ÌÌFRANKS,€J.ÌSUSANO,€J.ÌÌà@àà$ìàòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóˆÐ p5,8 ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à€€à  àà p àà È à€€Ô‡ X¦‚XXXÔGoddard,€œP.J.Ð X9ø/= ÐÌÌÐ Ú;z2@ Ї›ÓÓÓðÓà  àà ` àÔ#†XRnXX X¦‚ã #ÔÔ‡XRnXXXRnÔThis€case€involves€a€petition€for€termination€ofÐ `  Ðparental€rights.€€€The€Respondent/Appellant,€James€BostickÏOsborne,€appeals€from€an€order€of€the€Juvenile€Court€of€DavidsonÏCounty€terminating€his€parental€rights€as€the€biological€fatherÏof€Sherry€Monet€Hendren.€€Ô#†XRnXXXRn #ÔÔ‡ XRnXXXRnÔWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€TrialÐ à€ ÐCourt.Ô#†XRnXX XRnú #ÔÔ‡XRnXXXRnÔÐ À`  ÐÔ#†XRnXXXRnz #ÔÔ‡XRnXXXRnÔÌÌÔ#†XRnXXXRnÑ #ÔÔ‡ XRnXXXRnÔà  àà ` àOn€December€22,€1997,€œthe€State€of€Tennessee,Ð ` ÐDepartment€of€Childrenððs€Services,€the€Petitioner/Appellee,›Ïobtained€custody€of€Barbara€and€Willie€Hendrenððs€three€children:ÏSherry€Monet€Hendren,€Ricky€Donneil€Hendren,€and€Shanta€MoniqueÏHendren.€€Although€Mr.€Hendren€is€listed€as€the€father€on€eachÏchildððs€birth€certificate,€DCS€discovered€during€itsÏinvestigation€that€Mr.€Osborne€might€be€the€biological€father€ofÏSherry€Hendren€and€that€Michael€Patterson€might€be€the€biologicalÏfather€of€Ricky€and€Shanta€Hendren.€€After€this€discovery,€DCSÏsought€to€notify€Mr.€Osborne€and€Mr.€Patterson€of€its€petition€toÏterminate€the€parental€rights€to€the€three€children.€€This€appealÏconcerns€only€the€termination€of€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights€toÏSherry€Monet€Hendren,€who€was€almost€twelve€years€old€at€the€timeÏof€the€trial.Ô#†XRnXX XRn#ÔÔ‡XRnXXXRnÔÐ À0`'* ÐÌÌà  àà ` àMr.€Osborne€presents€three€issues,€which€we€restate,Ïfor€our€consideration:ÌÐ  :À04 ÐÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` x` xà1.€Whether€the€court€erred€inÏfinding€that€he€willfully€abandonedÏhis€daughter;€Ð ¸ ¸  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` x` xà2.€Whether€the€court€erred€inÏterminating€his€parental€rightsÏbased€upon€persistence€ofÏconditions€dangerous€to€hisÏdaughter;€andÐ ¸ ¸  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` x` xà3.€Whether€the€court€erred€inÏfinding€that€termination€of€hisÏparental€rights€was€in€the€bestÏinterest€of€his€daughter.Ð ¸ ¸  ÐÒ°ìÒÒ°úÒÓÓÌÌà  àà ` à€After€Ms.€Katie€Finney,€a€DCS€case€manager,€determinedÏthat€Mr.€Osborne€was€incarcerated,€she€sent€him€a€letter€in€MayÏ1998€inquiring€whether€he€is€Sherryððs€father.€€In€June€1998,€Mr.ÏOsborne,€who€was€serving€a€sentence€for€burglary,€responded€thatÏhe€is€indeed€her€father.€€On€June€30,€1998,€DCS€filed€a€petitionÏto€terminate€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights.€€€ÌÌÔ#†Xæ6XXXæ6Q#ÔÔ‡Xæ6XXXæ6ÔÌà  àà ` àThe€DCS€petition€stated€that€under€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€ðððð€36„1„102(1)(A)(i)€and€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv),€Mr.ÏOsborne€had€willfully€abandoned€his€daughter€and€that€terminationÏof€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights€was€in€his€daughterððs€bestÏinterest.ÌÐ  :À04 Їà  àà ` àOn€October€9,€1998,€DCS€filed€an€amended€petition€whichÏstated€that€Mr.€Osborne€was€incarcerated€at€the€time€the€petitionÏwas€filed€and€stated€that€Mr.€Osborne€had€failed€to€visit€orÏsupport€his€daughter€in€the€four€months€preceding€hisÏincarceration€or€engaged€in€conduct€prior€to€his€incarcerationÏthat€showed€wanton€disregard€for€his€daughterððs€welfare.€€œÌÌ›Ìà  àà ` àIn€early€October€1998,€Ms.€Finney€visited€Mr.€OsborneÏto€discuss€his€daughter€and€her€siblings.€€According€to€Ms.ÏFinneyððs€testimony,€Mr.€Osborne€was€not€opposed€to€theÏtermination€of€his€parental€rights€if€his€daughter€could€remainÏwith€her€siblings.€€Although€Mr.€Osborne€stated€that€he€wouldÏlike€to€see€his€daughter,€Ms.€Finney€stated€that€he€neverÏrequested€a€œvisit.ÌÌ›Ìà  àà ` àAt€the€trialÔ#†Xæ6XXXæ6ñ#ÔÔ€XÖFXXXæ6Ô€on€October€12,€1998,€Mr.€Osborne€testifiedÐ @)à" Ðthat€he€was€participating€in€a€behavior€modification€programÏcalled€Ô‡XÖFXXXÖFÔð ðLifelinesððÔ#†XÖFXXXÖFC#Ô€whileÔ€ XÖFXXXÖFÔ€in€jail€and€that€the€program€had€made€aÐ - #& Ðprofound€impact€on€his€life.€€He€testified€that€he€was€scheduledÏto€be€released€from€jail€on€November€2,€1998€and€then€go€to€aÏhalfway€house€for€three€months.€€He€further€stated€that€he€hopedÏto€rear€his€daughter€and€her€two€siblings,€although€he€was€notÏtheir€father,€but€he€did€not€know€when€he€could€provide€a€homeÏâ âfor€them.€€He€was€uncertain€as€to€what€his€relationship€with€hisÐ @8à.2 Ðwife€and€young€son€would€be€since€he€œhad€had›€no€contact€with€themÏin€seven€months.Ìâ âÌÌÔ‡ XÖFXX XÖFÔà  àà ` àMr.€Osborne€admitted€that€there€was€a€period€ofÐ à€ Ðapproximately€four€years€of€Sherryððs€life€that€he€lost€totalÏcontact€with€her.€€Mr.€Osborne€never€legitimated€Sherry€as€hisÏchild,€although€she€is€aware€that€he€is€her€father,€and€he€neverÏpaid€child€support€for€his€daughter.Ô#† XÖFXX XÖFö#ÔÐ ` ÐÌÌà  àà ` àMs.€Finney€of€DCS€testified€that€Mr.€Osborne€could€notÏbe€considered€as€a€placement€for€children€until€he€had€been€soberÏat€least€one€year.€€Ms.€Finney€further€testified€that€terminationÏof€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights€was€in€Sherryððs€best€interestÏand€that€Sherry,€who€was€almost€twelve€years€old€at€the€time,Ïneeded€a€permanent,€stable€home€to€prepare€her€for€her€teenageÏyears.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àMr.€Steve€Walker,€Sherryððs€guardian€òòad€litemóó,€stated€toÐ à.€%( Ðthe€Trial€Court€that€Sherry€was€willing€to€live€with€her€fatherÏif€her€two€siblings€could€live€with€them.€€If€that€was€notÏpossible,€then€Sherry€preferred€to€be€œplaced€in€a€home›€along€withÏher€brother€and€sister.ÌÌÐ  :À04 Ðà  àà ` àOn€October€13,€1998,€the€Trial€Court€filed€a€decree€ofÏguardianship€and€thus,€terminated€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights.€ÏThe€Trial€Court€concluded€that€Mr.€Osborne€had€willfullyÏabandoned€his€daughter€for€more€than€four€consecutive€monthsÏpreceding€the€filing€of€this€petition€to€terminate€his€parentalÏrights€by€not€visiting€during€that€period€of€time.€€Furthermore,Ïthe€Trial€Court€found€that€Mr.€Osborne€œwasÌ›ÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓincarcerated€during€all€or€part€of€the€four€monthsÏimmediately€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€andÏwillfully€failed€to€visit€or€support€or€make€reasonableÏpayments€toward€the€support€of€the€child€for€fourÏconsecutive€months€immediately€preceding€suchÏincarceration€òòò òORó óóó€has€engaged€in€conduct€prior€toÐ ° Ðincarceration€which€exhibits€a€wanton€disregard€for€theÏwelfare€of€the€child.€Ìà ` àThat€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€36„1„113(g)(3)(A),€theÏsaid€children€have€been€removed€from€Defendant€parentsÏfor€more€than€six€(6)€months€and€the€conditions€which¹Ò°N%ÒÒ°@%ÒÓ\%ÓÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓled€to€removal€or€other€conditions€which€in€allÏreasonable€probability€would€cause€the€children€to€beÏsubjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,Ïtherefore,€prevent€the€childrenððs€return€to€the€care€ofÏthe€Defendants€still€persists;€that€there€is€littleÏlikelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€anÏearly€date€so€that€the€children€can€be€returned€to€theÏDefendants€in€the€near€future;€and€the€continuation€ofÏthe€legal€parent€and€child€relationship€greatlyÏdiminishes€the€childrenððs€chances€of€early€integrationÏinto€a€stable€and€permanent€home.€¹Ò°ð'ÒÒ°þ'ÒÓ (ÓÌà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àFirst,€Mr.€Osborne€argues€that€he€did€not€willfullyÏabandon€his€daughter.€€He€explains€that€he€was€incarcerated€inÏDecember€1997€on€a€burglary€conviction€when€his€daughter€wasÏplaced€in€DCS€custody.€€Mr.€Osborne€contends€that€although€DCSÏdid€not€know€that€he€was€Sherry's€father€until€March€1998,€it€didÏnot€contact€him€until€May€1998€and€did€not€speak€with€him€untilÐ  :À04 ÐOctober€1998.€€Mr.€Osborne€maintains€that€before€meeting€with€Ms.ÏFinney€from€DCS€the€week€before€the€trial€in€October€1998,€"heÏhad€no€meaningful€way€to€inform€DCS€that€he€desired€visitationÏwith€[Sherry]."€€He€asserts€that€before€he€was€incarcerated€heÏsaw€Sherry€"frequently"€and€had€a€"good€relationship"€with€her.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àFurthermore,€Mr.€Osborne€argues€that€he€had€no€incomeÏduring€his€incarceration,€and€thus,€was€unable€to€pay€childÏsupport.€€Consequently,€his€failure€to€pay€child€support€was€notÏwillful.€€Moreover,€Mr.€Osborne€contends€that€the€State€did€notÏshow€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€his€conduct€before€hisÏincarceration€exhibited€a€"wanton€disregard"€for€his€daughter'sÏwelfare.€€Although€Mr.€Osborne€admits€to€a€long€history€of€drugÏabuse,€he€maintains€that€such€abuse€or€a€criminal€conviction€doesÏnot€constitute€"wanton€disregard"€for€a€child's€welfare.€€œÌÌ›Ìà  àà ` àNext,€Mr.€Osborne€argues€that€the€court€erred€byÏfinding€that€dangerous€conditions€to€his€daughter€would€likelyÏpersist.€€Mr.€Osborne€maintains€that€he€has€undergone€a€"life„¼changing"€behavior€modification€program€while€incarcerated€and€noÏlonger€uses€drugs.€€He€further€contends€that€there€are€noÏallegations€of€abuse€or€neglect€against€him€because€at€the€timeÏhis€daughter€was€removed€from€her€home,€she€was€living€with€herÏmother.ÌÐ  :À04 Ðà  àà ` àMr.€Osborne€further€argues€that€termination€of€hisÏparental€rights€is€not€in€the€best€interest€of€his€daughter.€€HeÏasserts€that€DCS€failed€to€make€reasonable€efforts€to€ð ðreuniteððÏhim€with€his€daughter,€with€whom€he€had€a€good€relationship.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àThe€State€argues€that€the€Trial€Court€properlyÏterminated€Mr.€Osborne's€parental€rights€for€abandonment.€€TheÏState€maintains€that€Mr.€Osborne€was€incarcerated€in€the€fourÏmonths€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€on€June€30,€1998€toÏterminate€his€parental€rights.€€While€the€State€concedes€that€Mr.ÏOsborne's€options€for€visitation€were€limited,€it€maintains€thatÏhe€did€not€contact€his€daughter€or€request€a€visit€with€her€untilÏthe€week€before€the€trial,€which€was€several€months€after€heÏlearned€of€the€State's€efforts€to€locate€him.€€The€StateÏmaintains€that€these€facts€constitute€a€willful€failure€to€visitÏunder€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€œ36„1„101(1)(A)׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×.›Ð `'  ÐÌÌà  àà ` àThe€State€further€argues€that€Mr.€Osborne€abandoned€hisÏdaughter€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„¼102(1)(A)(iv)€in€the€four€months€before€his€incarceration.€€ItÏmaintains€that€Mr.€Osborne€paid€no€child€support,€insteadÏspending€all€his€paycheck€on€crack€cocaine,€and€had€no€more€thanÏ"token€visitation"€with€his€daughter.€€It€argues€that€after€fiveÐ `6-0 Ðyears€of€no€contact,€Mr.€Osborne€saw€his€daughter€on€someÏSaturdays€during€the€eight€months€before€his€incarceration€andÏeven€then,€was€out€of€contact€with€her€for€as€long€as€a€month.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àMoreover,€the€State€asserts€that€Mr.€Osborne's€drugÏabuse€and€criminal€conduct€constitute€"wanton€disregard"€for€hisÏdaughter's€welfare,€citing€òòIn€re€œShipley›óó,€an€unreported€opinionÐ €  Ðof€this€Court,€filed€in€Knoxville€on€September€29,€1997€(findingÏthat€the€fatherððs€criminal€conduct€and€drug€abuse€showed€a€wantonÏdisregard€for€the€welfare€of€his€children).€€œThe€State›€contendsÏthat€Mr.€Osborne€has€demonstrated€by€past€performance€that€heÏcould€remain€sober€only€while€incarcerated,€and€when€released,Ïretreats€to€a€life€of€drug€abuse.€€The€State€maintains€that€œMr.›ÏœOsborne,›€œwho€claimed›€to€be€in€recovery€while€incarcerated,€œhad›Ïone€month€remaining€to€serve€in€jail€and€an€additional€threeÏmonths€in€a€halfway€house€before€he€would€be€free.€€The€StateÏalso€notes€that€DCS€would€not€consider€placing€Mr.€OsborneððsÏdaughter€with€him€until€he€had€demonstrated€a€year€of€sobriety.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àThe€State€contends€that€the€termination€of€Mr.ÏOsborne's€parental€rights€was€in€the€best€interest€of€hisÏdaughter.€€It€explains€that€Mr.€Osborne€was€unable€to€provide€aÏhome€for€his€daughter,€had€not€maintained€regular€contact€orÏvisitation€with€her,€had€paid€no€child€support€œduring€herÏlifetime,›€and€had€a€chronic€drug€abuse€problem.€Ð  :À04 Їà  àà ` àFinally,€the€State€argues€that€Mr.€Osborneððs€argumentÏthat€DCS€did€not€make€reasonable€efforts€to€ð ðreuniteðð€hisÏdaughter€with€him€is€without€merit.€€Although€the€State€listsÏnumerous€reasons€why€this€argument€is€without€merit,€it€assertsÏprimarily€that€its€mandate€to€ð ðreunifyðð€families€does€not€applyÏto€putative€parents€such€as€Mr.€Osborne,€who€has€not€establishedÏa€familial€relationship€to€which€his€daughter€could€haveÏreturned.ÌÌÌà  àà ` àIn€accordance€with€Rule€13(d)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€ofÏAppellate€Procedure,€this€Court€reviews€a€Trial€Court's€decisionÏto€terminate€parental€rights€œòòde›€novoóó€upon€the€record,€with€aÐ à€ Ðpresumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€TrialÏCourt€unless€the€preponderance€of€evidence€is€otherwise.€€ÏHowever,€no€presumption€of€correctness€attaches€to€a€lowerÏcourt's€decisions€regarding€questions€of€law.€€òòœGanzevoort›€v.Ð `'  ÐRussellóó,€949€S.W.2d€293,€296€(Tenn.€1997).Ð @)à" ÐÌÌà  àà ` àThe€decision€to€terminate€parental€rights€must€beÏestablished€by€ð ðclear€and€convincing€evidence.ðð€€òòSeeóó€òòStateÐ À0`'* ÐDepartment€of€Human€Services€v.€œDefriece›óó,€937€S.W.2d€954,€960Ð  2@), Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€œApp›.€1996).€€Ô‡ XÖFXX XÖFÔTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„113(c)Ð €4 +. Ðprovides€in€relevant€part:ÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓà ` àà ¸ àTermination€of€parental€or€guardianship€¼â âà ` àrights€must€be€based€upon:Ð 09Ð/3 Ðà ` àà ¸ à(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€¼â âà ` àconvincing€evidence€that€the€grounds€for€à x àÐ P ð Ðà ` àtermination€or€[sic]€parental€or€guardianship€¼à ` àrights€have€been€established;€andÌà ` àà ¸ à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parentððs€orÌà ` àguardianððs€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€theÌà ` àchild.ÌÓ-CÓÒ°CÒÒ°CÒÔ#† XÖFXX XÖF™B#ÔÌÌà  àà ` àÔ‡ XÖFXX XÖFÔTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€(œSupp›.Ð °P  Ð1997)œ×ƒ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€provides€the€possible€grounds€for€termination€of€parentalÐ 0  Ðrights:ÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓà ` àà ¸ àTermination€of€parental€or€guardianship€¼à ` àrights€may€be€based€upon€any€of€the€following€¼à ` àgrounds:€ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à*€*€*€*ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àThe€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€Ìà ` àthe€parent€or€guardian€by€order€of€a€court€for€a€ÌÒ°úFÒà  àà ` àperiod€of€six€(6)€months€and:Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ à(i)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€Ìà  àà ` àremoval€or€other€conditions€which€in€all€reason„Ìà  àà ` àable€probability€would€cause€the€child€to€be€Ìà  àà ` àsubjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,Ìà  àà ` àtherefore,€prevent€the€childððs€return€to€theÌà  àà ` àcare€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s),€still€Ìà  àà ` àpersist;Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ à(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€Ìà  àà ` àconditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€soÌà  àà ` àthat€the€child€can€be€returned€to€the€Ìà  àà ` àparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€the€near€future;€andÌà  àà ` àà ¸ à(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€Ìà  àà ` àguardian€and€child€relationship€greatly€diminishesÌà  àà ` àthe€childððs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€Ìà  àà ` àstable€and€permanent€home.ÌÓGÓÒ°GÒÔ#† XÖFXX XÖFÝE#ÔÌÐ °1P(+ Ðà  àà ` àTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðððð€36„1„102(1)(A)(i)€and€36„1„¼102(1)(A)(iv)€provide€in€relevant€part:ÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓà ` àà ¸ àð ðAbandonmentðð€means,€for€purposes€ofÏterminating€the€parental€or€guardian€rights€ofÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€a€child€to€that€child€inÏorder€to€make€that€child€available€for€adoption,€that:Ìà ` à(i)€For€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€monthsÏimmediately€preceding€the€filing€of€a€proceeding€orÏpleading€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€theÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€theÏsubject€of€the€petition€for€termination€of€parentalÏrights€or€adoption,€that€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)Ïeither€have€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€have€willfullyÏfailed€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€towardÏthe€support€of€the€child;ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*€*€*€*€ÌÌà ` à(iv)€A€parent€or€guardian€is€incarcerated€at€theÏtime€of€the€institution€of€an€action€or€proceeding€toÏdeclare€a€child€to€be€an€abandoned€child,€or€the€parentÏor€guardian€has€been€incarcerated€during€all€or€part€ofÏthe€four€(4)€months€immediately€preceding€theÏinstitution€of€such€action€or€proceeding,€and€eitherÏhas€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€has€willfully€failedÏto€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€theÏsupport€of€the€child€for€four€(4)€consecutive€monthsÏimmediately€preceding€such€parentððs€or€guardianððsÏincarceration,€or€the€parent€or€guardian€has€engaged€inÏconduct€prior€to€incarceration€which€exhibits€a€wantonÏdisregard€for€the€welfare€of€the€child.ÌÌÒ°»MÒÒ°ÉMÒÓ×MÓÒ°ÒÓÓÌÌÓÀSÓà  àà ` àTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„113(h)€(œSupp›.Ï1997)œ×ƒ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€provides€the€following€regarding€the€best€interest€ofÐ - #& Ða€child:ÌÒ°ÒÓÓà ` àIn€determining€whether€termination€of€parental€orÏâ âguardianship€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€of€theÐ °1P(+ Ðchild€pursuant€to€this€part,€the€court€shall€consider,Ïbut€is€not€limited€to,€the€following:Ìâ âà ` à(1)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€made€suchÏan€adjustment€of€circumstance,€conduct,€or€conditionsÏas€to€make€œit›€in€the€childððs€best€interest€to€be€in€theÏhome€of€the€parent€or€guardian;Ìà ` à(2)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€failed€toÏeffect€a€lasting€adjustment€after€reasonable€efforts€byÏavailable€social€services€agencies€for€such€duration€ofÏtime€that€lasting€adjustment€does€not€reasonably€appearÏpossible;Ìà ` à(3)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€maintainedÏregular€visitation€or€other€contact€with€the€child;Ìà ` à(4)€Whether€a€meaningful€relationship€hasÏotherwise€been€established€between€the€parent€orÏguardian€and€the€child;Ìà ` à(5)€The€effect€a€change€of€caretakers€and€physicalÏenvironment€is€likely€to€have€on€the€childððs€emotional,Ïpsychological€and€medical€condition;Ìà ` à(6)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian,€or€otherÏperson€residing€with€the€parent€or€guardian,€has€shownÏbrutality,€physical,€sexual,€emotional€or€psychologicalÏabuse,€or€neglect€toward€other€children€in€the€familyÏor€household;Ìà ` à(7)€Whether€the€physical€environment€of€theÏparentððs€or€guardianððs€home€is€healthy€and€safe,Ïwhether€there€is€criminal€activity€in€the€home,€orÏwhether€there€is€such€use€of€alcohol€or€controlledÏsubstances€as€may€render€the€parent€or€guardianÏconsistently€unable€to€care€for€the€child;Ìà ` à(8)€Whether€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€mentalÏand/or€emotional€status€would€be€detrimental€to€theÏchild€or€prevent€the€parent€or€guardian€fromÏeffectively€providing€care€and€supervision€for€theÏchild;€orÌà ` à(9)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€paid€childÏsupport€consistent€with€the€child€support€guidelinesÏpromulgated€by€the€department€pursuant€toÌðð€36„5„101.ÌÓñTÓÒ°ãTÒÒ°²SÒÌÌà  àà ` àThis€Court€must€determine€whether€the€evidence€in€theÏrecord€preponderates€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€findings€of€factÏsupporting€termination.€€The€State€argues€that€the€primaryÏâ âevidence€of€Mr.€Osborneððs€"wanton€disregard"€for€the€welfare€ofÐ P7ð-1 Ðhis€daughter€is€his€criminal€conduct€and€drug€abuse€prior€to€hisÏincarceration.€€œÌâ â›Ìà  àà ` àDuring€his€testimony,€Mr.€Osborne€acknowledged€thatÏtwelve€years€ago€he€had€been€convicted€of€burglary€œand€that€he€is›Ïcurrently€serving€a€sentence€for€burglary.€€He€also€admitted€thatÏhe€had€abused€drugs€since€the€age€of€twelve€and€began€usingÏcocaine€when€he€was€fifteen€or€sixteen€years€old,€thus€admittingÏto€abusing€drugs€for€approximately€twenty„seven€years.€€€Mr.ÏOsborne€testified€that€except€for€periods€of€incarceration,€theÏlongest€œperiod€of€time›€œthat€he›€has€œñVñbeen€ñVññWññVñfreeñVññWññXñfree€fromñXñ€drugs›€is€sixtyÏdays.€€He€testified€that€he€did€not€think€that€abusing€drugsÏindicated€abuse€or€neglect€for€a€childððs€œwelfare.›ÌÌÌà  àà ` àFurthermore,€Mr.€Osborne€admitted€that€he€neverÏlegitimated€Sherry,€never€paid€child€support,€and€had€no€home€toÏprovide€for€his€daughter,€although€he€had€completed€a€parentingÏclass€and€had€participated€in€a€behavior€modification€courseÏcalled€ð ðLifelinesðð€while€incarcerated.ÌÌœñYñÌñYñ›Ìà  àà ` àWe€are€of€the€opinion€that€the€evidence€in€the€recordÏdoes€not€preponderate€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€findings€of€fact.€ÏMr.€Osborne€admitted€to€chronic€drug€abuse€and€criminal€conductÏand€admitted€that€he€had€no€home€to€provide€for€his€daughter.€ÏDuring€his€daughterððs€life,€Mr.€Osborne€never€provided€supportÐ  :À04 Ðfor€her,€and€his€relationship€with€her€was€sporadic€at€best.€€Mr.ÏOsborneððs€daughter€has€experienced€a€disturbing€childhood,€so€herÏplacement€into€a€stable,€permanent€home€as€soon€as€possible€isÏcritical€as€she€enters€œñZñher€teenage€yearsñZññ[ñadolescenceñ[ñ.›€€Therefore,€we€agree€with€theÏTrial€Court€that€termination€of€Mr.€Osborneððs€parental€rights€isÏin€the€best€interest€of€his€œdaughter.ñ`ñÌ›Ìñ`ñ›œñañÌñañ›œñañÌñaññbñ›Ìñbñ›à  àà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€TrialÏCourt€is€affirmed.€€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€Mr.€Osborne.€ÏThis€case€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€enforcement€of€theÏjudgment€and€collection€of€costs€below.€€€€œñcñÔ‡ Xæ6XX XÖFÔñcñ›Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÌœñcñÌ›à  à›à  àÔ#† XÖFXX Xæ6Ûf#Ô›à  à›à  à›Ð  à€ Лà  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  à›à  àñcñ›œñdññdññeñÓÓñeññdñà  àñdññeñ›ñeññdñà ` àñdññeñ›ñeññdñà ¸ àñdññeñ›ñeññdñà  àñdññeñ›ñeññdñà h àñdñ›à À à_______________________________Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.€ÌÌÌœCONCUR:ñfñÌñfñ›œñfñÌñfñ›œñfñÌñfñ›œñfñÌñfññgñ›Ì›Ìñgñ________________________________›ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€œJ.ñhñÌñhñ›œñhñÌñhñ›œñhñÌñhñ›œñhñÌñhññiñ›Ì›Ìñiñ________________________________›ÌCharles€D.€œSusano›,€Jr.,€J.ÌœñjñÌÌÔ‡ XÖFXX XÖFÔÌÌÔ#† XÖFXX XÖFk#Ôñjñ›à  àà ` àà ¸ à