ÿWPCÑ' …# VUNa %¯ 0 Nµ 0Í bÐ wØ 4è ü 0J 0TU 0^© 0h 0Do 0r³ 0|% 0†¡ 0' 1u· U,, X 0d`U,ÄU>ðB).DCW AMš BçU*A.koÚ D3i'œ'à 0@êN*cxv~ÛvÓY AO,&Æ{& 0DA' D/…' B´'˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (í€"  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular¼(&öy$¡¡Ó  ÓÙñÓ Ù(}(2…ž$¤¤Ý ƒöy!ÝÓ  ÓÙñÓ ÙÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€X¤ŒX¼¼Ôà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-Ó€ Gav T$<3|x 2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2@ 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`(Modern\#P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ d< Œ 9p`(Arial 7Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÔ€&ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌMay€17,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó aÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€termination€statutes€applicable€to€this€case€are€the€ones€that€were€in€existence€priorÏto€the€1995€enactment€of€the€comprehensive€amendments€to€the€statutes€governing€theÏtermination€of€parental€rights.€€òòSeeóó€Act€of€May€26,€1995,€ch.€532,€1995€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts.€___.€ÏThese€provisions€became€effective€on€January€1,€1996,€after€the€proceedings€in€this€case.Ì …Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòNash„Putnam€v.€McCloud,óó€App.€No.€01„S„01„9504„CV„00047,€slip€op.€at€13€(Tenn.ÏApril€22,€1996)€(Opinion€designated€ð ðFor€Publicationðð).Ì%%%%'ÿÿdxd Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòSee€alsoóó€Tenn.€R.€Juv.€P.€39(f)(1).Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòSee€alsoóó€Tenn.€R.€Juv.€P.€39(f)(2).Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò DÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝLike€Judy€D.,€many€of€the€parents€seeking€appellate€review€of€decisions€in€terminationÏof€parental€rights€cases€lack€the€financial€resources€to€pay€for€a€verbatim€transcript€of€theÏjuvenile€court€proceedings.€€Likewise,€a€statement€of€the€evidence€is€rarely€provided€in€cases€ofÏthis€sort.€€The€absence€of€some€evidentiary€record€hampers€our€ability€to€determine€whether€theÏrecord€contains€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€support€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision.€€WeÏneed€not€decide€whether€the€absence€of€a€transcript,€statement€of€the€evidence,€or€other€recordÏof€the€juvenile€court€proceeding€is€of€constitutional€significance€because€Judy€D.€has€not€raisedÏthis€as€an€issue€on€this€appeal.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Ogleóó,€617€S.W.2d€652,€653€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ï1980)€(this€court€ordered€the€State€to€provide€a€transcript€to€an€indigent€parent).Ì YÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€!XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€departmentððs€petition€to€terminate€Judy€D.ððs€parental€rights€was€based€on€bothÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1)€and€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2).€€After€finding€thatÏJudy€D.€had€complied€substantially€with€the€foster€care€plan,€the€juvenile€court€terminated€herÏparental€rights€solely€on€the€basis€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$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€!ÔÔ€!¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€Í¼¼ddÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@ àÔ€!„Ôò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÔ€!¼Ôó óÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à àà àà à)à àDavidson€Juvenile€Nos.ÌJEREMY€D.€AND€NATHAN€D.,à à)à à08„09„41€and€08„36„93ÌÙ€€ÙßL€$'#;+'h|wé ` ç `€€Lß(Children€under€the€age€of€18€years)à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9510„JV„00479Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€JUVENILE€COURT€FOR€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€ANDREW€J.€SHOOKHOFF,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€theÏDefendant/Appellantóó:ÌÌCharles€W.€Bursonà àà àà àà àà àDara€A.€Monifa€TippittÌAttorney€General€and€Reporterà àà àà àà àHeather€R.€ManryÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSusan€L.€BrooksÌWilliam€Ashby€Smith,€Jr.à àà àà àà àNashville,€TennesseeÌAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€!„Ôò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÔ€!¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÇÑ ° ÑÑ „ ÑÓ€ÓÔ€!„Ôà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÔ€!¼ÔÌà àThis€appeal€involves€the€termination€of€a€motherððs€parental€rights€to€herÏtwo€youngest€sons.€€The€Tennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€filed€aÏpetition€in€the€Davidson€County€Juvenile€Court€seeking€to€terminate€theÏmotherððs€parental€rights€after€repeated€efforts€to€help€the€mother€control€herÏaddiction€to€chemical€inhalants.€€Following€a€bench€trial,€the€juvenile€courtÏterminated€the€motherððs€parental€rights€and€awarded€the€departmentÏpermanent€custody€of€the€children.€€The€mother€asserts€on€this€appeal€that€theÏjuvenile€courtððs€findings€of€fact€were€inadequate,€that€the€department€did€notÏprove€that€it€made€reasonable€efforts€to€reunite€her€with€her€children,€and€thatÏthe€evidence€does€not€support€the€decision€to€terminate€her€parental€rights.€ÏWe€affirm€the€judgment€terminating€the€motherððs€parental€rights.ÌÌà@ àò òI.ó óÌÌà àJudy€D.€has€lived€with€her€mother€in€Nashville€for€most€of€her€life.€ÏHer€mother€introduced€her€to€chemical€inhalants€while€she€was€still€a€teenager,Ïand€Judy€D.€eventually€became€addicted€to€inhaling€paint€thinner,€toluene,€andÏglue.€€She€also€abused€alcohol€and€marijuana.€€In€September€1983,€when€JudyÏD.€was€sixteen€and€unmarried,€she€gave€birth€to€Peggy€D.,€her€first€child.€ÏShortly€after€Peggy€D.€was€born,€the€Department€of€Human€Services€receivedÏword€that€Judy€D.€was€neglecting€her.€€During€their€investigation,€theÏdepartmentððs€case€workers€discovered€that€both€Judy€D.€and€her€mother€wereÏabusing€chemical€inhalants€and€offered€drug€abuse€treatment€and€counseling€toÏJudy€D.ÌÌà àDuring€the€ensuing€years,€the€police€were€summoned€to€Judy€D.ððs€homeÏon€numerous€occasions€in€response€to€complaints€of€violence€and€reports€thatÏJudy€D.€was€intoxicated€and€unable€to€care€for€her€child.€€In€1986,€Peggy€D.Ïwas€struck€by€an€automobile€and€severely€injured€while€wandering€in€theÏstreet.€€Judy€D.€was€arrested€in€1987€and€again€in€1989€for€using€chemicalÏinhalants€with€her€children€present.€ÌÌÑ Ü Ñà àJudy€D.€gave€birth€to€David€D.,€her€second€child€out€of€wedlock,€inÏApril€1987.€€She€also€completed€her€GED€and€later€enrolled€in€vocationalÏtraining.€€Despite€her€educational€efforts,€she€had€difficulty€holding€down€aÏsteady€job.€€Other€family€members€offered€help€but€eventually€becameÏdiscouraged€when€their€efforts€seemed€to€be€to€no€avail.€€Judy€D.€gave€birth€toÏTeresa€D.,€her€third€child€born€out€of€wedlock,€in€February€1990.€ÏEventually,€Judy€D.ððs€abuse€of€chemical€inhalants€led€to€the€termination€of€herÏparental€rights€to€Peggy€D.€and€her€voluntary€surrender€of€her€parental€rightsÏto€David€D.€and€Teresa€D.€€The€department€eventually€returned€Teresa€D.€toÏher€mother.ÌÌà àJudy€D.€gave€birth€to€Jeremy€D.,€her€fourth€child€born€out€of€wedlock,Ïin€March€1992.€€Three€months€later,€the€department€filed€a€petition€forÏtemporary€custody€in€the€juvenile€court€alleging€that€Jeremy€D.€was€dependentÏand€neglected€because€his€mother€was€continuing€to€use€chemical€inhalants.€ÏJudy€D.€admitted€her€addiction€to€inhalants€and€acknowledged€that€she€couldÏnot€attend€to€her€childrenððs€needs.€€Accordingly,€she€agreed€to€theÏdepartmentððs€demand€that€she€enter€an€in„patient€detoxification€program€at€aÏlocal€hospital.€€In€December€1992,€the€juvenile€court€found€that€Jeremy€D.Íwas€dependent€and€neglected€but€permitted€him€to€remain€in€Judy€D.ððs€custodyÏbecause€she€had€agreed€to€seek€treatment€for€her€addiction.ÌÌà àIn€May€1993,€Judy€D.€gave€birth€to€Nathan€D.,€her€fifth€child€born€outÏof€wedlock.€€Regrettably,€the€cycle€of€substance€abuse€and€child€neglectÏcontinued.€€In€April€1994,€the€department€filed€a€petition€in€the€juvenile€courtÏseeking€temporary€custody€of€Teresa€D.,€Jeremy€D.,€and€Nathan€D.€€TheÏdepartment€alleged€that€the€children€were€ð ðunsupervised,€dirty,€disheveled,Ïand€exposed€to€the€fumes€of€chemical€inhalants€in€the€household€by€[Judy€D.]Ïand€her€associates.ðð€€Judy€D.€again€conceded€that€she€was€actively€inhalingÏpaint€thinner€and€that€she€could€not€supervise€or€care€for€her€children.€€InÏMay€1994,€the€juvenile€court€directed€Judy€D.€to€return€Teresa€D.€to€herÏfoster€parents€and€awarded€the€department€temporary€custody€of€Jeremy€D.Ïand€Nathan€D.ÌÌà àOnce€Judy€D.'s€three€younger€children€were€placed€in€its€custody,€theÏdepartment€developed€a€foster€care€plan€designed€to€reunite€Judy€D.€withÏJeremy€D.€and€Nathan€D.€€Judy€D.€failed€to€attend€the€hearing€to€approve€theÏfoster€care€plan€and€also€failed€to€enter€the€detoxification€program€or€to€visitÏher€children€regularly.€€The€departmentððs€case€workers€later€informed€JudyÏD.€that€the€foster€care€plan€required€her€(1)€to€enter€an€in„patientÏdetoxification€program,€(2)€to€attend€parenting€classes,€(3)€to€visit€with€herÏchildren€twice€a€week,€and€(4)€to€become€more€involved€with€the€planning€ofÏher€program€of€care.€€Judy€D.€promised€to€stay€away€from€her€mother€andÏher€other€friends€because€they€encouraged€her€to€use€chemical€inhalants€and€toÏhide€her€problem€from€the€authorities.ÌÌà àJudy€D.€had€done€little€to€improve€her€circumstances€when€the€juvenileÏcourt€reviewed€the€status€of€the€plan€in€June€1994.€€She€had€not€entered€the€in„patient€detoxification€program;€she€had€not€enrolled€in€parenting€classes;€andÏshe€had€not€visited€her€sons€regularly.€€However,€by€the€time€the€juvenileÏcourt€reviewed€the€status€of€the€foster€care€plan€in€December€1994,€Judy€D.Ïhad€completed€the€detoxification€program€and€had€taken€a€parenting€class.€ÏShe€was€also€visiting€her€children€more€regularly€but€was€still€living€with€herÏmother€and€€associating€with€the€friends€who€habitually€used€chemicalÏinhalants.€€Following€the€hearing,€the€department€announced€its€intention€toÏseek€the€termination€of€Judy€D.ððs€parental€rights€with€regard€to€Jeremy€D.€andÏNathan€D.ÌÌà àIn€January€1995,€the€department€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€Judy€D.ððsÏparental€rights€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€€37„1„147(d)(1)€and€37„2„403(a)(2)€(1991).× ƒ( ××  ×€€Following€four€days€of€hearings,€the€juvenile€court€filed€aÏdetailed€memorandum€opinion€and€order€in€July€1995€finding€that€Jeremy€D.Ïand€Nathan€D.€were€dependent€and€neglected.€€It€also€found€that€Judy€D.€hadÏnot€remedied€the€conditions€that€had€caused€the€children€to€be€removed,€that€itÏwas€unlikely€that€Judy€D.€would€be€able€to€assume€parenting€responsibilities€inÏthe€near€future,€and€that€Jeremy€D.ððs€and€Nathan€D.ððs€interests€would€beÏserved€best€by€terminating€Judy€D.ððs€parental€rights.€€ÌÌà@ àò òII.ó óÌÌà àJudy€D.€asserts€that€her€parental€rights€regarding€Jeremy€D.€and€NathanÏD.€should€not€have€been€terminated€because€the€department€did€not€prove€thatÏit€had€made€reasonable€efforts€to€reunite€her€with€her€children€and€because€theÏjuvenile€court€did€not€make€specific€findings€of€fact€concerning€theÏreasonableness€of€the€departmentððs€efforts.€€While€we€agree€that€reasonableÏefforts€to€keep€the€family€together€must€be€made€before€seeking€to€terminateÏparental€rights,€we€do€not€agree€that€the€department€must€present€proofÏdetailing€the€nature€and€duration€of€these€services€or€that€the€juvenile€courtÏmust€make€specific€findings€concerning€the€adequacy€of€these€services.ÌÌà àDecisions€concerning€parental€rights€must€include€a€consideration€of€theÏdepartmentððs€efforts€to€help€a€parent€improve€his€or€her€circumstances.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(e)(2)€specifically€requires€the€consideration€ofÏð ð[w]hether€the€parent€has€failed€to€effect€a€lasting€adjustment€after€reasonableÏefforts€by€available€social€agencies€for€such€duration€of€time€that€lastingÏadjustment€does€not€reasonably€appear€possible.ðð€€This€court€has€held€that€theÏdepartment€must€€make€€reasonable€efforts€to€preserve€a€family€before€seekingÏto€terminate€parental€rights.€€òòState€v.€Amundsen,óó€App.€No.€87„100„II,€slip€op.Ïat€16€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€14,€1987)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€applicationÏfiled);€òòState€v.€Caldwellóó,€App.€No.€82„251„II,€slip€op.€at€12€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.ÏMay€18,€1983)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).ÌÌà àThe€record€contains€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€departmentÏhas€made€reasonable€efforts€to€help€Judy€D.€keep€her€family€together.€€ForÏtwelve€years€beginning€with€their€first€intervention€in€1983,€the€departmentÏhas€attempted€to€help€Judy€D.€conquer€her€addiction€to€chemical€inhalants€andÏto€develop€adequate€parenting€skills.€€It€has€made€out„patient€and€in„patientÍdrug€treatment€programs€available€to€Judy€D.€and€has€offered€her€enrollmentÏin€parenting€classes.€€It€has€provided€repeated€home€interventions€and€hasÏmade€supervised€visitation€available€to€Judy€D.€after€her€children€wereÏremoved€from€her€custody.€€The€department€should€not€bear€the€responsibilityÏfor€Judy€D.ððs€inability€to€benefit€from€these€programs.ÌÌà àIn€addition,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(f)€requires€juvenile€courts€toÏfile€written€findings€of€fact€in€termination€cases.€€These€findings€may€beÏincorporated€into€a€memorandum€opinion€or€order.€€While€they€need€notÏincorporate€the€terms€of€the€applicable€statutes€exactly,€it€is€a€better€practiceÏfor€the€findings€to€track€the€applicable€statutory€language.€€A€judgment€in€aÏtermination€case€will€not€be€set€aside€if€it€can€be€reasonably€inferred€from€theÏopinion€or€order€that€the€decision€was€based€on€the€statutory€requirements.€ÏThe€juvenile€courtððs€memorandum€opinion€and€order€tracks€the€applicableÏlanguage€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).€€It€describes€Judy€D.ððs€twelve„year€pattern€of€inhalant€abuse€and€the€departmentððs€repeated€efforts€to€assistÏher.€€Adopting€the€phraseology€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(e)(2),€theÏjuvenile€court€found€that€Judy€D.€ð ðhas€failed€to€effect€a€lasting€adjustmentÏafter€reasonable€efforts€by€available€social€agencies.ðð€€Thus,€we€find€that€theÏjuvenile€court€has€satisfied€both€the€letter€and€the€intention€of€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€37„1„147(f).ÌÌà@ àò òIII.ó óÌÌà àParents€have€a€fundamental€right€to€the€custody€and€companionship€ofÏtheir€children.€€òòNash„Putnam€v.€McCloud,óó___€S.W.2d€___,€___€(Tenn.Í1996);× ƒ) ××  ×€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Female€Child€(Bond€v.€McKenzie)óó,€896€S.W.2dÏ546,€547€(Tenn.€1995);€òòNale€v.€Robertsonóó,€871€S.W.2d€674,€678€(Tenn.Ï1994).€€Accordingly,€Tenn.€Const.€art.€I,€ðð€8€and€U.S.€Const.€amend.€XIVÏafford€parents€faced€with€the€possibility€of€losing€their€children€withÏimportant€due€process€rights.€€Specifically,€these€parents€are€entitled€to€aÏhearing€on€adequate€notice,€òòStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,€649,€92€S.€Ct.Ï1208,€1211€(1972)× ƒ+ ××  ×,€and€legal€representation€when€the€circumstances€requireÏit.€€òòLassiter€v.€Department€of€Social€Servs.óó,€452€U.S.€18,€31„32,€101€S.€Ct.Ï2153,€2162€(1981);€òòState€ex€rel.€T.H.€óó€òòv.€Minóó,€802€S.W.2d€625,€626€(Tenn.€Ct.ÏApp.€1990).× ƒ, ××  ×€ÌÌà àThe€stateððs€interest€in€protecting€children€must€be€tempered€by€aÏparent's€constitutionally€protected€privacy€interests€in€raising€his€or€herÏchildren€free€from€unwarranted€governmental€interference.€€Thus,€a€parent'sÏrights€may€be€terminated€only€when€the€continuation€of€the€relationshipÏbetween€the€parent€and€the€child€poses€a€substantial€threat€of€harm€to€the€child.€ÏòòPetrosky€v.€Keene,óó€898€S.W.2d€726,€728€(Tenn.€1995);€òòOððDaniel€v.€Messier,óóÏ905€S.W.2d€182,€186€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).€€In€order€to€warrant€terminationÏof€their€rights,€a€parent's€conduct€must€be€of€the€sort€proscribed€by€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147€(1991),€€òòTennessee€Dep't€of€Human€Servs.€v.€Rileyóó,Ï689€S.W.2d€164,€165€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984),€or€must€constitute€a€failure€toÏcomply€substantially€with€their€obligations€under€an€approved€foster€care€plan.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2);€òòState€v.€Himes,óó€App.€No.€88„54„II,€slip€op.Íat€8„9€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€July€22,€1988),€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Oct.€17,Ï1988).ÌÌà àBecause€of€the€importance€of€the€interests€at€stake€in€a€terminationÏproceeding,€due€process€also€requires€the€department€to€support€its€petition€byÏclear€and€convincing€evidence.€€òòSantosky€v.€Kramer,óó€455€U.S.€745,€747„48,Ï102€S.€Ct.€1388,€1391„92€(1982);€òòState€v.€Smith,óó€785€S.W.2d€336,€339€(Tenn.Ï1990).€€€This€heightened€standard€instructs€the€fact„finder€concerning€theÏdegree€of€confidence€that€it€must€have€in€its€conclusions€and€requires€thatÏthere€be€no€serious€doubt€concerning€the€correctness€of€the€conclusions€to€beÏdrawn€from€the€evidence.€€òòOððDaniel€v.€Messier,óó€905€S.W.2d€at€187„88.ÌÌà àAppellate€courts€review€lower€court€decisions€in€termination€cases€usingÏthe€standard€of€review€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€òòTennessee€Dep't€of€HumanÏServs.€v.€Riley,óó€689€S.W.2d€at€170.€€Thus,€in€the€absence€of€a€transcript€of€theÏproceedings€or€a€statement€of€the€evidence,€we€must€presume€that€theÏadmissible€facts€support€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision.€€òòSeeóó€òòState€v.€Harris,óóÏApp.€No.€01„A„01„9203„CV„00109,€slip€op.€at€5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€7,Ï1992),€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Dec.€21,€1992);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòCooper€v.€Rosson,Ïóó509€S.W.2d€836,€837€(Tenn.€1974)€(evidence€conclusively€presumed€toÏsupport€the€judgment€in€the€absence€of€a€transcript);€òòIrvin€v.€City€ofÏClarksville,óó€767€S.W.2d€649,€653€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988)€(an€appellate€courtÏpresumes€that€sufficient€evidence€existed€to€support€the€judgment€in€theÏabsence€of€a€transcript).× ƒ. ××  ×€€Thus,€in€the€absence€of€a€transcript€or€a€statementÍof€the€evidence,€we€must€presume€that€the€proof€provided€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€to€substantiate€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision.€ÌÌà@ àò òIV.ÌÌó óà àThe€juvenile€court€terminated€Judy€D.ððs€parental€rights€pursuant€toÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).€€This€statute€authorizes€the€termination€ofÏparental€rights€if€a€child€has€been€removed€from€a€parentððs€care€for€over€oneÏyear€and€(A)€if€the€conditions€leading€to€the€childððs€removal€continue€to€pose€aÏsubstantial€risk€of€further€harm€or€neglect,€(B)€if€little€likelihood€exists€thatÏthese€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€parent€and€theÏchild€can€be€reunited€in€the€near€future,€and€(C)€if€the€continuation€of€theÏrelationship€between€the€parent€and€the€child€greatly€diminishes€the€childððsÏchances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.€€Even€when€allÏthese€conditions€are€satisfied,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1)€requires€theÏjuvenile€court€to€find€that€terminating€the€parental€rights€is€in€the€childððs€bestÏinterests.ÌÌà àA€parentððs€noncompliance€with€his€or€her€obligations€under€a€fosterÏcare€plan€can€provide€independent€grounds€for€terminating€parental€rights.€ÏòòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2).€€Noncompliance€with€a€foster€careÏplan€is€not,€however,€a€prerequisite€to€terminating€a€parentððs€rights€pursuantÏto€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).€€Thus,€a€parentððs€efforts€to€meet€his€orÍher€obligations€under€a€foster€care€plan€are€not€controlling€in€a€terminationÏproceeding€brought€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).× ƒ/ ××  ×ÌÌà àThe€record€contains€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€support€theÏjuvenile€courtððs€conclusion€that€both€Jeremy€D.€and€Nathan€D.€would€face€aÏsubstantial€risk€of€harm€if€they€were€returned€to€their€mother.€€This€risk€wasÏbrought€about€not€only€by€the€possibility€of€Judy€D.ððs€continuing€use€ofÏchemical€inhalants€but€also€by€the€ð ðentire€constellation€of€problems€.€.€.Ïreflected€in€[her]€twelve„year€pattern€of€inhalant€abuse€and€child€neglect.ðð€€ÌÌà àJudy€D.€has€a€history€of€first€denying€and€then€concealing€her€substanceÏabuse€problems.€€She€also€has€a€thirteen„year€history€of€failed€attempts€toÏcontrol€her€substance€abuse€problem.€€She€relapsed€in€1983€after€completing€aÏdetoxification€program.€€She€relapsed€again€nine€years€later€following€theÏcompletion€of€an€in„patient€program€similar€to€the€one€she€most€recentlyÏcompleted.€€She€still€does€not€have€a€personal€support€system€in€place€that€willÏhelp€her€avoid€relapsing.€€She€admits€that€her€continuing€relationship€with€herÏmother€makes€it€difficult€for€her€to€avoid€using€inhalants,€but€her€economicÏcircumstances€require€her€to€continue€to€live€with€her€mother.€€She€alsoÏcontinues€to€associate€with€the€same€ð ðperverse€circle€of€friendsðð€who€abuseÏchemical€inhalants€and€who€encourage€her€to€do€the€same.€€Accordingly,€herÏcurrent€environment€creates€a€significant€likelihood€that€she€will€again€relapse.ÌÌà àJudy€D.€has€repeatedly€conceded€that€she€is€unable€to€supervise€or€careÏfor€her€children€when€she€is€using€intoxicants.€€Despite€her€parenting€classesÏand€counseling,€she€remains€unable€to€articulate€how€she€is€presently€betterÏequipped€to€meet€her€childrenððs€needs.€€Nor€can€she€explain€how€she€intends€toÏavoid€using€chemical€inhalants€and€to€cope€with€the€added€pressure€if€her€twoÏchildren€are€returned€to€her.€€Thus,€the€record€contains€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€supporting€the€juvenile€courtððs€conclusion€that€Judy€D.€has€notÏacquired€sufficient€skills€from€the€programs€she€has€attended€and€has€not€madeÏsufficient€adjustments€in€her€life€to€break€free€from€the€ð ðconstellation€ofÏproblemsðð€that€continue€to€threaten€the€well„being€of€her€children.€€ÌÌà àThe€juvenile€courtððs€findings€of€fact€warrant€concluding€that€Jeremy€D.Ïand€Nathan€D.€have€been€removed€from€their€motherððs€custody€for€more€thanÏone€year,€that€the€conditions€that€caused€their€removal€still€persist,€that€there€isÏlittle€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€date,€and€thatÏthe€continuation€of€Judy€D.ððs€parental€relationship€with€her€sons€will€decreaseÏtheir€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.€ÏAccordingly,€it€is€proper€to€determine€whether€terminating€Judy€D.ððs€parentalÏrights€is€in€her€sonsðð€best€interests.ÌÌà àIn€addressing€the€issue€of€the€childrenððs€best€interests,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€37„1„147(e)(3)€permits€the€consideration€of€Judy€D.ððs€past€treatment€of€allÏher€children,€and€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(e)(4)€permits€the€considerationÏof€her€history€of€substance€abuse.€€Judy€D.ððs€past€use€of€chemical€inhalants€hasÏcaused€her€to€become€incoherent€and€has€rendered€her€completely€unable€toÏcare€for€her€children.€€Her€inhalant„induced€condition€has€placed€her€childrenÏin€physical€danger€and€has€resulted€in€serious€physical€injury€to€her€oldestÍchild.€€Her€case€workers€have€observed€her€when€she€has€been€so€intoxicatedÏthat€she€was€unable€to€recognize€a€connection€between€her€own€conduct€andÏher€childrenððs€welfare.€€Judy€D.ððs€past€substance€abuse€history€coupled€withÏher€inability€to€explain€what€she€intends€to€do€differently€in€order€to€avoidÏusing€chemical€inhalants€in€the€future€indicate€that€terminating€her€parentalÏrights€will€be€in€her€childrenððs€best€interests.ÌÌà àJeremy€D.€and€Nathan€D.€have€thrived€in€foster€care.€€Their€social€skillsÏhave€improved€greatly€since€leaving€their€motherððs€custody,€and€they€are€justÏnow€beginning€to€develop€in€a€manner€appropriate€to€children€their€age.€ÏWhen€Jeremy€D.€was€first€placed€in€foster€care,€he€could€not€feed€himself,€heÏwas€still€wearing€diapers,€and€he€had€temper€tantrums.€€He€is€now€able€to€eatÏwith€utensils€and€to€dress€himself.€€He€also€shows€less€aggression€and€hasÏfewer€temper€tantrums€and€nightmares.€€Nathan€D.,€who€was€less€than€oneÏyear€old€when€placed€in€foster€care,€is€also€developing€normally.ÌÌà àBecause€foster€care€does€not€provide€children€with€a€permanent,€stableÏenvironment,€adoption€may€provide€Jeremy€D.€and€Nathan€D.€with€their€bestÏchance€to€become€integrated€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.€€The€fact€thatÏyounger€children€have€a€better€chance€to€be€adopted€suggests€that€her€sonsððÏinterests€will€be€best€served€by€terminating€her€parental€rights€now.€€TheseÏconsiderations,€coupled€with€Judy€D.ððs€inability€to€break€free€from€theÏenvironment€that€has€led€to€her€substance€abuse€problems,€support€the€juvenileÏcourtððs€decision€to€terminate€her€parental€rights€with€regard€to€Jeremy€D.€andÏNathan€D.ÌÌà@ àò òV.ó óÌÌà àWe€have€determined€that€the€record€contains€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€supporting€the€juvenile€courtððs€decision€to€terminate€Judy€D.ððsÏparental€rights€with€regard€to€her€two€youngest€sons€in€accordance€with€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1).€€Accordingly,€we€affirm€the€judgmentÏterminating€Judy€D.ððs€parental€rights€with€regard€to€Jeremy€D.€and€Nathan€D.,Ïand€we€remand€the€case€to€the€juvenile€court€for€whatever€other€proceedingsÏmay€be€required.€€The€costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€TennesseeÏDepartment€of€Human€Services.ÌÓÓÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌ________________________________ÌSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGE€ÌÌ________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGE€Ô% € ÔÑ7€Ç¼¼d¼¼d7Ñ