WPC' H# UN  %Y 0 4_ 0bFw@N4 0D AQjNN ^  m 1 0cf 0w 0@ 0 0j 0 0 0 1m B9 0D 0@C 0D D/ B D3 0JF 0T 0^ 0hB 0r 0| 0 0 1u 0d#U>B)DC AM1U*~FE v~N v!HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh'"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular( U$  (c(2a$ U!   XXX `   0  - - [EeӀ_#-3|x(#$  0  !"#%&C<< Cstate v. austin - opinion % '  0 .   $UhCEIMQUY]aAutoList1i)1)a)(;s$22,  0  .3  0  (O{$0  22,  a  .3  0` (#(#(b$0  0` (#(#22,   .3  0 ` (#` (#(x$0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#22,(  0  )3  0 (# (#($0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#22,(  a  )3  0h(#(#($0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#22,(   )3  0h(#h(#(4$0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#22,  0  )3  0(#(#($0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(#22,  a  )3  0p(#(##2,37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a) dLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ("$    ($$   1  ''' dxdP Pd'dxd2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23  ,-./0123 ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d====7Border 1dd!#>C << G<  9p`(Arial < !  #d#<<   ""  @@   YYY FILED@XMay20,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk    !#d#<<   $   X <X       __M.W.A._,Jr.wasbornonJuly23,1991;_C.D.A._ԀwasbornonSeptember7,1992;_P.C.A._ԀwasbornonOctober11,1993;and_K.M.A._ԀwasbornonOctober14,1994.  !#d#<<   $   X <X       _A.K.A.wasbornonMay10,1996.  !#d#<<   $   X <X       _TheDepartmentprovedthat_M.W.A._,Sr.hadgivenA.M.ablackeyeandthatboth_M.W.A._,Sr.and_J.R.A._Ԁhadostracizedhimfromtherestofthefamily. ; !#d#<<   $   X <X       _Severechildabusemayconsistofspecificactsofbrutality,abuse,orneglect,seeTenn.CodeAnn.371102(b)(21)(B)(1996),ortheknowingexposureofachildortheknowingfailuretoprotectachildfromabuseorneglectthatislikelytocausegreatbodilyharm.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.371102(b)(21)(A).PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ion-F Geneva  ion-F Geneva ! . <<     X   \RA'\_7dd7    < !ٜR?A>A1-j|`  `@Rߛ@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ ATNASHVILLE <       )       ) DavidsonJuvenileNos.INTHEMATTEROF:    ) 961926026,961926024,_M.W.A._,JR.,_C.D.A._,_P.C.A._,   ) 961926025,961916537,_K.M.A._,andA.K.A.,    ) 961926027       ) Childrenunder18yearsofage.0 ) AppealNo.       ) 01A019709JV00530       )@ APPEALFROMTHEJUVENILECOURTFORDAVIDSONCOUNTY@ ATNASHVILLE,TENNESSEE@ THEHONORABLEANDREWJ._SHOOKHOFF_,JUDGEForPlaintiff/Appellee:    ForDefendants/Appellants:JohnKnox_Walkup_    RonaldL.StoneAttorneyGeneralandReporter   Nashville,TennesseeDouglasEarl_Dimond_AssistantAttorneyGeneral< @ AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED <       WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE    < @ OPINION < Thisappealinvolvestheterminationoftheparentalrightsoftheparentsoffivechildrenbetweentwoandsevenyearsofage.Afterayearofinhomeinterventionfailedtocorrecttheparentsseriousparentingdeficiencies,theTennesseeDepartmentofChildrensServicesfiledapetitioninDavidsonCountyJuvenileCourtseekingtoterminateboththemothersandthefathersparentalrights.Threepaternalrelativesintervenedintheproceedingseekingcustodyofthechildren.Followingabenchtrial,thejuvenilecourtterminatedtheparentsparentalrightsandgrantedpermanentcustodyofthechildrentotheDepartmentratherthantotheirpaternalrelatives.Onthisappeal,theparentsandtheirrelativesassertthattheDepartmentfailedtoprovegroundsforterminationbyclearandconvincingevidenceandthatthetrialcourterredinfindingthatplacementofthechildrenwiththeirrelativeswouldnotbeintheirbestinterests.WeaffirmthejudgmentterminatingtheparentsparentalrightsandplacingthechildrenintheDepartmentscustody.@ I.  Inlate1995,_J.R.A._Ԁandherhusband_M.W.A._,Sr.livedinNashvillewiththeirfourchildrenandanotherolderchildof_J.R.A._srelationshipwithanotherman.Theoldestchild,A.M.,was12yearsoldandthefouryoungerchildrenwerebetweentheagesofoneandfour._ B   _ԀTheDepartmentofChildrensServicesbecameinvolvedwiththefamilyafterreceivingreportsthat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.werephysicallyabusingA.M.TheDepartmentcontinuedtoprovideservicestotheparentsthroughmid1996whentheirfifthchild,A.K.A.,wasborn. C    Duringthistime,thefamilywaslivinginabjectpovertyinconditionsdescribedbytheircasemanagerastheworstshehadeverseen.Thefamilylivedinsubstandardhousingandslepttogetherintheonlyroomwithheat._M.W.A._,Sr.slept  d   onthecouchand_J.R.A._Ԁandthechildrensleptonthefloor.Both_M.W.A._,Sr.and_J.R.A._Ԁcomefromabusivefamilies.Theyhavelittleeducationandborderlineintellectualfunctioning.Theirchildrensufferfromseveredevelopmentaldelays.AtthetimeoftheDepartmentsfirstintervention,thethreeolderboyshadnotdevelopedanyverbalskillsandcommunicatedbyhandgesturesandsinglesyllables._K.M.A._Ԁhadnotyetlearnedtowalk. InJune1996,theDepartmentpetitionedtheDavidsonCountyJuvenileCourtallegingthatallsixofthechildrenweredependentandneglected.TheDepartmentrequestedthejuvenilecourttoremoveA.M.fromthehomebecauseofseverephysicalandpsychologicalabuse._ D   _ԀThejuvenilecourtrefereeremovedA.M.fromthehome,andhewaslaterplacedwithhisauntanduncle.Therefereealsofoundthat_M.W.A._,Jr.,_C.D.A._,_P.C.A._,and_K.M.A._Ԁweredependentneglectedandabused,andthatA.K.A.wasdependentneglected.However,therefereepermittedthechildrentoremaininthehomeaslongas_M.W.A._,Sr.and_J.R.A._Ԁmadeprogressinimprovingtheirparentingskills,continuedtocooperatewithinhomeservices,andcompliedwiththeothertermscontainedinthecourtsorder. Thefamilycontinuedtoreceiveassistancefromfourdifferentagencies,includingtenhoursofinhomeinterventioneachweektoimproveparentingskills,transportation,visitsbytheHUGSnurse,psychologicalevaluations,and_WIC_Ԁnutritionalhelp.However,justtwoweeksafterA.M.sremovalfromthehome,adaycareworkerobserved_J.R.A._Ԁbeatingherchildrenabouttheirheadsandbodieswithawoodenbranchwhileshecursedandscreamedatthem.OnJune28,1996,therefereegrantedtheDepartmentspetitionfortemporarycustodyandemergencyremovaloftheremainingchildren.Allofthechildrenwereplacedinthecustodyofafosterfamily,andtheDepartmentdevelopedaplanofcarewithagoalofreunificationforthefamily. Afterthreemonths,therefereereviewedthecaseandfoundthatthechildrenwereimprovinginfostercarebutthatJ.R.A.andM.W.A.,Sr.hadnotyetacquiredthenecessaryparentingskillsandknowledgetocareforthechildren.Inthenextreview,therefereenotedthattheparentshadmadesomeprogressinlearningtonurture,tointeract,andtoreactlessaggressively,andhadmovedintoaclean,wellfurnishedhome.However,onecaseworkerconcludedthattheparentsstillhadalottolearnandthatthenumberofchildrenandtheirhighlevelofactivityposedacontinuedproblemfortheparents.Theothercaseworkerrecommendedadoptionafterconcludingthatitwasdoubtfulthat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.couldeverlearntheskillsnecessarytocareforallfivechildren. OnFebruary21,1997,T.G.,thechildrenspaternalaunt,filedapetitionfortemporarycustodyofthetwoyoungestboys,_P.C.A._ԀandA.K.A.OnFebruary26,1997,theDepartmentpetitionedtoterminate_J.R.A._sand_M.W.A._,Sr.sparentalrightsbecauseofseverechildabuse[Tenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(4)(1996)]andpersistenceofconditionsthatcausedtheinitialremoval[Tenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A)(1996)].OnApril1,1997,P.A.,thechildrensuncle,filedapetitionseekingtemporarycustodyof_K.M.A._,andC.A.,thechildrensgrandmother,filedapetitionfortemporarycustodyof_M.W.A._,Jr.and_C.D.A._Ԁ Followingafivedaytrial,thejuvenilejudgeterminated_J.R.A._sand_M.W.A._,Sr.sparentalrightsbecausetheyremainedunableto perceiveandrespondtothedepthofthechildrensproblemsandwereunwillingto recognizeandacknowledgetheirownabusiveandneglectfulbehaviors.Thejudgefoundthattheoverwhelmingcredibletestimonyestablishedthatthechildrenhadbeenabusedandneglectedandthat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.weresimplynotcompetenttoraisethem.Thejudgealsodeclinedtoplaceanyofthechildrenwiththeirpaternalrelativesbecauseof(1)therelativesfailuretocomeforwardwhenthechildrenwerefirstremoved,(2)concernsabouttheenvironmentsintherelativeshomesandtheirstatedintentiontoreturnthechildrento_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.,(3)hesitancytosplitupthechildrenbyplacingtheminthreeseparatehomes,and(4)thecloserelationshipbetweenthechildrenandtheirfosterparents._J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.andtheirrelativestakeissuewithbothofthejuvenilecourtsconclusions.      @ II.  Becausethedecisiontoterminateparentalrightsinvolvesfundamentalconstitutionalrights,see_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2d182,186(Tenn.Ct.App.1995),thecourtsmustfindthattheDepartmenthasestablishedby clearandconvincingevidencethestatutorygroundsrequiredtoterminatetheparentsparentalrights.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(1)(1996);StateDept.ofHuman_Servs_.v._Defriece_,937S.W.2d954,960(Tenn.Ct.App.1996).Thisheightenedstandardofreviewservestopreventtheunwarrantedterminationorinterferencewiththebiologicalparentsrightstotheirchildren. Parentalrightscanbeterminatedinonlyalimitednumberofstatutorilydefinedcircumstancesandthen,onlyifacourtdeterminesthatterminationisinthechildsbestinterests.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(2)(1996).Parentalrightsmaybeterminatedonlywhencontinuingtheparentchildrelationshipposesasubstantialthreatofharmtothechild.See_Petrosky_Ԁv.Keene,898S.W.2d726,728(Tenn.1995).Aspertinentinthiscase,Tenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A)(1996)allowstheterminationofparentalrightsif(1)thechildhasbeenremovedfromthehomeoftheparentbycourtorderforsixmonthsand(2)theconditionswhichledtotheremovalorothersimilarconditionsstillpersist,areunlikelytoberemediedinthenearfuture,andthecontinuationoftheparentchildrelationshipgreatlydiminishesthechildschancesofearlyintegrationintoastableandpermanenthome.Inaddition,Tenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(4)(1996)providesthatseverechildabuseagainstthechildwhoisthesubjectofthepetitionoragainstthechildssiblingorhalfsiblingisgroundsforterminationofparentalrights. ThejuvenilejudgefoundthattheDepartmentestablishedbyclearandconvincingevidencetwogroundsforterminating_J.R.A._sand_M.W.A._,Sr.sparentalrights!persistenceofconditionsandsevereabuseofA.M.Weagree.TheevidencepresentedtothejuvenilejudgeoverwhelminglyshowsthatA.M.wasabusedandthathisremovalfromthehome,aswellastheremovaloftheotherchildren,wasproper.@ A. @  EvidenceofAbuse  Therecordcontainstwofindingsthat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.abusedA.M.TherefereemadetheinitialfindingwhenA.M.wasfirstremovedfromthehome,andthejuvenilejudgemadethesecondfindingwhenheconcurredwiththerefereesfindingsfollowinganevidentiaryhearing.Therewastestimonyatbothhearingsthat(1)bothparentshadostracizedA.M.byforcing_him_Ԁtotakehismealsaloneawayfromthefamilyand(2)specificactsofabusewereperpetratedby_M.W.A._,Sr.,includinggivingA.M.ablackeye,danglinghimfromasecondstorybalcony,throwinghimintotheairandlettinghimfalltotheground,placinghimonthehothoodofacar,pickingoffhisscabsandpouringalcoholinthewounds,andthreateninghisgenitalswithwirepliers. Therecordalsocontainsevidenceofabuseoftheotherchildren.TwoweeksafterA.M.wasremovedfromthehome,adaycareworkerobserved_J.R.A._Ԁbeatingthechildrenwithastickwhileshecursedandscreamedatthem.Basedonthisevidence,wefindthattheDepartmenthasprovedclearlyandconvincinglythat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.haveabusedtheirchildreninviolationofTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(4). E   @ B. @  PersistentConditions  Thejuvenilejudgealsoconcludedthat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr. arenotnow,andwillnotintheforeseeablefuture,beabletoadequatelyparentallfivechildrenontheirown.Whenthechildrenwerefirstremovedfromtheirparentshome,theywereseverelydevelopmentallydelayedandpracticallyunmanageable.Thechildrenhadnotachievedanyoftheappropriatedevelopmentalmilestonesbecauseoftheirparentsneglect,andtheirfailuretothrivewasstartlingtoeventhemostexperiencedcaseworkers. Bothserviceproviderswhoevaluated_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.concludedthattheylackedtheparentingskillsnecessarytoprovideallfivechildrenwithasafe,nurturingenvironment.Althoughtheparentshaveimprovedtheirlivingconditionswithaclean,wellfurnishedhome,theyhavenotdemonstratedthattheirparentingskillshaveimprovedorwilllikelyimproveinthenearfutureevenwithadditionalsupport.Eventhecasemanagerwhowasmostfavorabletotheparentsconcludedthat,atbest,theymightbeabletoparentoneortwooftheirchildreninthefutureiftheirparentingskillsimproved. Theparentslackofprogressinimprovingtheirparentingabilitiesisexacerbatedbytheirsteadfastrefusaltorecognizetheirownshortcomings.Theycontinuetoinsistondownplayingtheirchildrenslackoflanguageskillsbysayingthattheyaresimplydevelopingalanguageoftheirown.Theyalsocontinuetoinsistthattheyarepresentlyabletocareforallfivechildrenandthatthechildrenshouldneverhavebeenremovedfromtheirhomeinthefirstplace. Thechildrenhavethrivedintheirfosterhomeandnowhaveanopportunitytotimelyintegrateintoastable,healthyenvironment.Becausethereisnoevidencethat_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.havecorrectedtheconditionsthatledtothechildrensremovalorthattheyhavetheabilitytodosointhenearfuture,wehavedeterminedthatterminationoftheirparentalrightsissupportedbyclearandconvincingevidenceofpersistentconditions.@ III.  Thejuvenilejudgealsodeterminedthatplacingthechildrenwiththeirpaternalrelatives,ratherthanwiththeirfosterfamily,wouldnotbeinthechildrensbestinterests.Weagreeforthreereasons.First,therelativesignoredtheseriousparentingdeficitsof_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.,asevidencedbytheirfailuretointerveneatthetimeofremovalandtheirstateddesiretoreturnthechildrentotheirparents.Second,placingthechildrenwiththeirrelativeswouldrequiresendingthemtothreedifferenthomes,oneofwhichislocatedoutofstate.Third,theevidencealsocallsintoquestionthefitnessoftherelativeshomes.BoththepaternalgrandmotherandthepaternalunclehavealreadyhadproblemswiththeDepartmentrelatingtothecareoftheirownchildren.Thepaternalauntandherhusbandinitiallyindicatedthattheyhadtheirhandsfullraisingfivechildrenoftheirown.Mostimportantly,alloftherelativestestifiedthatitwastheirplantokeepthechildrentemporarilyuntiltheycouldbereturnedto_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.Basedonourreviewoftherecord,weconcurwiththejuvenilejudgesconclusionthattherecordcontainsclearandconvincingevidencethatthechildrensinterestswillbeservedbestbypermittingthemtoremainwiththeirpresentfosterfamilyinsteadofwiththeirpaternalrelatives.@ IV.  Weaffirmthejudgmentterminatingtheparentalrightsof_J.R.A._Ԁand_M.W.A._,Sr.andremandthecasetothejuvenilecourtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired.WetaxthecostsofthisappealtotheTennesseeDepartmentofChildrensServices.       ______________________________       WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGECONCUR:___________________________________HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGEMIDDLESECTION___________________________________BENH._CANTRELL_,JUDGE