ÿWPC} Öwt ˜÷Ö™7`J§­€ ;q5€ã}ßú(ÎŽõX} díü]NAIÖó³ëÚ¨ù*´–.ô~”„ Ie \¿(Ç3®¸˜ ™ã›o»‡1àÕK–¾~⬙w &ñkñ;°gã²?FN©²_ä®û]«)V…lâ¯vl£±îü;¤ÛËðUF„dº2³Ð"Xè_ÊzJ÷cÍ\ºá8v'¼)ýh'Y<{,¯Ÿl· ­=Ÿ³j[·ÅR·hÕ”¯ˆ£Ÿ)0´ÜDi,sƒÇN‰_³ Ö ¨/¡­ì»[±qØ;ùDz[µ]ûÆÛ|Î_ò@\ÌDß…ªr'ä£(É;¥n+]¥ƒî]¢|»a!ÇЗŠÜòâ¨:abùGÀ­³Æg¡+`6ä%¤X˜CPÁ»XßVÖf!b†oVâ S®¥ÖQ Ò÷ƒ¯¿ÙÐÕÂ\æ}Cm º.ñ¾f¸¹ØnE1¸Is˜ª-™Q“·_—l#AßÆö² ƒMª.äaZžÏWçñL±h½øøÒá¦úYÔå$uôë5¯Þ|¸§õ@AÎ9yõðŽ¶È5â×p,¹Ys¦¼rs= ‡€(!;.U-ÙU-Pü~ÏcrÎOámš/# ’UN %ë 0ûñUNìwš:4Ôèf÷÷ 0?] 0Dœ xà à XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX B`˜HP LaserJet 4HPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0vL(Ò(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓŒ $¡¡Ñ7€1dX»d»Xdð7ÑÑ  ÑÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼±g¼»I»ÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ(¶ÍY Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular—˜™š›œEžŸ D¡¢D£¤D¥¦§¨E©DªU«¬­U®¯U©`â&3|x¯ \Ñ\R AØ'ÿ Legal\Ñ(ï(35/$¤¤Ý ƒŒ !ÝÑ7€L¯XXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼·¼XXÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó nÝ ƒ 5/$ÝÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼·¼XXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡XL¯X¼¼·ÔKen€Colbertson,€a€Home€Ties€supervisor,€led€a€project€to€get€a€water€line€put€in€andÐ ° Ðlater€helped€acquire€a€newer€trailer,€pictured€in€the€record.€€€Caseworker€Nancy€PrestonÏtestified€that€after€this€second€trailer€was€put€in€place,€it€never€again€resembled€the€firstÏpicture;€the€yard€was€always€full€of€debris€(beer€cans,€old€shoes,€metal).€€Later€pictures€in€theÏrecord€confirm€her€testimony;€the€new€trailer€soon€looked€like€its€predecessor. dÝ ƒŒ !ÝÑ7€L¯XXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼·¼XXÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ý›Ñ  ÑÓÓÔ€¼ý:¼¼¼·ÔÑ7€L¯»XdðXXdð7Ñò òòòÓ  ÓÑ€ †ÑIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓiÓÌó óóóÓÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à À àà  àà p à)Ð  T ÐDEPT.€OF€CHILDRENððS€SERVICESà p à)à È àANDERSON€JUVENILEÐ  d Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àÐ $ t Ðà ` àRespondent/Appellee,à À àà  àà p à)Ð 4„  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àNO.€œ03A01›„9805„JV„00164Ð D”  Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð T¤  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àHON.€€PAT€HESSÐ d´  ÐMURDIS€(œnmn›)€PHILLIPS€andà  àà p à)à È àJUDGEÐ tÄ  ÐLORETTA€COOK€PHILLIPS,à À àà  àà p à)Ð „Ô Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àPetitioners/Appellants,à À àà  àà p à)Ð ¤ô Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð Ä Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àCurtis€Lee€Phillips,€dob€9/30/90à p à)Ð ä4 Ðà ` àEmma€Jay€Phillips,€dob€10/03/94à p à)à È àAFFIRMEDÐ ôD ÐChildren€Under€Eighteen€Years€of€Ageà p à)Ð T ÐÌÌÌò òòòà@!!(ÌàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óˆÐ D ” ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àINMAN,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà ` àœMurdis›€Phillips€and€Loretta€Cook€œPhillips›€appeal€from€an€order€of€theÏAnderson€County€Juvenile€Court€terminating€their€parental€rights€to€their€twoÏchildren,€Curtis€Lee€Phillips€(DOB€9/30/90)€and€Emma€Jay€Phillips€(DOBÏ10/03/94).€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ìà@‚‚-Ìàò òI.ó óˆÐ -R(& Ðà ` àOur€standard€of€review€is€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(c),€which€providesÏthatÓÓ€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€must€be€based€upon:Ìà8 ` àÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` à(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€theÏgrounds€for€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€have€beenÏestablished;€andÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€rights€is€in€the€bestÏinterests€of€the€child.Ð ` 8"` 8" Ðâ âÐ ¾952Í ÐÓÓà ` àœThe›€œtermination€grounds›€which€the€trial€court€found€the€State€had€establishedÏâ âby€clear€and€convincing€evidence€are€œset›€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3):ÌÓÓà8 ` àà ¸ à(3)€(A)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parentÏor€guardian€by€order€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€months€and:Ð ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àà  à(I)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€orÏother€conditions€which€in€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€theÏchild€to€be€subjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,€therefore,Ïprevent€the€childððs€safe€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€orÏguardian(s)€still€persist;Ð ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àà  àÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àà  à(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€be€safely€returned€to€theÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€the€near€future;€andÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àà  àÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àà  à(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€and€childÏrelationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€early€integrationÏinto€a€safe,€stable€and€permanent€home.Ð ` 8"` 8" ÐÌà@žž)Ìàò òII.€€FACTSˆÐ P ÐÌÓÓó óà ` àThe€circumstances€surrounding€œthe›€removal€of€the€children€from€the€care€ofÐ l Ðtheir€parents€are€described€in€the€report€of€Jerry€George,€Social€Counselor,€datedÏApril€30,€œ1996,›€which€reveals€that€DHS€first€became€involved€with€this€family€onÏOctober€1,€1990,€the€day€after€Curtis,€the€older€child,€was€born.€€The€initial€concernsÏwere€about€the€parentsðð€abilities€to€provide€adequate€care€for€a€baby€due€to€theÏmotherððs€mental€retardation€and€the€father€being€ð ðbrain„damaged.ðð€€DHS€reopenedÏa€Child€Protective€Services€case€on€March€3,€1994,€following€the€birth€of€Emma.€ÏAgain€the€concern€was€the€parentsðð€abilities€to€care€for€a€newborn.€€œThe€conditionsÏin€which€Curtis€and€Emma€lived€until€March€1996,›€when€œthey›€œwere›€removed€fromÏthe€œhome,›€are€best€portrayed€by€œphotographs›€contained€in€the€record.Ìà ` àDHS€and€other€social€service€agencies€made€numerous€attempts€to€help€œthese›Ïœparents›€remedy€their€dangerous€living€œconditions€and€parental€shortcomings›€beforeÏremoving€the€children€from€the€custody€of€the€parents.€€Services€provided€to€theÏfamily€included€homemaker,€Child€Health€and€Development,€and€House€Calls€HomeÐ ¼8 41 ÐHealth€Services.€€€Home€visits€by€these€agency€representatives€œresulted€in›€continuedÏconcern€for€the€childrenððs€care€due€to€the€parentsðð€limitations€and€œthe€condition›€ofÏthe€home.€€€Caseworkers€œinitially€recognized›€the€parentsðð€ð ðlove€for€their€children€andÏthe€close€bonding€of€Curtis€to€his€father€and€Emma€to€her€mother,ðð€but€Mr.€PhillipsððÏbehavior€complicated€the€task€and,€as€discussions€were€held€about€the€risk€of€stateÏcustody,€he€made€comments€about€having€guns€in€his€house€and€that€he€would€notÏlet€anyone€tear€his€family€apart.Ìà ` àThe€home€condition€deteriorated,€yet€Mr.€Phillips€refused€further€services.ÏWhen€Home€Ties€last€visited,€ð ð€.€.€.€the€majority€of€the€trailer€was€without€electricityÏ.€.€.€plumbing€was€clogged€up€severely€and€insulation€was€found€throughout€theÏtrailer€floor€.€.€.€old€food€on€the€floor,€dog€feces,€dogs€with€mange€in€the€trailer€.€.€.Ïsoot€covered€the€floors,€cabinets,€clothes,€furniture,€appliances,€windows€.€.€.€bathtubÏhalf€full€of€black€water€due€to€being€clogged.ðð€œ×ƒ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  כР0€ Ðà ` àThe€children€were€placed€in€foster€care€on€March€27,€1996,€where€theyÏremained€until€the€time€of€trial.Ìà ` àœThe€termination€hearing›€was€held€in€Anderson€County€Juvenile€Court€onÏJanuary€20,€1998,€at€which€œtime€caseworkers›€from€œa€number›€of€agencies€testified€œasÏto›€their€efforts,€after€the€children€were€removed€from€the€home,€to€œteach›€the€parentsÏœthe›€parenting€skills€necessary€for€the€return€of€the€children€to€their€home.Ìà ` àòòJudy€OððSucha,óó€agency€case€manager€at€Emory€Valley€Center€in€Oak€Ridge,Ð -`(& Ðtestified€that€the€center€is€a€facility€for€mentally€handicapped€adults€and€a€shelteredÏœworkshop.›€€œMrs.›€Phillips€was€assigned€to€her€in€1989€for€three€months€and€again€onÏJuly€1,€1996.€€€During€the€1989€assignment,€Mrs.€Phillips€made€no€progress.€€Ð p3À., ÐDuring€the€1996€assignment,€the€goal€was€to€teach€her€œ(1)€simple›€housekeepingÏskills,€such€as€which€grocery€items€must€be€refrigerated,€œ(2)€how›€to€tell€time,€œ(3)€her›Ïaddress€(in€case€she€called€911€and€needed€to€give€it),€and€œ(4)€some›€basic€cookingÏskills.€€The€Center€employees€tried€from€July€1996€until€July€1997€to€teach€theseÏfour€skills€to€Mrs.€Phillips,€yet€she€was€only€occasionally€able€to€accomplish€partsÏof€the€first€task,€and€was€never€able€to€do€the€other€three.€€Ms.€OððSucha€concludedÏthat€Mrs.€Phillips€had€some€minor€ability€to€care€for€herself,€such€as€getting€herselfÏdressed€and€eating,€but€ð ðI€donððt€think€that€she€can€do€much€beyond€that.ðð€€She€wasÏnever€able€to€move€beyond€constant€supervision,€and€she€was€discharged€œowing€to›Ïvery€erratic€attendance.Ìà ` àòòSharon€Strattonóó€is€a€Village€Coordinator€for€Ridgeview€Psychiatric€HospitalÐ ð@ Ðand€Center€in€Oak€Ridge,€an€adult€day€treatment€program€for€persons€suffering€fromÏmental€illnesses.€€She€testified€that€the€Center€teaches€coping€skills,€problemÏsolving,€anger€management,€stress€management,€gender€issues,€personal€hygiene€andÏgrooming,€crafts€and€social€integration„type€activities€such€as€bowling.€€€The€DHSÏreferred€Mr.€Phillips€to€the€Center,€and€he€came€voluntarily€for€four€to€six€weeks€asÏa€œð ðvisitor,ðð›€then€was€evaluated€and€admitted€to€the€program.€€Goals€for€his€five€daysÏper€week€program€included€providing€structure,€limit€setting€for€inappropriateÏbehaviors,€hygiene€issues€and€coping€skills.€€€He€was€anxious,€did€not€trust€others,Ïand€had€difficulty€forming€bonds€with€others.€€œHe›€had€difficulty€interacting€withÏothers,€so€case€workers€went€out€in€the€community€with€him€and€worked€with€himÏto€cue€him€when€he€was€acting€inappropriately.€€He€had€a€blaming€system,€describedÏas€ð ða€broken€œrecord,ðð›€in€which€he€repeatedly€complained€that€the€government€tookÏhis€children€away€because€they€didnððt€want€to€see€him€do€well.€€€He€also€saw€himselfÏas€a€care€giver€for€his€wife€and€was€always€interested€in€learning€ways€to€help€her.€Ï€When€he€described€thoughts€ð ðracing€in€his€head,ðð€the€programððs€medical€doctorÐ Ð9 52 Ðrecommended€medication,€which€Mr.€Phillips€would€not€accept€until€the€caseÏworker€ð ðworked€with€him€a€very€long€time€[six€months]€.€.€.€and€he€finally€came€inÏone€day€and€agreed€he€needed€it.ðð€€€After€he€accepted€medication,€his€focus€shiftedÏaway€from€obsessive€thoughts€about€his€children,€and€he€was€able€to€maintainÏconversation€with€peers€and€staff€about€other€things.€€€He€learned€hygiene,€basicÏcooking€and€cleaning€skills.€€Gradually€he€was€ð ðstepped€downðð€from€a€five€day€perÏweek€program€to€one€day€per€week,€and€at€the€time€of€trial,€Ms.€Stratton€felt€heÏcould€perform€daily€living€skills€on€a€regular€œbasis,›€so€they€probably€had€done€allÏœthey›€could€do€for€him.€€€€She€was€not€able€to€express€an€opinion€as€to€whether€theÏchildren€should€be€returned€to€Mr.€Phillips;€ð ðI€donððt€know.€€Iððve€never€seen€theÏchildren.€€Iððve€never€seen€him€in€a€situation€with€children.€€I€could€not€really€answerÏthat.ððÌà ` àòòPam€McNish,óó€òòPh.D.,€óócounseling€psychologist,€testified€that€she€evaluatedÐ 0€ ÐLoretta€and€Murdis€Phillips€in€April€1996.€€She€conducted€a€clinical€interview€withÏLoretta€Phillips€and€administered€assessments€including€the€house€tree€person,Ïkinetic€family€drawing,€incomplete€sentence€blank€and€part€of€the€Wechsler€AdultÏIntelligence€Scale.€€€She€found€Loretta€to€be€mildly€mentally€retarded,€indicating€thatÏshe€is€fairly€limited€in€her€ability€to€function.€€Her€performance€was€very€childlikeÏand€her€parenting€abilities€were€very€restricted.€€Although€she€had€really€goodÏintentions,€she€just€wasn't€able€to€perform€or€to€understand€what€was€needed€to€beÏa€good€parent.€€€Loretta€was€not€capable€of€the€level€of€communication€required€forÏDr.€McNish€to€discuss€her€son's€development.€€€She€indicated,€for€instance,€that€sheÏwould€know€if€Curtis,€who€was€five€years€old,€was€sick€because€he€would€tell€her;€Ïshe€would€know€that€Curtis€was€hungry€because€he€would€go€to€the€kitchen€all€theÏtime;€she€would€give€œEmma,›€then€two€years€old,€milk€or€Coke€or€Sprite€if€she€wasÏcrying.€€Loretta€seemed€only€to€understand€that€a€mother€should€cook€for€herÐ Ð9 52 Ðchildren€and€give€them€a€bath.€€Dr.€McNish€opined€that€Loretta€did€not€appear€to€beÏable€to€adequately€parent€the€children€at€that€time.Ìà ` àDr.€McNish€also€conducted€a€clinical€interview€of€Murdis€and€performedÏtesting€including€house€tree€person,€kinetic€family€drawings€and€incompleteÏsentence€form.€€She€opined€that€Murdis€displayed€some€symptoms€of€schizophrenia;Ïhe€talked€about€voices€that€he€heard€and€displayed€listening€associations.€€WhenÏtalking€about€his€two€children,€he€was€very€much€focused€on€Curtis€and€seemedÏunaware€of€œEmma's›€needs€and€at€times€even€unaware€of€her€existence.€€€HeÏexpressed€pleasure€at€having€tricked€a€social€worker€into€thinking€he€had€beenÏgiving€Curtis€his€medicine,€when€indeed€he€had€not€been€doing€so.€€His€parentingÏwas€also€very€limited;€he€did€not€seem€to€be€aware€of€what€children€need€and€reliedÏon€Curtis€for€information€on€his€needs.€€Dr.€McNish€opined€that€at€the€time€of€theÏevaluation,€Murdis€did€not€seem€to€be€competent€to€parent€his€children.Ìà ` àòòBruce€McCoy,óó€òòPh.D.,óó€a€psychotherapist€working€in€therapeutic€foster€careÐ P   Ðprograms€with€DHS,€described€an€adequate€physical€environment€for€a€child€asÏbeing€safe,€with€food€and€housing,€clothing,€a€certain€minimum€emotionalÏenvironment,€and€the€parents'€ability€to€communicate€with€the€child€and€toÏunderstand€the€basics€of€developmental€stages€and€milestones.€€The€parent€needs€toÏbe€able€to€maintain€behavioral€control€of€the€child€and€to€provide€structure,€adequateÏlearning,€and€family€scheduling.€€The€œparent›€must€be€able€to€communicate€with€theÏchild€and€to€go€beyond€their€own€personal€needs€in€a€way€that€allows€them€to€see€theÏchild's€needs.Ìà ` àDr.€McCoy€testified€that€he€attempted€to€teach€parenting€skills€to€Loretta€andÏMurdis€Phillips€in€March€and€April€of€1997€but€that€he€"wasn't€able€to€make€contactÏ.€.€.€Mrs.€Phillips€didn't€really€talk€a€lot€and€didn't€participate.€€Mr.€Phillips,€I€wasÏunable€to€get€him€to€focus€on€any€kind€of€personal€accountability.€€He€stayed€totallyÐ Ð9 52 Ðfocused€on€the€idea€that€he€had€been€mistreated,€that€it€was€an€adversarial€thingÏhappening€between€him€and€the€state€or€the€system."€€€He€opined€that€Murdis€did€notÏdemonstrate€any€progress€at€all€during€the€time€he€was€being€seen.€€Ìà ` àòòMs.€Nancy€Jo€Preston,óó€foster€care€worker€for€DHS,€testified€that€she€assumedÐ  ` Ðresponsibility€for€the€case€when€the€children€were€placed€in€foster€œcare€in€JanuaryÏof€1996.€€Her€review€of€€DHS€records€indicated€that€there€had€been€at€least€22Ïreferrals€about€the€family€between€October€1990€and€January€1996.€€€HomemakersÏhad€tried€to€teach€the€parents€how€to€wash€their€clothing€and€bathe,€but€the€trailerÏdid€not€have€running€water.€€€The€children€did€not€have€access€to€soap,€toothpasteÏor€washcloths.€€€When€Curtis€enrolled€in€Head€Start,€the€other€children€would€haveÏnothing€to€do€with€him€because€he€was€not€clean€and€smelled€bad.€€Ìà ` àMs.€Preston€testified€that€on€the€day€the€children€were€brought€to€foster€care,ÏEmma€was€found€sitting€in€either€feces€or€old,€dried€out,€rotten€foot.€€She€wasÏwearing€an€oversized€t„shirt€that€was€so€filthy€they€couldn't€tell€what€color€it€was.€ÏHer€hair€appeared€to€be€dark€brown,€but€they€later€found€out€that€it€was€actually€veryÏlight€blond.€€They€took€her€to€a€doctor,€who€refused€to€touch€her€because€of€howÏdirty€she€was.€€€Curtis€was€wearing€a€filthy€jacket,€a€pair€of€too„large€pants€with€aÏvery€large€rip€in€the€rear€end€and€tennis€shoes€with€holes€in€the€soles€so€large€thatÏhe€was€actually€walking€on€bare€feet.€€He€was€so€dirty€that€"you€wouldn't€want€toÏtouch€him."€€Ìà ` àHome€Ties€began€working€on€the€old€trailer,€painting€several€rooms,€replacingÏthe€electrical€box€and€installing€new€kitchen€linoleum€and€a€kitchen€sink.€€But€theÏparents€were€not€able€to€maintain€the€improved€condition€of€the€trailer.€€("TheÏminute€we€pulled€out,€or€the€minute€they€wouldn't€go€daily€and€instruct€Mr.€PhillipsÏexactly€what€he€needed€to€do€on€a€daily€basis,€it€would€just€fall€apart.€€It€didn't€seemÏlike€he€was€learning€anything.")€€€Ð Ð9 52 ÐÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ñà ` àMs.€Preston€testified€that€the€parents€were€unable€to€appreciate€the€need€forÐ ° Ðmedical€care€for€their€children.€€€Immediately€after€Emma€was€born€she€required€anÏIV€for€dehydration,€yet€Mr.€Phillips€wanted€to€take€her€home;€he€didn't€seem€toÏunderstand€the€severity€of€the€illness.€€€Mrs.€Phillips€cannot€read€numbers€orÏdetermine€the€correct€dosages€to€give€medicines€to€the€children,€nor€can€she€tell€timeÏto€know€when€medicine€is€due.€€€The€caseworkers€were€also€unable€to€get€Mr.ÏPhillips€to€administer€medication€as€prescribed;€he€would€only€give€it€correctlyÏwhen€a€worker€was€present.€€When€the€caseworkers€left€and€later€returned,€theyÏwould€find€no€more€medication€had€been€given.€€They€thought€he€resented€theirÏintrusion€into€his€home€and€family€and€would€wilfully€disregard€their€guidance.Ìà ` àMs.€Preston€further€testified€that€the€parents€provided€food€consisting€mainlyÏof€beans,€biscuits€and€fried€potatoes.€€They€tried€to€teach€Loretta€Phillips€to€cookÏother€food€but€met€with€no€success,€and€when€they€tried€to€get€Murdis€to€join€in€andÏlearn€how€to€do€it,€he€"reacted€in€a€sexual€way.€€And€there€were€some€problems€andÏit€got€to€the€point€where€the€homemaker€wouldn't€even€walk€in€the€door€withoutÏanother€person€with€her."€€Ìà ` àMr.€Phillips'€sexual€behavior€caused€other€problems.€€Ms.€Preston€testifiedÏthat€he€would€grab€women's€breasts,€that€he€tried€to€get€women€to€go€to€bed€withÏhim,€and€that€this€behavior€carried€over€in€Curtis'€behavior€at€school,€where€€he€tooÏwould€grab€girls€inappropriately€and€make€inappropriate€remarks.€€Emma€was€alsoÏat€risk;€on€one€occasion€Mr.€Phillips€contacted€DHS€and€told€a€caseworker€to€"getÏout€there€right€away€because€he€wasn't€going€to€be€able€to€keep€his€hands€off€ofÏEmma,€that€she€really€turned€him€on."Ìà ` àMs.€Preston€further€testified€that€both€children€were€developmentally€delayedÏas€a€result€of€their€home€environment.€€Curtis€tested€below€average€in€all€areas,€andÏEmma,€who€was€two€years€old,€had€no€language;€she€communicated€by€"a€grunt.€Ð Ð9 52 ÐShe€made€a€sound€like€a€dog.€€She'd€point€and€go€ugh,€ugh,€or€she€would€cry.€€SheÏwhined."€€Neither€parent€understood€that€the€children€were€suffering€fromÏsignificant€cognitive€delays.€Ìà ` àMs.€Preston€testified€that€the€children€were€finally€removed€from€the€homeÏbecause,€despite€all€the€services€that€had€been€provided€to€the€parents€and€all€theÏefforts€of€the€numerous€agencies€and€caseworkers,€nothing€changed.€€"We€hadÏexhausted€our€resources€and€there€was€no€other€option.€€There€was€no€other€resourceÏthat€we€could€place€in€there.€€We€used€everything€that€he€had€available."Ìà ` àMs.€Preston€supervised€the€visitation€between€the€children€and€their€parentsÏup€to€the€time€of€trial.€€She€testified€that€the€parents€ignored€Curtis€and€he€andÏsubsequently€developed€an€emotional€distance€from€them;€he€now€will€answer€anyÏquestions€they€ask,€but€he€has€not€initiated€conversation€with€them€in€a€long€time.€ÏHe€plays€by€himself€or€with€a€case€worker€and€does€not€interact€with€his€parents€inÏany€way.€€He€has€no€interest€in€visitation;€rather,€he€sees€it€as€a€chore,€and€he€doesÏnot€appear€to€have€any€emotional€bond€with€either€parent.€€Ìà ` àDuring€visitation,€Emma's€behavior€is€avoidant.€€Her€play€activity€is€with€herÏbrother,€and€the€emotional€bonding€between€the€two€children€appears€to€be€veryÏstrong.€€Usually,€the€only€activity€the€parents€share€with€Emma€is€eating,€althoughÏrecently€Emma€has€tried€to€teach€her€mother€what€colors€to€use€in€a€coloring€book.€ÏEmma€has€never€gone€to€her€mother€for€comfort,€and€neither€parent€hasÏdemonstrated€any€appreciation€that€Emma€might€have€needs€or€interests.€€She€is€nowÏbeyond€her€mother€in€such€basic€academic€skills€as€counting.€€Emma€has€neverÏshown€any€excitement€about€visitation,€has€had€to€be€coaxed€into€participating,€andÏwhen€it€is€over,€runs€out€the€door.€€There€does€not€appear€to€be€any€attachmentÏâ âbetween€Emma€and€her€parents.Ð °730 Ðà ` àAt€the€time€of€trial,€€Emma€had€received€speech€therapy€and€both€children€hadÏâ âreceived€counseling€for€nightmares.€€Curtis,€who€was€originally€two€yearsÏdevelopmentally€delayed,€had€been€given€regular€access€to€Head€Start€and€hadÏbecome€adjusted€to€being€around€other€children.€€"Curtis€seemed€to€take€off.€€AndÏso€did€Emma."€€€His€latest€report€card€showed€that€he€read€an€accelerated€reader€inÏa€regular€school€class€and€his€lowest€grade€was€97.€€€€€Ìà ` àThe€children's€foster€mother€testified€that€she€has€cared€for€them€in€her€homeÏfor€two€years.€€€At€first,€Emma,€who€was€then€two€years€old,€was€very€clingy.€€SheÏdid€not€talk€and€did€not€play€with€toys.€€Curtis,€who€was€five,€did€not€know€hisÏABC's,€how€to€tie€his€shoes€or€how€to€take€a€bath.€€He€was€reluctant€to€bathe,€andÏEmma€screamed€so€much€that€the€foster€mother€thought€she€had€probably€neverÏbeen€given€a€bath.€€Curtis€was€amazed€at€the€existence€of€warm€water€and€told€herÏthat€he€had€never€eaten€cooked€food;€ñ“ñhe€ñ“ññ”ñhad€ñ”ññ“ñalways€just€ñ“ññ•ñeatenñ•ññ•ññ“ñateñ“ññ•ññ“ñ€it€from€the€canñ“ñ.€€Ìà ` àñ–ñThe€foster€mother€furtherñ–ññ–ñSheñ–ñ€testified€that€Curtis€is€now€involved€in€sports,€goesÏto€movies€with€his€foster€parents,€and€loves€going€camping€with€his€foster€father.€ÏEmma€loves€to€be€in€the€kitchen€while€her€foster€mother€is€cooking,€and€likes€toÏlisten€to€Curtis€read.€€She€loves€to€draw,€interacts€well€in€Sunday€School,€and€playsÏwith€other€children.€€Both€children€have€learned€to€go€to€their€foster€parents€forÏcomfort€or€help.€€"They're€very€loving€to€people€they€see€a€lot€of,€like€grandparents,Ïwhereas€before€they€were€very€withdrawn€and€would€have€nothing€to€do€withÏanybody."Ìà ` àòòEdward€Nelson,óó€ordained€elder€in€the€United€Methodist€Church€and€Court„Ð P1 ,* ÐAppointed€Special€Advocate€(CASA›)€for€the€children,€testified€that€he€had€visitedÏthe€parents'€home,€œñ—ñhad€ñ—ñmet›€the€parents,€and€œñ˜ñhad€ñ˜ñobserved›€the€children.€€He€felt€theÏhome€was€dangerous€and€that€the€parents€were€not€capable€of€rearing€the€children.€ÏCurtis€actually€appeared€to€be€œñžñ"ñžñthe›€œñœññ›ñheadñ›ññœñññleaderñññ›ñ›leaderñ›ñ›€of€the€œfamily,ñŸñ"ñŸñ›€œñ™ñrather€than€his€parents,€ñ™ñbut›Ð Ð9 52 Ðœñšñhe€ñšñwas›€very€standoffish,€especially€towards€his€father,€and€did€not€interact€at€all€withÏhis€mother.€€Both€children€were€apprehensive€around€their€parents.€€He€observed€noÏparent„child€bond€and€no€behavior€by€Murdis€or€Loretta€that€could€be€calledÏparental.€€He€opined€that€"I€sincerely€believe€that€it's€in€the€best€interest€of€these€twoÏchildren€that€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Phillips'€rights€be€terminated€and€that€they€be€placed€inÏan€adoptive€home."Ìà ` àMurdis€Phillips€testified€incoherently,€but€he€did€clearly€express€love€for€hisÏchildren€and€dismay€that€the€children€had€become€attached€to€their€foster€parents€andÏdetached€from€their€parents.€€Although€he€appeared€well„intentioned,€he€expressedÏlittle€or€no€insight€into€the€needs€of€the€children€or€the€role€of€parents.€œÌà@ÛÛ&Ìàò òòòIII.€€CONCLUSIONóóó ó›ˆÐ ð@ Ðà ` àThe€trial€judge€opined€from€the€bench€that€this€is€a€case€where€we€haveÏparents€who€simply€are€not€capable€of€meeting€the€needs€of€the€children€to€allow€theÏchildren€to€grow€physically,€emotionally,€and€psychologically€into€healthy,€capableÏadults.€€The€court€found€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence:ÌÓÓà8 ` à".€.€.€that€the€circumstances€which€led€to€the€removal€continue€to€existÏand€are€extremely€unlikely€to€be€remedied€so€as€to€allow€a€return€homeÏat€some€later€date.€€Specifically,€the€mother€has€made€no€marked€orÏsustained€improvement€in€basic€skills€necessary€for€either€self„care€orÏfor€care€of€the€children€despite€intensive€professional€intervention.€ÏWhile€the€father€has€made€improvement€as€to€personal€cleanliness,€thatÏis€his€only€area€of€true€progress.€€Additionally,€the€parents'€pattern€ofÏlimited€progress€and€then€substantial€regression€has€continued€to€existÏthroughout€the€time€of€the€children's€stay€in€foster€care.€€There€hasÏbeen€no€progress€as€to€parenting€skills€training.€.€.€maintaining€theÏchildren€in€foster€care€would€be€a€futile€effort€which€could€interfereÏwith€their€opportunities€for€permanency€through€adoption."Ð ` 8"` 8" ÐÌÓÓà ` àWe€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€the€record€in€this€case€contains€œabundantñ ñ,ñ ñ›Ïclear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€children'sÏremoval€persist€and€prevent€their€safe€€return€to€the€care€of€the€parents.€€We€find€noÏevidence€that€the€unsafe€conditions€will€be€remedied€within€the€foreseeable€future.€Ð ¼8 41 ЀThe€continuation€of€the€relationship€between€Murdis€and€Loretta€Phillips€and€theirÏchildren€diminishes€the€children's€chances€for€early€integration€into€a€safe,€stableÏhome.€€€œñ¡ñAccordingly,€ñ¡ññ¢ñ›Ì›à h àñ¢ññ£ñwñ£ññ¤ñWñ¤ñe›€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€at€the€costs€of€theÏappellants.ÌÓÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à__________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWilliam€H.€œInman›,€Senior€JudgeÌCONCUR:ÌÌœñ¨ññ§ñ.ñ§ññ¨ññ§ññ¥ñ.ñ¥ññ§ññ¬ññ¦ñÌÌñ¦ññ¬ññ©ññ¦ñÌñ¦ññ©ññ¬ññ¦ñ_______________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€Judgeñ¦ññ¬ññ¥ñ›ÌÌ______________________________ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ñ¥ññ¬ññªñÌñªññ«ñÌÌñ«ññ¬ññ«ñÌñ«ññ­ñÌñ­ññ«ññ«ññ­ñÌñ­ññ«ñ_______________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€Judgeñ«ññ®ñÌÌÌñ®ññ¯ñÌñ¯ññ®ññ®ññ¯ñÌñ¯ññ®ñ_______________________________ÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€Judgeñ®ñ›