ÿWPC0  +9h„Ä‚Ú×IH_J`ϰýøY:RMÃIc˜‰ô!ÈÝêßdµÝK§o}UýtûžÜWµïZQîDpQŸý“J†td08ÖøŽÇrŒÀk¹ˆ µ|ñà`ªÞ‘ˆ‘;ð„7qo+ÉDüW$øÊná9ŒvŠšÓçà˜Äy)î'…z² ¶Å¤­1ÊŠŠÉØZ¤ˆžÄÿd&Ö³Ö/)ŒÁV[??c+;ôUdЬ…âÇ£R»¬‘P’¨sÔΫ+t|úxcÚðXºÆâqLw¯<“€œiA6¶Mf‡føÜHìÄ=F' ß1ÁD¶¥q(ôóŽ#À;»O1ÔD”çe®jôËžY•1]bÿÁéÙN½sîaìkB-ŠîG£_ÀÂj3¿¥[E½‚‘÷Côs’<Η™ß2a€—›Lã–|ÿ#ÉùåzC|Ã2À`}XŽE˜Ü¡›‹, ØJ.I¡ñ5j‚ cXï4Vu×/¯EÜaÁ¬¡ NêLÏi ™˜ I¾JwýÞâÏäûw,» wÅ7Jf7L ¾u`Ø\›Å]ØÈ ´Î/ üÿ|‘Ã#m±¬tšµwáÖÇ*2»´5DŠ5¶YyÊÕÉ>3°Ê ÇUÑÔlвšèK*4L` 0(o—w@ŸßUNáU://///////////////UBi %«««««« AQ±Æ 0DÈ 0D  0DPP D/” Bà Bà D3ý©yË&ÔøÔô3|x($¡¡ îr‚ïEð eñDòóDôDõDöÓ€ øÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XVXXXÔÔ€ XXVÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XVX ÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€16,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñöñ›ñöñѰÑÒܰÒÑ ý ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€ŠXXdÈXXdð7ÑÔ€XÐ'XXXÔÔ€Š¤¬ŠXXÐ'Ôñññöñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EÈ ` 8ttxPð  rßñöññññññññöñ›ñöñSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEà < àà ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðññœßt€ )>.*jxcZ` `€€@E+b` 8ttxPcð Z tß›ññDEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDRENððSà ì à)Ð  ÐSERVICES,à Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€€Appeal€No.Ìà 4 àà Œ àPlaintiff,à < àà ” àà ì à)€€01A01„9809„JV„00460Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€€Ìv.à 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€€Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€Davidson€JuvenileÌREBECCA€PHILLIPS,à < àà ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àDefendant,à < àà ” àà ì à)€€Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:€KELLY€à ” àà ì à)Ð   ÐGOOCH,€LULA€GOOCH,€AND€LORIà ì à)Ð   ÐPHILLIPS,€CHILDREN€UNDER€THEà ì à)Ð  ÐAGE€OF€18€YEARS.à < àà ” àà ì à)Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àÌÌà@b b ‚àCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@× × ‚àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌÌAPPEALED€FROM€THE€JUVENILE€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€œñññBETTY›€ADAMS„GREENññññòñANDREW€J.€SHOOKOFFñòñ,›€JUDGEÌÌÌKATHLEEN€G.€MORRISÌP.O.€Box€128091ÌNashville,€Tennessee€€37212Ìà 4 àAttorney€for€DefendantÌÌPAUL€G.€SUMMERS,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€andÌDOUGLAS€EARL€DIMOND,€Assistant€Attorney€General,ÌGeneral€Civil€DivisionÌCordell€Hull€Building,€2nd€FloorÌ425€Fifth€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€Tennessee€37243„0699Ìà 4 àAttorney€for€PlaintiffÌÌÌà@ÜÜ!‚àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDˆÌÌÌÌà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àHERSCHEL€P.€FRANKS,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌGODDARD,€P.J.ÌSUSANO,€J.Ð ;44ý9 М‡ñóñÌñóñ›à@$$%‚àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóˆÐ  МñôñÌñôñ›ÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àOn€petition€of€the€Department€of€ñîññíñ›ñíññîñChildrensñïññìñððñìññïñ€Services,€the€Trial€CourtÏterminated€the€parental€rights€of€Rebecca€Ruth€Phillips€for€her€three€minor€children,ÏKelly€Louis€Gooch,€Lula€May€Gooch,€and€Lori€Ann€Phillips.€€The€mother€hasÏappealed.€Ìà 4 àà Œ àFollowing€an€evidentiary€hearing,€the€Trial€Court€found:ÌÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àMs.€Phillipsðð€emotion,€psychological€and€physical€problems€haveÏbeen€compounded€by€her€very€limited€economic€resources€and€by€theÏlack€of€a€consistent€social€support€system.€€Ms.€Phillipsðð€relationshipÏwith€her€own€mother€has€been€so€unhealthy€for€here€that€it€has€been€aÏsource€of€problems€rather€than€a€support€for€dealing€with€problems.€€Ms.ÏPhillips€has€had€a€number€of€relationships€with€men.€€Unfortunately,Ïthose€relationships€did€not€prove€to€be€the€positive,€stable,€supportiveÏrelationships€she€had€believed€they€would€be€when€she€entered€intoÏthem.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àMs.€Phillips€has€for€a€variety€of€reasons€had€difficulty€followingÏthrough€with€the€requirements€of€the€plan€of€care€in€a€consistent€manner.€ÏShe€would€periodically€make€progress€in€the€area€of€householdÏcleanliness,€personal€hygiene€and€household€safety,€but€she€has€hadÏdifficulty€sustaining€this€progress€and€would€slide€back.€€Follow€throughÏon€parenting€classes€and€counseling€has€also€been€inconsistent.€€DespiteÏthe€fact€that€she€has€long€acknowledged€the€unhealthy€nature€of€herÏrelationship€with€her€mother,€Ms.€Phillips€continued€to€live€with€herÏmother.€€Ms.€Phillips€at€a€previous€hearing€lied€to€the€Court€saying€thatÏshe€had€separated€from€her€mother€when€she€had€not.€€She€has€sinceÏestablished€a€household€separate€and€apart€from€her€mother.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àThe€Court€therefore€appreciates€the€progress€that€Ms.€Phillips€hasÏmade€in€recent€months€„€the€fact€that€she€has€moved€into€a€better€livingÏsituation,€that€she€has€ñðñbcomeñðññðñbecomeñðñ€less€ñðñdependnentñðññðñdependentñðñ€on€others€by€learning€howÏto€use€the€bus€system,€and€that€she€took€action€to€terminate€aÏrelationship€with€a€boyfriend€who€had€become€abusive,€and€that€she€nowÏhas€a€boyfriend€with€whom€she€is€hopeful€she€will€be€in€a€committedÏand€positive€relationship.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà 4 àà Œ à.€.€.€ÌÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àThe€critical€question€in€this€case€is€whether€Ms.€Phillips€has€madeÏenough€progress€toward€alleviating€the€conditions€that€have€preventedÏher€from€being€able€to€provide€a€safe€and€nurturing€home€for€herÏchildren€such€that€reunification€with€her€children€could€safely€occur€inÏthe€foreseeable€future.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àIt€is€with€great€sadness€and€regret€that€the€Court€must€concludeÏthat€Ms.€Phillips€simply€has€not€made€sufficient€progress,€despite€herÐ :33 Ðefforts€and€the€considerable€efforts€of€the€Department€of€ChildrenððsÏServices€to€assist€her.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àMs.€Phillipsðð€testimony€regarding€her€present€situation€„€theÏstable€and€supportive€relationship€which€she€believes€she€enjoys€withÏher€present€boyfriend€„€is€reminiscent€of€previous€testimony€regardingÏother€relationships€that€Ms.€Phillips€believed€were€going€to€be€good€forÏher€and€the€children€but€which€later€turned€out€not€to€be€positive.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àMs.€Phillips€testimony€regarding€her€recent€move€to€a€homeÏwhich€she€believes€is€safe€and€sanitary€has€to€be€weighed€in€the€contextÏof€the€past€year€that€has€seen€continuing€problems€with€householdÏcleanliness€despite€periodic€but€unsustained€improvements.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àMs.€Phillipsðð€testimony€of€her€recent€commitment€to€pursueÏcounseling€must€again€be€measured€against€the€past€year€of€lack€ofÏfollow€through.€€This€lack€of€follow€through€is€especially€concerningÏbecause€Ms.€Phillips€was€aware€of€the€critical€importance€of€makingÏprogress€on€the€Plan€of€Care,€given€the€Courtððs€previous€actionÏterminating€parental€rights€of€her€other€two€children.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#à.€.€.€Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àThe€Court€does€appreciate€the€special€problems€and€obstaclesÏconfronting€Ms.€Phillips€that€have€made€progress€so€ñðñincosistentñðññðñinconsistentñðñ€andÏslow.€€But,€when€progress€has€been€so€slow€and€halting,€the€law€requiresÏthat€the€Court€consider€whether€the€progress€is€occurring€at€a€pace€thatÏwould€allow€return€of€custody€in€the€foreseeable€future.€€Unfortunately,Ïthe€proof€in€this€case€is€clear€and€convincing€that€sufficient€progress€hasÏnot€been€made€to€alleviate€those€conditions€that€led€to€the€neglect€of€theÏchildren€and€that€there€is€little€likelihood€for€progress€to€be€made€on€theÏorder€that€it€would€need€ñðñœñðñto€toñðñ›ñðñ€allow€return€of€the€children€to€Ms.€PhillipsÏin€the€foreseeable€future.€€The€state€has€established€grounds€forÏtermination€of€Ms.€Phillipsðð€parental€rights€based€on€persistence€ofÏconditions.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àThe€stateððs€proof€also€establishes€that€it€is€in€the€childrenððs€bestÏinterest€for€Ms.€Phillipsðð€parental€rights€to€be€terminated.€€They€need€toÏmove€toward€permanency€which€can€only€reasonably€be€ñðñasuredñðññðñassuredñðñ€throughÏtermination€of€parental€rights€and€adoption.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àThe€motherððs€first€issue€is€that€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€finding€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€that€the€persistence€of€conditions€which€led€to€the€removal€of€theÏchildren€from€her€would€continue€with€little€likelihood€of€early€remediation.€€TheÏmotherððs€argument€essentially€concedes€that€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€removalÏexisted,€but€that€she€has€changed€and€is€and€will€in€the€future€maintain€a€home€withÐ Ð9È22 Ðgood€conditions€for€the€children€in€accordance€with€the€plan.€€But€the€Trial€CourtÏfound,€in€accordance€with€the€statute,€that€there€is€little€likelihood€that€theseÏconditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€children€could€be€safelyÏreturned€to€Ms.€Phillips.€€òòSee€óóT.C.A.€ðð36„1„113(g)(3)(a)(ii).€€The€State,€in€response€toÐ   Ðthis€contention,€asserts€that€Ms.€Phillips€had€failed€over€two€years€to€remedy€theÏconditions€in€her€life€that€prevented€the€childrenððs€return,€and€that€evidence€hadÏestablished€her€home€remained€unfit€for€the€children€by€reason€of€filth€and€pestÏinfestation,€until€at€least€March€of€1998.€€The€State€also€stresses€Ms.€PhillipsððÏpersistent€relationships€with€people€who€presented€actual€and€threatening€dangers€toÏthe€children.€€While€Ms.€Phillips€had€made€some€progress€in€the€three€monthsÏimmediately€preceding€the€hearing,€as€the€Trial€Judge€acknowledges,€there€is€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€that€the€conditions€in€the€home€leading€to€the€childrenððs€removalÏwill€continue.€€Accordingly,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court,€finding€that€itÏis€not€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children€to€remain€in€the€home€environment.Ìà 4 àà Œ àThe€statute€requires€that€after€a€Court€has€determined€grounds€toÏterminate€parental€rights,€it€must€also€find€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€theÏtermination€is€in€the€childððs€best€interest.€€T.C.A.€ðð36„1„113(c).€€We€also€concludeÏthere€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€termination€is€in€the€childrenððs€bestÏinterest.Ìà 4 àà Œ àOn€appeal,€Ms.€Phillips€confronts€the€best€interest€issue€only€as€to€oneÏchild,€Lori.€€The€record€reveals€that€at€trial€Ms.€Phillips€proposed,€as€an€alternative,Ïthat€the€Court€terminate€her€rights€to€Kelly€and€Lula,€but€allow€her€to€rear€Lori.€€InÏresponse€to€this€appeal,€the€Trial€Judge€said:ÌÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àLori€has€considerable€special€needs.€€Ms.€Phillips€has€not€shown€theÏability€to€meet€the€very€basic€requirements€of€providing€a€safe,€healthyÏhousehold€for€children,€let€alone€provide€the€very€skills€and€care€thatÏLori€will€require€to€overcome€the€special€difficulties€she€is€experiencing.€ÏÐÐ9È22Œ (#Œ (# ÐÓÓThe€record€establishes€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€Lori€is€developmentallyÏand€behaviorally€the€neediest€of€the€children,€and€that€Ms.€Phillips€would€be€unable€toÏhandle€the€task€of€attending€to€Loriððs€special€needs.€€Ìà 4 àà Œ àAccordingly,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€and€remand€withÏcost€of€the€appeal€assessed€to€the€appellant.ÌÓÓÌÌÌÌÌÌà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à________________________Ìà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌÌ___________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.ÌÌÌÌÌœñõñÌñõñ›Ì___________________________ÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.ÌÌÌñðñ›ñðñ