’WPCŽ  TC#CÅ÷Ņv”EҰ‘ė97£YqŠ…wĄĖ<Ų”Ķq<Æö”±Äį‰4³ †l›#D’œøŸ¦åƶiw080—5s—]¦Øµń“ųAø²•bAŖĢ5!é⮂³øMx¾ ¢sFęK‹x3a.>uštGmśÆ‘ŖŠŻČ/@üĻDĢ$čukQŅQ&Ļ]źyĒ@o4®©)æČź½Ė#|4_32?•Gnżp„×ĄŚ“éihĶ=·Ń‘ĪŸˆ»l\€ID~Ų{æÅᐄŖć³zZHi×¾ž'mJś¼üį‹˜~$ż­[ÉrāœĘI½Ēķ Āą„[Ē)jŽƒ›ü ޽e’/ķā"żPKĶŲīŻ‹łš n „I%8Śqul± 8fŸńp"Ėä>ō>ļ{b¼r«åCp?śéż{ęĘł‘¼} Į'4"6 0(EmwuĢyUNE 0l“ 0D’UNC‘ m“#ĮŖNk ^ m m m m m m m m m m UBy %» » » » » » » » » » » » BĮ eW+'ŌųŌō3|x($”” ĀŻ ƒśŻ$Żą  ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŠ  ŠŅܰŅŌ€ X’éXXXŌŌ€ &„į%X X’éŌą0 4 ąKubra€was€born€testing€positive€for€Valium€and€crack€cocaine,€and€with€serious€medicalŠ Š‚ Šproblems.€€His€mother,€Anice,€tested€positive€for€crack€cocaine,€syphilis,€and€was€homelessŠ bZ Šat€the€time€of€delivery.Š: 24(#4(# Š(ČhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular((3śŻ$¤¤Ż ƒ!ŻŻ  Żą  ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(ČhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular’U‹’ĄĄĄ˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0E™/' <ž6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX dŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  ŻŌ_ŌѰŃŅܰŅŃܰŃŃ ż ŃŃTR[ģ AŲ'’ LegalXą3Ų' Letter  AŲ'’ Legal’3Ų'TŃŃ8€&źXXdČdČ8ŃŌ€X’éXXXŌŌ€ŠĪÖˆXX’éŌ€€€€ą@j j ‚ąņ ņIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆŠ  ŠĢą@>>%‚ąAT€KNOXVILLEˆŠ   Šó óĢą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ąą D ąą œ ąFILEDĢą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ąą D ąą œ ąSeptember€15,€Ō_Ō1999Ō_ŌŠ   ŠĢĢSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€DEPT.€OFą ģ ą)€C/A€NO.€03A01„9810„JV„00341Š  ŠCHILDRENššS€SERVICES,ą ” ąą ģ ą)€€Š   Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€HAMILTON€JUVENILEŠ   Šą 4 ąPetitioner„Appellee,ą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)Š   Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€HON.€SUZANNE€BAILEY,Š   Šv.ą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€JUDGEŠ   Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)Š  ŠLEON€Ō_ŌWILKERSONŌ_Ō,ą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)Š  Šą 4 ąRespondent„Appellant,ą ” ąą ģ ą)Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€AFFIRMED€Š  ŠIN€THE€MATTER€OF:ą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€ANDŠ  ŠŌ_ŌKUBRAŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSATTERFIELDŌ_Ō.ą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą)€REMANDEDŠ  ŠĢĢĢĢĢPAUL€G.€SUMMERS,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€andŠ ! ŠELIZABETH€C.€DRIVER,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€Nashville,€for€Petitioner„Š " ŠAppellee.Š # ŠĢĢJAY€KU,€Chattanooga,€for€Respondent„Appellant.Š & ŠĢĢĢĢĢą@%‚ąņ ņņņO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óˆŠ ,%% ŠĢĢą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ąą D ąą œ ąFranks,€J.Š /ž'( ŠĢĢĢÓÓą 4 ąą Œ ąThis€is€an€appeal€from€the€Trial€Courtššs€terminating€any€parental€rightsŠ 3ž+, Šof€Leon€Ō_ŌWilkersonŌ_Ō€to€Ō_ŌKubraŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌSatterfieldŌ_Ō.Š 5ž-. Šą 4 ąą Œ ąThe€Trial€Judge,€in€terminating€Ō_ŌWilkersonŌ_Ōššs€parental€rights,€said€in€theŠ 7ž/0 Šjudgment:Š 9ž12żŸ ŠŌ_ŌÓÓą0 4 ąą0Œ 4(#4(#ąThat€Leon€Wilkersonššs€connection€to€the€subject€child€is€only€that€of€hisŠ  Šmarriage€to€the€natural€mother,€that€he€is€not€the€biological€father€by€hisŠ  Šown€admission€and€has€never€seen€the€subject€child€and,€therefore,€theŠ   Špetition€filed€by€the€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€ChildrenššsŠ   ŠServices,€is€well€taken€and€should€be€sustained€and€relief€grantedŠ   Šthereunder€for€the€causes€as€therein€stated€in€that€the€subject€child€hasŠ   Šbeen€in€the€custody€of€Petitioner€for€at€least€six€(6)€months;€that€theŠ   Šcontinuation€of€the€legal€parent€and€child€relationship€greatly€diminishesŠ  Šthe€childššs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanentŠ  Šhome;€that€the€Defendant,€Leon€Wilkerson,€has€been€confined€in€aŠ   Šcorrection€or€detention€facility€by€order€of€a€court€as€a€result€of€aŠ   Šcriminal€act€under€a€sentence€of€10€or€more€years€and€the€subject€childŠ   Šwas€under€eight€years€of€age€at€the€time€the€sentence€was€entered€by€theŠ   Šcourt.€€Specifically,€Leon€Wilkerson,€was€sentenced€in€1995€to€eight€(8)Š   Šyears€for€drugs€and€two€(2)€years€for€reckless€killing;€it€is€therefore,€forŠ  Šthe€best€interest€of€the€said€child€and€the€public€that€all€of€the€parentalŠ  Šrights€of€the€Defendant€to€the€said€child€be€forever€terminated€.€.€.€ŠŒ (#Œ (# ŠĢÓÓą 4 ąą Œ ąKubra€was€taken€into€State€custody€for€dependency€and€neglect,Š  Špursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€šš37„1„128€on€May€16,€1996.€€Kubra€wasŠ  Šplaced€in€a€foster€home€shortly€thereafter,€where€he€has€remained.€€Kubra€requiresŠ  Šintensive,€round„the„clock€care,€due€to€his€medical€conditions.׃ׯ ƒ #ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€The€Department€hasŠ  Šidentified€a€family€interested€in€adopting€Kubra,€and€that€family€has€already€has€someŠ ! Šcontact€with€the€child,€due€to€their€friendship€with€his€foster€parents.€€Š # Šą 4 ąą Œ ąParents€have€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody€and€control€of€theirŠ % Šchildren.€€ņņStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,€92€S.Ct.1208€(1972).€€However,€that€rightŠ '  Šis€not€absolute,€and€parental€rights€may€be€terminated€if€there€is€clear€and€convincingŠ )"" Ševidence€justifying€termination€under€the€applicable€statute.€€T.C.A.€šš36„1„113(c)(1).€Š +$$ ŠAdditionally,€all€issues€are€premised€on€the€foundation€of€š šwhat€is€in€the€best€interestŠ -&& Šof€the€childšš.€€ņņTennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€v.€Rileyóó,€689€S.W.2d€164„Š /(( Š169€(Tenn.€App.€1984).€Š 1** Šą 4 ąą Œ ąParental€rights€may€be€terminated€in€a€limited€number€of€statutorilyŠ 3,, Šdefined€circumstances,€and€then€only€if€the€court€determines€the€termination€is€in€theŠ  Šchildššs€best€interest.€€ņņIn€the€Matter€of€M.W.A.€Jr.,€óó980€S.W.2d€620€(Tenn.€App.€1998).€Š   ŠParental€rights€may€also€be€terminated€when€continuing€the€parent„child€relationshipŠ   Šposes€a€substantial€threat€of€harm€to€the€child.€€ņņId.óó€€The€Court€terminated€WilkersonššsŠ   Šparental€rights€under€T.C.A.€šš36„1„113(g).€Section€(g)(6)€provides€for€termination€inŠ  Šthe€following€situation:Š   ŠÓÓą0 4 ąą0Œ 4(#4(#ąThe€parent€has€been€confined€in€a€correctional€or€detention€facility€ofŠ   Šany€type€by€the€order€of€a€court€as€a€result€of€a€criminal€act,€under€aŠ   Šsentence€of€ten€or€more€years,€and€the€child€is€under€eight€years€of€age€atŠ  Šthe€time€the€sentence€is€entered€by€the€court.ŠŒ (#Œ (# ŠĢÓÓą 4 ąą Œ ąWilkerson€admitted€that€he€was€incarcerated€for€a€sentence€of€ten€yearsŠ  Šfor€reckless€killing€and€drug€offences.€€The€child€was€under€the€age€of€eight€at€theŠ  Štime€of€sentencing.€€Thus,€the€requirements€of€the€section€are€met€for€terminatingŠ  Šparental€rights.€Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąIn€this€case,€Kubra€has€been€in€the€Departmentššs€custody€for€more€thanŠ   Šsix€months.€€Wilkersonššs€incarceration€is€a€condition€that€prevents€Kubra€fromŠ " Šreturning€to€the€care€of€a€parent,€and€Wilkerson€is€unlikely€to€remedy€that€situation€inŠ $ Šthe€near€future.€€While€he€expected€to€be€released€on€parole,€he€had€over€six€years€leftŠ & Što€serve€on€his€sentence.€€Additionally,€continuation€of€the€parent„child€relationshipŠ (!! Šwould€greatly€diminish€the€childššs€chances€of€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanentŠ *## Šhome,€as€it€could€be€up€to€six€years€before€Wilkerson€could€begin€to€provide€a€homeŠ ,%% Šfor€Kubra.Š .'' Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWhile€Wilkerson€does€not€dispute€the€statutory€grounds€for€terminationŠ 0)) Šof€his€parental€rights,€he€claims€that€he€did€not€receive€proper€notice€of€the€earlierŠ 2++ Šdependency€and€neglect€proceeding,€and€was€thereby€denied€his€due€process.€€He€alsoŠ 4-- Šsays€that€the€Department€failed€to€give€him€lawful€notice€when€Kubra€was€taken€intoŠ 6// ŠState€custody,€or€allow€him€as€a€legal€father€to€make€a€choice€or€have€input€into€theŠ 811 Šappointment€of€a€guardian.€€Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWilkersonššs€argument€that€he€was€denied€due€process€because€he€wasŠ   Šnot€given€notice€of€the€initial€proceeding,€does€not€establish€a€basis€to€overturn€theŠ   ŠTrial€Courtššs€decision.€€It€is€clear,€however,€that€Wilkerson€received€full€proceduralŠ   Šprotection€at€the€termination€proceeding€upon€which€this€appeal€is€based.€€WilkersonŠ  Šreceived€notice€of€the€hearing€and€was€transported€to€Court€to€be€present€at€theŠ   Šhearing.€€He€was€informed€of€his€right€to€counsel€and€was€appointed€counsel€upon€hisŠ   Šrequest.€€The€hearing€was€rescheduled€to€allow€him€to€meet€with€his€attorney.€Š  ŠWilkerson€was€present€and€testified€at€the€termination€hearing,€and€had€the€assistanceŠ  Šof€counsel.Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWe€have€previously€addressed€the€question€of€due€process€implications,Š  Šwhen€a€parent€does€not€receive€notice€of€the€dependency€and€neglect€proceeding,€butŠ  Šlater€participates€in€the€termination€proceeding.€€In€ņņState€of€Tennessee€Department€ofŠ  ŠHuman€Services€v.€Groveóó,€1989€WL€3137€(Tenn.€App.€1989),€a€mother€argued€thatŠ ! Šshe€did€not€receive€due€process€protection€because€she€did€not€receive€notice€of€theŠ # Šoriginal€DHS€petition€for€a€custodial€preliminary€hearing.€€In€upholding€theŠ % Štermination€of€her€parental€rights,€the€Court€said€that€š šappellant€overlooks€the€salientŠ '  Šfact€that€she€later€intervened€in€the€Juvenile€Court€action€and€there€asserted€herŠ )"" Šplenary€rights;€any€lack€of€due€process€initially€was€thereafter€fully€supplied.šš€€ņņGroveóóŠ +$$ Šat€*3.Š -&& Šą 4 ąą Œ ąLike€the€appellant€in€ņņGroveóó,€Wilkerson€asserted€his€plenary€rights€at€theŠ /(( Štermination€hearing,€and€any€initial€lack€of€due€process€was€remedied€by€the€fullŠ 1** Šprocedural€protections€afforded€to€Wilkerson€at€the€termination€hearing.€€š š[E]ven€if€itŠ 3,, Šcan€be€said€that€the€appellant€was€deprived€of€due€process€in€the€ššdependency€andŠ 5.. Šneglectšš€proceeding€in€the€Juvenile€Court,€there€is€no€claim€of€such€deprivation€in€theŠ 700 Š...€action€to€terminate€parental€rights.šš€€ņņGroveóó€at€*3.Š 922 Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWilkerson€complains€that€the€lack€of€notice€in€earlier€proceedingsŠ  Šdenied€him€the€opportunity€to€participate€in€the€custody€decision,€and€he€says€that€š šheŠ   Šcould€have€aided€in€locating€a€relative€placement€and€suggested€alternativeŠ   Šplacements.šš€€Wilkerson€had€no€custody€option€for€Kubra.€€A€representative€of€theŠ   ŠDCS€met€with€Wilkerson€and€asked€him€what€plans€he€would€make€for€the€child,€andŠ  ŠWilkerson€suggested€that€Kubra€could€live€with€Wilkersonššs€mother€who€resides€inŠ   ŠWashington,€D.C.€€However,€it€developed€that€Wilkersonššs€mother€was€not€willing€toŠ   Štake€custody€of€Kubra,€and€Wilkerson,€being€incarcerated,€could€not€care€for€the€childŠ  Šhimself€and€did€not€offer€any€other€viable€option€when€consulted.Š  Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWilkerson€also€complains€that€he€was€denied€the€ability€to€participate€inŠ  Ša€plan€of€care.€€However,€a€plan€of€care€requires€the€parent€to€take€steps€towardŠ  Šproviding€a€stable€home€for€the€child,€which€means€acquiring€appropriate€housing,Š  Šmaintaining€stable€employment,€and€providing€financially€for€the€child.€€ņņSee€generallyóóŠ  ŠT.C.A.€šš37„2„403.€€Finally,€Wilkerson€argues€that€by€failing€to€allow€him€toŠ ! Šparticipate€in€a€foster€care€plan,€the€Department€was€given€an€additional€reason€forŠ # Šterminating€his€parental€rights€and€processing€a€š šno€contactšš€order.€€However,Š % ŠWilkersonššs€inability€to€participate€in€the€foster€care€plan€or€provide€an€alternativeŠ '  Šcustody€option€is€entirely€separate€from€the€reasons€for€terminating€his€parental€rights.€Š )"" ŠWhether€or€not€Wilkerson€was€able€to€participate€in€any€decisions€regarding€the€child,Š +$$ Šan€independent€basis€for€terminating€parental€rights€was€established€by€clear€andŠ -&& Šconvincing€evidence.€€ņņSee€óóT.C.A.€šš36„1„113(g)(6)€and€šš(g)(3)(A).€€The€record€alsoŠ /(( Šestablishes€that€termination€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child.Š 1** Šą 4 ąą Œ ąWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€and€remand€with€cost€ofŠ 3,, Šthe€appeal€assessed€to€the€appellant.Š 5.. ŠÓÓĢą 4 ąą Œ ąĢŠ 922 Š‡Ģą@‚‚+‚ąņņˆą D ąĢóóą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ą__________________________Š   Šą 4 ąą Œ ąą ä ąą < ąą ” ąą ģ ąHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.Š   ŠĢĢCONCUR:Š   ŠĢĢĢĢĢ___________________________Š   ŠCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.Š   ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢ___________________________Š  ŠD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.Š  Š