WPC$ W# UN %+ 0 41be 0mw@ 4`t^  mj 0D NV X 0J` 0T 0^ 0h\ 0r 0|6 0 AQ8  0DO 0@ 0D 0 D/ 1u BK D3h 0dU>B)=DCf AMU*G g>Sv~v' B#HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh'"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular( U$  - -(c(2U$ U!   XXX `   0   Q ER S ET U EV W UX Y Ӏc _#x3|xc [$Ustate v. hasley - dissent (todd)  7 '  0 .   (#$  0  2 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  !"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ("$    ($$   1  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23  ((' dxd% ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P PdVVVV'dxdP 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d22227Border 1dd!#3C << G<  9p`(Arial = !  #d#11   ""  55   YYY FILED5XJune16,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk    !#d#11   $   X 1X       _Thismarriagewastroubledfromthebeginning._C.L.H._Ԁand_D.E.J._ԀeventuallyseparatedandweredivorcedinMay1994. 4 !#d#11   $   X 1X       _Therecordinthiscaserevealsthat_S.M.L.smaternalgrandfather_hasabipolardisorderandahistoryofalcoholabuse.Inadditiontotheallegationthathesexuallyabusedhisdaughterandgranddaughter,therecordcontainsallegationsthathehassexuallyabusedotheryoungwomen.  !#d#11   $   X 1X       __C.L.H._sparentalrightswithregardto_T.H._Ԁarenotinvolvedinthisproceeding.  !#d#11   $   X 1X       _Thejuvenilecourtalsoterminatedtheparentalrightsofthechildrensbiologicalfathers.Noneofthefathershaveappealedfromthoseportionsofthejudgment.Thejuvenilecourtdidnotspecificallydisposeof_C.L.H._spetitionforthereturnofherchildren.Thisomissionissimplyanoversightthatcanbeeasilycorrectedonremand.BygrantingtheDepartmentsmotiontoterminate_C.L.H._sparentalrights,thetrialcourtnecessarilydeterminedthatherpetitionforthereturnofherchildrenwasnotwelltaken.Correctingthisoversightwouldnotentitle_C.L.H._Ԁtoasecondbiteattheapple.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ellan Geneva  ellan Geneva  d ! . 11     X  \RA'\_7dd7  1  ћ !ٜR463A1-j|`  `@Rߛ@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ ATNASHVILLE 1      )      )      )INTHEMATTEROF:   ) _S.M.L._,_(DOB_Ԁ12/26/88),  ) DicksonJuvenile_C.B.L._,_(DOB_Ԁ4/14/92),   ) No.0793017CC_D.K.J._,_(DOB_Ԁ5/8/93),   )      ) AppealNo. Childrenundertheageof18. ) 01A019710JV00596      )      )      )@ APPEALFROMTHEJUVENILECOURT@ FORDICKSONCOUNTY@ ATCHARLOTTE,TENNESSEE@ THEHONORABLEA.ANDREWJACKSON,JUDGEFortheAppellants:     FortheStateofTennessee:NanShelbyCalloway     JohnKnoxWalkupClarksville,Tennessee     AttorneyGeneralandReporter        DouglasEarlDimond        AssistantAttorneyGeneral@ 1 Ԁ AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED 1       WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE     @ OPINION  Thisappealinvolvestheterminationofamothersparentalrightstothreeofherchildrenwhoarebetweenfiveandtenyearsofage.Almostfouryearsafterthechildrenhadbeenremovedfromtheirmotherscustody,theDepartmentofChildrensServicesfiledapetitioninthe_Dickson_ԀCountyJuvenileCourttoterminatethemothersparentalrights.Followingatwodayhearing,thejuvenilecourtterminatedthemothersparentalrightsinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A)(Supp.1997).Onthisappeal,themotherassertsthatthejuvenilecourtsfindingsarenotsupportedbyclearandconvincingevidenceandthatthetrialcourtshouldhavelefttherecordopentoenablehertopresentadditionalevidenceofherparentalfitness.WeaffirmthejudgmentterminatingthemothersparentalrightsbecausetheDepartmenthaspresentedclearandconvincingevidenceestablishingthestatutorygroundsforterminatingthemothersparentalrightsanddemonstratingthatthechildrensinterestswillbebestservediftheycanbeintegratedintoastableandpermanenthomeassoonaspossible.@ I.  _C.L.H._,the26yearoldmotherwhoserightsareatissueinthiscase,hadadifficultchildhoodinOhio.Shewastheyoungestoffourchildrenborntoafatherpronetoviolenceanddrinkingandamotherwhorepeatedlyabandonedthefamily.Duringherearlyyears,_C.L.H._Ԁlivedwithoneortheotherofherparents,withvariousrelatives,andwithfosterfamilies.Whenshewastwelveyearsold,_C.L.H._Ԁaccusedherfatherofsexuallyabusingher.Afterlivingbrieflywithhermother,shewasplacedinfostercare.Shesoonreturnedtolivewithhermother,andwhenshewassixteen,shediscoveredthatshewaspregnantfollowingabriefrelationshipwith_J.E._ԀOnDecember26,1988,_C.L.H._Ԁgavebirthto_S.M.L._ After_C.L.H._smotherabandonedheragainfollowing_S.M.L._sbirth,_C.L.H._Ԁlivedforatimewithamarriedsisterandtheninfostercare.Eventually,sheand_S.M.L._Ԁmovedto_Dickson_,Tennesseetolivewithherauntandherfather.TheTennesseeDepartmentofHumanServicesfirstbeganprovidingservicesto_C.L.H._Ԁin1990followingrepeatedreportsthatshewasneglecting_S.M.L._Ԁ_C.L.H._laterstruckuparelationshipwithJ.P.andonApril14,1992gavebirthto_C.B.L._,herseconddaughter. Soonafter_C.B.L._sbirth,_C.L.H._Ԁmetandmarried_D.E.J._ԀOnMay8,1993,shegavebirthto_D.K.J._,herthirdchildandfirstson._ 7   _ԀOnJuly23,1993,theDepartmentofHumanServicesfiledapetitioninthe_Dickson_ԀCountyJuvenileCourtseekingtemporarycustodyof_S.M.L._,_C.B.L._,and_D.K.J._Ԁonthegroundsthatthechildrenwereneglectedandphysicallyabused.Thejuvenilecourtgrantedthepetition,andtheDepartmentplacedthethreechildreninfosterhomes._S.M.L._Ԁrevealedtohercaseworkersthatshehadbeensexuallyabusedby__hermaternalgrandfather,byaneighbor,andbyotherchildren._ 8   _Ԁ_C.L.H._ԀdidnotcooperatewiththeDepartmentseffortstoinvestigatethesecomplaintsortoprotectherchildrenfromfurtherabuse.Sheappearedunabletounderstandhowsexualabusecouldharmherchildren. TheDepartmentdevelopedaplanofcarewiththegoalofreturningthechildrento_C.L.H._.Theplanrequired_C.L.H._Ԁ(1)toattendindividualcounselingtoaddresshernonprotectionandneglectofthechildren,(2)toattendparentingclasses,(3)toutilizehomemakerservices,(4)toestablishastableresidence,(5)toprovidepromptandtruthfulinformationtocaseworkersregardingherstatus,and(6)tohavenocontactwithherfather.Duringthecourseofthenextthreeyears,_C.L.H._Ԁrepeatedlyfailedtoimproveherparentingskillsorto_remediate_thecausesthatledtothechildrensremovalinthefirstplace.Inadditiontobeingunabletomaintainafixedaddressorsteadyemployment,shehadfrequentbrusheswiththelawandfailedtoparticipateinameaningfulwayintheprogramsandservicesmadeavailabletoassistherinimprovingherparentingskills. Duringthissameperiod,_C.L.H._Ԁwasmarriedbrieflyandgavebirthtoherfourthchild,_T.H._,onJune29,1994._ 9   _ԀAfterplacingT.H.withherbrotherandsisterinlaw,C.L.H.movedbacktoOhioinAugust1996andlivedbrieflywithherbrotherandthenwithhermother.InDecember1996,followingdisagreementswithherrelatives,shemovedintoherownapartment.ArepresentativeoftheAthensCountyChildrenServicesBoardconductedahomestudyof_C.L.H._snewenvironmentandinApril1997recommendedstronglyagainstthereturnofthechildrenformanyofthesamereasonsnotedbytheTennesseeauthoritieswhenthechildrenwerefirstremovedin1993.Shortlyafterreceivingthisreport,theDepartmentfiledapetitionrequestingtheterminationof_C.L.H._sparentalrights,aswellastheparentalrightsof_J.E._,J.P.,and_D.E.J._,thebiologicalfathersofherthreeoldestchildren._C.L.H._Ԁalsofiledapetitionseekingthereturnofherchildren.FollowingatwodayhearinginJune1997,thejuvenilecourtterminated_C.L.H._sparentalrights._ :   _Ԁ @ II.  Proceedingsinvolvingtheterminationofparentalrightsimplicatethebiologicalparentsconstitutionallyprotectedinterestsinthecareandcustodyoftheirchildren.See_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2d182,186(Tenn.Ct.App.1995).Becauseterminatingparentalrightshasthelegaleffectofreducingbiologicalparentstotheroleofcompletestrangersasfarasthechildrenareconcerned,seeInreAdoptionof_Dearing_Ԁ(_Adcock_Ԁv._Saliba_),572S.W.2d929,932(Tenn.Ct.App.1978),decisionstoterminateparentalrightsarepermissibleonlywhencontinuingtheparentchildrelationshipposesasubstantialthreatofharmtothechildren.See_Petrosky_Ԁv.Keene,898S.W.2d726,728(Tenn.1995);Hawkv.Hawk,855S.W.2d573,581(Tenn.1993). Duetothefundamentalinterestsatstakeinproceedingsofthissort,parentalrightsmaybeterminatedonlyifoneofthestatutorilydefinedcircumstancesrequiringterminationhavebeenprovedbyclearandconvincingevidence,seeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(1)(Supp.1997);Dept.ofHuman_Servs_.v._Defriece_,937S.W.2d954,960(Tenn.Ct.App.1996),andifterminatingparentalrightsisinthechildsbestinterests.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(2)(Supp.1997).Thisheightenedburdenofproofreflectsarecognitionofthepublicandprivateinterestsatstakeintheseproceedingsandapolicydecisionthatabiologicalparentslegalrelationshiptohisorherchildshouldnotbeseveredifthereexistsanyseriousorsubstantialdoubtconcerningthecorrectnessofthedecision.See_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2dat18788. ThestatutorygroundonwhichtheterminationinthiscaseisbasedisfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A)(Supp.1997).Thissectionprovidesthatparentalrightsmaybeterminatedupontheintroductionofclearandconvincingevidence(1)thatthechildhasbeenremovedfromtheparentshomebyorderofacourtforsixmonths,(2)thattheconditionswhichledtothechildsremoval,orothersimilarconditions,stillpersist,(3)thatthereislittlelikelihoodthattheseconditionswillberemediedatanearlydatesothatthechildcanbereturnedtotheparentinthenearfuture,and(4)thatthecontinuationoftheparentchildrelationshipwillgreatlydecreasethechildschancesofearlyintegrationintoastableandpermanenthome.@ III.  _C.L.H._ԀlostcustodyofherthreechildreninJuly1993becauseheroldestdaughtercomplainedofsexualabuseatthehandsofhergrandfatherandbecause_C.L.H._Ԁwasunabletoprovideastable,nurturinghomeforherchildren.Soonaftershelostcustodyofherchildren,theDepartmentdevelopedadetailedplandesignedtoenable_C.L.H._Ԁtoregaincustody.Whileshehasmadesomeefforttocomplywiththerequirementsofthisplan,_C.L.H._Ԁhasbeenunabletodemonstratethatshecanprovidethechildrenwithastable,safehomeenvironmentorthatshehasacquiredtheparentingskillssheclearlylackedin1993. _C.L.H._Ԁhasalsobeenunabletomaintainastablehomeorsteadyemployment.ShemovedfourteentimesbetweenthetimeshelostcustodyofherchildrenandhermovetoOhio,andshehaslivedinthreedifferentplacessincemovingtoOhio.Duringthistime,shehasstayedorlivedwithpersonswhounderminedthestabilityofherhome,includingherfatherwhohasbeenthesubjectofseveralchildsexualabusecomplaints,anabusivehusband,asuspecteddrugdealer,andanothersexoffender.Shewasconvictedforwritingbadchecks,theft,andaggravatedburglary,andservedtimeinjailin1996forviolatingherprobation.Heremploymenthasbeensporadicandshortlived.AftermovingbacktoOhio,sheattemptedtoworkatthreedifferentjobsatthesametimebutlostallthesejobsduetoanillness.Atthetimeofthehearing,_C.L.H._Ԁinsistedthatshewastrainingtobecomeanursingassistantbutofferednocorroboratingproofofemployment. _C.L.H._smostseriousshortcomingishercontinuingambivalenceabouthereldestdaughterscomplaintofsexualabusebyhermaternalgrandfather.Sinceshelostcustodyofherchildren,_C.L.H._Ԁhasvacillatedoverwhetherornotherfathersexuallyabusedherdaughter,eventhoughsheherselfhadcomplainedofthesameconductbyherfatherwhenshewastwelve._C.L.H._Ԁhaslivedwithherfatherontwooccasionssince1993andhaspermittedherfathertobabysitheryoungestchildwhohasnotbeenplacedinfostercare._C.L.H._sactionssince1993indicatethatshehasnotacquiredanadequateunderstandingofherownandherdaughtersvictimizationatthehandsofherfather. _C.L.H._sdecisiontomovebacktoOhiohasnotmateriallyimprovedtheprospectsthatshewill,inthenearfuture,beableto_remediate_Ԁtheproblemsthatcausedhertolosecustodyofherthreeoldestchildrenin1993.ShehasbecomeestrangedfromhermotherandbrotherwholiveinOhioandisnowlivingonherownwithsupportfrompublicassistance.ShehasmovedthreetimessincereturningtoOhio;shehasbeenunabletoholddownsteadyemployment;andshehasapparentlydiscontinuedhercounselingsessions.Eventhough_C.L.H._sphysicalsurroundingsmayhaveimproved,therepresentativeoftheAthensCountyChildrenServicesBoardstronglyrecommendedagainstreunitingherwithherchildren.Thisrecommendationwasbasedon(1)_C.L.H._s totallackofsupportfromfamilyorfriends,(2)her apparentreluctancetobelievethatherfathercouldbeasexualabuser,(3)herpossibleinabilityorunwillingness toprotectherchildreniftheyshouldbevictimizedbyanyonesignificantinherlife,and(4)herfailuretoevenmakeanattempttogotocounselingsincemovingbacktoOhio. Thethreechildrenwhoareattheheartofthisproceedingarenowbetweenfiveandnineyearsofage.Theywereremovedfromtheirmotherscustodyalmostfiveyearsago.Duringthattime,thesechildrenhavebeeninfostercarelimbowhiletheirmotherhasmaderepeated,unsuccessfulattemptstodemonstratethattheirinterestswillbebestservedbyreturningthemtoher.Nothingistobegainedbygiving_C.L.H._Ԁyetanotherchancetodemonstrateherfitnesswhentherecordcontainsnoobjectivebasisforconcludingthatshemightsucceedthistime.Afterfivelongyearsoffostercare,thesethreechildrendeserveachancetobeintegratedintoastableandpermanenthome.@ IV.  Asafinalmatter,_C.L.H._Ԁassertsthatthejuvenilejudgeshouldhavecontinuedthecasetoenablehertopresentsomecorroboratingproofofherassertionsthatshehasreturnedtocounselingandthatshehasfoundstableemployment._C.L.H._ԀhadamplenoticethattheDepartmentofChildrensServiceshadfiledapetitiontoterminateherparentalrightsandwaswellawareofthepurposeoftheproceedings.Asfarasthisrecordshows,nothingpreventedherorherlawyerfromassemblingtheproofneededtorebuttheDepartmentsclaimforremovalunderTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A).Accordingly,thejuvenilecourtdidnoterrbydecliningtodelaytheproceedingtoenablehertoobtainadditionalproof.Evenhad_C.L.H._Ԁconvincedthejuvenilejudgethatshewasemployedandthatshehadreturnedtocounseling,theseactivitieswouldnothaveunderminedtheDepartmentsclearandconvincingevidencethatherchildrenhadbeenremovedfromhercustodyformorethansixmonths,thattheconditionsrequiringtheirremovalpersistedandwerenotlikelytoberemediedatanearlydate,andthatterminating_C.L.H._sparentalrightswouldimprovethechildrenschancesofearlyintegrationintoastableandpermanenthome.@ V.  Weaffirmthefinaldecreeofguardianshipterminating_C.L.H._sparentalrightswithregardto_S.M.L._,C.B.L.,and_D.K.J._Ԁandremandthecasetothejuvenilecourtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired.WealsotaxthecostsofthisappealtotheDepartmentofChildrensServices.      _______________________________      WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGECONCURS:________________________________BENH.CANTRELL,JUDGECONCURSINSEPARATEOPINION:HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGEMIDDLESECTION