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ŠŌ_ŌTamberleyŌ_Ō€Daniels.€€In€1991,€Ms.€Daniels€left€Mr.€Carroll,€and€the€parties€were€divorced€in€1993.€Š #`" ŠMs.€Daniels€has€not€seen€A.€or€C.€since€she€separated€from€Mr.€Carroll€in€1991.€€In€January€1993,Š ü#L# ŠMs.€Daniels€pled€guilty€to€two€counts€of€statutory€rape,€same€being€the€result€of€a€game€of€š štruth€orŠ č$8 $ Šdarešš€with€a€group€of€teenagers.€€In€May€1993,€the€Final€Decree€of€Divorce€was€entered€providingŠ Ō%$!% Šthat€Mr.€Carroll€was€to€have€custody€of€A.€and€C.€and€that€Ms.€Daniels€was€to€have€no€visitation€withŠ Ą&"& Šthem.Š ¬'ü"' ŠĢą  ąIn€September€1998,€A.€and€C.€were€taken€into€state€custody€because€they€had€both€beenŠ „)Ō$) Šsexually€abused€by€their€father,€Jeff€Carroll.€€Ms.€Daniels€first€became€aware€that€her€children€wereŠ p*Ą%* Šin€state€custody€when€she€was€sued€by€the€state€for€child€support€in€June€of€1999.Š \+¬&+ ŠĢŠ 4-„(-ż ŠŌ_Ōą  ąOn€June€15,€2000,€the€Department€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€Ms.€Danielsšš€parental€rights,Š ° ŠJeff€Carroll€having€already€surrendered€his€parental€rights.€€The€case€was€tried€before€the€JuvenileŠ œģ ŠCourt€of€Hickman€County€on€December€6,€2000,€and€on€January€29,€2001,€the€trial€court€entered€anŠ ˆŲ ŠOrder€terminating€the€parental€rights€of€Tamberley€Daniels€and€making€extensive€findings€of€factŠ tÄ Šand€conclusions€of€law€as€follows:Š `° ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąAt€the€time€of€this€hearing€on€December€6,€2000,€[A.]€Carroll€is€fourteen€(14)Š 8 ˆ Šyears€of€age€and€[C.]€Carroll€is€ten€(10)€years€of€age.€€The€proof€is€undisputed€thatŠ $ t Šduring€the€time€period€from€Ms.€Danielsšš€marriage€to€Mr.€Jeff€Carroll,€the€childrenššsŠ  ` Šbiological€father,€shortly€after€the€birth€of€[A.]€Carroll€on€May€10,€1986,€€throughŠ ü L  Šthese€partiesšš€divorce€on€May€11,€1993,€Ms.€Daniels€not€only€abused€the€children,Š č 8  Ši.e.,€Mr.€Gary€Carroll€testified€that€Ms.€Daniels€had€bitten€[C.]€Carroll€which€resultedŠ Ō$  Šin€a€referral€to€and€an€investigation€by€the€Department€at€that€time,€but€Ms.€DanielsŠ Ą  Šalso€physically€abandoned€her€children€by€leaving€them€in€the€care€of€Mr.€CarrollŠ ¬ü  Šand/or€the€childrenššs€paternal€grandparents,€Gary€and€Joyce€Carroll,€for€months€at€aŠ ˜č  Štime.€€It€is€further€undisputed€that€Ms.€Daniels€left€her€husband€and€her€children€forŠ „Ō  Šthe€final€time€during€1991€and€has€not€seen€her€children€since€that€time.€€[A.]€CarrollŠ pĄ Šwas€approximately€five€(5)€years€old,€and€[C.]€Carroll€was€approximately€eighteenŠ \¬ Š(18)€months€old.€€Moreover,€it€is€significant€to€note€that€Ms.€Daniels€voluntarily€gaveŠ H˜ Šup€physical€custody€of€her€children€and€voluntarily€agreed€to€relinquish€any€and€allŠ 4„ Švisitation€privileges€with€her€children€in€the€partiesšš€Final€Judgment€of€divorce€filedŠ  p Šwith€the€Chancery€Court€of€Hickman€County,€Tennessee,€on€May€11,€1993.€Š  \ ŠAlthough€said€Final€Judgment€reflects€the€language€š šat€this€time,šš€it€is€furtherŠ ųH Šundisputed€that€Ms.€Daniels€has€never€had€a€job€and€in€fact€has€been€receivingŠ ä4 Šdisability€income€since€1989.€€The€Final€Judgment€further€provided€that€inasmuchŠ Š  Šas€Ms.€Daniels€was€unable€to€provide€for€her€children,€no€child€support€was€set.€€ItŠ ¼  Šis€also€significant€to€note€that€on€January€26,€1993,€Ms.€Daniels€pled€guilty€to€two€(2)Š Øų Šcounts€of€statutory€rape€involving€other€non„related€minor€children€and€received€aŠ ”ä Šsentence€of€probation,€community€service€and€a€requirement€to€obtain€psychologicalŠ €Š Šcounseling.Šl¼Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąIn€late€September,€1998,€the€Department€removed€these€children€from€theirŠ X Ø Šbiological€father,€Jeff€Carroll,€as€the€result€of€allegations€of€sexual€abuse€by€Mr.Š D!” ŠCarroll€against€the€children.€€The€Department€in€its€pleadings€alleged€that€theŠ 0"€  Šwhereabouts€of€Ms.€Daniels€was€unknown€at€the€time.€€Thereafter,€in€scheduling€aŠ #l! ŠStaffing€to€discuss€a€Permanency€Plan€for€the€children,€in€October,€1998,€theŠ $X" ŠDepartmentššs€notice€to€Ms.€Danielššs€last€known€address€was€returned€to€theŠ ō$D # ŠDepartment€with€the€notation€š šinsufficient€address.šš€€The€Department€was€thereforeŠ ą%0!$ Šunable€to€locate€Ms.€Daniels.€€The€children€were€placed€in€foster€care€at€that€time€andŠ Ģ&"% Šcontinue€to€remain€the€legal€custody€of€the€Department.€€During€July€1999,€Ms.Š ø'#& ŠDaniels€was€served€with€a€petition€seeking€child€support€by€the€State€of€TennesseeŠ ¤(ō#' Šdue€to€the€fact€that€her€children€were€in€the€custody€of€the€Department.€€Ms.Š )ą$( ŠHalbrooks€testified€that€she€received€her€first€contact€from€Ms.€Daniels€on€or€aboutŠ |*Ģ%) ŠNovember€30,€1999.€€Ms.€Daniels€requested€a€visit€with€[A.].€€Ms.€Halbrooks€furtherŠ h+ø&* Štestified€that€due€to€the€Chancery€Court€Final€Judgment€wherein€Ms.€Daniels€did€notŠ ° Šreceive€visitation€privileges,€as€well€as€the€fact€that€Ms.€Daniels€had€pled€guilty€toŠ œģ Šstatutory€rape€charges€in€1993,€and€lastly,€because€Ms.€Daniels€had€not€seen€herŠ ˆŲ Šchildren€since€1991,€that€the€Departmentššs€position€was€that€Ms.€Daniels€could€notŠ tÄ Šhave€a€visit€with€[A.]€and€that€Ms.€Daniels€needed€to€obtain€an€attorney.€€Ms.Š `° ŠHalbrooks€did€ask€and€receive€from€Ms.€Daniels€her€current€address€and€phoneŠ L œ Šnumber;€however,€Ms.€Daniels€hung€up€on€Ms.€Halbrooks.€€It€was€not€until€April,Š 8 ˆ Š2000,€that€Ms.€Daniels€again€contacted€the€Department€in€response€to€a€notificationŠ $ t Šfrom€the€Department.€€During€April€and€May,€2000,€Ms.€Halbrooks€did€discuss€withŠ  ` ŠMs.€Daniels€that€if€in€fact€Ms.€Daniels€was€indigent€and€could€not€afford€an€attorney,Š ü L  Ša€procedure€existed€for€Ms.€Daniels€to€ask€the€Court€for€an€attorney.€€Ms.€HalbrooksŠ č 8  Šforwarded€to€Ms.€Daniels€an€Affidavit€of€Indigency€and€informed€Ms.€Daniels€thatŠ Ō$  Šshe€needed€to€fill€it€out€and€take€it€to€the€Courthouse€in€an€attempt€to€obtain€a€court„Š Ą  Šappointed€attorney.€€Ms.€Daniels€did€not€complete€the€form€and€take€it€to€theŠ ¬ü  ŠCourthouse.€€It€was€not€until€the€Department€filed€the€Petition€to€Terminate€ParentalŠ ˜č  ŠRights€on€June€15,€2000,€to€which€was€attached€instructions€to€Ms.€Daniels€regardingŠ „Ō  Šthe€appointment€of€an€attorney,€that€Ms.€Daniels€contacted€the€undersigned€relativeŠ pĄ Što€needing€an€attorney.€€In€response,€the€Department€filed€a€Motion€herein€asking€theŠ \¬ ŠCourt€to€appoint€counsel€for€Ms.€Daniels€if€in€fact€Ms.€Daniels€was€indigent.€€TheŠ H˜ ŠCourt€first€appointed€Attorney€Dana€Dye,€but€due€to€a€conflict€of€interest,€Ms.€DyeŠ 4„ Šcould€not€represent€Ms.€Daniels.€€The€Court€thereafter€in€July€2000,€appointed€Ms.Š  p ŠDaniels€her€current€attorney,€John€Cauley,€to€represent€Ms.€Daniels€in€thisŠ  \ Štermination€proceeding.ŠųHŠ Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąWith€respect€to€Ms.€Danielsšš€attempted€contacts€with€her€children,€Ms.Š ä4 ŠDaniels€testified€that€she€has€sent€birthday€cards€to€her€children€via€Ms.€Joyce€CarrollŠ Š  Šand€that€she€had€otherwise€on€occasion€sent€Christmas€presents,€but€not€every€year.€Š ¼  ŠFurther,€it€was€not€until€April€of€2000€that€Ms.€Daniels€became€interested€in€theŠ Øų ŠFoster€Care€Review€Board€meetings,€several€of€which€she€did€attend.€€However,€theŠ ”ä Šproof€showed€that€the€Board€recommended€that€Ms.€Daniels€obtain€an€attorney€andŠ €Š Šthat€due€to€the€substantial€length€of€time€since€Ms.€Daniels€had€seen€her€children,€andŠ l¼ Šthe€fact€that€the€children€were€having€significant€emotional€and/or€psychologicalŠ X Ø Šproblems€necessitated€not€only€by€the€alleged€abuse€by€Jeff€Carroll€against€theŠ D!” Šchildren,€but€also€due€to€the€abandonment€issues€by€Ms.€Daniels,€that€it€was€not€inŠ 0"€  Šthe€childrenššs€best€interest€to€see€their€mother.€€It€is€further€significant€to€note€that€onŠ #l! Šor€about€April€3,€2000,€Jeff€Carroll€surrendered€his€parental€rights€to€the€children€toŠ $X" Šthe€Department.€€Although€the€Department€was€aware€as€early€as€November,€1999,Š ō$D # Šthat€Mr.€Carroll€may€surrender€his€parental€rights,€nevertheless€the€Departmentššs€goalŠ ą%0!$ Šremained€š šreunificationšš€to€Mr.€Carroll€until€Mr.€Carroll€surrendered€his€rights€inŠ Ģ&"% ŠApril€of€2000.€€During€this€time€frame,€Ms.€Gossett€testified€that€she€and€her€husbandŠ ø'#& Šhad€satisfied€the€prerequisites€of€becoming€foster€parents€and€these€children€had€inŠ ¤(ō#' Šfact€been€placed€in€their€home.€€The€Gossettššs€had€also€expressed€a€desire€to€adoptŠ )ą$( Šthese€children€inasmuch€as€they€had€been€involved€in€the€childrenššs€lives€for€aŠ |*Ģ%) Šsubstantial€number€of€years,€loved€these€children,€and€wanted€to€give€these€childrenŠ h+ø&* Ša€š špermanentšš€home€and€a€sense€of€belonging€and€otherwise€a€sense€of€security€inŠ ° Šthat€their€home€would€be€a€š šfinalšš€home.€€Moreover,€both€children€refer€to€theŠ œģ ŠGossettššs€as€š šMom€and€Dadšš€and€both€have€expressed€a€desire€to€be€adopted€by€theŠ ˆŲ ŠGossettššs.€€Although€[A.]€Carroll€continues€to€reside€in€the€Gossett€home€and€isŠ tÄ Šdoing€fairly€well€at€the€present€time€according€to€Ms.€Gossett€and€[A.]ššs€therapist,Š `° ŠMiriam€Gallager,€[C.]€Carroll€had€to€be€removed€from€the€Gossett€home€over€theŠ L œ Šsummer€of€2000€due€to€continued€and€substantial€problems€and€in€fact€is€presentlyŠ 8 ˆ Šhospitalized€at€Middle€Tennessee€Mental€Health€Institute€in€Nashville,€Tennessee,Š $ t Šawaiting€an€involuntary€commitment€hearing€scheduled€for€December€15,€2000.Š  ` Š[C.]ššs€therapist,€Leslie€Rice,€testified€that€she€had€personally€recommended€a€long„Š ü L  Šterm,€in„patient€commitment/hospitalization€due€to€[C.]ššs€severe€emotional€andŠ č 8  Špsychological€problems€associated€both€with€the€alleged€abuse€by€Jeff€Carroll,€butŠ Ō$  Šalso€with€the€abandonment€issues€arising€from€the€fact€that€[C.]€has€no€concept€ofŠ Ą  Šwhat€a€mother€is€due€to€the€fact€she€has€not€seen€her€mother€since€she€was€a€baby€andŠ ¬ü  Šdoes€not€remember€her€mother.€€Both€Ms.€Rice€and€Ms.€Gallager€testified€that€neitherŠ ˜č  Šchild€should€be€ordered€or€forced€in€any€way€to€see,€visit€with€or€have€any€contactŠ „Ō  Šwith€Ms.€Daniels€until€each€child€is€ready,€and€that€each€child€should€be€allowed€toŠ pĄ Šinitiate€any€such€contact.€€Moreover,€Ms.€Gossett€testified€that€she€and€her€family€areŠ \¬ Šnot€vengeful€or€hostile€toward€Ms.€Daniels,€and€that€if€she€and€her€husband€areŠ H˜ Šallowed€to€adopt€these€children,€that€she€would€certainly€approve€of€and€facilitate€aŠ 4„ Šrenewed€relationship€between€these€children€and€their€mother€when€each€child€wasŠ  p Šready€and€on€the€condition€that€each€childššs€therapist€approved€thereof.Š \Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąAs€to€Ms.€Danielsšš€current€circumstances,€she€testified€that€she€lives€in€a€twoŠ ųH Š(2)€bedroom€trailer€in€Hickman€County€with€her€boyfriend/fiance`€and€that€she€mayŠ ä4 Šbe€getting€married€some€time€in€the€year€2001.€€Ms.€Daniels€further€confirmed€thatŠ Š  Šher€disability€income€is€approximately€$500.00€per€month€and€that€her€monthly€billsŠ ¼  Šare€approximately€$500.00€per€month,€yet€Ms.€Daniels€testified€that€she€can€provideŠ Øų Šfinancially€for€the€children.€€Ms.€Daniels€has€paid€no€child€support€for€these€childrenŠ ”ä Šdue€to€her€disability€and€limited€income€and€due€to€the€fact€that€the€Chancery€CourtŠ €Š Šin€the€divorce€action€referenced€above€did€not€order€that€she€pay€child€support.€€Ms.Š l¼ ŠDaniels€testified€that€the€basis€for€her€disability€income€is€a€š šnerve€conditionšš€or€aŠ X Ø Šš šmanic€depressionšš€condition,€but€that€she€has€not€taken€any€medication€for€same€inŠ D!” Šover€a€year.€€Ms.€Daniels€further€testified€that€she€does€not€have€a€driverššs€license€norŠ 0"€  Ša€vehicle.€€She€also€testified€that€she€keeps€a€loaded€gun€in€her€home€due€to€whereŠ #l! Šshe€lives,€implying€that€same€may€not€be€safe.€€Ms.€Daniels€further€testified€that€sheŠ $X" Šwants€a€chance€to€š šraisešš€her€children€and€that€the€children€need€to€be€given€a€chanceŠ ō$D # Što€š šjust€be€children.šš€€Upon€cross„examination€by€the€Guardian€ad€Litem,€Robert€H.Š ą%0!$ ŠLewis,€Jr.,€Ms.€Daniels€reluctantly€conceded€that€all€things€considered,€we€are€passedŠ Ģ&"% Šthe€point€of€ideally€raising€these€children€and€expecting€the€children€to€just€beŠ ø'#& Šchildren,€that€there€were€too€many€unresolved€problems€and€that€these€children€areŠ ¤(ō#' Šseriously€fragile€children.Š)ą$(Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą2.€€That€the€Petition€to€terminate€parental€rights€is€well€taken€and€same€isŠ |*Ģ%) Šhereby€granted€for€the€following€reason:Šh+ø&*Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąą ø ą(a)€Abandonment€by€said€Tamberley€Lorraine€(Carroll)€Daniels€asŠ ° Šdefined€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€36„1„102€has€occurred.€€Tennessee€CodeŠ œģ ŠAnnotated€36„1„102€(1)€(A)€(i)€defines€abandonment€as€follows:ŠˆŲŠ Š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąą8 ø ąFor€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€monthsŠ `° Šimmediately€preceding€the€filing€of€a€proceeding€orŠ L œ Špleading€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€theŠ 8 ˆ Šparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€the€subjectŠ $ t Šof€the€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€orŠ  ` Šadoption,€that€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€either€haveŠ ü L  Šwillfully€failed€to€visit€or€have€willfully€failed€toŠ č 8  Šsupport€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€theŠ Ō$  Šsupport€of€the€child;ŠĄ ø ø  ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąFurther,€the€term€abandonment€is€limited€in€scope€by€Tennessee€CodeŠ ˜č  ŠAnnotated€36„1„102€(G)€as€follows:Š„Ō Š Š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąą8 ø ąš šAbandonmentšš€and€š šabandonment€of€an€infantšš€doŠ \¬ Šnot€have€any€other€definition€except€that€which€is€setŠ H˜ Šforth€in€this€section,€it€being€the€intent€of€the€generalŠ 4„ Šassembly€to€establish€the€only€grounds€forŠ  p Šabandonment€by€statutory€definition.€€Specifically,€itŠ  \ Šshall€not€be€required€that€a€parent€be€shown€to€haveŠ ųH Ševinced€a€settled€purpose€to€forego€all€parental€rightsŠ ä4 Šresponsibilities€in€order€for€a€determination€ofŠ Š  Šabandonment€to€be€made.€€Decisions€of€any€court€toŠ ¼  Šthe€contrary€are€hereby€legislatively€overruled.€ŠØųø ø  ŠĢą8  ąą ` ąIn€light€of€ņņIn€re€Swansonóó,€2€S.W.€3d€180€(Tenn.€1999),€and€ņņEx€ParteŠ €Š ŠWolfendenóó,€349€S.W.€2d€713€(Tenn.€App.€1959),€the€factors€to€consider€whether€aŠ l¼ Šparent€has€abandoned€a€child€are:€(1)€whether€a€parent€had€the€ability€to€support€aŠ X Ø Šchild;€(2)€the€amount€of€support€provided;€(3)€the€extent€and€nature€of€the€contactŠ D!” Šbetween€the€parent€and€the€child;€(4)€the€frequency€of€gifts;€(5)€whether€the€parentŠ 0"€  Švoluntarily€relinquished€custody€of€the€child;€(6)€the€length€of€time€the€child€has€beenŠ #l! Šseparated€from€the€parent;€and€(7)€the€home€environment€and€conduct€of€the€parentŠ $X" Šprior€to€removal.Šō$D #Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą3.€€The€Court€further€finds€and€adopts€the€following€language€fromŠ ą%0!$ Špetitionerššs€Post€Trial€Brief:ŠĢ&"%Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąNot€only€did€Ms.€Daniels€not€visit€these€children€for€the€four€(4)€precedingŠ ø'#& Šmonths€prior€to€the€termination€action€being€filed€on€June€15,€2000,€Ms.€Daniels€hadŠ ¤(ō#' Šnot,€by€her€own€voluntary€relinquishment€of€custody€and€visitation€privileges,€evenŠ )ą$( Šseen€her€children€since€the€1993€divorce€action,€but€by€her€own€testimony,€she€hadŠ |*Ģ%) Šnot€seen€her€children€since€1991.€€To€say€that€the€Departmentššs€refusal€to€allowŠ h+ø&* Švisitation€to€Ms.€Daniels€given€the€factual€circumstances€of€this€case€and€the€fragileŠ ° Šcondition€of€these€children€somehow€redeems€the€conduct€of€Ms.€Daniels€over€theŠ œģ Šcourse€of€approximately€nine€(9)€years€is€absurd.€€Ms.€Daniels€created€the€gulfŠ ˆŲ Šbetween€herself€and€her€children,€even€to€the€point€of€voluntarily€relinquishingŠ tÄ Šcustody€and€visitation€privileges€in€1993.€€Ms.€Daniels€is€attempting€to€place€blameŠ `° Šon€the€Department€for€her€unfortunate€decisions€over€the€course€of€the€entire€lives€ofŠ L œ Šthese€children.€€Such€blame€for€the€total€lack€of€any€parental€involvement€and/orŠ 8 ˆ Šresponsibility€can€only€be€assessed€against€Ms.€Daniels.Š$ tŠ Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąMoreover,€it€is€abundantly€clear€that€the€best€interest€of€these€children€restsŠ  ` Šwith€Mr.€And€Ms.€Gossett€and€their€love€and€devotion€to€these€children€and€theŠ ü L  Šmutual€desire€by€the€Gossettššs€and€the€children€for€the€Gossettššs€to€adopt€theseŠ č 8  Šchildren.€€T.C.A.€Section€36„1„113(i)€enumerates€a€number€of€factors€to€be€reviewedŠ Ō$  Šby€the€Court€in€determining€whether€the€proposed€termination€is€in€the€best€interestsŠ Ą  Šof€these€children.€€In€review,€termination€of€Ms.€Danielsšš€parental€rights€is€mostŠ ¬ü  Šdefinitely€in€the€childrenššs€best€interest.Š˜č Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąAssuming€arguendo€that€the€reasonable€efforts€requirement€does€apply€in€thisŠ „Ō  Šcase,€and€further€relates€to€the€Departmentššs€obligation€to€exercise€reasonable€effortsŠ pĄ Što€reunify€children€with€parents€ņņprior€toóó€seeking€a€termination€of€parental€rights,€theŠ \¬ ŠDepartment€relies€upon€a€number€of€provisions€contained€within€Title€37€whichŠ H˜ Šindicate€that€reasonable€efforts€are€to€be€made€to€reunify€children€to€the€home€fromŠ 4„ Šwhich€they€were€removed.€€For€example,€T.C.A.€Section€37„1„170,€ņņJoinder€of€parentsŠ  p Šin€juvenile€court€actionsóó,€provides€that€if€a€parent€or€guardian€cannot€be€found,€theŠ  \ ŠCourt€may€proceed€with€the€case€without€such€person.€€This€section€goes€on€to€defineŠ ųH Ša€parent€as€including€a€natural€parent€š šwho€has€sole€custody€or€joint€custody.šš€Š ä4 ŠAdditionally,€in€Section€37„1„117,€which€addresses€the€Departmentššs€obligation€toŠ Š  Šconduct€a€preliminary€hearing€in€a€dependent€and€neglect€case€within€three€(3)€daysŠ ¼  Šafter€a€childššs€removal,€the€exact€language€provides€that€š šif€a€child€alleged€to€beŠ Øų Šdependent€and€neglected€is€removed€from€the€custody€of€such€childššs€parent,Š ”ä Šguardian€or€legal€custodian.€€It€is€contemplated€that€a€non„custodial€parent€obviouslyŠ €Š Šis€not€afforded€the€same€protection€or€inclusion€into€the€process€as€is€the€custodialŠ l¼ Šparent.€€In€Section€37„1„128(2),€which€addresses€the€probable€cause€standard€to€beŠ X Ø Šutilized€at€the€preliminary€hearing€involving€an€alleged€dependent€and€neglectedŠ D!” Šchild,€if€the€court€finds€probable€cause€to€believe€that€the€child€is€dependent€andŠ 0"€  Šneglected,€š šthe€court€may€order€that€the€child€be€removed€from€the€custody€of€theŠ #l! Šchildššs€parent€.€.€.šš€€Even€in€T.C.A.€Section€37„1„166,€i.e.,€the€reasonable€effortsŠ $X" Šstatute,€specifically€at€37„1„166€(d)€(3),€the€statute€states€that€whenever€the€court€isŠ ō$D # Šmaking€a€reasonable€effort€determination,€the€court€must€find,€among€other€things,Š ą%0!$ Šthat€the€š šcontinuation€of€the€childššs€custody€with€the€parent€or€legal€custodian€isŠ Ģ&"% Šcontrary€to€the€best€interest€of€the€child.šš€€(Emphasis€added)€Very€clearly,€theseŠ ø'#& Šstatutes€pertaining€to€removal€of€children€allegedly€dependent€and€neglected€applyŠ ¤(ō#' Što€the€š šcustodial€parent.šš€€Ms.€Daniels€was€not€even€a€necessary€party.€€TheŠ )ą$( Šreasonable€efforts€analysis,€as€well€as€the€reunification€analysis,€overwhelminglyŠ |*Ģ%) Šapply€to€the€custodial€parent€and€the€home€that€the€child€was€removed€from,€not€toŠ h+ø&* Šthe€non„custodial€parent€or€the€non„custodial€parentššs€home.Š°Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąLastly,€the€Department€would€further€contend€that€arguably€Ms.€Daniels€wasŠ œģ Šnot€even€afforded€the€protection€of€Rule€13(d),€Tennessee€Rules€of€the€SupremeŠ ˆŲ ŠCourt,€which€provides€for€the€appointment€of€counsel€in€dependent€and€neglectŠ tÄ Šproceedings.€€More€specifically,€Rule€13(d)€(7)€provides€that€a€š špartyšš€withoutŠ `° Šcounsel€should€receive€advice€from€the€Court€that€that€š špartyšš€has€the€right€to€beŠ L œ Šrepresented€and€that€counsel€will€be€appointed€if€the€š špartyšš€is€indigent€and€requestsŠ 8 ˆ Šan€attorney€.€.€.€€In€cases€under€Title€37€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€in€whichŠ $ t Šallegations€against€the€parents€could€result€in€finding€the€child€dependent€andŠ  ` Šneglected,€or€in€which€there€is€a€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights.€Š ü L  Š(Emphasis€added)€Not€only€was€Ms.€Daniels€not€a€party€to€the€underlying€dependentŠ č 8  Šand€neglect€proceeding,€there€were€no€allegations€made€against€Ms.€Daniels€in€saidŠ Ō$  Šproceeding.€€The€Department€thus€distinguishes€this€case€from€the€dependent€andŠ Ą  Šneglect€case€wherein€both€parents€are€custodial€parents€or€legal€guardians,€or€oneŠ ¬ü  Šparent€is€the€custodial€parent€and€the€other€parent€has€at€a€minimum€visitationŠ ˜č  Šprivileges€and€there€exists€an€on„going€relationship€between€the€non„custodial€parentŠ „Ō  Šand€the€child€or€children€who€have€been€removed€from€the€custodial€parentššs€home.€Š pĄ ŠMs.€Daniels€had€no€custodial€rights€or€visitation€rights,€by€her€own€voluntaryŠ \¬ Šrelinquishment€of€same,€for€five€(5)€years€prior€to€the€September,€1998,€removal€ofŠ H˜ Šthese€children€from€Mr.€Carrollššs€control.€€Even€prior€to€the€1993€divorce,€Ms.Š 4„ ŠDaniels€had€not€even€see[n]€her€children,€again€voluntarily,€although€she€had€equalŠ  p Šrights€to€them€with€Mr.€Carroll,€for€two€(2)€years€approximately.€€The€DepartmentŠ  \ Šcontends€that€it€has€not€violated€any€due€process€rights€that€Ms.€Daniels€may€assertŠ ųH Šthat€she€had€when€these€children€were€removed€from€Mr.€Carroll€in€1998,€nor€has€theŠ ä4 ŠDepartment€failed€to€exercise€reasonable€efforts€to€reunify€these€children€with€Ms.Š Š  ŠDaniels€inasmuch€as€the€reasonable€efforts€statute€plainly€states€that€reasonableŠ ¼  Šefforts€are€to€be€made€to€reunify€the€child€into€the€home€from€which€the€child€wasŠ Øų Šremoved,€i.e.,€the€custodial€parentššs€home.€€Moreover,€the€ASFA€reasonable€effortsŠ ”ä Šstatute€and€the€Tennessee€counterpart€both€place€the€safety€of€the€children€as€theŠ €Š Šš šparamountšš€concern.€€Very€clearly,€these€children€could€not€simply€š švisitšš€with€theirŠ l¼ Šmother€when€Ms.€Daniels€contacted€the€Department€in€November€of€1999.ŠX ØŠ Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą3.€€The€Court€further€finds€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€theŠ D!” Šrespondent,€Tamberley€Lo[r]raine€(Carroll)€Daniels,€has€abandoned€her€children€inŠ 0"€  Šaccordance€with€the€Tennessee€statutes€provided.Š#l!Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą4.€€The€Court€further€finds€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€theŠ $X" Štermination€of€her€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children.Šō$D #Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą5.€€The€Court€further€finds€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€Ms.€DanielsŠ ą%0!$ Šhas€failed€without€good€cause€or€excuse€to€make€reasonable€and€consistent€paymentsŠ Ģ&"% Šof€child€support€and€failed€to€seek€reasonable€visitation€with€the€children.Šø'#&Š Š  Š€ą8  ąą ` ą6.€€The€Court€further€finds€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€placingŠ ¤(ō#' Šcustody€of€the€children€in€the€legal€and€physical€custody€of€said€Tamberley€LorraineŠ )ą$( Š(Carroll)€Daniels€would€pose€a€risk€of€substantial€harm€to€the€physical€andŠ |*Ģ%) Špsychological€welfare€of€the€children.Šh+ø&*Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą7.€€The€Court€further€finds€that€the€Department€of€Childrenššs€Services€haveŠ ° Šmade€reasonable€efforts€in€all€matters€herein.ŠœģŠ Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąIT€IS,€THEREFORE,€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€AND€DECREED€that€theŠ ˆŲ Šparental€rights€of€Tamberley€Lorraine€(Carroll)€Daniels€with€regard€to€the€minorŠ tÄ Šchildren,€namely,€[A.]€Carroll,€date€of€birth€5/10/86,€and€[C.]€Carroll,€date€of€birthŠ `° Š2/13/90,€is€hereby€terminated.ŠL œŠ Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąIT€IS€FURTHER€ORDERED€that€the€said€children€be€placed€in€the€temporaryŠ 8 ˆ Šcustody€of€Davy€and€Michelle€Gossett€who€reside€in€Hickman€County€and€the€StateŠ $ t Šmay€proceed€with€the€adoption€of€said€children.€Š `Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ąIT€IS€FURTHER€ORDERED€that€cost€is€taxed€to€the€Petitioner€for€whichŠ ü L  Šexecution€may€enter.Šč 8 Š Š  ŠĢą  ąThis€case€comes€before€the€appellate€courts€with€a€recognition€that€parents€have€aŠ Ą  Šfundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody€and€control€of€their€children.€€ņņStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,Š ¬ü  Š92€S.Ct.€1208,€31€L.Ed.2d€551€(1972).€€This€right€is€not€absolute,€and€parental€rights€may€beŠ ˜č  Šterminated€if€the€court€determines€that€statutory€grounds€exist€for€such€termination€and€that€suchŠ „Ō  Štermination€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children.€€Both€the€grounds€for€termination€and€a€finding€ofŠ pĄ Šthe€best€interests€of€the€children€must€be€established€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€This€isŠ \¬ Ševidence€which€š šeliminates€any€serious€or€substantial€doubt€concerning€the€correctness€of€theŠ H˜ Šconclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€evidence.šš€€ņņOššDaniel€v.€Messieróó,€905€S.W.2d€182,€188€(Tenn.€Ct.Š 4„ ŠApp.€1995).Š  p ŠĢą  ąThe€case€comes€before€the€Court€of€Appeals,€ņņde€novo,óó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumptionŠ ųH Šof€correctness€of€the€trial€court€under€T.R.A.P.€Rule€13(d),€augmented€by€the€necessity€of€this€CourtŠ ä4 Šfinding,€in€accord€with€the€clear,€cogent€and€convincing€evidence€standard,€that€the€appellee€hasŠ Š  Šcarried€the€burden€of€proof,€that€it€is€š šhighly€probablešš€that€the€evidence€establishes€grounds€forŠ ¼  Štermination,€and€that€such€termination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€€ņņEstate€of€Acuff€v.Š Øų ŠOššLingeróó,€56€S.W.3d€527,€534„37€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).Š ”ä ŠĢą  ąIt€is€difficult€to€imagine€more€egregious€circumstances,€or€more€tragic€results,€than€thoseŠ l¼ Šinflicted€upon€A.€and€C.€in€this€case.€€When€one€was€of€pre„school€age€and€the€other€an€infant€inŠ X Ø Š1991,€their€mother€simply€disappeared€from€their€lives€leaving€them€in€the€custody€of€their€father.€Š D!” ŠTwo€years€later,€without€ever€seeing€the€children€and€having€been€convicted€of€two€counts€ofŠ 0"€  Šstatutory€rape€involving€two€teenage€boys,€she€was€stripped€of€all€rights€even€to€visit€with€A.€and€C.€Š #l! ŠThey€were€left€to€the€tender€mercies€of€Jeff€Carroll,€their€father,€who€sexually€abused€both€of€themŠ $X" Šuntil€they€were€finally€rescued€in€September€of€1998€by€the€Department€of€Childrenššs€Services.Š ō$D # ŠĢą  ąNot€surprisingly,€the€Department€inherited€two€very€troubled€young€girls€who€required€in„Š Ģ&"% Špatient€psychiatric€hospitalization€for€being€suicidal€and,€in€the€case€of€C.,€suicidal€and€homicidal.€Š ø'#& ŠTheir€aunt€and€uncle,€Michelle€and€David€Gossett,€have€struggled€valiantly€as€foster€parents.€€TheŠ ¤(ō#' Štragedy€is€magnified€by€the€fact€that€A.€is€apparently€a€well€motivated€young€lady,€maintaining€anŠ )ą$( Šacademic€A€and€B€average€in€school€in€spite€of€her€serious€psychological€problems,€which€have€been€Š |*Ģ%) Šexhibited€through€suicidal€and€self„injurious€behavior€that€her€therapist,€Miriam€Gallaher,€asserts€isŠ h+ø&* Ša€result€of€loss€of€self€esteem€related€to€abandonment€by€her€mother€and€father.€€C.€is€in€much€worseŠ ° Šcondition,€having€gone€through€a€long€series€of€foster€care€placements€and€repeated€in„patientŠ œģ Špsychiatric€hospitalizations.Š ˆŲ ŠĢą  ąMichelle€and€David€Gossett€still€wish€to€adopt€A.€and€C.,€though€they€were€compelled€to€askŠ `° Šthe€Department€of€Childrenššs€Services€to€hospitalize€C.€€€She€remained€hospitalized€at€the€time€ofŠ L œ Šthe€trial€of€this€case.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢą  ąFrom€the€time€she€left€her€children€in€1991€until€she€was€sued€by€the€State€of€Tennessee€forŠ  ` Šchild€support€in€June€of€1999,€Ms.€Daniels€had€no€contact€whatsoever€with€her€children€and€was€notŠ ü L  Ševen€aware€that€they€were€in€state€custody.€€Five€months€after€she€was€sued€for€child€support,€Ms.Š č 8  ŠDaniels€contacted€the€Department€of€Childrenššs€Services€to€inquire€about€visiting€with€A.€€BasedŠ Ō$  Šupon€the€childrenššs€fragile€emotional€state,€the€divorce€decree€and€the€fact€that€Ms.€Daniels€had€notŠ Ą  Šseen€her€children€in€eight€years,€the€Department€informed€Ms.€Daniels€on€December€1,€1999,€thatŠ ¬ü  Šshe€would€not€be€allowed€to€visit€A.€and€suggested€that€she€get€an€attorney.€Š ˜č  ŠĢą  ąIn€Tennessee,€a€court€may€terminate€parental€rights€when€a€parent€has€š šabandonedšš€a€childŠ pĄ Šas€defined€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€36„1„102.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€36„1„113(g)(1).€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Š \¬ Ššš€36„1„102(1)€defines€abandonment€to€occur€when:Š H˜ ŠĢą8  ąą ` ą(i)€For€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€theŠ  p Šfiling€of€a€proceeding€or€pleading€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€the€parent(s)€orŠ  \ Šguardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€the€subject€of€the€petition€for€termination€of€parentalŠ ųH Šrights€or€adoption,€€that€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€either€have€willfully€failed€toŠ ä4 Švisit€or€have€willfully€failed€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€theŠ Š  Šsupport€of€the€child;Š¼ Š Š  Šą  ąą ` ą.€.€.€.Š Øų Šą8  ąą ` ą(B)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€š štoken€supportšš€means€that€theŠ ”ä Šsupport,€under€the€circumstances€of€the€individual€case,€is€insignificant€given€theŠ €Š Šparentššs€means;Šl¼Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą(C)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€š štoken€visitationšš€means€that€theŠ X Ø Švisitation,€under€the€circumstances€of€the€individual€case,€constitutes€nothing€moreŠ D!” Šthan€perfunctory€visitation€or€visitation€of€such€an€infrequent€nature€or€of€such€shortŠ 0"€  Šduration€as€to€merely€establish€minimal€or€insubstantial€contact€with€the€child;Š#l!Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą(D)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€š šwillfully€failed€to€supportšš€orŠ $X" Šš šwillfully€failed€to€make€reasonable€payments€toward€such€childššs€supportšš€meansŠ ō$D # Šthat,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months,€no€monetary€support€was€paid€orŠ ą%0!$ Šthat€the€amount€of€support€paid€is€token€support;ŠĢ&"%Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą(E)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€š šwillfully€failed€to€visitšš€means€theŠ ø'#& Šwillful€failure,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months,€to€visit€or€engage€in€moreŠ ¤(ō#' Šthan€token€visitation;Š)ą$(Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą(F)€Abandonment€may€not€be€repented€of€by€resuming€visitation€or€supportŠ |*Ģ%) Šsubsequent€to€the€filing€of€any€petition€seeking€to€terminate€parental€or€guardianshipŠ h+ø&* Šrights€or€seeking€the€adoption€of€a€child;€andŠ°Š Š  Šą8  ąą ` ą(G)€š šAbandonmentšš€and€š šabandonment€of€an€infantšš€do€not€have€any€otherŠ œģ Šdefinition€except€that€which€is€set€forth€in€this€section,€it€being€the€intent€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šgeneral€assembly€to€establish€the€only€grounds€for€abandonment€by€statutoryŠ tÄ Šdefinition.€€Specifically,€it€shall€not€be€required€that€a€parent€be€shown€to€haveŠ `° Ševinced€a€settled€purpose€to€forego€all€parental€rights€and€responsibilities€in€order€forŠ L œ Ša€determination€of€abandonment€to€be€made.€€Decisions€of€any€court€to€the€contraryŠ 8 ˆ Šare€hereby€legislatively€overruled;Š$ tŠ Š  ŠĢTenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€36„1„102(1)(A)(i),€(B„G)(2001).Š ü L  ŠĢą  ąIn€1999,€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€found€the€definition€of€š šwillfully€failed€to€supportššŠ Ō$  Šcontained€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€šš€36„1„102(1)(D)€unconstitutional.€€ņņIn€re:€Swansonóó,€2€S.W.3d€180Š Ą  Š(Tenn.€1999).€€However,€the€ņņSwansonóó€decision€affected€only€the€portion€of€the€statute€that€definedŠ ¬ü  Šfailure€to€support€and€explicitly€left€the€rest€of€the€statute€intact,€including€the€grounds€for,€andŠ ˜č  Šdefinition€of,€abandonment€based€on€the€failure€to€visit.€€ņņSwansonóó,€2€S.W.3d€at€189.€€š šThe€effect€ofŠ „Ō  Šthe€Courtššs€decision€[in€ņņSwansonóó]€was€to€restore€the€definition€of€abandonment€as€it€[had]€existedŠ pĄ Šbefore€the€1995€amendment,€with€the€element€of€intent€intact.šš€€ņņIn€re€Menardóó,€29€S.W.3d€870,€874Š \¬ Š(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€Š H˜ ŠĢą  ąWhile€Ms.€Danielsšš€income€through€the€years,€and€specifically€in€the€last€four€monthsŠ  p Špreceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€to€terminate€her€parental€rights,€was€limited,€it€is€the€same€incomeŠ  \ Šthat€she€now€asserts€would€be€sufficient€for€her€to€support€her€children€if€she€could€just€get€themŠ ųH Šback.€€The€statute€relative€to€abandonment€does€not€require€court€ordered€support,€but€rather€willfulŠ ä4 Šfailure€to€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€children.€€Reasonable€payments,€ofŠ Š  Šcourse,€depend€upon€the€ability€of€the€parent€to€pay€support.€€However,€the€record€shows,€by€Ms.Š ¼  ŠDanielsšš€own€assertion,€that€she€had€the€ability€to€make€some€payments€toward€the€support€of€theŠ Øų Šchildren€in€the€four€months€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition€for€termination€and€did€not€do€so.€Š ”ä ŠSuch€failure€was€both€willful€and€intentional€without€resort€to€the€constitutionally€flawed€1995Š €Š Šamendment€to€the€statute€condemned€in€ņņSwansonóó.Š l¼ ŠĢą  ąMs.€Danielsšš€belated€efforts,€after€the€damage€had€already€been€done€by€over€eight€years€ofŠ D!” Šdeliberate€desertion€of€her€children,€will€not€suffice,€as€š švisitation€within€the€meaning€of€T.C.A.€ššŠ 0"€  Š36„1„102(1)(A)(i).šš€€The€trial€court€correctly€held€that€clear,€cogent€and€convincing€evidenceŠ #l! Šestablishes€abandonment€of€the€children€by€Ms.€Daniels.Š $X" ŠĢą  ąOnce€the€grounds€of€abandonment€were€established€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€Ms.Š ą%0!$ ŠDaniels,€the€best€interest€of€the€children€under€the€record€in€this€case€is€obvious€to€the€point€of€beingŠ Ģ&"% Šnear€indisputable.€€We€simply€adopt€the€findings€of€the€trial€court€in€this€respect€with€these€additionalŠ ø'#& Šobservations.€€These€children€have€been€through€enough€because€of€the€willful€disregard€of€theirŠ ¤(ō#' Šinterests€and€welfare€by€both€of€their€parents€and€the€aggressive€sexual€abuse€of€their€own€father.€Š )ą$( ŠThe€great€damage€to€them€has€already€been€done€and€may€never€be€undone.€€At€least€as€to€A.,€thereŠ |*Ģ%) Šappears€to€be€a€glimmer€of€hope.€€Only€despair€is€evident€at€this€time€as€to€C.€€Their€one€real€chanceŠ h+ø&* Šof€salvaging€anything€in€life€appears€to€rest€in€the€continued€love,€support€and€care€of€Michelle€andŠ ° ŠDavid€Gossett,€with€the€continued€assistance€of€the€Department€of€Childrenššs€Services.Š œģ ŠĢą  ąThe€evidence€is€overwhelming€„€„€well€beyond€the€clear,€cogent€and€convincing€standard€„€„Š tÄ Šthat€termination€of€the€parental€rights€of€Ms.€Daniels€is€in€the€best€interests€of€A.€and€C.Š `° ŠĢą  ąThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€in€all€respects€affirmed,€and€the€case€is€remanded€for€suchŠ 8 ˆ Šproceedings€as€may€be€in€the€best€interests€of€A.€and€C.Š $ t ŠĢą  ąCosts€are€assessed€against€Ms.€Daniels.Š ü L  ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą___________________________________€Š pĄ Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE