ÿWPC÷& e#Á–UNW %¥ 0 :«^ åwñ4õ  m 0~1 0D¯ 0Jó 0T= 0^‘ 0hï 0rW 0|É UjE E¯ N± 0†³ 09 1uÉ 0d> U>¢ à æ‘î¾b=Ÿæ¹ÉŸµhv~vÓ› Bn$ B*‹$ D5µ$ D5ê$ B% D5<% Bq% D5Ž% BÃ% D5à% B& D12& D5c& D5˜& B*Í&˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô8l:+â òK+ 'FŸ  3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(.(3Ä($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô+É:F ¾‹RTimes New Roman MT Extra Bold Regular2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman üÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€$ôÔIt€was€later€discovered€that€Motherððs€gun€was,€in€fact,€loaded.€Ì  ‡Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà àÌÔ€$ôÔà àÔ€$Ô2€Ô€$ôÔ€The€record€on€appeal€shows€some€confusion€regarding€the€date€that€the€Plans€of€Care€were€signed€by€theÏparents€and€by€DCS€and€were€filed€with€the€Juvenile€Court€clerk.€€At€any€rate,€the€parents€did€not€dispute€that€theyÏsigned€the€Plans€of€Care€after€DCS€reviewed€the€documents€with€them€and€that€they€received€a€copies€of€the€Plans€ofÏCare.€€Both€parents€also€admit€receiving€and€executing€copies€of€the€DCSðð€policy€regarding€termination€of€parentalÏrights.Ì ´Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€$ôÔThe€Juvenile€Court€specifically€held€that€both€parents€had€abandoned€the€Children€for€willfully€failing€toÏsupport€the€Children€and€that€Mother€had€abandoned€the€Children€for€her€willful€failure€to€visit€the€Children€with€theÏexception€of€token€visitation.€€òòSeeóóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(i).€€The€Juvenile€Courtððs€Final€Decree€alsoÏheld€that€the€Children€were€abandoned€under€the€second€statutory€definition€of€ð ðabandonment,ðð€found€at€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„1„102(A)(ii),€as€well.€Ì XÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€$ôÔFatherððs€counsel€states€that€he€received€a€copy€of€the€Final€Decree€on€May€1,€2000,€while€MotherððsÏcounsel€states€that€she€received€a€copy€in€April€2000.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€$ôÔFather€raises€as€an€issue€on€appeal€the€failure€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€to€confirm€the€Final€Decree€asÏrequired€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(14)(C).€€€Upon€motion€by€DCS,€however,€the€record€on€appeal€wasÏsupplemented€to€include€the€Juvenile€Judgeððs€Order€confirming€and€ratifying€the€Final€Decree.€€As€a€result,€this€issueÏis€moot.Ì ÜÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€$ôÔ€As€discussed€in€more€detail€òòinfraóó,€the€statutory€definition€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€referenced€in€this€statute€hasÏbeen€declared€unconstitutional.€€Hence,€we€have€substituted€ð ðprior€lawðð€to€reference€the€law€which€is€to€be€appliedÏuntil€the€statute€is€amended€by€the€legislature.€€Ì ¿Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€$ôÔAs€discussed,€the€Restraining€Order€from€the€March€1999€hearing€was€not€entered€until€October€1999.€€InÏJune€1999,€however,€the€Referee€reviewed€the€limited€visitation€that€Mother€had€been€granted€at€the€March€1999,Ïhearing€and€affirmed€the€visitation€schedule.€Ì «Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô€$ôÔWhile€Mother€did€not€raise€this€specific€issue,€if€she€had,€we€would€have€found€no€error€with€the€JuvenileÏCourtððs€determination€that€termination€of€her€parental€rights€was€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children€as€well.Ô€$XÔ€ÌPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  Serv Geneva ÒÒ  Serv Geneva Ò d&ÿÿ0 d dVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdxZZZZ)óÿ!dxdxöÿ  d\\\\)ûÿ!dxdxüÿP Pd^^^^)ýÿ!dxdxþÿ d````)üÿ!dxdxýÿ d\\)÷ÿ! dxdxWWWW)þÿ!dxdxdddd)òÿ!dxdx&õÿP d dÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÔ€$îÔÔ_ÔÑ8€;fXdìdÈ8Ñ€€€€€€€€€à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEÔ€$¼ÔÌà@ àAssigned€on€Briefs€August€3,€2001€SessionÌÔ€$XÔÌÌò òà@ àÔ€$¼ÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€DEPARTMENT€OF€Ìà@ àCHILDREN'S€SERVICES€v.€D.R.,€òòet€al.Ìà@ àIN€THE€MATTER€OF:€€C.R.R.,€D.R.R.€and€S.J.R.Ô€$XÔóóó óÌÌò òà@ àAppeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Blount€CountyÌà@ àNo.€7683„31„10€€€€€€William€Terry€Denton,€JudgeÌÌà àà àà àà àFILED€SEPTEMBER€25,€2001ÌßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÌÌà@ àNo.€E2000„01381„COA„R3„CVÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÌÓ  Óó óÌThese€parents€of€three€minor€children€(ð ðChildrenðð)€were€arrested€in€April€1998,€while€the€ChildrenÏwere€with€them,€for€possession€of€a€firearm,€drug€possession,€and€public€intoxication.€€The€State€ofÏTennessee,€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services€(ð ðDCSðð),€filed€a€Petition€for€Temporary€CustodyÏof€the€Children€which€was€granted.€€Thereafter,€DCS€entered€Plans€of€Care€with€the€Juvenile€CourtÏwith€which€the€parents,€D.R.€(ð ðMotherðð)€and€L.M.R.€(ð ðFatherðð),€had€agreed.€€The€ChildrenÏremained€in€foster€care€for€eighteen€months€during€which€time€the€parents€were€to€work€towardÏcompleting€the€goals€set€forth€in€the€Plans€of€Care€so€they€could€be€reunited€with€the€Children.€€InÏAugust€1999,€DCS€filed€a€Petition€to€Terminate€Parental€Rights.€€The€Juvenile€Court€Referee€heardÏthis€petition€in€October€1999,€and€granted€it.€€The€Juvenile€Court€Refereeððs€Termination€of€ParentalÏRights€and€Final€Decree€of€Guardianship€was€entered€in€April€2000€and€confirmed€by€the€JuvenileÏCourt€Judge€in€June€2001.€€Both€Mother€and€Father€appeal.€€We€affirm.ÌÌò òà@ àTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€€Ìà@ àJudgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Affirmed;€à@ àCase€Remanded.Ìó óÌòòD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.,óóÏand€òòHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.óó,€joined.ÌÌSandra€E.€Myatt,€Maryville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€D.R.,€and€Richard€L.€Gann,€II,€Sevierville,ÏTennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€L.M.R.ÌÌPaul€G.€Summers€and€Douglas€Earl€Dimond,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€State€ofÏTennessee,€Department€of€Children's€Services.ÌÓÓÌÓÓà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌÌà0 àà àà@ àòòò òBackgroundó óóóÌÌà àà àIn€April€1998,€the€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services€obtainedÏtemporary€custody€of€the€three€minor€children€of,€Mother,€age€24,€and€Father,€age€38,€who€wereÏmarried€in€1993.€€Motherððs€arrest€for€possession€of€a€firearm€and€Fatherððs€arrest€for€publicÍintoxication€and€possession€of€a€Schedule€V€substance,€Xanax,€precipitated€the€filing€of€a€PetitionÏfor€Temporary€Custody€by€DCS.€€At€the€time€of€the€parentsðð€arrests,€the€minor€Children,Ïapproximate€ages€one,€three,€and€four,€were€in€a€vehicle€with€their€parents€in€a€neighborhood€knownÏfor€drug€activity.€€During€the€parentsðð€arrest€in€April€1998,€one€of€the€arresting€officers€pointed€hisÏgun€at€Father.€€The€oldest€Child,€age€four,€in€an€effort€to€protect€Father,€put€himself€in€harmððs€wayÏbetween€the€officer€and€Father.€€This€Child€also€told€the€police€officer€that€they€were€not€there€toÏbuy€drugs€and€that€Motherððs€gun€was€not€loaded.× ƒ% ××  ×€ÌÌà àà àBoth€parents€were€incarcerated€for€a€short€period€of€time€after€their€arrests.€€DCSððÏPetition€for€Temporary€Custody€was€granted€by€the€Juvenile€Court.€€Thereafter,€Mother€abscondedÏwith€the€Children€to€an€unknown€location.€€This€precipitated€the€filing€of€a€second€Petition€forÏTemporary€Custody€by€DCS.€€Mother,€acting€upon€the€advice€of€her€attorney,€returned€the€ChildrenÏshortly€thereafter€to€DCS€custody.€€About€the€same€time,€Father€attempted€suicide€and€was€admittedÏto€a€psychiatric€hospital.€€€In€May€1998,€Father€began€a€jail€sentence€related€to€his€April€1998,€arrestÏand€was€incarcerated€until€late€July€1998.€€ÌÌà àà àDCS€entered€Plans€of€Care€with€the€Trial€Court,€and€a€Guardianòò€ad€litemóó€wasÏappointed.× ƒ' ××  ×€€The€Plans€of€Care€prepared€by€DCS€required€the€parents€to€take€several€affirmativeÏsteps€to€regain€custody€of€the€Children.€€The€parentsðð€goals€included€obtaining€drug€and€alcoholÏcounseling€to€become€alcohol€and€drug€free;€avoiding€others€involved€or€associated€with€criminalÏactivity;€maintaining€a€stable,€safe,€and€clean€home€for€the€Children;€obtaining€regular€medical€careÏfor€the€Children;€attending€parenting€classes€and€counseling€for€domestic€violence;€and€informingÏDCS€of€any€changes€in€address€or€circumstances.€€ÌÌà àà àIn€June€1998,€the€Guardianòò€ad€litemððsóó€first€report€was€filed€and€recommended€thatÏthe€Children€remain€in€protective€custody.€€This€report€outlined€violent€acts€between€the€parents€andÏby€others€which€were€witnessed€by€the€Children,€both€before€they€were€taken€into€protectiveÏcustody€and€after€DCS€custody€during€unsupervised€visits€with€the€parents.€€The€report€furtherÏoutlined€parental€negligence€as€to€the€Children€and€stated€that€the€oldest€Child€had€an€untreatedÏcataract€in€one€eye€which€Mother€acknowledged€caused€the€child€to€suffer€headaches€and€wouldÏeventually€cause€blindness.€€The€Child€was€diagnosed€with€this€condition€in€1996,€a€conditionÏwhich€was€then€treatable.€€The€record€on€appeal€shows€that,€by€August€1998,€however,€thisÏcondition€had€progressed€so€far€in€one€eye€that€it€was€not€treatable€and€had€caused€the€Child€to€loseÏmost,€if€not€all,€of€his€sight€in€that€eye.ÌÌà àà àIn€August€1998,€the€Juvenile€Court€entered€an€Order€which€found€that€the€ChildrenÏwere€dependent€and€neglected€and€made€them€wards€of€the€Court€but€awarded€the€parents€visitation.€ÏFor€the€remainder€of€1998,€the€Guardian€òòad€litemóó€reported€that€Mother€was€not€complying€with€anyÏaspect€of€the€Plans€of€Care€except€for€visitation.€€The€reports€showed€that€in€1998,€the€parents€wereÏsporadically€employed€and€that€they€were€separated,€claiming€they€wanted€a€divorce.ÌÌà àà àThe€proof€in€the€record€shows€that€in€January€1999,€the€parents€attempted€to€liveÏtogether€again€for€approximately€three€weeks.€€On€a€Monday€immediately€following€a€weekend€ofÏunsupervised€visitation€with€the€Children€during€this€short€reconciliation,€Mother€reported€thatÏFather€had€given€her€a€black€eye€and€had€him€arrested€for€assault.€€Father€was€arrested€on€JanuaryÏ25€for€this€assault,€and€again€arrested€on€February€7€and€February€26,€1999,€for€various€offenses,Ïincluding€violating€the€Motorò ò€ó óVehicle€Habitual€Offenders€Act.€€Two€days€after€Mother€reported€herÏblack€eye,€she€attempted€to€run€over€Father€with€a€vehicle€which€resulted€in€an€assault€charge.€ÏFather€also€obtained€an€arrest€warrant€against€Mother€for€the€theft€of€his€vehicle.€€In€light€of€theseÏcircumstances,€in€February€1999,€the€Juvenile€Court€entered€a€Restraining€Order€and€No€ContactÏOrder€(ð ðRestraining€Orderðð)€prohibiting€visitation€with€the€Children.€ÌÌà àà àA€hearing€was€held€in€March€1999,€regarding€the€Restraining€Order€and€theÏparentsðð€compliance€with€the€Plans€of€Care.€€The€Juvenile€Court€held,€in€its€order,€neither€parentÏwas€complying€with€the€Plans€of€Care€and€stated€that€Mother€was€present€but€had€waived€theÏpresence€of€her€counsel.€€The€order€reinstated€Motherððs€visitation€on€a€limited,€supervised€basisÏonly.€€For€reasons€not€provided€by€the€record€on€appeal,€the€order€from€the€March€1999,€hearingÏwas€not€entered€until€October€1999.ÌÌà àà àIn€June€1999,€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€held€a€hearing€to€review€the€parentsððÏcompliance€with€the€Plans€of€Care€and€Motherððs€visitation€schedule.€€The€Referee€continuedÏMotherððs€limited,€supervised€visitation.€€The€order€from€this€hearing€states€that€neither€Mother€norÏher€attorney€were€present€at€the€hearing€and€that€Motherððs€whereabouts€were€unknown.€€Father€wasÏstill€incarcerated.ÌÌà àà àIn€August€1999,€DCS€filed€a€Petition€to€Terminate€Parental€Rights€(ð ðPetition€toÏTerminateðð),€citing€several€grounds.€€The€Petition€to€Terminate€was€heard€by€the€Referee€inÏOctober€1999€(ð ðtermination€hearingðð).€€The€testimony€at€the€termination€hearing€painted€a€bleakÏpicture€of€the€parentsðð€fitness€to€regain€custody€of€the€Children.€€Both€parents€had€continued€toÏparticipate€in€criminal€conduct.€€At€the€time€of€the€termination€hearing,€Mother€was€incarcerated€forÏpending€charges€of€theft€and€burglary.€€Mother€testified€that€she€and€a€friend€of€hers€had€beenÏarrested€for€â ââ âtheft€and€burglary€of€the€home€of€a€male€friend€with€whom€she€had€lived.€€She€also€hadÏvarious€other€pending€charges,€including€a€gun€charge€from€the€April€1998,€arrest;€an€assault€chargeÏfrom€the€January€1999,€incident€with€Father;€and€a€disorderly€conduct€charge.€ÌÌà àà àOf€the€eighteen€months€since€DCS€obtained€temporary€custody€of€the€Children€inÏApril€1998,€Father€had€been€incarcerated€between€eight€and€ten€months€for€various€convictions.€€ForÏhis€most€recent€incarceration,€Father€had€been€in€jail€from€February€to€late€August€1999.€€TheÏrecord€on€appeal€shows€that€Fatherððs€probation€officer€testified€about€Fatherððs€extensive€arrestÏrecord€which,€on€average,€included€at€least€one€arrest€a€year€for€the€previous€ten€years.€€FatherððsÏarrest€record€contains€a€plethora€of€offenses,€including€aggravated€and€simple€assault,€DUI,€publicÏintoxication,€disorderly€conduct,€and€driving€on€a€suspended€license.€€As€discussed,€Father€wasÏincarcerated€over€half€of€the€eighteen„month€period€when€he€was€to€be€working€toward€completingÏhis€Plan€of€Care.€€Unsurprisingly,€Father€testified€he€had€struggled€with€alcohol€for€approximatelyÏtwenty€four€years.€€Father€recently€had€sought€treatment€and€counseling€for€his€alcohol€problem€butÏat€the€time€of€the€hearing,€had€not€solved€his€alcohol€problem.€€In€addition,€although€Father€deniedÏuse€of€drugs,€it€was€reported€that€he€used€crack€cocaine,€heroine,€and€marijuana€in€early€1999.€ÏFather,€nevertheless,€was€usually€employed€full„time€when€he€was€not€incarcerated€and€had€a€homeÏwhich€he€rented€from€his€mother.ÌÌà àà àThe€testimony€also€showed€that€the€parents€had€not€taken€steps€to€provide€a€safe€andÏstable€home€for€the€Children.€€€At€the€time€of€the€termination€hearing,€Mother€had€been€living€inÍGatlinburg€for€one€week€and€had€been€employed€for€one€week.€€Because€of€this€very€recent€changeÏin€circumstances,€Mother€testified€that€she€was€stable€and€believed€that€she€could€adequately€careÏfor€and€support€the€Children.€€Prior€to€this€job,€however,€Mother€had€been€unemployed€forÏapproximately€one€year,€without€any€source€of€income,€during€which€time€Mother€described€herselfÏas€having€ð ðlost€it.ðð€€In€addition,€Mother,€in€the€eighteen€months€since€the€Children€were€taken€intoÏtemporary€custody,€had€been€living€with€various€people,€including€male€friends,€in€Knox€and€BlountÏCounties.€€Mother,€in€fact,€testified€that€she€could€not€recall€the€name€of€one€particular€male€friendÏwith€whom€she€lived€for€a€short€period€of€time.€€Additionally,€Mother€had€stopped€taking€her€anti„depressant€and€anxiety€medication€and€stopped€treatment€for€those€problems.€€Motherððs€last€visitÏwith€the€Children€was€in€April€1999,€and€her€last€contact€with€DCS€was€at€that€time.€€MotherÏtestified€that€she€believed€the€Restraining€Order€kept€her€from€visiting€the€Children€and€claimed€sheÏdid€not€know€that€it€had€been€lifted.€€Mother€admitted,€however,€that€after€April€1999,€DCS€did€notÏknow€where€to€find€her€to€serve€her€with€any€court€pleadings.ÌÌà àà àAlthough€the€Guardian€òòad€litemððsóó€reports€show€that€Father€previously€indicated€thatÏhe€could€not€take€care€of€the€Children€by€himself,€Father€testified€that€he€could€care€for€the€ChildrenÏbut€that€it€would€be€very€difficult€since€he€did€not€have€a€driverððs€license€or€a€vehicle.€€FatherÏtestified€that€he€originally€hoped€Mother€would€become€stabilized€so€that€she€could€regain€custodyÏof€the€Children€and€he€merely€could€pay€child€support€and€have€visitation€with€them.€€Neither€parentÏpaid€child€support€during€the€time€the€Children€were€in€foster€care,€but€testified€they€were€never€toldÏto€pay€any€support€for€the€Children.€€Additionally,€both€parents€testified€that€the€oldest€ChildððsÏphysicians€had€told€them€the€cataract€surgery€could€wait.€€ÌÌà àà àMoreover,€the€testimony€at€the€termination€hearing€showed€that€the€parentsððÏdomestic€violence€had€not€decreased€since€the€Children€were€taken€into€temporary€custody€in€AprilÏ1998.€€Prior€to€the€April€1998,€incident,€Mother€testified€that€she€was€frequently€hit,€slapped€andÏkicked€by€Father€in€front€of€the€Children.€€During€a€car€trip€out„of„state,€Mother€testified€that€FatherÏcut€her€face€with€a€knife€in€front€of€the€Children.€€Similarly,€Father€testified€that€Mother€stabbedÏhim€in€the€side;€broke€his€arm;€tried€to€burn€down€his€house;€and€attempted€to€run€over€him€with€aÏvehicle.€€Mother€did€not€deny€breaking€Fatherððs€arm,€claiming€it€was€the€only€time€she€was€the€firstÏaggressor€since,€typically,€Father€would€hit€her€first€and€then€she€would€fight€back.€€Mother€also€didÏnot€deny€hitting€Father€with€her€car€in€January€1999,€stating€that€she€ð ðbumpedðð€him€with€theÏvehicle€because€he€refused€to€get€out€of€her€way€.€€In€fact,€Mother€testified€that€she€tried€to€hit€himÏwith€a€vehicle€on€a€total€of€three€occasions.€€ÌÌà àà àThe€Juvenile€Court€Referee,€at€the€close€of€proof,€held€that€Motherððs€and€Fatherððs€Ïparental€rights€to€the€Children€were€terminated.€€The€Referee€stated€ð ðIððm€not€going€to€track€theÏstatutory€language.€€Iððm€going€to€ask€the€State€to€track€the€statutory€language€in€drafting€theÏOrder.ðð€€Six€months€after€the€hearing,€on€April€28,€2000,€the€Referee€entered€a€Termination€ofÏParental€Rights€and€Final€Decree€of€Guardianship€(ð ðFinal€Decreeðð),€òònunc€pro€tuncóó,€holding€thatÏthe€parentsðð€rights€were€terminated€for€a€number€of€grounds,€including€their€non„compliance€withÏthe€Plans€of€Care,€their€abandonment€of€the€Children,€their€failure€to€remedy€the€conditions€whichÏled€to€the€removal€of€the€Children,€and€the€risk€of€substantial€harm€to€the€Children€that€still€persistedÏin€the€event€the€Children€were€returned€to€the€parents.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€36„1„102(1)(A);Ï36„1„113(g)(1),€(2)€&€(3)(A).× ƒ( ××  ×€€The€Refereeððs€Final€Decree€also€found€that€it€was€not€in€the€bestÍinterests€of€the€Children€to€return€them€to€them€the€parents,€tracking€the€statutory€language€fromÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(i)(2)€&€(7)€„€(8).€€ÌÌà àà àThe€record€on€appeal€shows€that€the€Final€Decree€did€not€contain€the€signatures€ofÏany€of€the€attorneys,€including€the€DCS€attorney€who€apparently€drafted€the€Final€Decree.€ÏNevertheless,€the€parentsðð€counsel,€in€the€appellate€briefs,€state€they€received€a€copy€of€the€FinalÏDecree€within€a€few€days€of€its€entry.× ƒ) ××  ×€€Both€parents€filed€Notices€of€Appeal€in€May€2000.€€TheÏFinal€Decree€was€not€ratified€and€confirmed€by€the€Juvenile€Court€Judge€until€June€2001.× ƒ* ××  ×€ÌÌà@ àòòò òDiscussionó óóóÌÌà àà àOn€appeal€and€although€not€exactly€stated€as€such,€both€Mother€and€Father€raise€theÏfollowing€issues:€€(1)€whether€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€erred€in€ordering€DCS€to€ð ðtrack€theÏlanguage€of€the€statuteðð€in€preparation€of€the€Final€Decree;€(2)€whether€the€Juvenile€Court€RefereeÏerred€in€failing€to€enter€the€Final€Decree€within€thirty€days€after€the€date€of€the€termination€hearingÏas€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(k);€and€(3)€whether€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€inÏapplying€an€unconstitutional€definition€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€when€it€held€that€the€parents€hadÏabandoned€the€Children€by€willfully€failing€to€support€them.€€ÌÌà àà àAlthough€not€exactly€stated€as€such,€Mother€raises€additional€issues€on€appeal:€(1)Ïwhether€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€holding€that€Mother€abandoned€the€Children€by€willfully€failingÏto€visit€them€in€the€four€consecutive€months€prior€to€the€filing€of€the€DCS€Petition€to€Terminate;€andÏ(2)€whether€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€erred€in€holding€three€hearings,€which€preceded€theÏtermination€hearing,€without€the€presence€of€Mother€and/or€her€counsel.€€ÌÌà àà àIn€addition€and€although€not€exactly€stated€as€such,€Father€raises€the€followingÏissues€on€appeal:€(1)€whether€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€erred€in€entering€the€Final€Decree€withoutÏthe€prior€approval€of€any€of€the€attorneys;€and€(2)€whether€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÏproviding€a€basis€to€terminate€Fatherððs€parental€rights€and€to€support€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€findingÏthat€it€was€in€the€best€interests€of€the€Children€that€Fatherððs€rights€be€terminated.ÌÌà àà àDCS€raises€no€additional€issues€on€appeal€but€argues€that€the€Juvenile€CourtððsÏdecision€to€terminate€the€parentsðð€rights€to€the€Children€is€supported€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence.€€DCS€also€contends€that€if€the€remaining€issues€raised€by€the€parents€constitute€error,€atÏmost,€only€harmless€error€occurred.€ÌÌà àà àOur€review€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€of€the€findings€of€fact€of€the€Trial€Court,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÏotherwise.€Tenn.€Rule€App.€P.€13(d);òò€Alexander€v.€Inman,€óó974€S.W.2d€689,€692€(Tenn.€1998).€€AÍTrial€Courtððs€conclusions€of€law€are€subject€to€a€òòde€novoóó€review€with€no€presumption€ofÏcorrectness.€€òòGanzevoort€v.€Russell,€óó949€S.W.2d€293,€296€(Tenn.€1997).ÌÌà àà àWe€first€address€the€parentsðð€issues€regarding€the€validity€of€the€Final€Decree€sinceÏthese€issues€are€potentially€dispositive€of€this€matter.€€Both€parents€contend€that€it€was€error€for€theÏJuvenile€Court€Referee€to€ask€DCS,€in€preparation€of€the€Final€Decree,€to€track€the€language€of€theÏtermination€statute.€€The€parents€argue€that,€consequently,€the€Final€Decree€failed€to€include€theÏJuvenile€Courtððs€findings€of€facts.€€In€addition,€the€parents€contend€that€the€Juvenile€Court€RefereeÏerred€by€failing€to€enter€the€Final€Decree€within€thirty€days€after€the€final€hearing.€€Finally,€FatherÏcontends€on€appeal€that€it€was€error€for€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€to€enter€the€Final€Decree€withoutÏfirst€circulating€a€draft€between€the€partiesðð€counsel€and€obtaining€the€approval€and€signatures€fromÏthem.€€ÌÌà àà àWe€agree€that€the€Final€Decree€did€not€comply€with€the€time€element€of€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„1„113(k)€which€provides€that€ð ð[t]he€court€shall€enter€an€order€which€makes€specificÏfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€within€thirty€(30)€days€of€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing.ðð€ÏThe€Final€Decree€was€entered€six€months€after€the€hearing,€but€it€does€contain€sufficient€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€Tennessee€Rules€of€Juvenile€Procedure€apply€to€this€case€since€itÏinvolves€termination€of€parental€rights.€€Tenn.€R.€Juv.€P.€1(b).€€€The€juvenile€court€procedural€rulesÏdo€not€have€a€provision€which€sets€forth€specific€requirements€to€be€met€before€entry€of€a€judgmentÏis€effective.€€Parents€cite€no€authority€in€support€of€their€position,€and€we,€likewise,€find€none.€€RuleÏ34€(a)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€€Juvenile€Procedure€does,€however,€provide€a€means€of€obtainingÏrelief€from€orders€for€clerical€mistakes.€€The€technical€record€on€appeal€shows€that€neither€parentÏsought€relief€relative€to€the€failure€to€have€the€Final€Decree€entered€within€thirty€days€of€theÏconclusion€of€the€hearing.€€Instead,€the€parents€filed€notices€of€appeal.€€A€party€who€ð ð[fails]€to€takeÏwhatever€action€was€reasonably€available€to€prevent€or€nullify€the€harmful€effect€of€an€errorðð€is€notÏentitled€to€relief€on€appeal.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a)€&€advisory€committeeððs€note.€€Moreover,€it€isÏwell„settled€that€issues€not€raised€at€trial€may€not€be€raised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal.€€òòSimpson€v.ÏFrontier€Cmty.€Credit€Union,€óó810€S.W.2d€147,€153€(Tenn.€1991);€òòDepððt€Human€Serv.€v.ÏDeFriece,óó€937€S.W.2d€954,€960€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€Finally,€we€hold€that€given€the€facts€andÏcircumstances€presented€to€us€in€the€record,€the€failure€to€have€the€final€decree€entered€within€thirtyÏdays€of€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing€was€harmless€error.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b).ÌÌà àà àWe€next€address€the€issues€raised€by€Mother€and€Father€regarding€the€JuvenileÏCourtððs€determination€that€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€grounds€to€terminate€theirÏparental€rights.€€It€is€well„established€that€"parents€have€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody,€andÏcontrol€of€their€children."€€òòIn€re€Drinnonóó,€776€S.W.2d€96,€97€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988)€(citing€òòStanleyÏv.€Illinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,€92€S.Ct.€1208,€31€L.Ed.2d€551€(1972)).€€"However,€this€right€is€notÏabsolute€and€parental€rights€may€be€terminated€if€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€justifyingÏsuch€termination€under€the€applicable€statute."€€òòId.óó€(citing€òòSantosky€v.€Krameróó,€455€U.S.€745,€102ÏS.Ct.€1388,€71€L.Ed.2d€599€(1982)).€€ÌÌà àà àTermination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€must€be€based€upon€a€finding€by€theÏcourt€that:€(1)€the€grounds€for€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€have€been€establishedÏby€clear€and€convincing€evidence;€and€(2)€termination€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€rights€is€in€theÏbest€interests€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(c).€€Before€a€parentððs€rights€can€beÏterminated,€it€must€be€a€shown€that€the€parent€is€unfit€or€substantial€harm€to€the€child€will€result€ifÏparental€rights€are€not€terminated.€€òòIn€re€Swanson,€óó2€S.W.3d€180,€188€(Tenn.€1999);€òòIn€re€M.W.A.,ÏJr.,€óó980€S.W.2d€620,€622€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).€€ÌÌà àà àBefore€the€court€may€inquire€as€to€whether€termination€of€parental€rights€is€in€theÍbest€interests€of€the€child,€the€court€must€first€determine€that€the€grounds€for€termination€have€beenÏestablished€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(c).€€This€CourtÏdiscussed€the€ð ðclear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€standard€in€òòOððDaniel€v.€Messier,€óó905€S.W.2d€182Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995),€as€follows:ÌÌà8 àà8 àThe€ð ðclear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€standard€defies€preciseÏdefinition.€€òòMajors€v.€Smith,óó€776€S.W.2d€538,€540€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ï1989).€€While€it€is€more€exacting€than€the€preponderance€of€theÏevidence€standard,€òòSantosky€v.€Kramer,€óó455€U.S.€at€766,€102€S.€Ct.Ïat€1401;€òòRentenbach€Engððg€Co.€v.€General€Realty€Ltd.,€óó707€S.W.2dÏ524,€527€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1985),€it€does€not€require€such€certainty€asÏthe€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€standard.€€òòBrandon€v.€Wright,€óó838ÏS.W.2d€532,€536€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòState€v.€Groves,€óó735ÏS.W.2d€843,€846€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1987).ÌÌà8 àà8 àClear€and€convincing€evidence€eliminates€any€serious€or€substantialÏdoubt€concerning€the€correctness€of€the€conclusions€to€be€drawnÏfrom€the€evidence.€€òòSee€Hodges€v.€S.€C.€Toof€&€Co.,€óó833€S.W.2dÏ896,€901€n.€3€(Tenn.€1992).€€It€should€produce€in€the€fact„finderððsÏmind€a€firm€belief€or€conviction€with€regard€to€the€truth€of€theÏallegations€sought€to€be€established.òò€€In€re€Estate€of€Armstrongóó,€859ÏS.W.2d€323,€328€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993);€òòBrandon€v.€Wright,€óó838ÏS.W.2d€at€536;€òòWiltcher€v.€Bradley,€óó708€S.W.2d€407,€411€(Tenn.ÏCt.€App.€1985).ÌÌòòOððDaniel€v.€Messier,€óó905€S.W.2d€at€188.ÌÌà àà àInitiation€of€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€may€be€based€upon€anyÏof€the€following€three€statutory€grounds:ÌÌà8 àà8 à(1)à0 àAbandonment€by€the€parent€or€guardian,€as€defined€in€[priorÏlaw],€has€occurred;× ƒ+ ××  ×ÌÌà8 àà8 à(2)à0 àThere€has€been€substantial€noncompliance€by€the€parent€orÏguardian€with€the€statement€of€responsibilities€in€aÏpermanency€plan€or€a€plan€of€care€pursuant€to€the€provisionsÏof€title€37,€chapter€2,€part€4;ÌÌà8 àà8 à(3)(A)à0 àThe€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parent€orÏguardian€by€order€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€monthsÏand:ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(i)à0 àThe€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€orÏother€conditions€which€in€all€reasonable€probabilityÏwould€cause€the€child€to€be€subjected€to€further€abuseÏor€neglect€and€which,€therefore,€prevent€the€childððsÍsafe€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s),Ïstill€persist;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(ii)à0 àThere€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€beÏsafely€returned€to€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€theÏnear€future;€andÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(iii)à0 àThe€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€and€childÏrelationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€ofÏearly€integration€into€a€safe,€stable€and€permanentÏhome.ÌÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g).€€ÌÌà àà àIn€this€matter,€the€Juvenile€Court€found€that€all€three€of€the€statutory€grounds€forÏtermination,€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g),€were€proven€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence.€€We€first€address€the€second€and€third€statutory€grounds€as€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðððð€36„1„113(g)(2)€„€(g)(3)(A)(i)„(iii).€€ÌÌà àà àThe€Juvenile€Court€found€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€both€MotherÏand€Father€substantially€failed€to€comply€with€the€Plans€of€Care.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(2).€€In€making€this€determination,€the€Juvenile€Court€had€access€to€the€quarterly€reports€ofÏthe€Guardian€òòad€litemóó€and€heard€testimony€from€the€parents,€representatives€of€DCS,€and€FatherððsÏprobation€officer.€€ð ðUnlike€this€Court,€the€[Juvenile€Court],€observed€the€manner€and€demeanor€ofÏthe€witnesses€and€was€in€the€best€position€to€evaluate€their€credibility.ðð€€òòUnion€Planters€Natððl€BankÏv.€Island€Mgmt.€Auth.,€Inc.óó,€43€S.W.3d€498,€502€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€The€Trial€CourtððsÏdeterminations€regarding€credibility€are€accorded€deference€by€this€Court.€€òòId.óó;òò€Davis€v.€LibertyÏMutual€Ins.€Co.óó,€38€S.W.3d€560,€563€(Tenn.€2001).€€ð ððð[A]ppellate€courts€will€not€re„evaluate€a€trialÏjudgeððs€assessment€of€witness€credibility€absent€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€the€contrary.ððððÏòòWells€v.€Tennessee€Bd.€of€Regentsóó,€9€S.W.3d€779,€783€(Tenn.€1999).€€ÌÌà àà àThe€proof€in€the€record€supports€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€finding€that€the€parentsÏsubstantially€failed€to€comply€with€the€Plans€of€Care.€€In€fact,€the€proof€in€the€recordÏoverwhelmingly€supports€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€findings€that€the€parents€substantially€failed€toÏcomply€with€the€Plans€of€Care.€€Neither€of€the€parents€met€the€Plans€of€Care€requirements€to€attendÏparenting€classes;€to€avoid€criminal€behavior€and€those€associated€with€criminal€conduct;€to€maintainÏa€safe€and€stable€home€environment;€and€to€maintain€contact€with€DCS€regarding€a€change€inÏaddress€or€other€circumstances.ÌÌà àà àFor€at€least€twelve€months€of€the€eighteen„month€period€that€the€Children€were€inÏDCSðð€temporary€custody,€Mother€was€unemployed,€without€any€source€of€income,€and€movingÏfrom€place€to€place.€€Mother€also€was€charged,€along€with€a€friend€of€hers,€with€burglary€and€theftÏduring€this€period€of€time.€€Moreover,€Mother€failed€to€comply€with€the€Plans€of€Care€by€notÏvisiting€with€the€Children.€€We€acknowledge€that€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€entered€a€RestrainingÏOrder€in€February€1999,€which€prohibited€the€parents€from€visiting€the€Children.€€The€RestrainingÍOrder,€however,€was€lifted€in€March€1999.× ƒ, ××  ×€€Mother€explained€at€the€final€hearing€that€she€did€notÏvisit€the€Children€because€she€believed€that€the€Restraining€Order€prohibiting€visitation€had€neverÏbeen€lifted.€€By€Motherððs€own€admission€at€trial,€however,€she€did€not€keep€DCS€informed€of€herÏwhereabouts€after€April€1999,€so€that€she€could€have€been€informed€of€any€changes€in€her€visitation.ÌÌà àà àAs€discussed,€Father€was€incarcerated€for€approximately€half€of€the€eighteen„monthsÏthat€he€was€supposed€to€be€working€toward€completing€his€Plans€of€Care.€€Some€of€his€jail€timeÏwas€due€to€charges€he€incurred€after€DCS€obtained€temporary€custody€of€the€Children.€€Father€alsoÏfailed€to€comply€with€the€Plans€of€Careððs€requirement€that€he€become€alcohol€and€drug€free€as€heÏcontinued€to€use€both,€especially€alcohol,€and€failed€to€complete€successfully€any€dry„out€program.€ÏWith€respect€to€the€presence€of€domestic€violence€in€the€parentsðð€relationship,€this€situation€had€notÏimproved€in€the€least.€€We€acknowledge€that€Mother€has€assaulted€Father,€but€Mother€also€testifiedÏthat€Father€has€repeatedly€assaulted€her€during€their€relationship,€and€the€Children€have€witnessedÏthis€violence.€€The€most€telling€testimony,€perhaps,€of€Fatherððs€lack€of€motivation€was€FatherððsÏtestimony€that€he€had€hoped€Mother€would€become€stabilized€so€that€she€could€keep€the€Children,Ïand€he€could€merely€visit€them€and€pay€child€support.€€At€best,€Father€has€been€consistentlyÏemployed€when€not€incarcerated€and,€unlike€Mother,€has€a€regular€place€to€call€his€home.€€ÌÌà àà àIn€light€of€the€extensive€proof€in€the€record€on€appeal€and€the€deference€we€mustÏafford€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€findings€of€credibility,€we€affirm€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€determination€thatÏthere€was€clear€and€convincing€evidence€the€parents€failed€to€comply€substantially€with€the€Plans€ofÏCare.€€We,€therefore,€find€no€error€in€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€determination€that€grounds€forÏtermination€of€the€parental€rights,€under€Tenn.Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(2),€of€both€parents€wereÏestablished€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€ÌÌà àà àAlso,€we€hold€that€the€Juvenile€Court€did€not€err€in€holding€that€additional€groundsÏfor€termination€of€the€parental€rights,€set€forth€in€Tenn.Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(i)€ð!ð€(iii),Ïwere€proven€by€clear€an€convincing€evidence.€€First,€the€Children€had€been€removed€from€theÏparentsðð€home€for€more€than€six€months€by€order€of€the€Juvenile€Court.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A).€€Second,€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€Childrenððs€removal,€which€include€theÏparentsðð€criminal€conduct,€domestic€violence,€the€parentsðð€neglect€of€the€Childrenððs€health,€andÏFatherððs€alcohol€and€drug€abuse€would€cause€the€Children€to€be€ð ðsubjected€to€further€abuse€orÏneglect€and€.€.€.€prevent[s]€[the€Childrenððs]€safe€return€to€the€care€of€the€parents€.€.€.€still€persist[.]ðð€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(i).€€Third,€as€evidenced€by€the€parentsðð€failure€to€remedyÏthese€conditions€and€their€failure€to€meet€their€Plans€of€Care€in€a€more€than€adequate€period€of€time,Ïâ âÑ e Ñâ âð ð[t]here€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€theÏ[Children]€can€be€safely€returned€to€the€parents€.€.€.€in€the€near€future[.]ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(ii).€€Finally,€in€light€of€the€parentsðð€nearly€total€lack€of€compliance€with€the€Plans€ofÏCare€and€the€Childrenððs€young€ages,€ð ð[t]he€continuation€of€the€.€.€.€relationship€[between€theÏparents€and€the€Children]€greatly€diminishes€the€[Childrenððs]€chances€of€early€integration€into€aÏsafe,€stable€and€permanent€home.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(iii).€€We€affirm,Ïtherefore,€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€determination€that€there€was€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÏestablishing€grounds€for€termination€of€Motherððs€and€Fatherððs€parental€rights€under€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3).ÌÌà àà àWe€now€turn€our€inquiry€to€the€parentsðð€issue€regarding€the€Juvenile€CourtððsÍdetermination€that€the€parents€had€abandoned€the€Children.€€Both€Mother€and€Father€contend€onÏappeal€that€the€Juvenile€Court€used€an€unconstitutional€definition€of€the€term€ð ðabandonment.ðð€ÏThey€are€correct,€and,€therefore,€we€agree€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€finding€that€the€parentsÏhad€abandoned€the€Children€for€willfully€failing€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€towardÏthe€support€of€the€Children€for€more€than€four€consecutive€months€prior€to€the€filing€of€DCSððÏPetition€to€Terminate.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(D).€€We€also€agree€with€MotherððsÏargument€on€appeal€that€the€Juvenile€Court€erred€in€holding€that€she€abandoned€the€Children€byÏwillfully€failing€to€visit€the€Children€for€more€than€four€consecutive€months€prior€to€the€filing€of€theÏDCS€Petition€to€Terminate.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(E).€€ÌÌòòà àà àóóThe€Juvenile€Court,€in€making€this€determination,€used€the€two€statutory€definitionsÏof€the€term€ð ðabandonmentðð€found€at€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€36„1„102(1)(D)€and€(1)(E),€willfulÏfailure€to€support€and€willful€failure€to€visit.òò€€óóThe€Supreme€Court,€however,€in€òòIn€re€Swansonóó,€2ÏS.W.3d€180€(Tenn.€1999),€held€that€the€ð ðwillful€failure€to€supportðð€definition€of€abandonment€wasÏunconstitutional€because€it€created€an€ð ðirrebuttable€presumption€that€the€failure€to€provide€monetaryÏsupport€for€the€four€months€preceding€the€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights€constitutesÏabandonment,€irrespective€of€whether€that€failure€was€intentional€.€.€.€.ðð€€òòId.€óóat€188.€€The€CourtÏfurther€held€that€ð ð[u]ntil€otherwise€amended€by€our€legislature,€the€definition€of€abandonment€thatÏwas€in€effect€under€prior€law€shall€be€applied.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€189.€€Thereafter,€this€Court,€citing€òòIn€reÏSwansonóó,€used€the€prior€statutory€law€from€1994€for€both€of€the€above€definitions€of€the€termÏð ðabandonment.ðð€€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Copelandóó,€43€S.W.3d€483,€488€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€€ÌÌà àà àBoth€the€òòIn€re€Swanson€óóand€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Copelandóó€decisions€were€issued€priorÏto€the€entry€of€the€Final€Decree€in€this€matter.€€Because€the€Juvenile€Court€applied€anÏunconstitutional€definition€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€as€one€of€the€grounds€for€terminating€Motherððs€andÏFatherððs€parental€rights,€we€vacate€this€portion€of€the€Final€Decree.€€We€need€not€remand€this€caseÏto€the€Juvenile€Court€for€a€determination€utilizing€the€definition€of€ð ðabandonmentðð€under€prior€lawÏof€whether€the€parents€abandoned€the€Children€because€we€have€affirmed€the€Juvenile€CourtððsÏjudgment€that€other€statutory€grounds€for€termination€are€met€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€36„1„113Ï(g)(2)€and€(g)(3).€€ÌÌà àà àHaving€affirmed€that€two€of€the€three€statutory€grounds€for€termination€were€provenÏby€clear€and€convincing€evidence,€we€next€address€Fatherððs€issue€regarding€whether€the€JuvenileÏCourt€erred€in€holding€that€the€termination€of€his€parental€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€theÏChildren.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(i)€describes€the€standard€for€determining€whetherÏtermination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child€in€such€cases:ÌÌà8 àà8 à(i)à0 àIn€determining€whether€termination€of€parental€orÏguardianship€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€childÏpursuant€to€this€part,€the€court€shall€consider,€but€is€notÏlimited€to,€the€following:ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(1)à0 àWhether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€made€such€anÏadjustment€of€circumstance,€conduct,€or€conditions€asÏto€make€it€safe€and€in€the€childððs€best€interest€to€be€inÏthe€home€of€the€parent€or€guardian;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(2)à0 àWhether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€failed€to€effect€aÏlasting€adjustment€after€reasonable€efforts€byÏavailable€social€services€agencies€for€such€duration€ofÏtime€that€lasting€adjustment€does€not€reasonablyÍappear€possible;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(3)à0 àWhether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€maintainedÏregular€visitation€or€other€contact€with€the€child;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(4)à0 àWhether€a€meaningful€relationship€has€otherwiseÏbeen€established€between€the€parent€or€guardian€andÏthe€child;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(5)à0 àThe€effect€a€change€of€caretakers€and€physicalÏenvironment€is€likely€to€have€on€the€childððsÏemotional,€psychological€and€medical€condition;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(6)à0 àWhether€the€parent€or€guardian,€or€other€personÏresiding€with€the€parent€or€guardian,€has€shownÏbrutality,€physical,€sexual,€emotional€or€psychologicalÏabuse,€or€neglect€toward€the€child,€or€another€child€orÏadult€in€the€family€or€household;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(7)à0 àWhether€the€physical€environment€of€the€parentððs€orÏguardianððs€home€is€healthy€and€safe,€whether€there€isÏcriminal€activity€in€the€home,€or€whether€there€is€suchÏuse€of€alcohol€or€controlled€substances€as€may€renderÏthe€parent€or€guardian€consistently€unable€to€care€forÏthe€child€in€a€safe€and€stable€manner;ÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(8)à0 àWhether€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€mental€and/orÏemotional€status€would€be€detrimental€to€the€child€orÏprevent€the€parent€or€guardian€from€effectivelyÏproviding€safe€and€stable€care€and€supervision€for€theÏchild;€orÌÌà8 àà8 àà0 à(9)à0 àWhether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€paid€childÏsupport€consistent€with€the€child€support€guidelinesÏpromulgated€by€the€department€pursuant€to€ðð€36„5„101.ÌÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(i).€€ÌÌà àà àAs€discussed,€the€record€on€appeal€shows€that€Father€failed€to€comply€with€his€PlansÏof€Care;€did€not€become€free€of€drug€and€alcohol€use;€continued€his€criminal€activity€and€domesticÏviolence;€was€incarcerated€for€approximately€one„half€of€the€time€that€he€was€supposed€to€beÏworking€toward€his€Plans€of€Care;€tried€to€commit€suicide€for€which€he€was€hospitalized;€and€failedÏto€pay€child€support.€€Due€to€these€circumstances,€we€hold€that€at€least€seven€of€the€nine€factorsÏoutlined€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113€(i)€are€present.€€Accordingly,€we€find€no€error€with€theÏJuvenile€Courtððs€determination€that€termination€of€Fatherððs€parental€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€ofÏthe€Children.× ƒ- ××  ×€ÌÌà àà àThe€remaining€issue€on€appeal€concerns€Motherððs€argument€that€the€Juvenile€CourtÏerred€in€conducting€three€hearings,€on€March€10,€1999,€on€June€16,€1999,€and€on€August€20,€1999,Ïwithout€the€presence€of€Mother€and/or€her€counsel.€€All€of€these€hearings€preceded€the€terminationÏhearing€where€both€Mother€and€her€counsel€were€present.€€The€record€on€appeal€shows€that€MotherÏhad€counsel€during€the€1998€proceedings.€€At€the€hearing€held€in€March€1999,€Mother€was€presentÏbut€without€counsel,€and€the€Juvenile€Court€Referee€found,€in€its€order,€that€she€waived€presence€ofÏher€attorney.€€Mother€was€not€present€at€all€for€the€second€hearing€held€on€June€16,€1999,€nor€wasÏan€attorney€present€on€her€behalf.€€At€the€third€hearing,€held€in€August€1999,€Mother€was€presentÏbut€without€counsel.€€ÌÌà àà àTenn.€R.€Sup.€Ct.€ðð€1,€13(d)(7)€states€that€parents€have€a€right€to€counsel€at€allÏstages€of€proceedings€involving€dependency€and€neglect€issues€or€termination€of€parental€rights.ÏMother,€however,€did€not€raise€this€issue€at€the€trial€level.€€As€discussed,€issues€not€raised€at€trialÏmay€not€be€raised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal.€€òòSimpson€v.€Frontier€Cmty.€Credit€Unionóó,€810ÏS.W.2d€at€153;€òòDepððt€Human€Serv.óó€òòv.€DeFrieceóó,€937€S.W.2d€at€960.€€In€addition,€uponÏconsideration€of€the€record€as€a€whole€and€since€Mother€was€present€and€represented€by€counsel€atÏthe€termination€hearing,€we€hold€that€if€this€constituted€error,€it€did€not€ð ðmore€probably€than€notÏ[affect]€the€judgment[,]ðð€nor€did€it€ð ðresult€in€prejudice€to€the€judicial€process.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ï36€(b);€òòsee€also€Depððt€Childrenððs€Serv.óó€òòv.€Wilkersonóó,€No.€03A01„9810„JV„00341,€1999€WLÏ775759,€at€*€2€(Sept.€15,€1999)€(citations€omitted)€(holding€that€no€due€process€violation€occursÏwhere€the€appellant€parent€participates€in€the€termination€hearing€and€ð ðððthere€asserted€her€plenaryÏrights;€any€lack€of€due€process€initially€was€thereafter€fully€suppliedðððð).€€Moreover,€the€onlyÏhearing€that€Mother€did€not€attend€was€in€June€1999,€and€occurred€during€the€time€that€MotherÏadmitted€that€her€whereabouts€were€unknown€to€DCS.€€Relief€is€not€granted€to€a€ð ðparty€responsibleÏfor€an€error€or€who€failed€to€take€whatever€action€was€reasonably€available€to€prevent€or€nullify€theÏharmful€effect€of€an€error.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a).€ÌÌà àà àAcceptance€of€Motherððs€position€on€this€issue€would€lead€to€the€outlandishÏconclusion€that€once€a€hearing€was€held€without€Motherððs€or€her€attorneyððs€attendance,€forÏwhatever€reason,€the€Juvenile€Court€would€be€powerless€later€to€hold€any€hearing€terminatingÏMotherððs€parental€rights.€€Such€is€not€the€law.€€Accordingly,€due€to€the€facts€and€circumstancesÏpresented€by€the€record€on€appeal,€we€find€no€reversible€error€in€the€Juvenile€Courtððs€holding€ofÏthree€hearings,€all€prior€to€the€termination€hearing,€without€the€presence€of€Mother€and/or€herÏattorney.€€ÌÌò òòòà@ àConclusionóóó óÌÌà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€is€affirmed,€and€this€cause€is€remanded€to€theÏJuvenile€Court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€required,€if€any,€consistent€with€this€Opinion,Ïand€for€collection€of€the€costs€below.€€The€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€Appellants,ÏD.R.,€and€L.M.R,€and€their€sureties.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGEÌ€Ìà àà à