ÿWPC R+¤M–ZÜ["´ÿó}ø "©Qê¹húÒ}»°×[9´¤ø€•M²ZoF‰šŽdÍ&Wù¡Ç¬†ëù’¯$…>–|¡xìnµ§Õ¾Õú–¯t³©—Ç£³wW Ís©^´‚àms:©¢b!­üÎUö-ã'õfñ¨¸j2f|]ê¥Äº[é¿Ðk‡*dÊ“‹õI]C·l¬x‡] Y«É߀ÜÎñN—¶-f½9C*òoú¸øfs—†ui'±Ø{]õ`‹ÿẻ4š½ÕúN8 žIìˆIö”º«ûUßû¸’e0Í´…݃*•Þã.w.45eIŸ\D ˜·æ,òxZVUH)”"Ú-”;1eÓ[ƒíQë<Ý0sï3=roCÓ¦©1¨t ãðaIK( 0«þôR‡;¦SSDµj ¤nC ©±ÎBõñ-fdNƨŠ`ÎéïÅ&%˳š¿ŠïùS…EÔƒ »ó4ÄÅqIc½¹ ºÓ ²¥öùÐü5RýáÇ| 4ÁÞ¹¸ KØ,²ž‡ _é;ÙÇÙkDxì@e,ŸÙFÖIˆç<‚bWE4ÑÇb—D„i£&Ê>5]Èb”8Bh*/))ˆRW#ÉÂU7N‹ %Ù 0:ß Ö ^ ï wû 4ÿ  " m$ UN; N‰ q‹ 0~ü 0DzU<¾úU >þ &<ïbEQQQQ„SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS ××××××××××××××××××× Bç˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô ManchausenERIKAEVERSON COA P.J. W.S.HighersDyersburgDimondd.o.b.GrandfgatherColliervilleChouireyLeBonheurChouriey depoTr.ExWillettLymanIngramMunchusenRomainNolesmastocystosis S]heT]heyreKawana J.R.had hadfianc)MunchausenMcCalebSantoskyDrinnonUCCJEAprovid[eФ‹/Ï lk.ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular gÝ ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôÝ òXXÔMother€would€later€explain€that€she€returned€to€Arkansas€to€help€the€authorities€locate€Grandfather€to€takeÐ ° Ðhim€into€custody.€€She€did€not€address€why€she€remained€in€Arkansas€ò òó óin€excess€of€five€months.(.(3Ä($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman úÝ ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôÝ òXXÔThis€Court€is€unaware€of€an€exception€to€the€hearsay€rule€for€evidence€that€is€ð ðpertinentðð€or€ð ðimportant.ððô\  `‹&Times New RomanÿÿSP;fcf30000ea9c4 åÝ ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôÝ òXXÔMother€later€explained€that€Grandmother€came€with€her€for€some€of€the€visits€ð ðas€a€driver.ðð zÝ ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ôÝ òXXÔMother€said€that€one€attorney€withdrew€from€representing€her€because€they€ð ðdidnððt€see€eye€to€eyeðð€andÐ ° Ðbecause€ð ð[Ô_Ôh]eÔ_Ô€didnððt€like€[her]€momma.ððÔ#†XsæX òôÝe#ÔÿÿSDU_7 dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  ÓÔ‡ X‰EXXXÔÔ‡ ¼À;»X X‰EÔÑ8€sæXXdédÈ8ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ#† X‰EX» ¼À;h#ÔÔ‡ î4„îX X‰EÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#† X‰EXî î4„#ÔÔ‡ ¼À;»X X‰EԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓSeptember€15,€2003€SessionÐ öF ÐÔ#† X‰EX» ¼À;™#ÔÌò òÔ‡ ¼À;»X X‰EÔSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,€DEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDRENððS€SERVICESòòóó€Ð ï? Ðv.€Ð  P ÐERIKA€EVERSON€òòet€alóó.Ô#† X‰EX» ¼À;0#Ôó óÐ  a ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAn€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Dyer€CountyÐ  [ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€2970€€€€€€Charles€V.€Moore,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ õ E  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<²` AßÐ ³  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2002„01085„COA„R3„JV€„€Filed€December€11,€2003Ð ¬ü  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ €Ð Ðó óÌÔ#†XsæXX X‰EI#ÔÓ  ÓThis€case€involves€the€termination€of€parental€rights.€€The€two€children€lived€with€their€singleÐ xÈ Ðmother€in€Arkansas.€€The€mother€and€children€stayed€temporarily€with€the€childrenððs€grandfatherÐ a± Ðin€Arkansas,€who€sexually€abused€one€of€the€children.€€After€the€grandfather€threatened€the€mother,Ð Jš Ðshe€and€the€children€went€to€Tennessee€and€stayed€with€the€childrenððs€grandmother.€€The€motherÐ 3ƒ Ðwent€back€to€Arkansas€and€left€the€children€with€the€grandmother€in€Tennessee.€€The€grandmotherÐ l Ðrepeatedly€sought€medical€attention€for€one€of€the€children.€€A€physician€determined€that€the€childÐ U Ðwas€a€victim€of€Manchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy,€a€form€of€child€abuse€in€which€the€caretakerÐ î> Ðexaggerates€or€secretly€induces€symptoms€of€illness€in€the€victim€and€then€seeks€medical€attentionÐ ×' Ðfor€the€victimððs€ð ðillness.ðð€€Both€children€were€taken€into€custody€by€the€Tennessee€Department€ofÐ À ÐChildrenððs€Services.€€A€permanency€plan€was€designed€for€the€childrenððs€mother.€€The€mother€failedÐ ©ù Ðto€comply€with€the€permanency€plan,€provide€support€for€the€children,€or€visit€the€children€on€aÐ ’â Ðregular€basis.€€In€addition,€she€abducted€the€children€from€foster€care€and€would€not€protect€themÐ {Ë Ðfrom€the€abusive€grandmother.€€The€State€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€the€motherððs€parental€rights.€Ð d´ ÐThe€trial€court€granted€the€petition,€and€the€mother€appeals.Ô‡ X‰EXXXsæÔ€€We€affirm,€finding€that€termination€ofÐ M  Ðthe€motherððs€parental€rights€was€warranted€on€several€grounds€and€that€termination€was€in€theÐ 6!†  Ðchildrenððs€best€interest.Ð "o! ÐÌò òà@||ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Affirmedó óˆÐ ñ#A# ÐÌòòHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ Ä%!% Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ­&ý!& ÐÌBarbara€A.€Deere,€Dyersburg,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant€Erika€Everson.Ð (Ï#( ÐÌDouglas€Earl€Dimond,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€ofÐ Q*¡%* ÐChildrenððs€Services.Ð :+Š&+ ÐÌò òÐ   -\(- Ðà@55'ìàOPINIONó óˆÐ ° ÐÌòòóóÓ Óà  àThis€is€a€tragic€story€of€the€cycle€of€abuse.€€Erika€Everson€(ð ðMotherðð)€Ô#†XsæXX X‰EZ #Ôan€unmarried€ArkansasÐ ƒÓ Ðresident,€had€two€daughters,€J.R.€(d.o.b.€7/1/97)€and€P.E.€(d.o.b.€7/17/98).€€Motherððs€parents€divorcedÐ l¼ Ðbefore€she€was€born.€€Mother€suffered€abuse€as€a€child.€€As€an€adult€Mother€was€irregularlyÐ U¥ Ðemployed,€and€she€and€her€daughters€maintained€a€nomadic€lifestyle.€€Even€though€her€fatherÐ > Ž Ð(ð ðGrandfatherðð)€had€been€abusive€to€Mother,€she€and€her€daughters€sometimes€lived€atÐ ' w ÐGrandfatherððs€Arkansas€home€when€they€ð ðhad€no€place€to€go.ðð€€In€February€1998,€J.R.€wasÐ  ` Ðmedically€examined,€based€on€a€report€of€suspected€sexual€abuse€by€Grandfather.€€Subsequently,Ð ù I ÐArkansas€child€welfare€services€investigated€the€family€for€environmental€neglect€and€failure€toÐ â 2  Ðprotect.€€A€1998€Central€Registry€Check€showed€true€reports€of€environmental€neglect,€failure€toÐ Ë   Ðprotect,€and€malnutrition.€At€some€point€there€was€an€investigation€for€sexual€abuse,€though€theÐ ´  Ðreport€of€such€abuse€was€not€substantiated€at€that€time€Ð í  Ðà  àIn€January€1999,€J.R.,€then€an€eighteen„month„old€toddler,€was€diagnosed€with€genital€warts,Ð o¿  Ða€sexually€transmitted€disease.€€Mother€testified€that,€at€that€time,€she€began€to€suspect€thatÐ X¨  ÐGrandfather€had€sexually€abused€J.R.€€Nevertheless,€in€June€1999,€after€Mother€and€the€children€hadÐ A‘ Ðto€suddenly€leave€the€home€of€her€boyfriend,€they€returned€to€live€at€Grandfatherððs€home.€€They€leftÐ *z Ða€month€later€when€Grandfather€became€verbally€abusive€and€Mother€observed€indications€ofÐ c Ðphysical€and€sexual€abuse€in€her€children.€€When€she€attempted€to€leave€with€her€daughters,Ð üL ÐGrandfather€held€a€gun€to€Motherððs€head€and€threatened€to€kill€them.€Ð å5 Ðà  àMother€and€the€children€fled€to€Tennessee€to€live€with€her€mother€(ð ðGrandmotherðð).€€MotherÐ · Ðremained€there€with€her€children€for€just€over€a€month.€€In€September€1999,€she€left€her€daughtersÐ  ð Ðin€Grandmotherððs€care€and€returned€to€Arkansas.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ‰Ù Ðà  àWhile€Mother€remained€in€Arkansas,€in€late€1999€and€early€2000,€Grandmother€soughtÐ [« Ðmedical€treatment€for€J.R.€for€various€stomach€and€gastrointestinal€problems,€such€as€refusing€to€eatÐ D” Ðor€drink,€vomiting,€excessive€sleeping,€constipation,€diarrhea,€holding€food€in€her€mouth,€stomachÐ -} Ðpain€and€problems€swallowing.€€Examination€by€physicians,€however,€failed€to€substantiate€theÐ f Ðmedical€problems€that€Grandmother€claimed€to€exist,€and€Grandmother€and€J.R.€were€referred€forÐ ÿO Ðcounseling€with€the€LeBonheur€Center€for€Children€in€Crisis€in€Memphis,€Tennessee.€Ð è 8 Ðà  àFinally,€on€February€4,€2000,€J.R.€was€admitted€to€LeBonheur€hospital.€€J.R.€was€subjectedÐ º" ! Ðto€a€number€of€tests€while€at€LeBonheur,€and€Grandmother€was€interviewed€as€well.€€The€medicalÐ £#ó" Ðexaminations€did€not€substantiate€the€disorders€reported€by€Grandmother;€in€fact,€J.R.€did€well€whileÐ Œ$Ü# Ðhospitalized.€€Considering€this€as€well€as€the€interviews€with€Grandmother,€the€case€was€referredÐ u%Å $ Ðto€Robert€Van€Walling,€M.D.€(ð ðDr.€Wallingðð),€a€physician€and€the€medical€director€of€theÐ ^&®!% ÐLeBonheur€Center€for€Children€in€Crisis.€€Ð G'—"& Ðà  àDr.€Walling€saw€J.R.€four€days€after€she€was€admitted€to€LeBonheur.€€He€examined€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_ÔððsÐ )i$( Ðmedical€records,€as€well€as€the€records€made€by€the€social€workers€and€others€who€had€interviewedÐ ° ÐGrandmother€at€length€or€who€had€worked€with€the€children,€Mother€and€Grandmother€in€eitherÐ ™é ÐArkansas€or€Tennessee.€€He€also€interviewed€Mother€at€length.€€Based€on€all€of€this€information,€Dr.Ð ‚Ò ÐWalling€diagnosed€that€J.R.€was€a€victim€of€a€form€of€child€abuse€known€as€Munchausen€SyndromeÐ k» Ðby€Proxy,€perpetrated€by€Grandmother.€€This€type€of€abuse€is€characterized€by€the€perpetrator€eitherÐ T¤ Ðinducing€symptoms€of€illness€in€the€child€through€artificial€means,€such€as€the€administration€of€aÐ =  Ðsubstance€or€drugs,€the€withholding€of€food,€or€the€fabrication€or€exaggeration€of€such€symptoms.€Ð & v ÐThe€perpetrator€then€seeks€medical€attention€for€the€victim,€often€repeatedly,€for€these€induced€orÐ  _ Ðfabricated€symptoms.€€The€perpetrator€is€frequently€very€involved€in€the€victimððs€medical€treatment.€Ð ø H ÐThis€is€thought€to€satisfy€the€perpetratorððs€emotional€need€for€medical€attention€and€nurturing.€€TheÐ á 1  Ðhallmark€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€is€that,€when€the€abuser€is€separated€from€the€victim,Ð Ê   Ðthe€ð ðsymptomsðð€disappear.€€This€type€of€abuse€is€known€to€have€an€inter„generational€effect€withÐ ³  Ðfamilies:€children€who€have€been€victims€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€sometimes€inflict€theÐ œì  Ðsame€abuse€on€their€children,€or€grandparents€who€perpetrated€such€abuse€on€their€children€mayÐ …Õ  Ðabuse€their€grandchildren€in€the€same€way.€€The€consequences€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€ProxyÐ n¾  Ðcan€be€dire;€as€many€as€twenty€percent€of€children€abused€in€this€way€may€die€as€a€result€of€it.Ð W§  Ðà  àBased€on€his€investigation,€Dr.€Walling€believed€Grandmother,€and€not€necessarily€Mother,Ð )y Ðto€be€the€perpetrator€of€the€abuse.€€In€Dr.€Wallingððs€interview€with€Mother,€Mother€acknowledgedÐ b Ðthat€she€had€been€a€childhood€victim€of€abuse€and€had€been€in€foster€care€as€a€child,€and€thatÐ ûK ÐGrandmother€had€manipulated€her€therapy€and€exposed€her€to€hazards.€€Despite€this,€MotherÐ ä4 Ðindicated€her€intent€to€take€only€J.R.€with€her€to€Arkansas€and€leave€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€younger€sister€P.E.€inÐ Í ÐGrandmotherððs€care€in€Tennessee.€Ð ¶ Ðà  àDr.€Walling€reported€his€findings€to€the€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€Child€ServicesÐ ˆØ Ð(ð ðDCSðð)€on€February€10,€2000,€recommending€that€both€J.R.€and€P.E.€be€taken€into€protectiveÐ qÁ Ðcustody,€and€that€Grandmother€not€be€permitted€to€see€the€children.€€The€next€day,€DCS€filed€aÐ Zª Ðpetition€for€temporary€custody€of€both€J.R.€and€P.E.€in€the€Juvenile€Court€of€Dyer€County,Ð C“ ÐTennessee,€alleging€that€the€children€were€victims€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€perpetratedÐ ,| Ðby€Grandmother,€that€Mother€would€not€protect€the€children€from€Grandmother,€and€that€MotherÐ e Ðcould€not€provide€a€stable€home€for€the€children.€€DCS€also€requested€a€protective€no„contact€orderÐ þN Ðagainst€Grandmother.€€The€Juvenile€Court€issued€a€ð ðProtective€Custody€Orderðð€placing€the€childrenÐ ç 7 Ðinto€DCS€custody€and€prohibiting€Grandmother€from€having€any€contact€with€either€of€the€girls.€Ð Ð!   Ðà  àInitially,€when€J.R.€and€P.E.€were€taken€into€protective€custody,€the€goal€was€to€reunite€themÐ ¢#ò" Ðwith€Mother.€€Toward€that€end,€on€April€6,€2000,€DCS€sent€Mother,€still€residing€in€Arkansas,€aÐ ‹$Û# Ðpermanency€plan.€€Ô‡ X‰EXXXsæÔThe€plan€required€Mother€to€undergo€a€complete€psychological€evaluation;€toÐ t%Ä $ Ðsign€a€release€allowing€records€from€the€evaluation€to€be€provided€to€DCS;€to€develop,€with€theÐ ]&­!% Ðassistance€of€her€social€counselor,€a€safety€plan€designed€to€protect€her€children;€to€comply€with€theÐ F'–"& Ðno„contact€order€issued€against€Grandmother;€to€receive€and€complete€psychological€treatment€toÐ /(#' Ðcope€with€the€trauma€of€her€own€abuse;€to€develop€independent€living€skills€by€obtaining€stableÐ )h$( Ðemployment€or€public€assistance,€appropriate€child€daycare,€information€concerning€the€use€ofÐ *Q%) Ðcommunity€resources,€and€a€stable€place€of€residence€for€at€least€six€months;€to€complete€a€parentingÐ ê*:&* Ðclass;€to€learn€the€characteristics€of€children€diagnosed€with€ð ðfailure€to€thriveðð;€to€establish€supportÐ Ó+#'+ Ðsystems€by€joining€a€support€group;€to€learn€about€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€and€recognizeÐ ° Ðit€as€a€probable€disorder€suffered€by€Grandmother;€and€to€consistently€visit€the€children.€€MotherÐ ™é Ðwas€told€by€DCS€on€at€least€two€occasions€that€if€she€moved€from€Arkansas€to€Tennessee,€DCSÐ ‚Ò Ðwould€be€able€to€provide€her€assistance€in€fulfilling€the€goals€of€the€plan€by,€for€example,€helpingÐ k» Ðher€to€find€a€job€and€locate€housing.€€Mother€declined€to€move€from€Arkansas.Ð T¤ Ðà  àDCS€received€a€letter€indicating€that€Mother€had€scheduled€a€psychological€evaluation.€Ð & v ÐHowever,€DCS€did€not€receive€anything€further€to€indicate€whether€the€evaluation€took€place€or€toÐ  _ Ðadvise€DCS€of€the€results€of€any€such€evaluation.€€To€further€compound€the€problem,€Mother€refusedÐ ø H Ðto€sign€a€release€that€would€have€permitted€Tennessee€DCS€to€communicate€with€her€providersÐ á 1  Ðoutside€Tennessee€to€confirm€Motherððs€completion€of€the€planððs€requirements.€Ð Ê   Ðà  àIn€the€summer€of€2000,€Arkansas€child€welfare€services€provided€Tennessee€DCS€anÐ œì  ÐInterstate€Compact€on€the€Placement€of€Children€report€(ð ðArkansas€Reportðð),€a€report€on€theÐ …Õ  ÐArkansas€agencyððs€visit€to€Motherððs€home€in€Arkansas,€to€determine€if€Motherððs€home€wasÐ n¾  Ðappropriate€for€placement€of€the€children.€€The€report€noted€that€the€home€was€clean€and€Mother€wasÐ W§  Ðemployed.€€However,€Mother€was€living€with€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€father,€a€convicted€felon€who€was€hiding€fromÐ @ Ðhis€probation€officer.€€The€report€indicated€that€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€father€had€fathered€four€children€by€differentÐ )y Ðwomen,€none€of€whom€received€child€support€from€him.€€During€the€visit€by€the€Arkansas€socialÐ b Ðworker,€Mother€acknowledged€that€Grandmother€was€the€reason€her€daughters€were€taken€intoÐ ûK Ðprotective€custody,€and€that€Grandmother€was€not€to€have€contact€with€the€children€if€they€wereÐ ä4 Ðreturned€to€her€custody.€€Nevertheless,€Mother€listed€Grandmother€as€a€member€of€her€extendedÐ Í Ðfamily€who€was€available€to€help€if€the€children€lived€with€her,€and€said€that€if€custody€was€returnedÐ ¶ Ðto€her,€she€would€try€to€change€the€diagnosis€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€regardingÐ Ÿï ÐGrandmother.€€The€social€worker€reported€that€Grandmother€left€Motherððs€home€when€the€socialÐ ˆØ Ðworker€arrived,€and€returned€again€during€the€visit.€€Considering€that€Mother€was€living€with€aÐ qÁ Ðconvicted€felon,€that€Mother€believed€that€the€diagnosis€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€ProxyÐ Zª Ðregarding€Grandmother€was€erroneous,€and€that€Mother€continued€to€involve€Grandmother€in€herÐ C“ Ðlife,€the€report€concluded€that€Motherððs€home€was€inappropriate€for€placement€of€the€children.€€Ð ,| Ðà  àDuring€the€nearly€two€year€period€after€J.R.€and€P.E.€were€taken€into€protective€custody,Ð þN ÐMother€saw€them€on€only€eleven€occasions.€€For€more€than€one€of€Motherððs€visits,€GrandmotherÐ ç 7 Ðcame€along€with€Mother,€in€violation€of€the€no„contact€order€against€Grandmother.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€The€first€timeÐ Ð!   Ðthat€Grandmother€accompanied€Mother€for€a€visit,€Grandmother€was€disingenuously€described€toÐ ¹" ! Ðthe€social€worker€as€a€ð ðfamily€friend.ðð€€Mother€continued€to€maintain€that€the€diagnosis€of€her€claimÐ ¢#ò" Ðas€victim€of€€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy€perpetrated€by€Grandmother€was€not€correct.Ð ‹$Û# Ðà  àAt€Motherððs€February€2001€visit€with€J.R.€and€P.E.,€she€absconded€with€the€children.€€ThreeÐ ]&­!% Ðdays€after€Ô_ÔkidnappingÔ_Ô€the€children€from€foster€care€in€Tennessee,€Mother€turned€the€children€over,Ð F'–"& Ðphysically€unharmed,€to€Arkansas€officials.€€Subsequently,€Mother€was€convicted€in€Chester€County,Ð /(#' ÐTennessee€of€custodial€interference€and€received€an€eleven„month„and„twenty„nine„day€sentenceÐ )h$( Ðand€a€fine€of€$1000€on€March€14,€2001.€€All€but€ten€days€of€her€jail€time€was€suspended.€€The€courtÐ ° Ðalso€issued€a€no„contact€order,€prohibiting€her€from€seeing€the€children.€€Although€the€order€statedÐ ™é Ðthat€she€could€petition€the€Chester€County€court€for€relief€from€the€no„contact€order,€Mother€did€notÐ ‚Ò Ðdo€so.€€Consequently,€there€were€no€more€visits€with€the€children.€Ð k» Ðà  àOn€May€7,€2001,€a€petition€to€terminate€Motherððs€parental€rights€was€filed.€€The€petition€alsoÐ =  Ðsought€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€father,€Rick€Roberts,€and€P.E.ððs€father,€ShawnÐ & v ÐWillett.€€The€trial€was€held€on€January€9th€and€17th,€2002.€€Ô#†XsæXX X‰EÄ-#ÔThe€proceedings€were€held€beforeÐ  _ ÐLyman€Ingram,€Juvenile€Referee€in€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Dyer€County,€Tennessee.€€A€defaultÐ ø H Ðjudgment€was€entered€against€the€childrenððs€fathers,€and€the€termination€of€their€parental€rights€isÐ á 1  Ðnot€at€issue€in€this€appeal.€€Proof€was€heard€regarding€the€termination€of€Motherððs€parental€rights.Ð Ê   Ðà  àIn€the€January€9,€2002€portion€of€the€proceedings,€the€primary€evidence€heard€was€theÐ œì  Ðtestimony€of€Dr.€Walling.€€Dr.€Walling€testified€about€his€review€of€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€medical€records€and€theÐ …Õ  Ðrecords€made€by€the€social€workers€and€others€who€had€interviewed€Grandmother€at€length€or€whoÐ n¾  Ðhad€worked€with€the€children,€Mother€and€Grandmother€in€either€Arkansas€or€Tennessee.€€Dr.Ð W§  ÐWalling€testified€about€seeing€J.R.€at€LeBonheur€hospital€and€his€interview€with€Mother.€€He€saidÐ @ Ðthat€Grandmotherððs€repeated€assertions€of€various€disorders€in€J.R.€were€not€substantiated€by€theÐ )y Ðbattery€of€medical€tests€performed€on€the€child,€and€that€J.R.€in€fact€ate€and€did€well€while€in€theÐ b Ðhospital,€even€gaining€weight€during€the€short€time€she€was€there.€€He€testified€regarding€the€basisÐ ûK Ðfor€his€conclusion€that€J.R.€was€a€victim€of€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy,€perpetrated€byÐ ä4 ÐGrandmother.€€Dr.€Walling€testified€at€some€length€about€his€interview€with€Mother,€includingÐ Í Ðtestimony€to€the€effect€that€Mother€had€told€him€that€she€had€been€the€victim€of€sexual€andÐ ¶ Ðemotional€abuse€as€a€child,€that€she€had€been€placed€in€foster€care€as€a€child,€that€she€had€been€inÐ Ÿï Ðtherapy€more€than€once,€that€she€had€been€victimized€while€in€therapy,€that€Grandmother€hadÐ ˆØ Ðmanipulated€Motherððs€therapy€and€exposed€her€to€hazards,€that€Grandmother€had€not€protectedÐ qÁ ÐMother€as€a€child,€that€she€had€suffered€repeated€episodes€of€illness€and€victimization,€and€that€sheÐ Zª Ðdistrusted€Grandmother.€€Dr.€Walling€also€said€that€Mother€expressed€hopelessness€and€seemed€toÐ C“ Ðbe€in€considerable€emotional€and€social„setting€instability,€and€was€more€focused€on€her€ownÐ ,| Ðproblems€than€those€of€her€child.€€Dr.€Walling€testified€that,€despite€Motherððs€statements€about€herÐ e Ðown€abuse€as€a€child,€she€planned€to€take€only€J.R.€with€her€to€Arkansas€and€leave€P.E.€inÐ þN ÐGrandmotherððs€care.€€Thus,€he€testified,€he€recommended€that€both€children€be€immediately€placedÐ ç 7 Ðin€protective€custody€and€that€Grandmother€be€prohibited€from€being€in€contact€with€the€children.Ð Ð!   Ðà  àThe€trial€resumed€on€January€17,€2002,€again€before€Juvenile€Referee€Ingram.€€The€firstÐ ¢#ò" Ðwitness€was€Tanya€Tucker€Watson,€the€Tennessee€DCS€case€worker€for€the€children€who€hadÐ ‹$Û# Ðinvestigated€three€referrals€for€possible€abuse€or€neglect€regarding€multiple€medical€conditionsÐ t%Ä $ Ðreported€by€Grandmother€which€could€not€be€substantiated€medically.€€These€referrals€culminatedÐ ]&­!% Ðin€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€admission€to€LeBonheur€hospital€to€address€her€ð ðfailure€to€thriveðð€and€to€evaluateÐ F'–"& ÐGrandmotherððs€unsubstantiated€reports€of€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€medical€problems.€€Watson€explained€thatÐ /(#' ÐTennessee€DCS€contacted€Arkansas€officials€to€ask€them€to€accept€the€childrenððs€case€becauseÐ )h$( ÐMother€lived€in€Arkansas,€and€the€Arkansas€officials€refused€to€do€so€because€the€children€were€noÐ *Q%) Ðlonger€residents€of€Arkansas.€€Ð ê*:&* Ðà  àWatson€described€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€demeanor€prior€to€being€removed€from€the€custody€of€GrandmotherÐ ° Ðand€Mother€as€very€bashful,€quiet,€withdrawn€and€scared.€€Watson€said€that€Grandmother€and€theÐ ™é Ðchildren€were€provided€counseling€prior€to€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€hospital€admission,€but€Grandmother€did€notÐ ‚Ò Ðcomplete€the€course€of€counseling,€and€efforts€to€persuade€Grandmother€to€place€the€children€in€dayÐ k» Ðcare€proved€fruitless.€€After€removal€of€the€children€from€the€care€of€Grandmother€and€Mother,Ð T¤ ÐArkansas€officials€evaluated€Motherððs€home€in€Arkansas€and€found€it€inappropriate€for€placementÐ =  Ðof€the€children.€€Arkansas€officials€did€not€participate€further€with€Tennessee€DCS.Ð & v Ðà  àWatson€explained€the€DCS€permanency€plan€proposed€to€Mother€in€order€to€reunite€her€withÐ ø H Ðher€children.€€Under€the€plan,€Mother€was€to€complete€psychological€evaluations€and€therapy€toÐ á 1  Ðaddress€her€past€abuse€and€the€abuse€of€her€children,€abide€by€the€order€to€protect€the€children€fromÐ Ê   Ðcontact€with€Grandmother,€obtain€stable€housing€as€well€as€either€stable€employment€or€publicÐ ³  Ðassistance,€understand€the€abuse€inflicted€on€her€children,€especially€the€Munchausen€Syndrome€byÐ œì  ÐProxy,€utilize€support€systems€in€her€community€to€prevent€further€abuse€or€neglect,€attend€parentingÐ …Õ  Ðclasses,€and€sign€releases€so€that€Tennessee€DCS€could€be€apprised€of€her€progress€and€treatment.Ð n¾  ÐSince€Arkansas€had€declined€to€accept€the€case,€DCS€encouraged€Mother€to€move€to€Tennessee€soÐ W§  Ðthat€Tennessee€DCS€could€provide€help€and€services€and€monitor€her€progress.€€Mother,€however,Ð @ Ðrefused€to€leave€Arkansas€and€provided€Tennessee€DCS€little€information€on€any€progress€she€hadÐ )y Ðmade€implementing€the€requirements€of€the€permanency€plan.€€In€addition,€Mother€paid€no€supportÐ b Ðfor€the€children.€Ð ûK Ðà  àDuring€Dr.€Wallingððs€testimony€on€January€9,€there€were€few€objections€to€admissibility;€theÐ Í Ðsmall€number€of€objections€lodged€were€to€written€documents€sought€to€be€admitted€into€evidence,Ð ¶ Ðsuch€as€an€article€by€Dr.€Walling€on€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy.€€In€contrast,€in€theÐ Ÿï Ðproceedings€on€January€17,€during€WÔ_ÔatsonÔ_Ôððs€testimony,€numerous€objections€were€raised,€such€asÐ ˆØ Ðhearsay€objections.€€Initially,€the€trial€judge€responded€to€individual€objections.€€Shortly€thereafter,Ð qÁ Ðhowever,€the€trial€judge€indicated€that€he€would€simply€let€both€parties€admit€into€evidence€anythingÐ Zª Ðthey€chose,€and€that€he€would€consider€only€undetermined€portions€of€the€evidence€that€wereÐ C“ Ðð ðpertinentðð€or€ð ðimportant.ðð€€The€trial€judge€explained:Ð ,| ÐÓ Óà8  àTHE€COURT:€€€As€Iððve€already€said,€now,€I€donððt€want€a€bunch€of€objections.€€IððmÐ þN Ðgoing€to€let€things€run€wide€open.€€Iððm€going€to€only€consider€those€things€that€IÐ ç 7 Ðthink€are€pertinent.€€You€can€trust€me.€€Iððm€not€going€to€consider€anything€thatððs€notÐ Ð!   Ðpertinent.й" !Ð Ð  Ðà  à.€.€.€.Ð ¢#ò" Ðà8  à€€€€€Iððm€going€to€let€both€of€you€go€as€far€as€you€want€to€go.€€Iððm€going€to€hearÐ ‹$Û# Ðeverything€that€youððre€wanting€me€to€hear,€but€about€90%€of€it€is€going€to€go€in€oneÐ t%Ä $ Ðear€and€out€the€other€one.Ð]&­!%Ð Ð  ÐÌÐ  /(#' ÐNot€surprisingly,€further€explanation€of€the€trial€courtððs€reasoning€was€necessary:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àTHE€COURT:€€€Let€me€explain€one€thing€to€you.€€The€reason€Iððm€doing€this€in€thisÐ ‚Ò Ðfashion,€weððve€got€two€children€involved€here.€€The€Court€is€not€going€to€use€stringsÐ k» Ðof€evidence€in€order€to€determine€whatððs€ò òó óthe€best€interest€of€these€two€children.ÐT¤Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à€€€€€Iððm€going€to€do€what€I€think€is€the€best€for€these€two€children€when€I€hear€all€ofÐ & v Ðthe€proof.€€And€thatððs€the€reason€Iððm€not€limiting€you.€€I€want€to€hear€everything€thatÐ  _ Ðyouððve€got,€but€at€the€same€time€a€lot€of€it€is€not€going€to€have€any€influence€on€meÐ ø H Ðone€way€or€the€other.€Ðá 1 Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€trial€judge€later€added:Ð ³  ÐÌà8  àTHE€COURT:€€€I€told€you,€Iððm€going€to€let€everything€in€the€record€that€you€wantÐ …Õ  Ðto€put€in€it.€€That€way€an€appellate€court€canððt€say€anything€about€me€not€letting€it€in.Ðn¾ Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ ÓThe€attorneys€for€both€parties€responded€to€this€unusual€approach€by€each€making€a€ð ðstandingÐ @ Ðobjectionðð€to€ð ðany€hearsay,ðð€to€which€the€trial€judge€replied€that€he€would€accept€the€ð ðstandingÐ )y Ðobjectionðð€of€both€and€promised€to€ð ðconsider€only€those€things€that€are€vital€to€our€case.ðð€€Ð b Ðà  àThe€DCS€case€worker€assigned€to€J.R.€and€P.E.€after€Watson€also€testified€about€DCS€effortsÐ ä4 Ðto€inform€Mother€of€the€requirements€of€the€permanency€plan,€to€encourage€Mother€to€move€toÐ Í ÐTennessee€so€that€DCS€could€assist€her€in€meeting€the€requirements€of€the€plan,€and€to€facilitateÐ ¶ ÐMotherððs€visitation€with€the€children.€€He€also€testified€about€DCSððs€actions€when€MotherÐ Ÿï Ðabsconded€with€the€children€and€Motherððs€subsequent€arrest€and€incarceration€for€custodialÐ ˆØ Ðinterference.€€Thereafter,€Mother€was€not€permitted€to€visit€the€children€without€court€permission,Ð qÁ Ðwhich€€she€did€not€seek.€€Ð Zª Ðà  àThe€trial€judge€also€heard€testimony€from€Romaine€Noles,€the€foster€care€case€worker€withÐ ,| ÐWest€Tennessee€Childrenððs€Home€who€worked€with€J.R.€and€P.E.€€€Noles€testified€that€when€J.R.Ð e Ðwas€first€taken€into€protective€custody€she€ò òó óÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔð ðwas€very€guarded€and€untrusting€of€people.€€She€refusedÐ þN Ðto€look€at€herself€in€the€mirror.€€She€did€not€like€to€smile€for€pictures.€€When€she€first€came€in,€herÐ ç 7 Ðteeth€were€really€bad.€.€.€.€She€had€to€have€her€top€four€front€teeth€pulled€because€they€wereÐ Ð!   Ðdecayed.ðð€€Noles€testified€further€that€P.E.€had€bleeding€sores€all€over€her€body€from€mastocystosis.€Ð ¹" ! ÐShe€said€that€both€girls€had€poor€speech€and€both€acted€out€sexually,€touching€themselves€and€eachÐ ¢#ò" Ðother€in€a€sexual€manner.Ð ‹$Û# Ðà  àNoles€described€the€progress€the€children€had€made.€€Though€J.R.€was€still€guarded,€she€hadÐ ]&­!% Ðbecome€more€friendly€with€Noles€and€had€begun€making€friends€at€pre„school.€€J.R.€was€no€longerÐ F'–"& Ðavoiding€the€mirror:€ð ð[Ô_ÔS]heÔ_Ôððs€got€all€these€dress„up€clothes.€€And€she€loves€to€play€and€dress€up€andÐ /(#' Ðlook€in€the€mirror.ðð€€Both€children€had€been€taken€to€a€dentist€and€treated€for€other€medicalÐ )h$( Ðproblems.€€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_Ôððs€speech€had€improved€considerably€with€therapy.€€They€stopped€acting€out€sexuallyÐ *Q%) Ðabout€six€months€after€entering€custody.€€Noles€described€the€personal€achievements€the€childrenÐ ê*:&* Ðwere€making:€Ð Ó+#'+ Ðà8  à[Ô_ÔT]heyððreÔ_Ô€both€doing€just€wonderful.€.€.€.€[P.E.]€goes€to€the€Kawana€Center€forÐ ° Ðphysical€therapy€.€.€.€[because]€she€had€a€hard€time€learning€how€to€run€and€jump.€Ð ™é ÐSheððs€made€a€lot€of€improvements€with€that,€and€theyððre€both€very€smart.€€TheyÐ ‚Ò Ðknow€their€ABCs€and€theyððre€both€learning€to€write€their€name.€€And€theyððre€bothÐ k» Ðvery€independent,€and€they€dress€themselves€and€do€everything€they€can€forÐ T¤ Ðthemselves.€Ð= Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†XsæXX X‰Eþn#Ôò òó óà  àNoles€also€testified€about€the€girlsðð€demeanor€toward€Mother€during€visits.€€Noles€describedÐ  _ ÐJ.R.€as€being€reluctant€both€to€permit€Mother€to€take€a€photograph€of€her€and€to€give€MotherÐ ø H Ðphotographs€taken€by€her€foster€family,€crying€when€left€alone€with€Mother,€rejecting€Motherððs€hugsÐ á 1  Ðand€even€telling€Mother,€more€than€once,€that€she€did€not€love€her€anymore.€€Noles€said€that€Ô_ÔJ.R.Ô_ÔððsÐ Ê   Ðresponse€to€Motherððs€entreaties€greatly€upset€Mother.€€She€observed€that,€after€visits€with€Mother,Ð ³  ÐJ.R.€would€again€become€guarded€toward€Noles.€Ð œì  Ðà  àNoles€also€described€the€childrenððs€reaction€to€the€incident€in€which€Mother€absconded€withÐ n¾  Ðthem.€€When€they€were€returned,€she€said,€Ô‡ X‰EXXXsæÔP.E.€had€ð ðswollen€all€over€her€body,ðð€necessitating€aÐ W§  Ðdoctorððs€visit€the€following€day,€and€J.R.€had€a€worsened€ear€infection€and€acute€asthmaticÐ @ Ðbronchitis.€€Ô#†XsæXX X‰E¥z#ÔIn€addition,€both€ò òó óÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔchildrenððs€dispositions€had€changed.€€Both€had€once€again€becomeÐ )y Ðquiet€and€reserved.€€When€asked€if€she€had€had€fun,€J.R.€gave€a€blank€stare,€but€when€asked€if€sheÐ b Ðhad€been€scared,€J.R.€nodded€her€head€yes.€€Within€an€hour,€their€dispositions€had€€returned€toÐ ûK Ðnormal.€€However,€for€months€thereafter,€the€children€resumed€acting€out€sexually.€Ô#†XsæXX X‰EÏ{#Ôà Ð àÐ ä4 Ðà  àFinally,€Mother€testified€in€her€own€behalf.€€She€did€not€dispute€talking€to€Dr.€Walling€aboutÐ ¶ Ðher€own€childhood,€and€did€not€specifically€dispute€telling€him€the€experiences€he€recounted,€butÐ Ÿï Ðexplained€that€Dr.€Walling€did€not€tell€her€why€he€was€meeting€with€her.€€Mother€said€that€she€ð ðmayÐ ˆØ Ðhave€mentionedðð€to€Dr.€Walling€that€she€was€sexually€abused€by€Grandfather,€but€clarified€that€sheÐ qÁ Ðdid€not€know€ð ðfor€sureðð€that€she€had€been€sexually€abused.€€She€explained€that€she€ended€upÐ Zª Ðbringing€the€girls€to€Grandfatherððs€home€because€she€had€been€ð ðkicked€outðð€by€her€boyfriend€ð ðwithÐ C“ Ðnowhere€to€go.ðð€€After€staying€there€several€weeks€and€having€Grandfather€babysit€the€girls€whileÐ ,| Ðshe€worked,€Mother€finally€decided€to€leave€Grandfatherððs€home€because€Grandfather€ð ðstartedÐ e Ðverbally€abusing€my€daughter€and€I€also€saw€other€signs€of€possible€physical€or€sexual€abuse.ðð€€TheyÐ þN Ðfled€after€Grandfather€held€a€gun€to€her€head.€€Mother€continued€to€maintain€that€sexual€abuse€of€herÐ ç 7 Ðchildren€by€Grandfather€was€ð ðnever€proven,ðð€even€after€J.R.€was€diagnosed€as€a€toddler€with€genitalÐ Ð!   Ðwarts.€She€admitted€that€she€and€her€daughters€continued€to€stay€with€Grandfather€after€J.R.€wasÐ ¹" ! Ðdiagnosed€with€genital€warts€because€she€ð ðreally€had€no€place€to€go.ðð€Ð ¢#ò" Ðà  àMother€also€maintained€that€she€had€never€seen€Grandmother€do€anything€to€hurt€herÐ t%Ä $ Ðdaughters,€but€said€that€if€she€were€ordered€to€protect€them€from€Grandmother,€she€would€do€so.€Ð ]&­!% ÐNevertheless,€she€acknowledged€that€Grandmother€had€accompanied€her€to€every€court€hearing€andÐ F'–"& Ðhad€accompanied€her€to€visits€with€the€children,€regardless€of€the€court€order€prohibitingÐ /(#' ÐGrandmother€from€being€in€contact€with€the€girls.Ð )h$( Ðà  àMother€described€her€efforts€to€comply€with€the€permanency€plan,€her€sporadic€employment,Ð ê*:&* Ðher€lack€of€transportation,€and€her€series€of€attorneys,€whom€she€held€responsible€for€not€adequatelyÐ Ó+#'+ Ðinforming€DCS€of€her€efforts.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€€Mother€admitted€that€she€had€never€paid€any€support€for€herÐ ° Ðchildren.€€She€acknowledged€that,€at€the€time€of€the€hearing,€she€was€unemployed.€€She€explainedÐ ™é Ðthat€she€was€living€with€her€fianc€at€the€time,€and€that€he€was€willing€to€help€Mother€and€herÐ ‚Ò Ðchildren€if€custody€was€returned€to€her.Ð k» ÐÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔà  àOn€February€8,€2002,€the€trial€court€issued€a€written€order€terminating€Motherððs€parentalÐ =  Ðrights.€€In€its€order,€the€trial€court€stated€that€it€found€that€Dr.€Wallingððs€testimony€ð ðregarding€theÐ & v Ðdescription€of€Ô_ÔMunchausenÔ_Ôððs€Syndrome€by€Proxy€and€the€revelations€of€[Mother]€to€him€in€theirÐ  _ Ðconversation€was€credible.ðð€€The€trial€court€noted€Mother€was€dishonest€in€that€she€had€abscondedÐ ø H Ðwith€the€children€in€violation€of€a€court€order€and€tried€to€pass€Grandmother€off€as€a€family€friendÐ á 1  Ðso€that€Grandmother€could€see€the€children,€also€in€violation€of€a€court€order.Ð Ê   Ðà  àIn€its€written€order,€the€trial€court€held:€(1)€that€Mother€ð ðwillfully€abandonedðð€the€childrenÐ œì  Ðbecause€she€ð ðwillfully€failed€to€pay€child€support€or€to€engage€in€more€than€token€support;ðð€(2)€thatÐ …Õ  ÐMother€ð ðwas€incarcerated€for€all€or€part€of€four€months€immediately€preceding€the€filing€of€thisÐ n¾  Ðpetition€and€has€engaged€in€conduct€prior€to€incarceration€which€exhibited€a€wanton€disregard€forÐ W§  Ðtheðð€children;€(3)€that€although€DCS€ð ðhas€made€reasonable€efforts€to€assist€[Mother]€to€establish€aÐ @ Ðsuitable€home€for€the€children€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€months€following€the€removal,€.€.€.€[Mother]Ð )y Ðhas€made€no€reasonable€efforts€to€provide€a€suitable€home€and€.€.€.€it€appears€unlikely€that€she€willÐ b Ðbe€able€to€[do€so]€at€an€early€date;ðð€(4)€that€ð ðthe€conditions€which€led€to€[the€childrenððs]€removal€stillÐ ûK Ðpersist€[and]€other€conditions€persistðð€that€were€unlikely€to€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€and€wouldÐ ä4 Ðprobably€result€in€further€abuse€and€neglect,€thus€preventing€the€childrenððs€return€to€Motherððs€careÐ Í Ðnow€or€in€the€near€future€and€diminishing€their€ð ðchances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€andÐ ¶ Ðpermanent€home;ðð€and€(5)€Mother€ð ðfailed€to€comply€in€a€substantial€manner€with€those€reasonableÐ Ÿï Ðresponsibilities€related€to€remedying€the€conditions€which€necessitate€foster€care€placement.ðð€€TheÐ ˆØ Ðtrial€court€found€that€it€was€in€the€childrenððs€best€interest€to€terminate€Motherððs€parental€rights.€Ð qÁ ÐFrom€that€order,€Mother€now€appeals.Ð Zª Ðà  àOn€appeal,€Mother€asserts€that€the€trial€court€did€not€have€jurisdiction€to€hear€the€case.Ð ,| ÐMother€also€argues€that€the€trial€court€erroneously€admitted€inadmissable€and€prejudicial€evidence,Ð e Ðthus€preventing€her€from€having€a€fair€trial.€€Finally,€Mother€contends€that€there€was€not€clear€andÐ þN Ðconvincing€evidence€to€support€any€of€the€grounds€relied€upon€by€the€trial€court€to€justify€theÐ ç 7 Ðtermination€of€parental€rights,€nor€to€support€a€finding€that€the€termination€of€parental€rights€was€inÐ Ð!   Ðthe€childrenððs€best€interests.€Ð ¹" ! Ðà  àSince€this€was€a€bench€trial,€we€review€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings€òòde€novoóó€accompaniedÐ ‹$Û# Ðby€a€presumption€of€correctness€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€R.Ð t%Ä $ ÐApp.€P.€13(d);€òòò òCampbell€v.€Fla.€Steel€Corp.óóó ó,€919€S.W.2d€26,€35€(Tenn.€1996).€Ô#†XsæXX X‰Eïˆ#ÔÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔ€€The€trial€courtððsÐ ]&­!% Ðlegal€conclusions€are€reviewed€òòde€novo€óówith€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòò òCampbelló óóó,€919€S.W.2dÐ G'—"& Ðat€35.€€Ô#†XsæXX X‰E—#ÔÔ‡X‰EXXXsæÔWhen€the€resolution€of€the€issues€in€a€case€depends€upon€the€truthfulness€of€witnesses,€theÐ 1(#' Ðtrial€judge,€who€has€the€opportunity€to€observe€the€manner€and€demeanor€of€the€witnesses€as€theyÐ )j$( Ðtestify,€is€in€a€far€better€position€than€an€appellate€court€to€determine€credibility.€€ò òòòMcCaleb€v.€SaturnÐ ° ÐCorp.ó óóó,€910€S.W.2d€412,€415€(Tenn.€1995);Ô#†XsæXXX‰E ˜#ÔÔ‡X‰EXXXsæÔòòò ò€Whitaker€v.€Whitakeróóó óÔ#†XsæXXX‰Eå™#ÔÔ‡X‰EXXXsæÔ,€957€S.W.2d€834,€837€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð šê ÐApp.€1997).€€Therefore,€the€weight,€faith,€and€credit€to€be€given€to€any€witnessððs€testimony€will€beÐ „Ô Ðgiven€great€weight€by€the€appellate€court.€€òòò òIn€re€Estate€of€Walton€v.€Youngó óóó,€950€S.W.2d€956,€959Ð m½ Ð(Tenn.€1997);€ò òòòWhitakeró óóó,€957€S.W.2d€at€837.Ô#†XsæXXX‰EHš#ÔÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔÐ W§ ÐÔ#†XsæXX X‰Eò›#Ôà  àThe€standard€for€the€termination€of€parental€rights€has€been€set€out€in€previous€cases:Ð + { Ðò òà8  àà ` àó óÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔThe€United€States€Supreme€Court€has€recognized€the€important€nature€ofÐ ý M Ðcases€involving€the€termination€of€parental€rights,€stating€that€"[Ô_Ôf]ewÔ_Ô€consequencesÐ æ 6  Ðof€judicial€action€are€so€grave€as€the€severance€of€natural€family€ties."€Ô#†XsæXXXsæßœ#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔÔ_ÔM.L.B.Ô_Ô€v.Ð Ï   ÐÔ_ÔS.L.J.Ô_Ô,Ô#†XsæXXXsæRž#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€519€U€.S.€102,€119€(1996)€(quoting€Ô#†XsæXXXsæüž#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔSantosky€v.€Kramer,Ô#†XsæXXXsæeŸ#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€455€U.S.€745€(1982)Ð ¸  Ð(Rehnquist,€J.,€dissenting)).€Accordingly,€"the€interest€of€parents€in€their€relationshipÐ ¡ñ  Ðwith€their€children€is€sufficiently€fundamental€to€come€within€the€finite€class€ofÐ ŠÚ  Ðliberty€interests€protected€by€the€Fourteenth€Amendment."€Ô#†XsæXXXs潟#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔId.Ô#†XsæXXXsæ:¡#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€The€constitutionalÐ sà  Ðprotections€of€the€parent„€Ô% ‡C ÔÔ#†XsæXXXsæ‚¡#ÔÔ%†Cä¡ÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔchild€relationship€require€certain€safeguards€before€theÐ \¬  Ðrelationship€can€be€severed.€Ô#†XsæXXXsæ%¢#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔSee€Ô_ÔO'DanielÔ_Ô€v..€Messier,Ô#†XsæXXXsæÔ¢#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€905€S.W.2d€182,€186Ð E• Ð(Ô_ÔTenn.Ct.AppÔ_Ô.1995)€(Ô#†XsæXXXsæR£#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔÔ_Ôrev'dÔ_Ô€on€other€grounds,€In€re:€Swanson,Ô#†XsæXXXsæô£#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€2€S.W.3d€180Ð .~ Ð(Tenn.1999)).ÐgÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àAs€a€safeguard,€courts€are€required€to€apply€the€heightened€"clear€andÐ é9 Ðconvincing"€proof€standard.€Ô#†XsæXXXs怤#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔSee€Santosky,Ô#†XsæXXXs梥#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€455€U.S.€at€769;€Ô#†XsæXXXsæô¥#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔÔ_ÔO'DanielÔ_Ô,Ô#†XsæXXXsæK¦#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€905€S.W.2dÐ Ò" Ðat€186.€To€justify€the€termination€of€parental€rights,€the€grounds€for€termination€mustÐ »  Ðbe€established€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€Ô#†XsæXXXs湦#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔSeeÔ#†XsæXXXsæ»§#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€Ô_ÔTenn.CodeÔ_Ô€Ann.€Ô#†XsæXXXsæ¨#ÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔðð€Ô#†XsæXXXsæu¨#ÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ36„1„Ð ¤ô Ð113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(1)€(Supp.2000);€Ô#†XsæXXXs漨#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔState€Ô_ÔDep'tÔ_Ô€of€Human€Ô_ÔServsÔ_Ô.€v.€Ô_ÔDefrieceÔ_Ô,Ô#†XsæXXXsæR©#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€937€S.W.2d€954,Ð Ý Ð960€(Ô_ÔTenn.Ct.AppÔ_Ô.1996).€Evidence€which€satisfies€the€clear€and€convincing€standardÐ vÆ Ð"eliminates€any€serious€or€substantial€doubt€concerning€the€correctness€of€theÐ _¯ Ðconclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€evidence."€Ô#†XsæXXXsæª#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔÔ_ÔO'DanielÔ_Ô,Ô#†XsæXXXs柫#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€905€S.W.2d€at€188.€"ThisÐ H˜ Ðheightened€standard€...€serves€to€prevent€the€unwarranted€termination€or€interferenceÐ 1 Ðwith€the€biological€parents'€rights€to€their€children."€Ô#†XsæXXXsæ ¬#ÔòòÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔIn€re€Ô_ÔM.W.A.Ô_Ô,Ô#†XsæXXXsæ"­#ÔóóÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ€980€S.W.2d€620,Ð j Ð622€(Ô_ÔTenn.Ct.AppÔ_Ô.1998).Ð SÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†XsæXXXsæ”­#Ôòòò òIn€re€Matter€of€Katherine€C.ó óóó,€2001€WL€987137,€at€*2€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.€22,€2001).€€Thus,Ð Õ!%  Ðparental€rights€may€be€terminated€only€if€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€groundsÐ ¿"! Ðjustifying€such€termination.€€ò òòòSantosky€v.€Krameró óóó,€455€U.S.€745,€770„71€(1982);€ò òòòIn€re€Drinnonó óóó,€776Ð ¨#ø" ÐS.W.2d€96,€97€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988).€€Ð ’$â# Ðà  àAs€a€threshold€issue,€Mother€argues€that€Tennessee€courts€lacked€jurisdiction€to€terminateÐ d&´!% ÐMotherððs€parental€rights€in€J.R.€and€P.E.,€since€Mother€was€an€Arkansas€resident€and€the€childrenÐ M'"& Ðwere€in€Tennessee€only€temporarily.€€Under€the€Uniform€Child€Custody€Jurisdiction€andÐ 6(†#' ÐEnforcement€Act€(UCCJEA),€Tennessee€courts€have€jurisdiction€over€a€child€if€Tennessee€is€theÐ )o$( Ðchildððs€home€state€on€the€date€of€the€commencement€of€the€legal€proceeding.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ *X%) Ð36„6„216(a)(1)€(2001).€€The€childððs€home€state€is€defined€in€the€statute€as€ð ðthe€state€in€which€a€childÐ ñ*A&* Ðlived€with€a€parent€or€a€person€acting€as€a€parent€for€at€least€six€(6)€consecutive€months€immediatelyÐ Ú+*'+ Ðbefore€the€commencement€of€a€child€custody€proceeding.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„205(7)€(2001)ò òó ó.€Ð ° ÐIn€this€case,€it€is€undisputed€that€J.R.€and€P.E.€had€lived€in€Tennessee,€first€with€Mother€andÐ ™é ÐGrandmother€and€then€with€Grandmother€only,€for€nearly€seven€months€before€they€were€€taken€intoÐ ‚Ò Ðstate€custody.€€Mother€admitted€that€she€and€the€children€moved€to€Tennessee€in€July€1999.€€€InÐ k» ÐSeptember€1999,€she€returned€to€Arkansas€and€left€the€children€in€Tennessee€with€Grandmother,Ð T¤ Ðwho€clearly€acted€as€their€parent€until€they€were€taken€into€state€custody€in€February€2000.€Ð =  ÐArkansas€officials€declined€to€take€jurisdiction€for€this€reason.€€Clearly,€Tennessee€was€theÐ & v Ðchildrenððs€ð ðhome€stateðð€at€the€time€they€were€taken€into€protective€custody.€€This€issue€is€withoutÐ  _ Ðmerit.Ð ø H Ðà  àMother€also€argues€that€the€manner€in€which€the€proceedings€were€conducted€violated€herÐ Ê   Ðright€to€due€process.€€She€argues€that€she€was€prejudiced€because€the€judge€was€under€a€disabilityÐ ³  Ðdue€to€his€wifeððs€illness,€because€approximately€two€years€elapsed€from€the€time€the€children€wereÐ œì  Ðtaken€into€custody€to€the€trial€determining€whether€her€parental€rights€would€be€terminated,€andÐ …Õ  Ðbecause€the€judge€admitted€into€evidence€all€of€the€hearsay€evidence€presented.€€The€issue€ofÐ n¾  Ðwhether€Mother€was€denied€her€right€to€due€process€because€the€trial€judge€expressed€concern€at€trialÐ W§  Ðabout€needing€to€wrap€up€Dr.€Wallingððs€testimony€in€order€to€go€home€to€care€for€his€ill€wife€wasÐ @ Ðwaived€because€it€was€not€presented€at€trial.€€ò òòòSimpson€v.€Frontier€Ô_ÔCmtyÔ_Ô.€Credit€Unionó óóó,€810€S.W.2dÐ )y Ð147,€153€(Tenn.€1991).€€The€issue€pertaining€to€the€timeliness€of€the€proceedings€was€likewiseÐ c Ðwaived€because€Mother€failed€to€raise€it€at€trial.€€Ð üL Ðà  àThe€issue€of€the€trial€courtððs€wholesale€admission€into€evidence€of€any€and€all€hearsayÐ Î Ðevidence€is€another€matter.€€There€were€few€objections€to€Dr.€Wallingððs€testimony€on€January€9,Ð · Ð2001,€including€his€testimony€regarding€Motherððs€admissions€to€him€about€her€own€childhood€abuseÐ  ð Ðat€the€hands€of€Grandfather€and€Grandmother.€€In€the€proceedings€on€January€17,€however,Ð ‰Ù Ðnumerous€hearsay€objections€were€raised€by€both€parties.€€These€were€cut€short€by€the€trial€judgeððsÐ r Ðadmonition€that€he€did€not€ð ðwant€a€bunch€of€objectionsðð€and€his€repeated€blanket€statement€that€heÐ [« Ðintended€ð ðto€let€things€run€wide€open.ðð€€The€trial€judge€appeared€to€state€that€he€would€determineÐ D” Ðthe€admissibility€of€the€evidence€after€hearing€all€of€it.€€Rather€than€determining€whether€theÐ -} Ðevidence€was€admissible€under€the€pertinent€Rules€of€Evidence,€however,€the€trial€judge€repeatedlyÐ f Ðð ðreassuredðð€the€attorneys€that€much€of€the€evidence€would€ð ðgo€in€one€ear€and€out€the€otherðð€and€thatÐ ÿO Ðhe€would€consider€only€evidence€that€was€ð ðpertinentðð€or€ð ðimportant.ðð׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð è 8 Ðà  àHowever€well„intentioned€the€trial€judge€may€have€been,€clearly€this€was€a€misguidedÐ º" ! Ðmanner€in€which€to€conduct€the€trial.€While€we€agree€with€the€trial€judgeððs€emphasis€on€theÐ £#ó" Ðimportance€of€determining€the€future€of€the€children,€and€hasten€to€add€the€importance€ofÐ Œ$Ü# Ðdetermining€the€fundamental€right€of€Mother€to€parent€her€children,€this€is€not€a€reason€to€discardÐ u%Å $ Ðthe€Rules€of€Evidence.€€To€the€contrary,€the€Rules€of€Evidence,€premised€on€basic€notions€of€fairÐ ^&®!% Ðplay,€become€even€more€essential€in€cases€such€as€this,€where€the€stakes€are€so€very€high.Ð G'—"& Ðà  àPerhaps€realizing€the€trial€courtððs€clear€error,€the€State€responds€by€asserting€that,€regardless,Ð )i$( Ðthe€direct,€non„hearsay€testimony€of€the€witnesses€and€the€admissions€of€Mother€constitute€clear€andÐ ° Ðconvincing€evidence€sufficient€to€terminate€Motherððs€parental€rights,€and€that€any€error€by€the€trialÐ ™é Ðcourt€is€harmless.€€In€light€of€this,€we€turn€to€an€examination€of€the€evidence€of€grounds€forÐ ‚Ò Ðtermination€of€Motherððs€parental€rights.Ð k» Ðà  àUnder€Tennessee€statutes,€the€termination€of€parental€rights€must€be€based€on:Ð =  Ðà8  àà ` àò òó óÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔ(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€groundsÐ  _ Ðfor€termination€or€parental€or€guardianship€rights€have€been€established;€andÐ ø H ÐÐ ÐÔ% ‡ ÔÔ#†XsæXXXsæžÆ#ÔÔ%†ÇÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔà ` à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parent's€or€guardian's€rights€is€in€the€best€interestsÐ Ê   Ðof€the€child.Ô#†XsæXXXsæÐÇ#Ԁг Ð Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(1)€and€(2)€(2001).€€ò òó óThe€grounds€for€termination€are€set€forth€inÐ …Õ  ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„113(g).€Three€of€these€grounds€are€at€issue€in€this€appeal:Ð n¾  Ðabandonment,€substantial€noncompliance€with€the€permanency€plan,€and€failure€to€remedy€persistentÐ W§  Ðconditions€which€prevent€the€childððs€return.€€These€statutory€grounds€are€set€forth€as€follows:Ð @ Ðà8  à(g)€Initiation€of€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€may€be€based€upon€anyÐ b Ðof€the€following€grounds:ÐûKÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(1)€Abandonment€by€the€parent€or€guardian,€as€defined€in€ðð€36„1„102,Ð Í Ðhas€occurred;ж` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)€There€has€been€substantial€noncompliance€by€the€parent€orÐ ˆØ Ðguardian€with€the€statement€of€responsibilities€in€a€permanencyÐ qÁ Ðplan..€.;ÐZª` x` x Ðà0  àà ° àà8(#(#àà8` (#(#à(3)(A)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parent€or€guardianÐ ,| Ðby€order€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€months€and:Ðe` Ð ` Ð  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€orÐ ç 7 Ðother€conditions€which€in€all€reasonable€probabilityÐ Ð!   Ðwould€cause€the€child€to€be€subjected€to€further€abuseÐ ¹" ! Ðor€neglect€and€which,€therefore,€prevent€the€childððsÐ ¢#ò" Ðsafe€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)Ð ‹$Û# Ðstill€persist;Ðt%Ä $¸ ¸  ÐÐ  F'–"& Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€willÐ ° Ðbe€remedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€beÐ ™é Ðsafely€returned€to€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€theÐ ‚Ò Ðnear€future;€andÐk»¸ ¸  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€andÐ =  Ðchild€relationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððsÐ & v Ðchances€of€early€integration€into€a€safe,€stable€andÐ  _ Ðpermanent€home.€Ðø H¸ ¸  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1)„(3)(A)€(2001).€€ò òó óThus,€if€any€one€of€these€grounds€is€establishedÐ Ê   Ðby€clear€and€convincing€evidence,€and€it€is€established€as€well€that€termination€of€parental€rights€isÐ ³  Ðin€the€childððs€best€interest,€then€the€termination€will€be€upheld.Ð œì  Ðà  àThe€definition€of€abandonment€for€purposes€of€an€action€to€terminate€parental€rights€is€setÐ n¾  Ðforth€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A).€€Generally,€abandonment€means€that€for€aÐ W§  Ðperiod€of€four€consecutive€months€prior€to€the€filing€of€the€petition€to€terminate€parental€rights,€theÐ @ Ðparent€either€willfully€failed€to€visit€the€child€or€willfully€failed€to€support€the€child.€€Tenn.€CodeÐ )y ÐAnn.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€(2001€and€Supp.€2002).€€ò òó óWhere,€as€in€this€case,€the€parent€has€beenÐ b Ðincarcerated€during€a€portion€of€the€four„month€period€preceding€the€filing€of€the€petition,€a€differentÐ ûK Ðdefinition€of€abandonment€is€applicable:Ð ä4 Ðò òó óÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔà8  à(1)(A)€"Abandonment"€means,€for€purposes€of€terminating€the€parental€or€guardianÐ ¶ Ðrights€of€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€a€child€to€that€child€in€order€to€make€that€childÐ Ÿï Ðavailable€for€adoption,€that:Ô#†XsæXXXsæ×#ÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔЈØÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†XsæXXXsæPØ#ÔÔ‡ôÝ òXXsæÔÔ‡ôÝ ò òôÝÔà  à.€.€.€.€Ð Zª ÐÔ#†ôÝ ò òôÝÐØ#ÔÔ#†XsæX òôݱØ#ÔÔ‡XsæXXXsæÔà8  à(iv)€A€parent€or€guardian€is€incarcerated€at€the€time€of€the€institution€of€an€action€orÐ Ü, Ðproceeding€to€declare€a€child€to€be€an€abandoned€child,€or€the€parent€or€guardian€hasÐ Å Ðbeen€incarcerated€during€all€or€part€of€the€four€(4)€months€immediately€preceding€theÐ ®þ Ðinstitution€of€such€action€or€proceeding,€and€either€has€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€hasÐ — ç Ðwillfully€failed€to€support€or€has€willfully€failed€to€make€reasonable€payments€towardÐ €!Ð  Ðthe€support€of€the€child€for€four€(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€suchÐ i"¹! Ðparent's€or€guardian's€incarceration,€or€the€pareÔ_ÔntÔ_Ô€or€guardian€has€engaged€in€conductÐ R#¢" Ðprior€to€incarceration€which€exhibits€a€wanton€disregard€for€the€welfare€of€the€child.Ô#†XsæXXXsæ^Ù#Ôò òÐ;$‹#Ð Ð  Ðó óTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv)€(2001€&€Supp.€2002).€€ò òó óHere,€since€Mother€was€incarceratedÐ  &]!% Ðfor€a€period€of€ten€days€in€March€2001€for€custodial€interference€after€she€absconded€with€theÐ ö&F"& Ðchildren€during€a€visit,€the€pertinent€time€period€is€the€four„month€period€preceding€herÐ ß'/#' Ðincarceration.€€Mother€admitted€she€paid€no€support€at€any€time€during€the€period€of€time€in€whichÐ È($( ÐJ.R.€and€P.E.€were€in€protective€custody.€€This€ground€is€established€by€clear€and€convincing,€indeedÐ ±)%) Ðundisputed,€evidence.Ð š*ê%* Ðà  à€The€second€ground€for€termination€disputed€by€Mother€in€this€appeal€is€substantialÐ ° Ðnoncompliance€with€the€permanency€plan.€€Mother€does€not€appear€to€argue€that€the€requirementsÐ ™é Ðof€the€permanency€plan€were€not€ð ð€ððreasonable€and€related€to€remedying€the€conditions€whichÐ ‚Ò Ðnecessitate€foster€care€placement.ðð€ðð€€ò òòòIn€re€Valentineó óóó,€79€S.W.3d€539,€547€(Tenn.€2002)€(quotingÐ k» ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2)Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€(2001€&€Supp.€2002)).€€Here€it€is€clear€that€the€requirementsÐ U¥ Ðof€the€plan€were€reasonable€and€related€to€remedying€the€conditions€which€necessitated€foster€careÐ > Ž Ðfor€J.R.€and€P.E.€€Under€the€plan,€Mother€was€to€undergo€a€psychological€evaluation,€to€sign€aÐ ' w Ðrelease€allowing€DCS€to€have€access€to€the€evaluation,€to€comply€with€the€order€of€protectionÐ  ` Ðrequiring€Grandmother€to€stay€away€from€the€children,€to€develop€a€safety€plan,€to€completeÐ ù I Ðcounseling€to€address€her€own€abuse€as€well€as€the€abuse€of€her€children,€to€learn€and€understandÐ â 2  Ðthe€type€of€abuse€with€which€J.R.€was€€diagnosed,€Munchausen€Syndrome€by€Proxy,€to€obtain€stableÐ Ë   Ðemployment€or€public€assistance,€as€well€as€a€stable€residence€for€at€least€six€months,€to€completeÐ ´  Ða€parenting€class,€to€learn€about€children€diagnosed€with€ð ðfailure€to€thriveðð,€and€to€maintainÐ í  Ðconsistent€visitation€with€the€children.€€In€addition,€Mother€understood€she€was€to€furnish€DCS€withÐ †Ö  Ðevidence€of€her€compliance€with€the€permanency€plan€for€J.R.€and€P.E.€€These€requirements€clearlyÐ o¿  Ðaddressed€the€conditions€that€necessitated€foster€care€and€that€prevented€the€girls€from€safelyÐ X¨  Ðreturning€to€Motherððs€custody.€Ð A‘ Ðà  àIn€this€case,€the€undisputed€evidence€establishes€that€Motherððs€employment€had€beenÐ c Ðsporadic€at€best,€and€she€was€unemployed€the€date€of€the€hearing.€€Mother€had€not€had€a€stable,Ð üL Ðsuitable€residence,ò òó ó€and€she€was€once€again€living€with€a€boyfriend.€€Mother€visited€the€children€onlyÐ å5 Ðeleven€times€in€nearly€two€years,€including€the€occasion€on€which€absconded€with€them.€€MotherÐ Î Ðwas€unwilling€to€comply€with€the€no„contact€order€regarding€Grandmother.€€It€is€undisputed€thatÐ · ÐGrandmother€accompanied€Mother€on€at€least€two€of€the€occasions€on€which€Mother€did€visit€theÐ  ð Ðchildren,€and€Mother€even€went€so€far€as€to€dishonestly€characterize€Grandmother€to€DCS€as€aÐ ‰Ù Ðð ðfamily€friend.ðð€€Moreover,€although€Mother€seeks€to€blame€her€attorneys€for€failing€to€apprise€DCSÐ r Ðof€her€progress€towards€compliance,€the€fact€is€that€the€responsibility€was€Motherððs€and€she€failedÐ [« Ðto€do€so.€€Mother€argues€on€appeal€that,€in€finding€this€ground€established,€the€trial€court€relied€uponÐ D” Ðinadmissible€testimony€and€that€Mother€in€fact€substantially€complied€with€the€permanency€plan.€Ð -} ÐThis€is€clearly€not€the€case.€€The€undisputed€evidence€shows€that€Mother€failed€to€comply€withÐ f Ðvirtually€all€of€the€most€important€requirements€of€the€permanency€plan,€such€as€finding€stableÐ ÿO Ðemployment€and€a€stable,€suitable€residence,€and€protecting€the€children€from€contact€withÐ è 8 ÐGrandmother.€€Once€again,€this€ground€was€clearly€established€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence,Ð Ñ!!  Ðeven€undisputed,€evidence.€Ð º" ! Ðà  àFinally,€the€third€ground€for€termination€of€parental€rights€relied€upon€by€the€trial€court€isÐ Œ$Ü# Ðknown€by€the€shorthand€ð ðpersistent€conditions,ðð€that€is,€the€child€has€been€removed€from€the€homeÐ u%Å $ Ðof€the€parent€or€guardian€for€at€least€six€months,€and€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removalÐ ^&®!% Ðpersist€or€other€conditions€which€would€likely€result€in€further€abuse€or€neglect€persist,€therebyÐ G'—"& Ðpreventing€the€childððs€safe€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent€or€guardian,€and€there€is€little€likelihoodÐ 0(€#' Ðthat€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€in€the€near€future,€and€ð ðcontinuation€of€the€parent€.€.€.€andÐ )i$( Ðchild€relationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€safe,€stable€andÐ *R%) Ðpermanent€home.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€(2001).€€ò òó óWe€must€examine€the€conditionsÐ ë*;&* Ðwhich€led€to€the€removal€of€J.R.€and€P.E.€from€Motherððs€care,€as€well€as€other€conditions€regardingÐ Ô+$'+ ÐMotherððs€case€which€would€likely€lead€to€further€abuse€or€neglect.Ð ° Ðà  àFrom€Dr.€Wallingððs€testimony€on€his€interview€with€Mother,€which€drew€no€objection€fromÐ ‚Ò ÐMotherððs€counsel,€from€undisputed€evidence€and€documents€introduced€into€evidence€by€Mother,Ð k» Ðand€from€Motherððs€own€testimony,€a€sad€picture€emerges€of€Motherððs€circumstances€leading€up€toÐ T¤ Ðthe€childrenððs€removal.€€After€a€childhood€in€which€she€was€abused€in€separate€households€by€herÐ =  Ðfather€and€her€mother,€or€placed€in€foster€care,€Mother€reached€adulthood€with€two€daughters€andÐ & v Ðlittle€skill€at€living€independently.€€With€only€sporadic€employment,€after€being€ð ðkicked€outðð€by€herÐ  _ Ðmost€recent€boyfriend,€Mother€found€herself€and€her€daughters€staying€at€Grandfatherððs€home,Ð ø H Ðdespite€the€fact€that€Mother€was€likely€abused€by€Grandfather€as€a€child€and€despite€clear€indicationsÐ á 1  Ðthat€Grandfather€may€have€already€sexually€abused€her€child.€€Believing€she€had€little€alternative,Ð Ê   ÐMother€closed€her€eyes€to€the€likelihood€of€further€abuse€until€the€situation€became€intolerable.€Ð ³  ÐFinding€herself€once€again€homeless€with€little€means€to€support€herself€and€her€daughters,€MotherÐ œì  Ðfled€to€her€motherððs€home€in€Tennessee.€€Once€again€closing€her€eyes€to€the€likelihood€thatÐ …Õ  ÐGrandmother€abused€her€as€a€child€and€could€abuse€her€daughters€in€the€same€way,€Mother€left€herÐ n¾  Ðchildren€alone€in€Grandmotherððs€care€and€returned€to€Arkansas.€€Predictably,€J.R.€and€P.E.€wereÐ W§  Ðabused€by€Grandmother€and€ultimately€ended€up€in€protective€custody€in€Tennessee.Ð @ Ðà  àWhen€Arkansas€officials€refused€to€take€the€case,€Tennessee€officials€could€only€offerÐ b Ðassistance€to€Mother€in€Tennessee.€€Mother,€however,€refused€to€move€to€Tennessee€for€helpÐ ûK Ðremedying€€her€plethora€of€problems,€and€was€unable€even€to€communicate€to€Tennessee€officialsÐ ä4 Ðher€efforts€in€Arkansas.Ð Í Ðà  àConsequently,€by€the€time€of€trial,€many€of€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€childrenððsÐ Ÿï Ðremoval€or€would€likely€result€in€future€abuse€or€neglect€remained€largely€unchanged.€€MotherÐ ˆØ Ðremained€in€Arkansas,€unemployed,€without€transportation€and€living€with€yet€another€boyfriend.€Ð qÁ ÐDuring€the€time€in€which€the€children€were€in€foster€care,€Mother€had€paid€no€financial€support€forÐ Zª Ðtheir€care.€€By€Motherððs€testimony€and€the€documents€admitted€into€evidence€by€her€counsel,€it€isÐ C“ Ðclear€that€Mother€was€unwilling€or€unable€to€grasp€the€fact€that€Grandmother€was€a€real€danger€toÐ ,| Ðher€children.€€From€this€evidence,€it€is€clear€that,€if€J.R.€and€P.E.€were€returned€to€Motherððs€custody,Ð e Ðthey€would€likely€also€be€faced€with€a€childhood€of€abuse€and€neglect.€€By€clear€and€convincingÐ þN Ðevidence,€the€ð ðpersistent€conditionsðð€ground€for€termination€of€Motherððs€parental€rights€isÐ ç 7 Ðestablished€as€well.Ð Ð!   ÐÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔà  àOnce€grounds€for€terminating€parental€rights€have€been€established,€the€State€must€show€thatÐ ¢#ò" Ðtermination€of€the€parentððs€rights€is€in€the€childððs€best€interest.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113€Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(2)Ð ‹$Û# Ð(2001).€€The€statute€includes€a€non„exhaustive€list€of€nine€factors€courts€are€to€consider€in€makingÐ t%Ä $ Ðthis€determination:Ð ]&­!% Ðà8  à(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€In€determining€whether€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€is€in€theÐ /(#' Ðbest€interest€of€the€child€pursuant€to€this€part,€the€court€shall€consider,€but€is€notÐ )h$( Ðlimited€to,€the€following:Ð*Q%)Ð Ð  ÐÐ Ó+#'+ Ðà8  à(1)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€made€such€an€adjustment€of€circumstances,Ð ° Ðconduct,€or€conditions€as€to€make€it€safe€and€in€the€childððs€best€interest€to€be€in€theÐ ™é Ðhome€of€the€parent€or€guardian;ЂÒÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(2)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€failed€to€effect€a€lasting€adjustment€afterÐ T¤ Ðreasonable€efforts€by€available€social€services€agencies€for€such€duration€of€time€thatÐ =  Ðlasting€adjustment€does€not€reasonably€appear€possible;Ð& vÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(3)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€maintained€regular€visitation€or€other€contactÐ ø H Ðwith€the€child;Ðá 1 Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(4)€Whether€a€meaningful€relationship€has€otherwise€been€established€between€theÐ ³  Ðparent€or€guardian€and€the€child;Мì Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(5)€The€effect€a€change€of€caretakers€and€physical€environment€is€likely€to€have€onÐ n¾  Ðthe€childððs€emotional,€psychological€and€medical€condition;ÐW§ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(6)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian,€or€other€person€residing€with€the€parent€orÐ )y Ðguardian,€has€shown€brutality,€physical,€sexual,€emotional€or€psychological€abuse,Ð b Ðor€neglect€toward€the€child,€or€another€child€or€adult€in€the€family€or€household;ÐûKÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(7)€Whether€the€physical€environment€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€home€is€healthyÐ Í Ðand€safe,€whether€there€is€criminal€activity€in€the€home,€or€whether€there€is€such€useÐ ¶ Ðof€alcohol€or€controlled€substances€as€may€render€the€parent€or€guardian€consistentlyÐ Ÿï Ðunable€to€care€for€the€child€in€a€safe€and€stable€manner;ЈØÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(8)€Whether€the€parentððs€or€guardianððs€mental€and/or€emotional€status€would€beÐ Zª Ðdetrimental€to€the€child€or€prevent€the€parent€or€guardian€from€effectively€providingÐ C“ Ðsafe€and€stable€care€and€supervision€for€the€child;€orÐ,|Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(9)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€paid€child€support€consistent€with€the€childÐ þN Ðsupport€guidelines€promulgated€by€the€department€pursuant€to€ðð€36„5„101.Ðç 7Ð Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113€(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)(1)„(9)€(2001).€€ò òó ó€€Ð ¹" ! ÐÔ#†XsæXX X‰E#Ôà  àVirtually€all€of€these€factors€indicate€that€termination€of€Motherððs€parental€rights€was€in€theÐ ‹$Û# Ðbest€interest€of€J.R.€and€P.E.€€Mother€had€made€little€adjustment€in€her€circumstances,€showing€thatÐ t%Ä $ Ðlasting€adjustment€ð ðdoes€not€reasonably€appear€possible.ðð€€She€failed€to€maintain€regular€visitationÐ ]&­!% Ðwith€J.R.€and€P.E.€€The€evidence€indicated€the€lack€of€a€meaningful€relationship€between€Mother€andÐ F'–"& Ðthe€children;€indeed,€even€the€sporadic€visits€from€Mother€resulted€in€turmoil€and€regression€in€theÐ /(#' Ðchildren.€€The€evidence€showed€clearly€that€Grandmother,€the€perpetrator€of€the€abuse€which€led€toÐ )h$( Ðthe€childrenððs€removal€from€Motherððs€care,€remained€an€integral€part€of€Motherððs€life.€€Apparently,Ð *Q%) Ðwithout€the€ability€to€support€herself€and€her€children,€Motherððs€physical€environment€remainedÐ ê*:&* Ðuncertain€and€dependent€on€the€boyfriend€or€other€person€with€whom€she€lived.€€Motherððs€inabilityÐ Ó+#'+ Ðto€come€to€terms€with€Grandmotherððs€abuse€of€her€children€left€her€unable€to€protect€them€andÐ ° Ðunable€to€ð ðeffectively€provid[e]€safe€and€stable€care€and€supervisionðð€for€J.R.€and€P.E.€€Finally,Ð ™é ÐMother€paid€no€child€support€for€her€daughters.€€Clearly€virtually€all€of€these€factors€mitigate€inÐ ‚Ò Ðfavor€of€a€finding€that€termination€of€Motherððs€parental€rights€was€in€the€childrenððs€best€interest.Ð k» Ðà  àThus,€even€disregarding€evidence€which€could€have€been€deemed€inadmissible€hearsay€hadÐ =  Ðobjections€to€hearsay€evidence€been€permitted€and€properly€ruled€upon,€the€evidence€supporting€theÐ & v Ðtrial€courtððs€decision€is€overwhelming.€€Under€these€circumstances,€the€decision€to€terminateÐ  _ ÐMotherððs€parental€rights€must€be€affirmed.€Ð ø H ÐÔ‡ X‰EXXXsæÔà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€Appellant,€ErikaÐ Ê   ÐEverson,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð ³  Ðà  àÌÓ ÓÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð @ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€JUDGEÔ#†XsæXX X‰E1#Ô