ÿWPCò 7# UN %k 0(qw@™4Ùíü 0l 0Dp AQ´ÆÆËÆ‘ÆW 0J 0Tg 0^» 0h 0r 0|ó 0†o 0õ 1u… 0dú B^ Æ{ 0DA 0@… 0DÅ D/  B8 D3UU>ˆB)ÆDCï AM2U*ü©’¥j7v~¡vÓ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ª U« ¬ ­ ® ¯£°±²Ó€¼zƒ=#(#ð3|x¼((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 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  Ô2T 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 dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd 'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d....7Border 1dd!#/Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial òÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€-ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€1ÔÔ€1ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€1XÔÌÌOctober€31,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ˆÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€-ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€record€indicates€that€since€the€filing€of€the€petition,€the€name€of€this€department€wasÏchanged€to€the€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services.€€T.C.A.€ðð€37„5„101.€€For€clarity,€we€will€referÏto€the€department€as€the€Department€of€Human€Services€or€DHS€throughout€this€opinion.Ì `Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€-ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓ ` Ü„X*À–X ÓThe€record€indicates€that€Appellant€was€incarcerated€for€fourteen€counts€of€theft€andÏforgery.€€The€youngest€child,€Shawn,€was€born€while€the€appellant€was€incarcerated.€€He€thenÏwent€to€live€with€Ms.€Pickett.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€-ÔÝ  Ýò òÑ\R AØ'\ÑÓ` Ü` p”XÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE,€WESTERN€SECTIONÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEó óÌÌà@ à_______________________________________________________ÌÌà à)Ìò òSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEó óà à)à àCannon€JuvenileÌò òDEPARTMENT€OF€HUMANó óà à)à àNo.€497Ìò òSERVICESó ó,à à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee,à à)Ìà à)ÌVS.à à)à àC.A.€No.€01A01„9703„JV„00116̜ـ!ÙßR€02/A1-j|OüÛ` ç `€€@ÿRß›à à)Ìò òLISA€PICKETT€BRANDT€MANIERó ó,à à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Defendant/Appellant,à à)Ìà à)Ìò òIN€THE€MATTER€OFó ó:à à)Ìò òLISA€NICOLE€BRAND€a/k/aó óà à)Ìò òBRITTANY€NICOLE€BRANDT,€ó óà à)Ìò òD.O.B.€3/30/91ó óà à)Ìandà à)Ìò òSHAWN€RUSSELL€BRANDT,€D.O.B.ó óà à)Ìò ò11/30/92ó ó,à à)Ìò òChildren€under€18€years€of€ageó ó.à à)Ìà à)Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌFrom€the€Juvenile€Court€of€Cannon€County€at€Woodbury.Ìò òHonorable€John€B.€Melton,€III,€Judge€ó óÌÌÌÌò òDale€W.€Petersonó ó,€Woodbury,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Defendant/Appellant.ÌÌÌò òJohn€Knox€Walkupó ó,€Attorney€General€&€ReporterÌò òDouglas€Earl€Dimondó ó,€Assistant€Attorney€GeneralÌAttorney€for€Plaintiff/Appellee.ÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:ÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÌà àò òFARMER,€J.ó óÌÌò òCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ó ó:€(Concurs)Ìò òHIGHERS,€J.ó ó:€œ(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ›ÌÓÓÓ  ÓÓ` Ü` ˜XÓœà àThis€is€a€termination€of€parental€rights€case.€€The€children€involved€are€Lisa€NicoleÏBrandt€a/k/a€Brittany€Nicole€Brandt,€born€March€30,€1991,€and€Shawn€Russell€Brandt,€bornÏNovember€30,€1992.€€Pursuant€to€a€petition€filed€by€the€State€of€Tennessee,€Department€of€HumanÏServices€(Appellee),× ƒ3 ××  ×€the€trial€court€terminated€the€parental€rights€of€their€natural€mother€and€father,ÏLisa€Pickett€Brandt€Manier€and€Richard€Brandt.€€Only€Mrs.€Manier€has€appealed€from€the€trialÏcourtððs€decision.€€For€the€reasons€set€forth€below,€we€affirm.ÌÌà àAppellee€filed€its€petition€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€Appellant€on€DecemberÏ12,€1995€alleging€that€the€children€had€been€in€its€legal€custody€and€in€foster€care€since€June€19,Ï1993€and€that€Appellant€had€abandoned€her€children€as€defined€by€statute€and€had€failed€to€complyÏwith€the€statements€of€responsibilities€as€provided€in€the€ð ðPlans€of€Careðð€entered€into€between€theÏappellant€and€Appellee.€€Appellee€alleged€that€termination€was€in€the€best€interests€of€the€children.€ÏFor€answer,€Appellant€denied€all€material€allegations€of€the€petition€and€requested€that€the€childrenÏbe€returned€to€her.ÌÌà àAfter€a€hearing,€the€trial€court€entered€a€final€decree€of€guardianship,€finding€asÏfollows:ÌÌÓÓà8 à[T]he€Petition€.€.€.€is€well€taken€and€should€be€sustained€and€reliefÏgranted€thereunder€for€the€causes€as€therein€stated€in€that€.€.€.Ï[Appellant]€.€.€.€ha[s]€abandoned€the€children,€LISA€NICOLEÏBRANDT€a/k/a€BRITTANY€NICOLE€BRANDT€and€SHAWNÍRUSSELL€BRANDT,€pursuant€to€òòò òT.C.A.€óóó óðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€òòò òetÏseqóóó ó.€in€that€said€children€have€been€in€foster€[care]€for€a€period€inÏexcess€of€one€(1)€year,€and€that€the€conditions€which€lead€to€theÏremoval€of€said€children€from€said€[Appellant]€still€persist€and€thereÏis€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€earlyÏdate,€so€that€said€children€can€be€returned€to€said€[Appellant];€that€.€.Ï.€[Appellant]€.€.€.€ha[s]€willfully€abandoned€the€children,€.€.€.€forÏmore€than€four€(4)€consecutive€months€next€preceding€the€filing€ofÏthe€Petition€in€this€cause€in€that€.€.€.€[Appellant],€has€not€visited€saidÏchildren€since€around€July€13,€1995,€and€has€not€made€anyÏcontributions€whatsoever€towards€the€support€of€said€children€sinceÏthe€date€said€children€were€placed€with€your€Petitioner,€.€.€.€andÏfurther,€that€pursuant€to€òòò òT.C.A.ó óóó€ðð€37„2„403(2),€.€.€.€[Appellant]€.€.Ï.€ha[s]€failed€to€comply€with€the€Statements€of€Responsibilities€asÏprovided€in€the€Plans€of€Care€entered€into€by€said€[Appellant]€withÏ[Appellee].€€It€is,€therefore,€in€the€best€interest€of€said€children€andÏthe€public€that€the€[Appellantððs]€parental€rights€to€said€children€beÏforever€terminated€.€.€.€.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àWe€perceive€the€issue€on€appeal€as€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€decision€toÏterminate€the€parental€rights€of€Appellant€as€to€the€children€herein€named.€€Our€review€of€this€case,Ïtried€without€the€intervention€of€a€jury,€is€òòò òde€novoóóó ó€upon€the€record,€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€correctness€of€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact.€€Unless€the€evidence€preponderatesÏotherwise,€we€are€to€affirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€òòò òIn€re€Adoption€of€Selfóóó ó,€836€S.W.2d€581,Ï582€(Tenn.€App.€1992);€Rule€13(d)€T.R.A.P.ÌÌà àT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113,€pertaining€to€the€ð ðtermination€of€parental€rights,ðð€states€atÏsubsection€(c):€ð ð[t]ermination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€must€be€based€upon:€(1)€a€findingÏby€the€court€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€grounds€for€termination€o[f]€parental€orÏguardianship€rights€have€been€established;€and€(2)€[t]hat€termination€of€the€parentððs€or€guardianððsÏrights€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child.ðð€Section€36„1„113(g)€provides,€in€part€pertinent:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àTermination€.€.€.€may€be€based€upon€any€of€the€followingÏgrounds:Ìà8 àà à(1)€Abandonment€by€the€parent€or€guardian,€as€defined€in€ððÏ36„1„102,€has€occurred;Ìà8 àà à(2)€There€has€been€substantial€noncompliance€by€the€parentÏor€guardian€with€the€statement€of€responsibilities€in€a€permanencyÏplan€or€a€plan€of€care€pursuant€to€the€provisions€of€title€37,€chapterÍ2,€part€4;Ìà8 àà à(3)(A)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€theÏparent€or€guardian€by€order€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€monthsÏand:Ìà8 àà à(I)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€or€otherÏconditions€which€in€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€the€childÏto€be€subjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,€therefore,Ïprevent€the€childððs€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardians(s),Ïstill€persist;Ìà8 àà à(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€be€returned€to€theÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€the€near€future;€andÌà8 àà à(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€and€childÏrelationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€earlyÏintegration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.ÌÌÌÌÓÓT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)€defines€abandonment,€as€relevant€here:ÌÌÓÓà8 à(1)(A)€ð ðAbandonmentðð€means,€for€purposes€of€terminating€theÏparental€or€guardian€rights€of€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€a€child€toÏthat€child€in€order€to€make€that€child€available€for€adoption,€that:Ìà8 àà à(I)€For€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months€immediatelyÏpreceding€the€filing€of€a€proceeding€or€pleading€to€terminate€theÏparental€rights€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€the€child€who€is€theÏsubject€of€the€petition€for€termination€of€parental€rights€or€adoption,Ïthat€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€either€have€willfully€failed€to€visit€orÏhave€willfully€failed€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€towardÏthe€support€of€the€child;ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€record€establishes€that€the€two€children€were€removed€from€the€home€of€ShirleyÏPickett€(their€maternal€grandmother)€and€placed€in€state€custody€in€June€1993.€€Both€Appellant€andÏRichard€Brandt€were€serving€jail€sentences€at€the€time.× ƒ4 ××  ×€€The€children€have€since€remained€in€fosterÏcare.€€After€divorcing€Mr.€Brandt,€Appellant€married€Ricky€Manier€with€whom€she€had€twoÏchildren.ÌÌà àAt€trial,€Mr.€Manier€conceded€that€he€did€not€comply€with€the€court€approved€plansÍof€care€outlined€by€Appellee,€including€the€requirements€that€he€refrain€from€any€further€criminalÏactivity;€cooperate€in€an€alcohol€and€drug€evaluation,€including€any€recommended€treatment;Ïparticipate€and€cooperate€in€a€psycho„social€assessment;€and€participate€in€counseling€to€address€hisÏviolent€tendencies.€€Manier€maintained€that€his€ð ðwork€scheduleðð€prevented€his€compliance.€€On€hisÏdays€off€from€work,€he€ð ðspent€time€with€[his€own€children].ðð€€Manier€admitted€to€past€drug€use,Ïbut€stated€that€he€had€not€used€drugs€for€over€a€year.€€He€admitted€hitting€the€appellant.€€HeÏacknowledged€that€the€plan€of€care€was€designed€to€address€this€type€behavior,€but€stated€that€heÏhad€only€struck€Appellant€once€and€that€he€was€ð ðnot€the€kind€of€person€to€hit€[his]€wife.ðð€€ManierÏtestified€that€since€his€marriage€to€Appellant,€he€had€been€arrested€for€drag€racing€and,€mostÏrecently,€for€assault.€€He€stated€that€under€the€plan€of€care€he€was€to€attend€a€therapeutic€nurseryÏwith€Appellant€and€the€children€for€forty€hours,€but€was€actually€present€for€only€four.€€ÌÌà àAppellant€testified€to€executing€two€plans€of€care,€dated€August€10,€1994€and€AprilÏ11,€1995,€respectively.€€At€both€times,€she€was€made€aware€by€DHS€that€proceedings€would€beÏinitiated€to€terminate€her€parental€rights€should€significant€progress€not€be€made€under€the€plan€ofÏcare.€€A€statement€to€this€effect€was€also€included€in€the€plans€of€care.€€The€€plan€of€care€designedÏfor€Appellant€addresses€the€fact€that€she€has€four€children€under€the€age€of€four.€€Her€obligationsÏand€responsibilities€in€this€regard€were€to€work€with€the€staff€at€a€therapeutic€nursery€ð ðto€learn€howÏto€meet€the€physical€&€emotional€needs€of€all€4€children€&€help€all€the€children€to€understand€&Ïaccept€the€family€unit.ðð€€The€plan€of€care€also€required€Appellant€to€present€a€written€plan€ð ðof€howÏshe€is€going€to€manage€a€home,€a€job€&€4€children,€ages€4€and€younger.ðð€€She€was€additionallyÏrequired€to€refrain€from€any€further€criminal€activity€and€fulfill€all€court€obligations€such€as€finesÏand€participate€in€a€psycho„social€assessment€and€counseling.€€Appellant€testified€that€sheÏcompleted€some€44€hours€in€parenting€classes€required€under€the€plan.€€On€cross„examination,ÏAppellant€stated€that€she€provided€Appellee€with€a€written€plan€regarding€care€for€her€four€children.€ÏShe€did€not€participate€in€a€psycho„social€evaluation.€€She€and€Mr.€Manier€did€not€attendÏcounseling€to€address€issues€of€domestic€violence.€€She€conceded€that€Mr.€Manier€had€notÍcomplied€with€any€requirements€under€the€plan€of€care.ÌÌà àAppellant€ceased€visitation€with€her€children€on€July€13,€1995€after€being€informedÏby€DHS€that€a€petition€would€be€filed€to€attempt€to€terminate€her€parental€rights.€€SheÏacknowledged,€however,€being€informed€by€Joel€Player,€a€social€counselor€with€DHS,€€that€sheÏcould€continue€visitation€until€such€filing.€€She€further€testified:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àQ.€€Did€Mr.€Player€not€tell€you€at€that€time€that€you€couldÏcontinue€visitation€until€the€petition€was€filed?ÌÌà8 àà àA.€€He€said€you€can€go€ahead,€and€.€.€.€still€visit.€€But,€.€.€.Ïmy€mind€is€made€up.€€Weððre€going€for€the€termination€.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà àQ.€€But€you€chose€not€to€do€the€visits?ÌÌà8 àà àA.€€I€thought€about€it€for€a€couple€of€weeks,€and€he€said€thatÏthey€were€going€to€set€a€court€date€very€soon.€€And,€.€.€.€€he€didnððtÏput€a€date€on€it€exactly.€€But€he€said€it€was€soon.€€I€mean,€he€didnððtÏsay€it€was€going€to€go€on€like€for€months€and€months.€€So,€I€wasÏjust€kind€of€getting€like€prepared€for€that.ÌÌà8 àà àQ.€€All€right.€€But€even€getting€prepared€for€that€you€still€didÏnot€visit€the€children?ÌÌà8 àà àA.€€No,€maððam.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAppellant€further€admitted€paying€no€child€support€for€the€four€months€precedingÏthe€filing€of€the€petition.€€She€explained€that€Player€never€informed€her€that€she€had€to€pay€childÏsupport,€nor€was€she€ever€under€any€court€order€to€do€so.€€She€admitted€receiving€a€letter€fromÏAppellee,€months€after€it€was€sent€to€her€old€address,€concerning€her€obligation€to€make€childÏsupport€payments.€€After€responding€to€the€letter€and€informing€Appellee€of€her€new€address,€sheÏwas€never€contacted€again.€€Appellantððs€two€other€children€currently€reside€with€her€and€she€isÏunder€no€state€investigation€regarding€their€care.€€She€believes€she€can€care€for€all€four€of€herÏchildren.€€ÌÌà àJoel€Player€testified€that€the€petition€to€terminate€was€based€on€two€grounds:Íabandonment€and€noncompliance€with€the€plan€of€care€ð ðwhich€the€parents€signed€and€agreed€to.ðð€ÏPlayer€testified€regarding€Appellantððs€failure€to€visit€her€children€for€a€consecutive€four€monthÏperiod€and€acknowledged€Appellantððs€complete€failure€to€provide€any€child€support€for€her€childrenÏsince€DHS€obtained€custody.€€Player€stated€that€Appellant€had€failed€to€comply€with€the€majorÏportions€of€her€plan€of€care.€€As€to€the€ð ðwritten€planðð€required€of€her,€he€stated,€ð ð[s]he€gave€kind€ofÏa€sketchy€account€to€the€Foster€Care€Review€Board€.€.€.€,€but€it€wasnððt€what€we€had€discussed€andÏasked€her€to€do.ðð€€According€to€Player,€Appellant€attended€counseling,€but€discontinued€herÏsessions€prior€to€successful€completion.€€ÌÌà àOn€cross„examination,€Player€admitted€that€there€is€no€evidence€indicating€thatÏAppellant€was€under€a€court€ordered€obligation€to€provide€support€for€the€children.€€Player€statedÏthat€Appellant€visited€with€her€children€in€accordance€with€the€plan€of€care€up€until€the€time€sheÏmarried€Mr.€Manier€at€which€time€her€ð ðvisitation€really€started€deteriorating.ðð€€Her€visitation€ceasedÏaltogether€after€the€birth€of€her€fourth€child€and€her€return€to€work.€€Player€related€specificÏinstances€of€domestic€violence€regarding€the€Maniers,€including€an€incident€where€Mr.€ManierÏstruck€Appellant€in€the€face€(approximately€a€year€prior€to€the€hearing)€and€an€incident€whereÏAppellant€was€forced€to€leave€her€home€and€reside€at€a€domestic€violence€shelter€(within€the€last€sixÏ(6)€months€preceding€the€hearing).€€Player€informed€Appellant€that€due€to€her€marriage€to€Manier,Ïthe€two€would€be€viewed€as€a€ð ðparenting€unitðð€for€the€children€and€that€it€would€be€necessary€forÏMr.€Manier€to€be€included€in€the€plan€of€care.ÌÌà àSarah€Rollins,€a€therapeutic€preschool€coordinator,€testified€that€Appellant€attendedÏthe€nursery€to€attain€parenting€skills€from€August€1994€until€January€1995.€€Appellant€ð ðcompletedððÏa€six„week,€€40€hour€ð ðbehavior€modificationðð€course€and€another€four€hour€course€on€abuseÏprevention€training,€but€had€difficulty€applying€what€she€had€learned€in€the€classroom€setting.€€ÌÌà àMeredith€Carmichael€testified€that€Appellant€was€referred€to€her€by€DHS€forÍoutpatient€psychotherapy€to€address€problems€related€to€her€regaining€custody€of€her€children.€ÏCarmichael€treated€Appellant€from€November€1993€to€April€1995.€€Although€she€initially€notedÏsome€improvement,€a€decline€was€observed€beginning€in€July€1994,€several€weeks€after€AppellantÏmarried€Mr.€Manier.€€Treatment€ceased€altogether€in€April€1995€when€Appellant€stopped€comingÏfor€her€sessions.€€Carmichael€does€not€consider€Appellant€to€have€successfully€completed€€herÏtherapy.ÌÌà àLynn€Bourgeois,€Appellantððs€probation€officer,€testified€that€Appellant€had€failed€toÏcomply€with€the€financial€obligations€of€her€probation.€€Although€a€violation€report€had€beenÏissued,€Bourgeois€recommended€that€Appellant€be€allowed€to€remain€on€probation.€€BourgeoisÏnoted,€however,€that€with€any€violation,€there€is€a€possibility€of€a€return€to€incarceration.€ÏBourgeois€does€not€believe€that€incarcerating€Appellant€for€the€violation€ð ðwould€assist€in€any€futureÏdevelopment€or€add€to€her€stability.ðð€€Bourgeois€stated€that€Appellant€has€been€employed€at€MiddleÏTennessee€Medical€Center€for€two€years€and€has€ð ðbeen€very€dedicated€to€her€employment.ðð€ÏBourgeois€confirmed€that€Appellant€was€making€ð ðvery€small€paymentsðð€in€an€effort€to€satisfy€herÏfinancial€obligations€but€considered€Appellant€to€have€ð ðfinancial€management€problems€with€herÏmoney€and€the€income€in€her€household.ðð€€Since€the€1992€incidents€resulting€in€AppellantððsÏprobation,€Bourgeois€was€not€aware€of€any€other€criminal€activity€by€Appellant.ÌÌà àAppellant€first€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€terminating€her€parental€rightsÏunder€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113€because€there€exists€no€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€theÏrequirements€for€termination€listed€under€subsection€(g)(3)(A).€€Appellant€insists€that€AppelleeÏpresented€no€evidence€that€the€continuation€of€the€parent€child€relationship€greatly€diminishes€theÏchildrenððs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home€or€that€the€conditionsÏwhich€lead€to€the€childrenððs€removal€still€exist.€€Appellant€asserts€that€the€fact€that€she€presentlyÏcares€for€her€two€other€children€in€her€home,€which€are€not€subject€to€a€DHS€investigation,Ïestablishes€that€the€conditions€giving€rise€to€the€removal€of€the€(Brandt)€children€no€longer€exist.ÌÌà àWe€believe€that€Appellant€has€misinterpreted€the€language€of€ðð€36„1„113(g).€€InÏconstruing€statutes,€we€are€to€ascertain€and€give€effect€to€the€General€Assemblyððs€intentions.€€WeÏmust€consider€the€statute€as€a€whole€in€light€of€its€general€purpose€and€give€the€words€utilized€inÏthe€statute€their€ordinary,€commonly€accepted€meaning.€€òòò òComputer€Shoppe,€Inc.€v.€Stateóóó ó,Ï780€S.W.2d€729,€735€(Tenn.€App.€1989).€€An€unambiguous€statute€must€be€interpreted€accordingÏto€its€plain€meaning.€€òòò òMcClain€v.€Henry€I.€Siegel€Co.óóó ó,€834€S.W.2d€295,€296€(Tenn.€1992).ÌÌà àAs€we€interpret€the€plain€language€of€this€statute,€subsection€(g)€sets€forth€severalÏgrounds€for€termination€of€oneððs€parental€rights,€ð ðanyðð€of€which€are€appropriate€for€doing€so€ifÏshown€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€The€record€before€us€clearly€reveals€the€two€grounds€forÏtermination€on€which€the€petition€was€filed€and€on€which€Appellee€relies,€as€those€identified€underÏðð€36„1„113(g)(1)€„€abandonment€and€(2)€„€parental€noncompliance€with€the€statement€ofÏresponsibilities€in€a€plan€of€care.€€It€is€unnecessary,€therefore,€in€the€present€case€to€considerÏwhether€the€conditions€for€termination€identified€in€(3)(A)€have€been€satisfied.ÌÌà àAppellant€next€asserts€that€the€record€fails€to€establish€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€that€she€abandoned€her€children€as€such€is€defined€under€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A).€€SubsectionsÏ(D)€and€(E)€of€ðð€36„1„102€provide:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àFor€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€ð ðwillfully€failed€toÏsupportðð€or€ð ðwillfully€failed€to€make€reasonable€payments€towardÏsuch€childððs€supportðð€means€that,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)Ïconsecutive€months,€no€monetary€support€was€paid€or€that€theÏamount€of€support€paid€is€token€support;ÌÌà8 àà àFor€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),€ð ðwillfully€failed€toÏvisitðð€means€the€willful€failure,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutiveÏmonths,€to€visit€or€engage€in€more€than€token€visitation;ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAppellant€maintains€that€a€ð ðwillfulðð€failure€to€pay€support€cannot€be€shown€whenÍshe€was€unaware€of€any€obligation€to€do€so.€€Appellant€does€not€dispute€the€fact€that€she€failed€toÏmake€any€payments€toward€the€support€of€her€children.€€She€points€only€to€the€fact€that€she€wasÏunder€no€court€order€to€do€so€and€was€otherwise€unaware€of€this€responsibility.€€We€dare€say€thatÏthe€support€of€oneððs€children€should€not€be€conditioned€upon€whether€one€has€been€placed€under€aÏcourt€order€to€do€so.€€According€to€the€statute,€a€ð ðwillfulðð€failure€to€pay€support€means€noÏmonetary€support€was€paid€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutive€months.€€The€statute€does€notÏrequire€the€parent€to€first€be€placed€under€a€court€order.€€In€any€event,€Appellant€testified€that€sheÏreceived€correspondence€from€Appellee€concerning€her€obligation€in€this€regard.€€We€conclude€thatÏthe€record€establishes€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€Appellant€ð ðwillfully€failed€to€supportððÏher€children€as€such€is€defined€by€statute.ÌÌà àAppellant€also€asserts€that€the€record€does€not€establish€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€her€willful€failure€to€visit€the€children€for€the€stated€time€period.€€It€is€contended€thatÏAppellee€ð ðactively€participated€in€discouraging€[Appellant]€from€visiting€her€childrenðð€and,€thus,Ïher€failure€to€visit€cannot€be€seen€as€willful.€€It€is€not€disputed€that€Appellantððs€visitation€with€theÏchildren€ceased€July€13,€1995,€five€months€prior€to€the€filing€of€the€petition.€€Apparently€AppellantÏcontends€that€she€was€ð ðmanipulate[d]ðð€into€doing€so€when€Mr.€Player€informed€her€that€a€petitionÏwould€be€filed€seeking€to€terminate€her€parental€rights,€thereby€suggesting€that€any€future€effortsÏon€her€part€would€be€of€little€import.ÌÌà àFirst,€it€should€be€noted€that€Appellant€testified€that€Player,€upon€informing€her€ofÏAppelleeððs€intention€to€seek€termination,€also€explained€her€right€to€continue€visiting€with€theÏchildren€until€the€filing€of€the€petition.€€As€Player€noted€in€his€testimony,€Appellee€believed€thereÏwere€other€existing€grounds€on€which€to€seek€termination.€€More€importantly,€however,€as€weÏinterpret€the€plain€meaning€of€the€statute,€abandonment€consists€of€ð ðeitherðð€a€willful€failure€to€visitÏð ðorðð€a€willful€failure€to€support€for€the€stated€time€period.€€Thus,€a€willful€failure€to€support€orÏmake€reasonable€payments€toward€such€support€for€four€(4)€consecutive€months€is€alone€sufficientÍto€constitute€an€abandonment.€€It€is,€therefore,€unnecessary€to€consider€this€argument€in€light€ofÏour€finding€above.€€In€any€event,€we€find€the€record€to€clearly€establish€a€ð ðwillfulðð€failure€to€visitÏby€the€appellant€for€purposes€of€the€statute.ÌÌà àFinally,€it€is€asserted€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€terminating€the€parental€rights€ofÏAppellant€because€the€record€does€not€establish€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€she€was€in€Ïsubstantial€noncompliance€with€her€statement€of€responsibilities.€€Section€36„1„113(g)(2)€providesÏfor€termination€of€oneððs€parental€rights€if€it€is€shown€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€theÏparent€was€in€ð ðsubstantial€noncomplianceðð€with€the€statement€of€responsibilities.€€òòò òSee€alsoóóó óÏT.C.A.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2)(C).€€Appellant€argues€that€she€was€ð ðtryingðð€to€comply€with€the€plan€ofÏcare€and€of€the€seven€identified€elements,€she€had€completed€two€and€ð ðhad€worked€onðð€threeÏothers.€€She€points€to€the€fact€that€the€trial€judge€made€no€specific€finding€of€ð ðsubstantialððÏnoncompliance€and€further€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€consider€the€fact€that€twoÏother€children€remain€in€her€home€which€are€not€subject€to€a€DHS€investigation€which,€she€asserts,Ïestablishes€that€she€can€provide€a€suitable€home€for€the€children.ÌÌà àWe€reiterate€that€substantial€noncompliance€with€the€statement€of€responsibilities€isÏonly€one€of€several€grounds€upon€which€parental€rights€may€be€terminated€under€ðð€36„1„113.€€WeÏhave€previously€determined€the€record€to€establish€an€ð ðabandonmentðð€of€the€children€by€theÏappellant€as€it€is€defined€by€statute.€€However,€in€light€of€the€gravity€of€this€matter€and€the€extremeÏimportance€of€the€rights€involved€here,€we€have€considered€the€issue.€€It€is€always€mostÏunfortunate€when€circumstances€present€themselves€to€the€extent€that€it€is€necessary€to€terminate€theÏrights€of€a€parent.€€Upon€thorough€review€of€the€record€now€before€us,€however,€we€areÏcompelled€to€conclude€that€the€evidence€presented€supports€a€finding€that€Appellant€is€in€substantialÏnoncompliance€with€her€statement€of€responsibilities€as€outlined€in€her€plan€of€care.€€There€is€noÏindication€that€she€was€unaware€of€the€objectives€expected€of€her.€€Nor€is€there€evidence€that€sheÏwas€afforded€insufficient€opportunity€to€attain€them.€€As€to€the€children€presently€in€her€home,€weÍfind€no€error€by€the€trial€court€in€failing€to€consider€this€fact.€€It€is€the€children€herein€named€withÏwhom€we€are€concerned€in€addressing€the€issues€before€us.ÌÌà àAccordingly,€we€hold€the€record€to€support€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€theÏtrial€courtððs€decision€to€terminate€the€parental€rights€of€the€appellant€as€to€the€children€hereinÏidentified.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHIGHERS,€J.€(Concurs)›