ÿWPC• a#¯V†¿¹Uwàvp,NÙ#5¼ÁRÁ?•¿¢U…¡ÅKQ|gþ[•¤kIõ°Æ”Ê3i-ÁÕ®¶jšõ£ £Pö-}±;`d¾¬¶Ó¶Ì¸¹Š»k:³ñ9ÏAñô*u³d´7·qÁ@® å{߉ðÆíhüÙñ–ß'-ö߸ŸÕ oLKÂU9»mð…3_Ö<º!< #J‰‚tª\º7XÌ~ÖÎ !‘d ]€EdT æ•@*&6Êúf‹Ó¾ŒÏø, |U³±Ù ›¤Q28{g¥ãù̲óîtÞ׃²âýí×NªùqàR,PT>oí&ÃÜ[§Ž±…LãY/©p‰wÀ!.@R1ØâOjJSñó™a¹Y×kÁWb02PôÏV”f"‹ÒE“~ŧû:¯ïUÙ™å™FG?.;*ú‘¼5mB09¬ 7õ€¡jgy\A.a¹ "ò×êoWì¾8î®,f”!»/rÒ¨)àc7òfˆkv2çèý]*•;­†¶>zÉCejÂÀ«àåµ²p¼×>‡ÿ#`\áÔ]ì¦/¾ìf“²ÒÊ'pZÕ„)*„çþ)<Ù 1ç8íZ²"Ò˜ïÉrºDb#É\ %% UN+ 0ˆy UN ÈO Ÿ z¶Ò0^ ªw¸ 0D¼ÆÆÆÆŒÆR4N,.=E? mAAA2XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXbŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠ 0ë’’’’ B}} 0¤š D3> D-q 0Kžž ASéÆ< 0¤ 0D¦ A«ê˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ¾Ý ƒRsþ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¿tò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€trial€court€made€three€references€in€its€findings.€€Specifically,€it€stated€at€one€point:€"[i]n€fact,€[Appellant]Ð ° Ðsaw€the€child€ð!ð€letððs€see,€about€four€weeks€in€a€row€ð!ð€during€June€of€1999,€and€July,€1999,€until€December€30,€1999,Ð qÁ Ð[Appellant]€didn't€see€the€child.€€Excuse€me,€except€for€one€time€[Appellant]€did.€€Then€after€that,€[Appellant]€only€sawÐ 2‚ Ðthe€child€about€once€a€month€two€or€three€different€times."€€Later,€the€trial€court€again€made€reference€to€the€visitationÐ óC Ðschedule€stating:€"[Appellant][has€not]€seen€the€child€when€[Appellant]€had€an€opportunity€to€do€so,€[Appellant]€wentÐ ´ Ðfrom€July€of€1999,€and€December,€1999,€and€saw€the€child€one€time."€€Finally,€in€its€order,€the€trial€court€found€that:Ð uÅ Ð"Respondent€Sheila€Diane€Trull€has€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€to€engage€in€more€than€token€visitation€for€more€than€fourÐ 6 † Ð(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€the€filing€of€the€Petition€(prior€to€incarceration)." •Ý ƒRsþ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¿tò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔSee€òòsupraóó€note€1. ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt±uN/Ï   Ý ƒRsþ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¿tò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThough€the€trial€court€found€that€the€Department€of€Children's€Services€had€established€the€grounds€ofÐ ° Ðabandonment€by€failure€to€support,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€36„1„113(g)(1)€and€36„1„102(1)(A)(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô),€removal€of€the€child€byÐ qÁ Ðcourt€order€for€six€months€with€poor€persisting€conditions€of€the€parent,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3),€substantialÐ 2‚ Ðnon„compliance€of€the€parent€with€the€permanency€plan,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(2),€and€mental€incompetenceÐ óC Ðof€the€parent,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(8),€this€court€need€not€address€the€trial€court's€rulings€on€those€issues,€asÐ ´ Ðonly€one€ground€for€termination€must€be€proven€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5lk.ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Acree COADepakote ADHD NimsPeeplesTrullT.R.A.P.Huddleston ToofC.W.W.N.W.W.Z.W.W.A.L.W.p]robablyKratochvil- ù-(|G2sþ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•©»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¿tò»»Ô d(|3$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•©»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•©»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•©»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼•©»»»ÔÑ8€ÇçXXdé»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ‡înv•©ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼•©»îînv #ԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓASSIGNED€ON€BRIEFS€APRIL€22,€2003Ð öF ÐÔ‡XÇçX»¼•©ÔÌò òÔ#†¼•©»XXÇçü#ÔIN€THE€MATTER€OF€M.T.Ð ï? ЀA€Child€Under€Eighteen€Years€of€AgeòòóóÔ‡XÇçX»¼•©Ôó óÐ  P ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Gibson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7803€€€€€€William€B.€Acree,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ ä 4 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<¡` AßÐ ¢ò  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2002„03050„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€14,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÐ ›ë  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<n` AßÐ o¿  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X0.XXXÇçÔThis€is€a€suit€for€the€termination€of€parental€rights.€€The€child€came€into€state€custody€in€June€1999Ð g· Ðand€a€trial€took€place€on€July€25,€2002.€€The€trial€court€entered€an€order€terminating€parental€rightsÐ P  Ðof€the€mother€and€the€mother€appealed€to€this€court.€€For€the€reasons€stated€below,€we€affirm€theÐ 9‰ Ðorder€of€the€trial€court.Ð "r ÐÔ#†XÇçXXX0.ê#ÔÔ#†¼•©»XXÇç–#ÔÔ‡XÇçX»¼•©ÔÌÓÞÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ý- ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼•©»àXÇçé#ÔÔ‡XÇçX.¼•©ÔAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.,óó€and€òòHollyÐ ° ÐM.€Kirby,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ™é ÐÌJ.€Mark€Johnson,€Trenton,€for€AppellantÐ k» ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter,€Pamela€A.€Hayden„Wood,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ = ÐGeneral,€Nashville,€TN,€for€AppelleeÐ & v ÐÓ‡ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼•©»XXÇç¶#ÔÔ‡XÇçX»¼•©ÔÐ ø!H! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼•©»XXÇçÇ #ÔÔ‡XÇçX»¼•©ÔÓ  Óò òÔ‡X0.XXXÇçÔà@ûûìàFacts€and€Procedural€Historyó óˆÐ Ë## ÐÌà  àOn€August€22,€1997,€Appellant€Sheila€Trull€("Sheila")€gave€birth€to€her€daughter,€M.T.Ð ž%î % Ð("M.T.").€€Only€days€after€M.T.€was€born,€Sheila€tested€positive€for€drugs,€and,€believing€that€M.T.Ð ‡&×!& Ðmight€be€affected,€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Children's€Services€("DCS")€investigated€theÐ p'À"' Ðsituation.€€Upon€further€inquiry,€DCS€determined€that€Sheila€did€have€a€history€of€drug€abuse€andÐ Y(©#( Ðattempted€suicide,€but€declined€to€intervene€as€Sheila's€family€was€assisting€in€raising€M.T.€and€theÐ B)’$) Ðsituation€was€under€control.€Ð +*{%* ÐÌà  àSheila€continued€to€retain€custody€of€M.T.€until€April€1998,€when€Sheila€was€charged€withÐ ý+M', Ðaggravated€assault€for€stabbing€her€motherððs€boyfriend,€William€Young€("Young"),€with€a€knife.€Ð æ,6(- ÐSheila€went€to€prison€on€a€reduced€plea€of€simple€assault.€€Once€DCS€received€notice€of€thisÐ Ï-).ý Ðincident,€Sheila's€mother,€Brenda€Trull€("Brenda"),€was€given€custody€of€M.T.€€Sheila€wasÐ ° Ðsubsequently€released€and€resumed€living€with€Brenda€and€M.T.€€Sheila€was€referred€to€the€CareyÐ ™é ÐCounseling€Center€where€she€was€diagnosed€with€having€bipolar€disorder€mixed€with€psychosis€andÐ ‚Ò Ðpoly„substance€dependence.€€In€Sheilaððs€situation,€the€substances€of€dependence€are€alcohol,€cocaineÐ k» Ðand€cannabis.€Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àOn€June€8,€1999,€Sheila€and€Brenda€took€M.T.€to€the€Humboldt€General€Hospital,€and€sheÐ & v Ðwas€later€transferred€to€the€Jackson„Madison€County€General€Hospital€Pediatric€Intensive€Care€Unit.€Ð  _ ÐM.T.€had€taken€some€of€Sheilaððs€prescription€medicine,€Depakote,€and€at€3:00€a.m.,€Sheila€foundÐ ø H Ðsome€of€her€pills€were€missing.€€Though€Sheila€did€not€know€if€M.T.€had€taken€some€of€the€pills,Ð á 1  Ðshe€knew€some€were€missing.€€Rather€than€taking€M.T.€to€the€hospital€immediately,€Sheila€andÐ Ê   ÐBrenda€slept€until€1:00€p.m.€the€following€afternoon€and,€when€they€were€unable€to€wake€M.T.,€theyÐ ³  Ðtook€her€to€the€emergency€room.€Ð œì  ÐÌà  àUpon€this€incident,€M.T.€was€removed€from€Brenda's€custody€and€transferred€to€a€fosterÐ n¾  Ðparent,€Sue€James€("Sue"),€because€of€DCS's€concerns€of€either€neglect€or€inadequate€supervision.€Ð W§  ÐSue€was€M.T.'s€foster€parent€until€October€2000.€€Immediately€upon€taking€custody,€M.T.€was€inÐ @ Ðneed€of€medical€assistance€from€various€specialists.€€One€of€M.T.'s€legs€was€very€weak€due€to€aÐ )y Ðdecreased€tendon€reflex,€and€M.T.€was€unable€to€stand€on€it€very€well.€€M.T.€went€to€the€KiwanisÐ b Ðfor€speech€therapy.€€M.T.€also€required€the€assistance€of€an€ophthalmologist€as€she€was€far„sightedÐ ûK Ðand€her€eyes€crossed.€€She€also€went€to€regular€pediatric€exams€and€a€neurologist.€€In€addition,€sheÐ ä4 Ðhas€since€been€diagnosed€with€ADHD€for€which€she€receives€medication.€Ð Í ÐÌà  àBy€June€29,€1999,€DCS€had€developed€M.T.'s€initial€permanency€plan,€outlining€theÐ Ÿï Ðresponsibilities€the€involved€parties€had,€what€their€duties€were,€and€when€visitation€for€Sheila€andÐ ˆØ ÐM.T.€would€occur.€€Sheila€and€Brenda€both€attended€the€meeting€at€which€the€responsibilities€in€theÐ qÁ ÐperÔ_ÔmanencyÔ_Ô€plan,€and€non„compliance€with€them,€were€explained,€and€both€agreed€with€the€plan€andÐ Zª Ðsigned€it.€€The€permanency€plan€called€for€visitation€weekly€at€the€Burger€King€in€Humboldt.€€ThisÐ C“ Ðschedule€of€visitation€abruptly€ended€when€Sheila€was€incarcerated€in€April€2000€for€aggravatedÐ ,| Ðassault.€€Between€the€end€of€June€1999€and€the€beginning€of€April€2000,€Sheila€visited€M.T.€on€eightÐ e Ðoccasions€out€of€a€possible€forty.€€When€she€did€visit€M.T.,€there€was€little€conversation€betweenÐ þN ÐSheila€and€M.T.€€At€all€of€her€visits€with€M.T.,€Sheila€paid€no€attention€to€M.T.,€sat€with€her€backÐ ç 7 Ðto€M.T.,€and€went€outside€to€smoke.€€This€evidence€was€undisputed€by€Sheila€at€trial.€€At€most€ofÐ Ð!   Ðthe€other€scheduled€times,€Brenda€and€other€family€members€would€show€up€and€visit€with€M.T.,Ð ¹" ! Ðbut€twenty€percent€of€the€time,€no€one€showed€up.€€Sheila€admitted€in€her€testimony€that€the€reasonsÐ ¢#ò" Ðfor€failing€to€visit€M.T.€at€Burger€King€were€either€drunkenness€or€hangovers€from€drunkenness.€Ð ‹$Û# ÐThe€dates€on€which€Sheila€visited€M.T.€were:€June€30,€July€8,€15,€29,€September€9€and€DecemberÐ t%Ä $ Ð30,€1999,€and€February€24,€and€March€17,€2000.€Ð ]&­!% ÐÌà  àOn€April€4,€2000,€only€five€days€after€a€second€permanency€plan€was€developed€by€DCS,Ð /(#' ÐSheila€was€arrested€and€charged€with€attempted€murder,€which€was€later€reduced€to€aggravatedÐ )h$( Ðassault.€€Sheila€was€drunk€and€slit€the€throat€of€Jerry€Bell,€Brenda's€boyfriend€at€the€time.€€While€inÐ *Q%) Ðprison,€the€DCS€case€manager,€Leslie€Nims€("Nims"),€attempted€to€converse€with€Sheila,€but€SheilaÐ ê*:&* Ðonly€spoke€with€her€for€a€few€minutes€and€did€not€ask€about€M.T.€€Sheila,€from€the€time€M.T.€wentÐ Ó+#'+ Ðinto€state€custody,€did€not€contact€Nims€even€though€Sheila€knew€Nims€was€the€DCS€case€manager.€Ð ° ÐSheila€also€did€not€send€any€cards,€gifts€or€support€to€M.T.€after€M.T.€entered€state€custody.€Ð ™é ÐÌà  àSince€June€1,€2001,€M.T.€has€lived€with€new€foster€parents€who€intend€to€adopt€her€if€sheÐ k» Ðbecomes€available€for€adoption.€€M.T.€has€since€grown€closer€to€her€foster€parents€and€calls€herÐ T¤ Ðfoster€mother€"mom"€as€well€as€telling€other€children€that€her€foster€mother€is€her€mother.€€M.T.Ð =  Ðshows€no€signs€that€she€remembers€Sheila€and,€when€the€DCS€adoption€case€worker,€Linda€SpainÐ & v Ð("Spain")€would€visit,€M.T.€never€asked€about€her€birth€mother.€Ð  _ ÐÌà  àWhile€in€prison,€Sheila€held€two€jobs;€one€of€those€jobs€was€described€as€being€"inÐ á 1  Ðhorticulture"€and€the€other€was€an€"industrial€cleaner."€€In€addition,€Sheila€took€some€optionalÐ Ê   Ðcourses€including€a€parenting€program,€anger€management,€expanded€food€and€nutrition€education,Ð ³  Ðand€drug€abuse€counseling.€Ð œì  ÐÌà  àSheila€was€released€from€prison€on€May€23,€2002,€and€was€contacted€by€Spain.€€SpainÐ n¾  Ðinformed€Sheila€that€a€foster€care€review€board€meeting€was€coming€up€and€that€Sheila€shouldÐ W§  Ðattend.€€At€no€time€during€that€conversation€did€Sheila€ask€to€visit€M.T.€Ð @ ÐÌà  àSheila€currently€lives€with€William€Young,€the€victim€of€Sheila's€assault€with€a€knife€in€1998,Ð b Ðin€Youngððs€two„bedroom€trailer€home.€€Sheila,€at€the€time€of€the€trial,€was€in€the€middle€of€receivingÐ ûK Ða€divorce€and€intended€to€marry€Young€soon€thereafter.€€When€visited€by€Spain€and€Nims€on€JulyÐ ä4 Ð8,€2002,€to€review€the€caseððs€quarterly€report,€Sheila€showed€Spain€and€Nims€the€room€she€wasÐ Í Ðfixing€up€for€M.T.€but€at€no€point€requested€to€visit€M.T.€€According€to€the€Carey€Counseling€CenterÐ ¶ Ðoutpatient€therapist,€Donna€Richardson,€Sheila€still€has€a€bipolar€disorder€with€psychosis€and€poly„Ð Ÿï Ðsubstance€dependence€but€they€are€in€"partial€remission."€€A€Carey€Counseling€psychologicalÐ ˆØ Ðexaminer,€David€Robins,€met€with€Sheila€on€six€occasions€since€her€release€from€prison€in€2002€andÐ qÁ Ðtestified€that€she€was€stable€and€did€not€appear€to€be€on€any€illicit€drugs€or€under€the€influence€ofÐ Zª Ðalcohol.€€At€the€time€of€trial,€Sheila€remained€unemployed€but€had€applied€for€work€at€two€nursingÐ C“ Ðhomes,€Subway,€and€Kentucky€Fried€Chicken.€€Before€being€imprisoned€in€April€2000,€Sheila€hadÐ ,| Ðnever€held€a€job€for€more€than€two€months.€€Young€currently€is€employed€in€refrigerator€and€airÐ e Ðconditioning€repair€work€and€earns€between€$400€and€$700€per€week.€Ð þN ÐÌà  àThe€Tennessee€Department€of€Children's€Services€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€the€parentalÐ Ð!   Ðrights€of€the€appellant,€Sheila€Diane€Trull,€to€M.T.,€the€child€at€issue,€on€May€18,€2001,€in€theÐ ¹" ! ÐCircuit€Court€for€Gibson€County.€€Trial€took€place€on€July€25,€2002,€before€the€Honorable€WilliamÐ ¢#ò" ÐB.€Acree,€sitting€by€interchange€for€the€Honorable€Clayton€Peeples.€€The€trial€court€entered€an€orderÐ ‹$Û# Ðto€terminate€Sheila€Ô_ÔTrullÔ_Ô's€parental€rights€on€August€29,€2002,€and€Ms.€Trull€timely€filed€a€noticeÐ t%Ä $ Ðof€appeal€on€September€5,€2002.€€She€presents€the€following€issue€for€our€review:€whether€the€trialÐ ]&­!% Ðcourt€committed€prejudicial€error€in€finding€that€clear€and€convincing€evidence€of€grounds€forÐ F'–"& Ðtermination€of€parental€rights€exists€and€that€such€termination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€her€daughter.Ð /(#' ÐÌÓ  Óò òStandard€of€Reviewó óÐ *Q%) Ðâ âÐ ë*;&* ÐÓ  Óà  àIn€order€for€a€court€to€terminate€a€person's€parental€right€to€their€child,€it€must€make€a€findingÐ ° Ðâ âby€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€one€of€the€grounds€for€termination€exists€and€that€suchÐ ™é Ðtermination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(1)(2).€€Because€theÐ ‚Ò Ðcase€was€tried€before€a€trial€court€without€a€jury,€we€must€review€the€case€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€recordÐ k» Ðwith€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€If€the€evidence€does€notÐ T¤ Ðpreponderate€against€the€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€an€error€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).€€If€theÐ =  Ðtrial€court€has€not€made€a€specific€finding€of€fact€as€to€a€particular€matter,€we€must€review€the€factsÐ & v Ðin€the€record€under€a€purely€òòde€novoóó€review.€€òòFields€v.€Stateóó,€40€S.W.3d€450,€457€n.5€(Tenn.€2001);Ð  _ ÐòòIn€the€Matter€of€Valentineóó,€79€S.W.3d€539,€546€(Tenn.€2002).€€For€all€issues€of€law,€we€review€themÐ ø H Ðòòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.€Huddlestonóó,Ð á 1  Ð854€S.W.2d€87,€91€(Tenn.€1993);€òòIn€the€Matter€of€Valentineóó,€79€S.W.3d€at€546.Ð Ê   ÐÌÓ  Óò òLaw€and€Analysisó óÐ œì  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àIt€has€long€been€recognized€that€a€parent€has€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody€andÐ o¿  Ðcontrol€of€his€or€her€child.€€òòStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,€651€(1972).€€However,€the€rights€aÐ X¨  Ðparent€has€to€one's€children€are€not€absolute€and€may€be€terminated€upon€evidence€that€at€least€oneÐ A‘ Ðground€for€termination€exists€and€such€termination€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€CodeÐ *z ÐAnn.€ðð€36„1„113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(1)(2)€&€(g).€€Because€such€a€finding€would€terminate€a€recognized,€fundamentalÐ c Ðright,€Tennessee€law€requires€a€heightened€standard€of€proof€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€Ð üL ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(1).€€Clear€and€convincing€evidence€has€been€defined€in€TennesseeÐ å5 Ðas€"evidence€in€which€there€is€no€serious€or€substantial€doubt€about€the€correctness€of€theÐ Î Ðconclusions€drawn€from€the€evidence."€€òòHodges€v.€S.C.€Toof€&€Co.óó,€833€S.W.2d€896,€901€n.3€(Tenn.Ð · Ð1992).€€The€grounds€upon€which€parental€rights€may€be€terminated€are€enumerated€in€TennesseeÐ  ð ÐCode€Annotated€section€36„1„113(g)€and€"the€existence€of€any€one€of€the€statutory€bases€willÐ ‰Ù Ðsupport€a€termination€of€parental€rights."€€òòIn€re€C.W.W.,€N.W.W.,€Z.W.W.,€&€A.L.W.óó,€37€S.W.3d€467,Ð r Ð473€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000)€(citations€omitted).Ð [« ÐÌà  àThe€ground€which€this€court€shall€address€concerns€abandonment€of€the€child€for€a€periodÐ -} Ðof€four€consecutive€months€prior€to€the€parent's€period€of€incarceration€if€the€parent€was€incarceratedÐ f Ðat€the€time€the€proceeding€was€initiated.Ô_Ô׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€€Pursuant€to€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€and€for€theÐ ÿO Ðpurposes€of€section€36„1„113(g)(1),€"abandonment"€by€a€parent€or€guardian€means€that:Ð è 8 ÐÌà8  àA€parent€or€guardian€is€incarcerated€at€the€time€of€the€institution€of€an€action€orÐ º" ! Ðproceeding€to€declare€a€child€to€be€an€abandoned€child,€or€the€parent€or€guardian€hasÐ £#ó" Ðbeen€incarcerated€during€all€or€part€of€the€four€(4)€months€immediately€preceding€theÐ Œ$Ü# Ðinstitution€of€such€action€or€proceeding,€and€either€has€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€hasÐ u%Å $ Ðwillfully€failed€to€support€or€make€reasonable€payments€toward€the€support€of€theÐ ° Ðchild€for€four€(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€such€parent's€orÐ ™é Ðguardian's€incarceration.€.€.€.ЂÒÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àIn€addition,€"willfully€failed€to€visit"€is€defined€as€"the€willful€failure,€for€a€period€of€fourÐ & v Ð(4)€consecutive€months,€to€visit€or€engage€in€more€than€token€visitation[.]"€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„Ð  _ Ð102(1)(E).€€"Token€visitation"€is€also€defined€in€the€Code€as€visitation€which€"constitutes€nothingÐ ø H Ðmore€than€perfunctory€visitation€or€visitation€of€such€an€infrequent€nature€or€of€such€short€durationÐ á 1  Ðas€to€merely€establish€minimal€or€insubstantial€contact€with€the€child[.]"€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„Ð Ê   Ð102(1)Ô_Ô(CÔ_Ô).Ð ³  ÐÌà  àAppellant€in€her€brief€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€she€willfullyÐ …Õ  Ðabandoned€her€child.€€She€first€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€because€there€was€no€period€of€fourÐ n¾  Ðconsecutive€months€before€incarceration€in€which€Appellant€willfully€failed€to€visit€her€child.€€FromÐ W§  Ðthe€point€at€which€DCS€took€custody€of€M.T.€to€the€day€of€Appellantððs€incarceration€in€April€2000,Ð @ ÐAppellant€visited€her€child€eight€times€out€of€a€possible€forty€visits.€€Specifically,€AppellantÐ )y Ðappeared€at€the€scheduled€visitation€time€on€June€30,€July€9,€July€15,€July€29,€September€9,Ð b ÐDecember€30,€1999,€and€February€24,€and€March€17,€2000.€€Though€Appellant€testified€that€sheÐ ûK Ðbelieved€she€visited€M.T.€"[p]robably€thirteen"€times€rather€than€just€eight,€Sue€James,€M.T.'s€fosterÐ ä4 Ðparent€at€that€time,€and€Leslie€Nims,€the€DCS€case€manager,€both€testified,€and€the€trial€court€found,Ð Í Ðthat€Appellant€only€visited€on€eight€occasions.€€Appellant's€testimony€is€uncertain€and,€therefore,Ð ¶ Ðinsufficient€to€overcome€the€presumption€of€correctness€in€favor€of€the€trial€court's€findings.€€€€€€Ð Ÿï ÐÌà  àNext,€Appellant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€when€it€found€that,Ð qÁ Ðgiven€the€dates€on€which€Appellant€did€show€up€for€the€visitation€time,€there€was€a€period€of€fourÐ Zª Ðconsecutive€months€in€which€Appellant€willfully€failed€to€visit€her€daughter.€€Though€these€datesÐ C“ Ðare€spaced€apart€such€that€there€is€no€period€of€four€consecutive€months,€the€trial€court€found,€andÐ ,| Ðthis€court€agrees,€that€the€visitation€was€"token"€within€the€meaning€of€the€statute.€€AppellantððsÐ e Ðargument€fails€to€take€into€account€that€"token"€visitation€means€òòeitheróó€perfunctory€visitation€òòoróóÐ þN Ðvisitation€of€such€an€òòinfrequent€natureóó€as€to€establish€minimal€contact€with€the€child.€€Tenn.€CodeÐ ç 7 ÐAnn.€ðð€36„1„102(1)Ô_Ô(CÔ_Ô).€€€The€trial€court€apparently€found€that€Appellantððs€visitation€was€"token"Ð Ð!   Ðbecause€of€its€infrequency.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€It€is€true€that€Tennessee€courts€have€found€the€ground€of€abandonmentÐ ¹" ! Ðexists€by€virtue€of€a€parentððs€visits€being€infrequent€though€avoiding€the€technical€requirement€ofÐ ¢#ò" Ða€four€consecutive€month€period€without€visitation.€€òòSee€e.g.,óó€òòAdoption€of€Kratochvil€v.€Kratochvilóó,Ð ‹$Û# Ð1998€WL€681334,€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).€€In€addition€to€the€infrequent€nature€of€the€visits,€SueÐ ° ÐJames€testified€that€"at€all€of€the€motherððs€[visits],"€"[Appellant]€didn't€pay€any€attention€to€[M.T.].€Ð ™é ÐShe€kept€her€back€to€her.€€There€wasn't€any€inter„reaction€[sic]€between€her€and€[M.T.]€at€that€time.Ð ‚Ò Ð[Appellant]€would€just€sit€there€and€eat€or€go€out€and€smoke.€€There€wasn't€a€lot€of€talking€andÐ k» Ðplaying."€€After€reviewing€the€record,€this€account€of€Appellant's€visits€went€undisputed€on€crossÐ T¤ Ðexamination€of€Ms.€James,€direct€examination€of€Appellant,€or€examination€of€any€other€witness.€Ð =  ÐWe€find€that€such€infrequency,€coupled€with€the€nature€of€the€visits€themselves,€constituted€"token"Ð & v Ðvisitation€within€the€meaning€of€Tennessee€Code.€€Ð  _ ÐÌà  àIn€addition,€failing€to€visit€one's€child€must€be€"willful"€to€constitute€abandonment.€€Tenn.Ð á 1  ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€36„1„102(1)(E).€€When€asked€why€she€did€not€visit€her€daughter€on€more€occasions,Ð Ê   ÐAppellant€admitted€that€she€was€probably€drinking€alcohol€or€had€a€hangover€from€periods€ofÐ ³  Ðintoxication.€€Such€failure€to€visit€was€not€for€reasons€such€as€employment€or€illness.€€In€light€of€theÐ œì  Ðfact€that€the€visits€were€scheduled€in€advance€for€every€Thursday€at€9€a.m.€according€to€theÐ …Õ  Ðpermanency€plan€of€June€1999,€such€behavior€shows€an€indifference€on€the€part€of€Appellant€inÐ n¾  Ðfailing€to€visit€her€child.€€It€was€Appellant's€choice€to€drink€in€excess€such€that€she€would€be€unableÐ W§  Ðto€appear€at€the€scheduled€visitation€times.€€Such€a€choice€evidences€a€willful€failure€on€Appellant'sÐ @ Ðpart€to€exercise€her€visitation€rights.€€Therefore,€we€find€that€Appellant's€failure€to€visit€for€more€thanÐ )y Ðtoken€visitation€was€willful.€€This€willful€failure€to€engage€in€more€than€token€visitation€was€provenÐ b Ðby€clear€and€convincing€evidence€and€established€a€ground€for€termination€of€Appellant's€parentalÐ ûK Ðrights.€€Since€only€one€ground€for€termination€of€parental€rights€must€be€established€by€clear€andÐ ä4 Ðconvincing€evidence,€this€court€does€not€address€the€trial€court's€findings€on€the€other€grounds€forÐ Í Ðtermination.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ¶ ÐÌà  àIn€addition€to€a€ground€for€termination,€a€petitioner€must€also€prove€by€clear€and€convincingÐ ˆØ Ðevidence€that€such€termination€is€in€the€best€interests€of€the€child.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„Ð qÁ Ð113Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô)(2).€€The€legislature€has€set€out€what€a€trial€court€must€consider€in€determining€what€is€in€aÐ Zª Ðchild's€best€interests.€€Specifically,€section€36„1„113(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€of€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€provides:Ð C“ ÐÌà8  àIn€determining€whether€termination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€is€in€the€bestÐ e Ðinterest€of€the€child€pursuant€to€this€part,€the€court€shall€consider,€but€is€not€limitedÐ þN Ðto,€the€following:Ðç 7Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à(1)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€made€such€an€adjustment€of€circumstance,Ð ¹" ! Ðconduct,€or€conditions€as€to€make€it€safe€and€in€the€childððs€best€interest€to€be€in€theÐ ¢#ò" Ðhome€of€the€parent€or€guardian;Ћ$Û#Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(2)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€failed€to€effect€a€lasting€adjustment€afterÐ t%Ä $ Ðreasonable€efforts€by€available€social€services€agencies€for€such€duration€of€time€thatÐ ]&­!% Ðlasting€adjustment€does€not€reasonably€appear€possible;ÐF'–"&Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(3)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€maintained€regular€visitation€or€other€contactÐ /(#' Ðwith€the€child;Ð)h$(Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(4)€Whether€a€meaningful€relationship€has€otherwise€been€established€between€theÐ ° Ðparent€or€guardian€and€the€child;ЙéÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(5)€The€effect€a€change€of€caretakers€and€physical€environment€is€likely€to€have€onÐ ‚Ò Ðthe€child's€emotional,€psychological€and€medical€condition;Ðk»Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(6)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian,€or€other€person€residing€with€the€parent€orÐ T¤ Ðguardian,€has€shown€brutality,€physical,€sexual,€emotional€or€psychological€abuse,Ð =  Ðor€neglect€toward€the€child,€or€another€child€or€adult€in€the€family€household;Ð& vÐ Ð  Ðà8  à(7)€Whether€the€physical€environment€of€the€parent's€or€guardian's€home€is€healthyÐ  _ Ðand€safe,€whether€there€is€criminal€activity€in€the€home,€or€whether€there€is€such€useÐ ø H Ðof€alcohol€or€controlled€substances€as€may€render€the€parent€or€guardian€consistentlyÐ á 1  Ðunable€to€care€for€the€child€in€a€safe€and€stable€manner;ÐÊ  Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(8)€Whether€the€parent's€or€guardian's€mental€and/or€emotional€status€would€beÐ ³  Ðdetrimental€to€the€child€or€prevent€the€parent€or€guardian€from€effectively€providingÐ œì  Ðsafe€and€stable€care€and€supervision€for€the€child;€orÐ…Õ Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(9)€Whether€the€parent€or€guardian€has€paid€child€support€consistent€with€the€childÐ n¾  Ðsupport€guidelines€promulgated€by€the€department€pursuant€to€ðð€36„5„101.ÐW§ Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô).Ð )y ÐÌà  àWe€find€the€holding€that€termination€of€Appellant's€parental€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€ofÐ ûK Ðthe€child€to€be€supported€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€in€the€trial€court€below.€€First,€the€lastÐ ä4 Ðtime€that€the€Appellant€saw€her€daughter€was€on€March€17,€2000,€when€M.T.€was€only€two€and€aÐ Í Ðhalf€years€old.€€Linda€Spain,€the€DCS€adoption€case€worker€for€M.T.,€testified,€and€the€trial€courtÐ ¶ Ðfound,€that€M.T.€has€no€memory€of€Appellant€and€that€M.T.€calls€her€foster€mother€"mom."€€SpainÐ Ÿï Ðfurther€testified€that€M.T.€tells€the€other€children€that€her€foster€mother€is€her€mom€and€that€M.T.Ð ˆØ Ðhad€not€asked€about€her€real€mother.€€No€evidence€was€presented€to€support€a€finding€that€aÐ qÁ Ðmeaningful€relationship€existed€between€Appellant€and€M.T.€€Second,€the€trial€court€must€considerÐ Zª Ðthe€effect€of€a€change€in€caretÔ_ÔakersÔ_Ô€on€the€child.€€The€trial€court€stated€that€this€child€in€particularÐ C“ Ðhas€special€physical€and€mental€needs€which€it€found€the€Appellant€unable€to€meet.€€Linda€SpainÐ ,| Ðfurther€testified€that€M.T.€had€tested€low€in€language€and€math€skills,€that€she€was€receiving€speechÐ e Ðtherapy,€that€she€had€Attention€Deficit€Hyperactivity€Disorder,€and€that€disrupting€M.T.'s€currentÐ þN Ðplacement€would€be€very€detrimental€to€the€child.€€These€circumstances,€coupled€with€the€fact€thatÐ ç 7 ÐM.T.€was€placed€in€state€custody€because€of€Appellant's€neglect,€suggest€that€termination€ofÐ Ð!   ÐAppellant's€parental€rights€and€allowing€the€new€foster€parents€to€adopt€M.T.€would€be€in€the€child'sÐ ¹" ! Ðbest€interests.€€Next,€the€trial€court€found€that€visitation€rights€were€only€exercised€on€eightÐ ¢#ò" Ðoccasions€out€of€a€possible€forty€from€the€time€M.T.€was€placed€in€state€custody€to€the€point€thatÐ ‹$Û# ÐAppellant€was€incarcerated€in€April€of€2000.€€This€lack€of€visitation€cuts€against€Appellant'sÐ t%Ä $ Ðargument€that€termination€of€parental€rights€would€not€be€in€the€child's€best€interests.€€Another€factorÐ ]&­!% Ðthe€trial€court€incorporated€in€its€findings€was€the€fact€that€Appellant€had€provided€no€child€supportÐ F'–"& Ðfor€M.T.€€Though€Appellant€was€either€unemployed€or€in€prison€while€M.T.€remained€in€stateÐ /(#' Ðcustody,€the€evidence€in€the€record€shows€that€Appellant€has€sent€M.T.€no€gifts,€birthday€orÐ )h$( ÐChristmas€cards,€or€any€other€type€of€support€to€indicate€that€Appellant€took€any€parentalÐ *Q%) Ðâ âresponsibility€for€M.T.€€While€Appellant€testified€that€her€reason€for€sending€nothing€was€becauseÐ ê*:&* Ða€person€in€Leslie€Nims'€office€indicated€that€M.T.€would€not€receive€whatever€Appellant€sent,€thisÐ ° Ðis€not€supported€by€any€evidence€other€than€Appellant's€testimony.€€Ð ™é Ðâ âÌà  àIn€addition,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€environment€that€Appellant€would€provide€wouldÐ k» Ðbe€dangerous€to€the€child.€€The€court€below€found€that€Appellant's€previous€neglect€almost€killedÐ T¤ ÐM.T.€when€the€child€took€some€of€Appellant's€prescription€pills.€€Additionally,€the€court€wasÐ =  Ðconcerned€about€Appellant's€criminal€record€for€assault€and€aggravated€assault€and€found€that€suchÐ & v Ða€history€for€violence€pointed€to€termination€of€Appellant's€parental€rights.€€Not€only€does€AppellantÐ  _ Ðhave€a€criminal€record€which€includes€violent€crimes,€but€she€is€currently€living,€and€at€the€time€ofÐ ø H Ðtrial€is€planning€to€marry,€a€victim€of€one€of€her€assaults,€William€Young.€€Finally,€though€AppellantÐ á 1  Ðhas€been€drug€and€alcohol€free€since€entering€prison€in€April€of€2000,€the€trial€court€found€that€theÐ Ê   Ðevidence€supported€a€finding€that€there€is€a€danger€the€Appellant€would€return€to€her€old€habits€ofÐ ³  Ðabusing€drugs€and€alcohol.€€This€finding€is€supported€by€the€testimony€of€Donna€Richardson,€anÐ œì  Ðoutpatient€therapist€at€Carey€Counseling€Center€who€worked€with€the€Appellant€and€her€mother€inÐ …Õ  Ðtheir€rehabilitation.€€Richardson€testified€that€Appellant€had€been€diagnosed,€as€of€June€2002,€withÐ n¾  Ðbipolar€disorder,€psychosis€and€poly„substance€dependence,€all€in€partial€remission.€Ð W§  ÐÌà  àWe€understand€Appellant's€situation€of€completing€her€time€in€prison€and€wishing€to€startÐ )y Ðover€again.€€However,€the€law€requires€this€court€to€consider€what€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child,Ð b Ðnot€the€best€interest€of€the€parent.€€Our€review€of€the€record,€and€the€findings€thereon,€correlate€withÐ ûK Ðthe€findings€of€the€trial€court€on€the€issue€of€what€the€best€interest€of€M.T.€are.€€We€find€clear€andÐ ä4 Ðconvincing€evidence€that€termination€of€Appellant's€parental€rights€and€allowing€M.T.€to€move€onÐ Í Ðwith€her€life€are€in€the€child's€best€interest.Ð ¶ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓConclusionó óÐ ˆØ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Costs€are€judgedÐ [« Ðagainst€Appellant,€Sheila€Dianne€Trull,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.€€Ð D” Ðà  à€€€€€€€Ð -} ÐÔ#†XÇçXXX0.S #ÔÔ#†¼•©»XXÇç% #ÔÔ€XÇçX»¼•©ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð º" ! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€Ô_ÔHIGHERSÔ_Ô,€JUDGE