WPC W# UN %+ 041 0ebw@ 4`tjN ^  m 0D$ 0Jh 0T 0^ 0hd 0r 0|> 0 AQ@  0DW 0@ 0D 0 D/ 1u BS D3p 0dU>B)EDCn AMU*G(`oTv~#v BtHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh'"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular( U$  (c(25$ U!   XXީX `   0  - - aEE4ere Ӏ_#-FF.6&F3|xharrell termination - opinino # '  0 .   q$U(#$  0  2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  !"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ("$    ($$   1  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23  ((' dxd% ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P PdVVVV'dxdP 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d22227Border 1dd!#3C << G<  9p`(Arial = !  #d#11   ""  55   YYY FILED5XJune12,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk   V !#d#11   $   X 1X       __R.M.H._stwooldestchildrenwereplacedinfostercareinNewYork. J !#d#11   $   X 1X       __W.H._ԀhadachildinNewYorkwhowasplacedinfostercare.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ellan Geneva  ellan Geneva  d ! . 11     X   \RA'\ћ_7dd7    1 @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE!ٜR463A1-j|)`  `@Rߛ@ ATNASHVILLE 1      )      )      )INTHEMATTEROF:   ) _Humphreys_ԀChancery_T.J.H._,(DOB7/29/95)   ) No.24007and      )M.S.M.,(DOB5/29/91)   )      ) AppealNo.(Childrenundertheageof18)  ) 01A019712CH00736      )      )      )@ APPEALFROMTHECHANCERYCOURT@ FOR_HUMPHREYS_ԀCOUNTY@ AT_WAVERLY_,TENNESSEE@ THEHONORABLELEONARDW.MARTIN,CHANCELLORGuardianadlitem:     FortheRespondents/Appellants:CliffordK._McGown_,Jr.     JanetS.Kelley_Waverly_,Tennessee     _Waverly_,Tennessee1 @ AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED 1             WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE  @  1OPINION1  Thisappealinvolvestheterminationoftheparentalrightsoftwopersonswhohaveahistoryofseriousmentalillnesses.Thetwochildrenatissueinthiscaseweretemporarilyremovedfromtheirparentscustodyinmid1996followingthehospitalizationoftheyoungerchildforpoisoning.InApril1997,thechildrensguardianadlitemfiledapetitionintheChanceryCourtfor_Humphreys_ԀCountyseekingtoterminateparentalrights.Followingabenchtrial,thetrialcourtenteredanorderterminatingparentalrightspursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A)(Supp.1997).Onthisappeal,theparentsassertthatthetrialcourtsdecisionisnotsupportedbyclearandconvincingevidence.Wehavecarefullyevaluatedtherecordandhavedeterminedthatitcontainsclearandconvincingevidencetosupporttheterminationoftheseparentsparentalrights.@ I.  _R.M.H._Ԁisa43yearoldformerresidentofNewYork.ShewasmarriedforatimewhilelivinginNewYorkandhadthreechildren, 7   ׀theyoungestofwhom,_M.S.M._,wasbornonMay29,1991.Sheisofborderlineintelligenceandhasbeendiagnosedwithabipolardisorderwithmajorclinicaldepression.WhilestillinNewYork,_R.M.H._Ԁbeganarelationshipwith_W.H._Ԁwhoisnow37yearsold._W.H._Ԁhasalonghistoryofpsychiatricdisorders,suicideattempts,anddrugabuse.Hehasbeendivorced_ 8   _ԀandhasalsobeenhospitalizedinpsychiatrichospitalsinbothNewYorkandFlorida.Heisoflowaverageintelligenceandhasbeendiagnosedasaparanoidschizophrenic. _R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._ԀarrivedinDavidsonCountyinOctober1994.TheyfirstcametotheattentionoftheDepartmentofHumanServicesinNovember1994followingacomplaintthat_W.H._Ԁhadphysicallyabused_M.S.M._ԀOnDecember19,1994,theDepartmenttookcustodyof_M.S.M._Ԁafterboth_R.M.H._and_W.H._Ԁwere  arrestedforpossessionofillegaldrugs.AftertheDepartmentdiscoveredthat_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁwerelivinginavanandhadnoapparentmeansofsupport,itfiledapetitionintheDavidsonCountyJuvenileCourtfortemporarycustodyof_M.S.M._ Inthemonthsthatfollowed,_R.M.H._Ԁwasreleasedfromjailandwasabletofindsuitablehousing.InApril1995,ajuvenilecourtrefereeenteredanagreedorderfindingthat_M.S.M._ԀshouldremaininthelegalcustodyoftheDepartmentbutthat_R.M.H._Ԁcouldhavephysicalcustody.TheDepartmentagreedtoprovide_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁwithinhomeinterventionservices,daycare,andmentalhealthservices,and_R.M.H._ԀagreednottoleaveDavidsonCounty. NotwithstandingheragreementnottoleaveDavidsonCounty,_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁmovedto_Humphreys_ԀCounty,and_R.M.H._Ԁdiscoveredthatshewaspregnantwith_W.H._schild.T.J.H._ԀwasbornonJuly29,1995_.TheDepartmentsemployeesin_Humphreys_ԀCountybeganprovidingservicestotheparentsinAugust1995,andonAugust31,1995,theDavidsonCountyJuvenileCourtreturnedthelegalcustodyofM.S.M.to_R.M.H._ԀwiththeunderstandingthattheDepartmentwouldcontinuetomonitorthecase. OnMay17,1996,_T.J.H._ԀwasadmittedtothepediatricintensivecareunitatVanderbiltUniversityMedicalCenterbecauseshehadbeenpoisoned._R.M.H._and_W.H._Ԁdeniedculpability,and_R.M.H._Ԁassertedthateitherher14yearoldstepsonor_M.S.M._Ԁwasresponsible.OnMay24,1996,theTennesseeDepartmentofChildrensServicesfiledapetitioninthe_Humphreys_ԀCountyJuvenileCourtseekingtemporarycustodyofT.J.H.becauseshehadbeenpoisonedandbecauseshewasdevelopmentallydelayed._T.J.H._ԀwasreleasedfromthehospitalintothecustodyoftheDepartment. OnJune21,1996,theDepartmentfiledasecondpetitioninthe_Humphreys_CountyJuvenileCourtseekingtemporarycustodyof_M.S.M._ԀTheDepartmentallegedthattheboywasdependentandneglectedbecause(1)hissisterhadbeenpoisoned,(2)Vanderbiltphysicianshaddeterminedthat_R.M.H._Ԁwasnotcompetenttocareforherchild,(3)_R.M.H._Ԁhadtoldcaseworkersthatshefearedthat_W.H._Ԁmightphysicallyharm_M.S.M._,and(4)both_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁwerenottakingtheir_psychotropic_Ԁmedication.OnJune27,1996,thejuvenilecourtawardedlegalcustodyof_M.S.M._ԀtotheDepartmentbutpermitted_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁtoretainphysicalcustody;however,onAugust22,1996,thetrialcourtgavephysicalcustodyof_M.S.M._ԀtotheDepartment._M.S.M._Ԁjoined_T.J.H._Ԁinthesamefosterhome.Duringtheirvisitswiththeirchildren,both_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._continuedtoactaggressivelyanddisruptivelytowardthecaseworkersworkingwiththefamily. OnApril11,1997,thechildrensguardianadlitemfiledapetitiontoterminate_R.M.H._sand_W.H._sparentalrightspursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A).Theguardianadlitemassertedthateachparentsmentalconditionwaslikelytoremainsoimpairedthatitwasunlikelythattheparentswouldbeabletoassumeorresumethecareofand_responsibility_Ԁfortheminorchildreninthenearfuture.FollowingahearingonApril11,1997,thetrialcourtfiledamemorandumopinionandorderonSeptember4,1997,terminating_R.M.H._sand_W.H._sparentalrightswithregardto_M.S.M._Ԁand_T.J.H._ԀbasedonthepersistenceofconditionsgroundinTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A).@ II.  Proceedingsinvolvingtheterminationofparentalrightsimplicatethebiologicalparentsconstitutionallyprotectedinterestsintheirchildren.See_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2d182,186(Tenn.Ct.App.1995).Becauseterminatingparentalrightshasthelegaleffectofreducingbiologicalparentstotheroleofcompletestrangersasfarasthechildrenareconcerned,seeInreAdoptionof_Dearing_Ԁ(_Adcock_Ԁv._Saliba_),572S.W.2d929,932(Tenn.Ct.App.1978),decisionstoterminateparentalrightsarepermissibleonlywhencontinuingtheparentchildrelationshipposesasubstantialthreatofharmtothechildren.See_Petrosky_Ԁv.Keene,898S.W.2d726,728(Tenn.1995);Hawkv.Hawk,855S.W.2d573,581(Tenn.1993). Duetothefundamentalinterestsatstakeinproceedingsofthissort,parentalrightsmaybeterminatedonlyifoneormoreofthestatutorilydefinedcircumstancesrequiringterminationhavebeenprovedbyclearandconvincingevidence,seeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(1)(Supp.1997);Dept.ofHuman_Servs_.v._Defriece_,937S.W.2d954,960(Tenn.Ct.App.1996),andifterminatingparentalrightsisinthechildsbestinterests.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.361113(c)(2)(Supp.1997).Thisheightenedburdenofproofreflectsarecognitionofthesignificantpublicandprivateinterestsatstakeintheseproceedingsandapolicydecisionthatabiologicalparentslegalrelationshipwithhisorherchildshouldnotbeseveredifthereexistsanyseriousorsubstantialdoubtconcerningthecorrectnessofthedecision.See_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2dat18788. ThestatutorygroundonwhichtheterminationinthiscaseisbasedisfoundinTenn.CodeAnn.361113(g)(3)(A).Thissectionprovidesthatparentalrightsmaybeterminatedupontheintroductionofclearandconvincingevidence(1)thatthechildhasbeenremovedfromtheparentshomebyorderofacourtforsixmonths,(2)thattheconditionswhichledtothechildsremoval,orothersimilarconditions,stillpersist,(3)thatthereislittlelikelihoodthattheseconditionswillberemediedatanearlydatesothatthechildcanbereturnedtotheparentinthenearfuture,and(4)thatthecontinuationoftheparentchildrelationshipwillgreatlydecreasethechildschancesofearlyintegrationintoastableandpermanenthome.@ III.  Byfar,thetwomostseriouspersistentconditionsinthiscaseare_R.M.H._sand_W.H._smentalillnessesandtheirinabilitytomanagetheirprescribed_psychotropic_Ԁmedications.Thesemedicationsaretheprimarytreatmentfortheparentsillnesses,andthedosageregimenmustbefollowedstrictlyifthemedicationistobeeffective.Aphysicianwhoevaluated_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._reportedthatbothparentsstatedunequivocallythattheywereunwillingtotaketheirmedicationregularly.TheparentsstatementsarereinforcedbytheireffortstodisrupttheDepartmentseffortstomonitorwhethertheyweretakingtheirmedications. Both_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁhavecontinuedtobehaveaggressivelyduringvisitation,sometimeseventhreateningthecaseworkers.Accordingly,wefindpersuasivetheconsultingpsychologistsconclusionthatanychildin_R.M.H._scarewouldbeatriskforphysicalorpsychologicalharmbecauseshemustuseallherpsychicenergytocareforherselfand,therefore,cannotdiscernormeetachildsneeds.Ofequalimportisthepsychologistsconclusionthat_W.H._Ԁisclearlydelusional,hostile,angry,andwithoutselfcontrol.Hehasattemptedsuicidetwice,isatahighriskforsubstanceabuse,andhasnotlearnedhowtomanagehisanger.Heisclearlyincapableofdealingwiththeregularchallengesofraisingachild. Aphysicianwhoregularlytreats_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁtestifiedconcerning_R.M.H._suseofmarijuanaand_W.H._suseofcocaine.Sheobservedthat_R.M.H._couldhaveagoodprognosisifmedicatedproperlybutnotedthat_R.M.H._Ԁdidnottakehermedicationsregularly.Thephysicianalsotestifiedthat_W.H._sprognosiswaspoorbecausehisdiseaseinvariablycausessteadydeterioration.Shealsotestifiedthathighstresssituationscouldcauseeitherparenttohaveanervousbreakdownandthatpersonswiththesetypesofpsychologicaldisorderswouldhaveadifficult,althoughnotimpossible,timeparentingchildren. Weconcludethattherecordcontainsclearandconvincingevidencethatneither_R.M.H._Ԁnor_W.H._Ԁhaveremediedtheirinabilitytomanagetheirpsychologicaldisorders.Twophysicianstestifiedthatahistoryofpastnoncompliancewithmedicationportendsadiminishedchanceofsuccessinthefuture.Theexperttestimonysupportstheconclusionthat_R.M.H._Ԁand_W.H._Ԁareunabletoprovideastablehomefortheirchildrenandthatcontinuingtheparentalrelationshipcouldexposethechildrentoasubstantialthreatofharm.@ IV.  Both_M.S.M._Ԁand_T.J.H._ԀwerefailingtothriveandweredevelopmentallydelayedwhentheywereremovedfromtheirparentscustodyinJune1996._T.J.H._Ԁhadessentiallyfallenoffthegrowthchart,and_M.S.M._Ԁwasverysmallforhisage._T.J.H._Ԁcouldnotwalkortalk,wasstillonabottle,andshowedlittleinterestinhersurroundings._ԀM.S.M._Ԁwasagitatedandanxious,sufferedfromsleepdisorders,andwantedverylittleinteractionwiththeworld.HehadalsobeenpreliminarilydiagnosedwithAttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder,althoughanotherconsultingpsychiatristbelievedthathissymptomsweremoreconsistentwithPostTraumaticStressSyndromestemmingfromhisanxietyabouthisparents. Bothchildrenscircumstanceshaveimproveddramaticallysincebeingplacedinafosterhome._T.J.H._Ԁisnoweatingonherownandhasgainedweight.Sheiswalkingandtalking,andhercaseworkerdescribesherasahappychild._M.S.M._Ԁhasalsogainedweightandhasmorecolorinhisface.Heinteractswellwithothers,ismoreaffectionate,andisbetterabletocontrolhisbehavior.Hehaslearnedhis _A,B,C_s,andhasalsolearnedhowtocount.Theevidenceshowingthatbothchildrenhavethrivedsincebeingplacedinfostercareprovidesclearandconvincingevidencethatterminating_R.M.H._sand_W.H._sparentalrightswillhasten_M.S.M._sand_T.J.H._searlyintegration_into_Ԁastable,permanenthome.@ V.  Weaffirmtheterminationof_R.M.H._sand_W.H._sparentalrightswithregardto_M.S.M._Ԁand_T.J.H._Ԁandremandthecaseforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired.WealsotaxthecostsofthisappealtotheDepartmentofChildrensServices.       ______________________________       WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGECONCUR:__________________________________HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGEMIDDLESECTION__________________________________WILLIAMB.CAIN,JUDGE