ÿWPC  r`ؾw³ù¬ÓnÌÕÿ§®bÅl5ª”Úè(Ö^7JÎ^µڠ¼©p©°Ùã4Å÷m`…ræ†ÂÙ]L6¹T/ƒÔ1FΘ%IGêÀ°t}AÕÓüC·sÒãR–BY!¯^&UÛ:Yl%W«hÈ2Kï"ùSžg¤T{ £—ÇzÒÝmi"h&J"§\³…ªB{Úlp%)^]$,¼1îr‚k:qP=¬’xã¤È‚'ÎEiü~¡|ªl2o÷h—6¨Æ´[Ä«XQz9I‚ülÅëë™|; &ð­°JyLeóÐgRŠÂ³R)T0|I—×ÔŠ{•P…œñ¸ ¶¹Œ_@Ë^yœŽïÐa¥mÞ q=Æ:åYßl8’¥Ý mz§4÷Æ4xvMÂ]nÞã2",O5ì´\Û‰ÿ°¤Æç­WN·7~ì½ïžÒA産y¸íbÑ0we…a›ÃÇôé#®j¾Î£ˆ:2Òz ,kiŸá F#èövl-4¡4Uö{¹‚†.7Ì¿ÉÜËBö_Y­1å—Uá!ÐQ+Ã0JbZ]¯ç™9¯ìjØC¼”"ª3ÿÇå`ãâ3yÿáùVq„!üh*# LUNW %¥ 0û«UN¦ôw@ü4<P_U:b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b b AQœ Æí 0D³ 0D÷ 0D; ; D/ B® BË D3è ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(Ó3c$¡¡Ñ7€|ìXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼Tþ¼XXÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ(¶ÍY Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular    D [Ó€ìu[%3|x ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ XLBXXXÔÔ€ Ó X XLBÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ XLBX  ÓÔÐ  ÐÌDecember€3,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ3c!ÝÑ7€ŒãXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÒ°ÒÒH°ÒÔ€¼Ôì¼XXÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ýññ›ññÑ  ÑÓÓÔ€¼}r¼¼¼ÔìÔÑ7€Œã»XdðXXdð7Ñò òòòÓ  Óññßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E0±` 8ttxPh°ð  rß›ññIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐAT€NASHVILLEÌÓsÓÌÌó óóóÓÓSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEà À àà  à)à p àCANNON€COUNTYÐ  p ÐDEPARTMENT€OF€CHILDRENððSà  à)Ð 0€  ÐSERVICES,à  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNO.€€01A01„9806„JV„00275Ð @  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPetitioner/Appelleeà À àà  à)à p àHON.€€JOHN€B.€œMELTON›,€IIIÐ `°  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àJUDGEÐ pÀ  Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð €Ð Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌTAMRA€œLEEANN›€œVIAR›,à À àà  à)Ð  ð Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àRespondent/Appellantà À àà  à)Ð À Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìandà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð à0 Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌJOHN€FITZGERALD€GROSS,à  à)Ð P Ð(Present€Whereabouts€Unknown),à  à)Ð ` Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìandà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð 0€ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌTHE€UNKNOWN€FATHER€OFà  à)Ð P!  ÐKATELYN€NICOLE€VIAR,à À àà  à)Ð `"° Ð(Present€Whereabouts€Unknown),à  à)Ð p#À Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àRespondents.à h àà À àà  à)Ð %à  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à h àà À àà  à)Ð °'#! ÐKATELYN€NICOLE€VIARà À àà  à)à p àREVERSEDÐ À($" Ðd/o/b:€€€9/22/95à  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð Ð) %# ÐÌÌJ.€Brooks€Fox,€œTullahoma›,€for€Appellant€Tamra€Leann€Viar.ÌJohn€Knox€Walkup,€Attorney€General,€and€Douglas€Earl€œDimond›,€AssistantÏAttorney€General,€Nashville,€for€the€Appellee€DHS.ÌÌÌò òòòà@¿¿(ÌàÔ‡ •ç ¼¼}rÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ#†¼}r¼  •çó #ԈРP2 -+ ÐÌó óóóà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àINMAN,€Senior€JudgeÐ ˜4è/- ÐÌÓÓÓ  Óà ` àThe€parental€relationship€between€Tamra€Viar€and€her€daughter,€Katelyn,€wasÏterminated€by€the€Juvenile€Court,€the€propriety€of€which€she€presents€for€review.€ÏÔ‡¼Ôì¼¼¼}rÔOur€review€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€Court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÐ ø:H63 Ðrecord€of€the€trial€Court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÏfinding,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.òò€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.,Ð Ü, ÐRule€13óó(d)Ô#†¼}r¼¼¼Ôì¥#ÔÔ‡¼Ôì¼¼¼}rÔ;€òòCampbell€v.€Florida€Steel€Corp.,€óó919€S.W.2d€26€(Tenn.€1996).Ð  X Ðà ` àMs.€Viar€was€born€August€22,€1978.€€She€was€brought€into€State€custody€onÏDecember€10,€1991,€at€age€thirteen,€when€her€parents€surrendered€their€parentalÏrights.€She€was€placed€in€full€guardianship€of€the€Department€of€Human€Services.Ìà ` àWhile€in€State€custody,€Tamra€gave€birth€to€Katelyn€on€September€22,€1995.€ÏA€petition€was€immediately€filed€by€a€DCS€foster€care€counselor€seeking€custodyÏof€Katelyn€as€a€dependent€and€neglected€child,€alleging€that€Ms.€Viar€was€unableÏto€care€for€her.€€The€Juvenile€Court€granted€custody€of€Katelyn€to€DCS€upon€aÏfinding€that€she€was€subjected€to€an€immediate€threat€likely€to€result€in€severe€andÏirreparable€harm.Ìà ` àMs.€Viar€suffered€emotional€problems,€possibly€from€birth.€€From€NovemberÏ1992€until€September€1995,€a€seemingly€chronic€anger€posed€serious€problems€forÏher;€she€was€placed€in€three€foster€homes€but€was€removed€from€each€because€ofÏher€violent€acts.€€She€assaulted€her€third€foster€œmother,›€for€which€she€wasÏcommitted€to€the€Department€of€Mental€Health€and€Mental€Retardation.€€AfterÏthree€months€she€was€returned€to€DCS€custody€and€enrolled€in€œHolston›€Point,€anÏin„patient€treatment€facility.€€Following€treatment,€she€was€enrolled€in€Chance,€aÏLevel€II€residential€treatment€facility.€€She€fled€Chance,€and€later€returned€pregnantÏwith€her€daughter.Ìà ` àThe€counselors€found€a€therapeutic€placement€for€Ms.€Viar€and€KatelynÏthrough€the€American€Family€Institute€in€Chattanooga.€€Ms.€Viar€continued€herÏviolent€behavior,€assaulting€the€foster€mother€on€more€than€one€occasion.€€She€wasÏagain€convicted€of€assault€and€placed€on€probation.Ð Ð8 40 Ðà ` àFinally,€Ms.€Viar€and€Katelyn€were€placed€in€therapeutic€foster€care€in€theÏœReeder›€home,€with€a€plan€of€care.€€Her€behavior€was€intermittently€good€and€bad.€ÏMedications€„€œDepakote›€and€œNavane›€„€had€been€prescribed€for€her€to€control€herÏviolence.€€Although€Ms.€Viar€was€admittedly€aware€of€the€need€to€take€theseÏmedications,€she€frequently€refused€to€do€so;€although€she€agreed€that€she€neededÏmental€health€counseling,€she€broke€off€a€treatment€schedule€with€four€counselors,Ïone€of€whom,€Dr.€Hood,€described€her€as€ð ðmanipulative,€dishonest€and€rationalizedÏall€her€actions€so€as€to€perceive€herself€as€blameless.ððÌà ` àOn€April€29,€1997,€the€DCS€filed€a€petition€against€Tamra,€John€F.€GrossÏand€the€unknown€father€of€Katelyn€to€terminate€parental€rights.€€Gross€was€namedÏas€Katelynððs€father€by€Tamra,€but€his€whereabouts€have€never€been€discovered.Ìà ` àThe€petition€alleged€that€Tamra€abandoned€her€child,€citing€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„¼113(g)(3)(A)€òòet€seq.,€óóand€that€the€conditions€which€led€to€the€removal€of€KatelynÐ À Ðfrom€her€mother€would€persist,€subjecting€the€child€to€further€abuse€and€eventuallyÏdiminishing€the€opportunity€to€be€integrated€into€a€permanent€home.Ìà ` àTamra€filed€a€response€and€counter„petition,€and€denied€that€she€abandonedÏher€child.€€She€alleged€that€she€was€now€of€legal€age,€employed€full€time€at€Wal„¼Mart,€and€well€able€to€rear€her€child,€whose€custody€she€sought.Ìà ` àA€plenary€trial€resulted€in€a€judgment€terminating€the€parental€rights€ofÏTamra,€upon€a€finding€that€she€had€abandoned€her€child€within€the€purview€ofÏT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€in€that€the€child€had€been€removed€from€her€custodyÏfor€longer€than€six€months€with€the€conditions€leading€to€the€removal€stillÏpersisting.€€The€Court€found€that€the€ññpññññPññlan€of€ññcññññCññare€was€not€followed€by€›Tamra,€thatÏshe€unilaterally€terminated€her€counseling,€and€that€Katelyn€would€continue€to€beÏneglected€and€abused.Ð Ð8 40 Ðà ` àOn€appeal,€Tamra€argues€that€all€of€the€evidence€presented€by€DCS€focusedÏon€a€violation€of€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(2),€œññi.e.,€ññthat›€she€had€not€complied€with€theÏstatement€of€responsibilities€in€the€plan€of€care,€but€that€the€Petition€to€TerminateÏParental€Rights€does€not€allege€such€violation.€€Rather,€Tamra€argues€the€petitionÏalleged€only€one€ground,€that€being€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A),€which€she€insistsÏis€a€different€and€distinct€grounds€for€termination,€thereby€activating€Rule€39(a)(6)Ïof€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Juvenile€Procedure€which€requires€the€petition€to€setÏforth€facts€which€are€sufficient€to€warrant€a€determination€that€one€or€more€of€theÏgrounds€for€terminating€parental€rights€exist€as€provided€in€[T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„¼113(g)(2)].Ìà ` àT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)€provides€that€termination€may€be€based€on€theÏground€that€the€child€has€been€removed€from€the€home€of€the€parent€or€guardianÏby€order€of€a€Court€for€a€period€of€six€months€andÌÓÓà8 ` à(I)€Ô#†¼-H¼¼¼ÄØ•#ÔThe€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððs€removal€or€other€conditionsÐ ì < Ðwhich€in€all€reasonable€probability€would€cause€the€child€to€beÏsubjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglect€and€which,€therefore,€prevent€theÏchildððs€return€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)€still€persist;Ð ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` à(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€atÏan€early€date€so€that€the€child€can€be€returned€to€the€parent(s)€orÏguardian(s)€in€the€near€future;€andÐ ` 8"` 8" Ðà8 ` à(iii)€The€continuation€of€the€parent€or€guardian€and€child€relationshipÏgreatly€diminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€early€integration€into€a€stableÏand€permanent€home.Ð ` 8"` 8" ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€Juvenile€Court€found€that€all€of€the€statutory€conditions€existed€andÏordered€termination,€as€stated.Ìà ` àT.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(2)€provides€that€termination€of€parental€rights€may€beÏbased€on€the€ground€that€there€has€been€substantial€noncompliance€by€the€parentÏwith€the€statement€of€responsibilities€in€a€plan€of€care,€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€37„2„¼â â401€òòet€seq.óó€€This€latter€statute€provides€for€foster€care,€and€if€the€parent€does€notÐ R7¢2/ Ðsubstantially€comply€with€the€plan€of€care,€the€Court€is€authorized€to€terminate€theÏrelationship.Ìâ âà ` àThe€testimony€fairly€detailed€most€of€Tamraððs€life€from€the€time€she€wasÏthirteen€years€old€when€her€parents€consented€to€the€termination€of€their€parentalÏrights€to€the€time€of€trial€of€this€case€on€December€2,€1997.€€Issues€of€her€abidingÏanger€accompanied€by€violence,€assaults€on€foster€parents,€instability,€neglect€ofÏKatelyn,€lack€of€ability€to€parent,€irresponsibility,€refusal€to€cooperate,€and€the€likeÏwere€graphically€described€by€various€witnesses.€€All€in€all,€a€gloomy€picture€ofÏTamra€appeared,€with€little€or€no€hope€that€Katelynððs€future€would€be€any€better.Ìà ` àTamra€testified€that€she€now€resides€in€Illinois€so€ð ðI€could€get€my€feet€on€theÏground;ðð€that€she€completed€her€GED;€that€she€was€learning€nonmedical€ways€toÏcontrol€her€temper;€that€her€distrust€of€the€State€continues;€that€she€works€at€œWal„¼Marññtññññkññ,›€and€is€able€to€care€for€Katelyn€in€a€proper€way.Ìà ` àThere€was€no€proof€of€abuse€or€neglect.€€The€case€for€the€petitioner€wasÏfocused,€as€the€appellant€alleges,€almost€entirely€on€the€issue€of€whether€Tamra€hadÏcomplied€with€the€plan€of€care.Ìà ` àòòDr.€Lynn€Robertsonóó€is€a€psychologist.€€He€first€saw€Tamra€in€February€1997Ð °&"  Ðand€thereafter€on€six€occasions,€focusing€on€her€parenting€skills,€discipline,€andÏcommunications.€€He€described€her€as€having€grandiose€plans€and€ideas.Ìà ` àòòJoel€Playeróó€is€employed€by€œthe€›Tennessee€Department€of€Childrenððs€Services.€Ð -`(& ÐHe€was€Tamraððs€case€worker€from€November€1992€until€November€1996,€andÏKatelynððs€case€worker€from€birth€until€November€1996.€€He€testified€to€TamraððsÏearly€years€when€she€first€came€into€foster€care€at€age€14,€her€disruptive€nature,€herÏpregnancy€and€placement€in€the€Florence€œCrittenden›€Home€in€Knoxville,€œñ ñand€ñ ñher›Ïâ ârefusal€to€accept€personal€responsibility.Ð °730 Ðà ` àòòTrisha€Hartmanóó€is€employed€as€a€counselor€with€the€American€FamilyÐ ° Ðâ âInstitute€in€Chattanooga,€which€provided€therapeutic€foster€care€for€Tamra.€SheÏtestified€that€Tamra,€then€17,€had€numerous€problems€with€the€personal€care€ofÏKatelyn,€but€that€Tamra€is€an€ð ðabsolutely€intelligent€person.ððÌà ` àòòKimberly€œReeder›óó€was€the€foster€parent€of€Tamra€for€about€two€years,€engagedÐ 0 € Ðby€the€American€Family€Institute.€€Katelyn€was€three€months€old;€Tamra€was€17.€ÏShe€testified€that€Tamra€did€not€always€see€to€the€needs€of€her€child,€did€not€alwaysÏfeed€her€when€hungry,€and€would€become€angry€when€reproached€about€suchÏneglect.€€Tamra€refused€to€cook,€and€refused€to€learn€to€cook,€stating€that€there€wasÏa€ð ðMcDonaldððs€on€every€cornerðð€where€Katelyn€[3€months€old]€could€eat.€€TamraÏrefused€to€cooperate,€and€on€occasion€would€ð ðblow€upðð€when€asked€to€feed€andÏdiaper€her€baby.Ìà ` àòòJane€Brockóó€is€employed€by€Childrenððs€Services€as€a€crisis€interventionÐ 0€ Ðworker.€€She€has€known€Tamra€since€July€1989,€and€was€privy€to€the€plan€of€careÏtailored€for€Tamra,€whom€she€described€as€very€intelligent.€€Tamraððs€lifestyle€wasÏunstable;€she€could€not€be€located€for€two€weeks€when€she€called,€saying€that€sheÏhad€moved€to€Illinois.€€She€returned€to€the€Chattanooga€area€and€obtainedÏemployment€at€Wal„Mart,€in€the€Spring€of€1997,€working€40€hours€weekly.€€She€hadÏa€sometime€live„in€boyfriend€whose€treatment€of€Katelyn€was€borderline€abusive.€ÏWhen€asked€about€this,€Tamra€became€defensive€with€the€rejoinder€that€ð ðI€have€aÏright€to€have€a€good€time.ðð€€She€was€neglectful€of€her€daughter,€sometimes€uncaring,Ïand€when€confronted€about€her€actions,€Tamra€would€be€defensive,€always€blamingÏthe€State€for€her€defensiveness.€€On€one€occasion,€Ms.€Brock€visited€Tamra€whenÏKatelyn€was€about€18€months€old.€€She€was€playing€in€a€cat€box,€with€feces,€andÏâ âTamra€was€unconcerned.Ð °730 Ðà ` àòòGlen€Brownóó€is€a€probation€officer€with€the€Hamilton€County€government.€Ð ° Ðâ âHis€testimony€was€not€revealing.Ìà ` àòòLynn€Lawrenceóó€is€a€clinical€home€supervisor€at€American€Family€Institute.€Ð ð@ ÐHe€was€Tamraððs€initial€case€worker€at€the€Institute,€beginning€in€September€1995.€ÏHe€described€Tamra€as€hot„headed,€with€decreasing€episodes€which€he€attributed€toÏmaturity.€€He€did€not€believe€that€her€outbursts€of€temper€were€an€impediment€to€herÏhaving€custody€of€Katelyn.Ìà ` àòòKenneth€Hazelóó€is€a€case€aide€with€the€American€Family€Institute.€€He€sawÐ à ÐTamra€on€a€regular€basis.€€He€thought€Tamra€ð ðdid€a€good€job€trying€to€be€a€motherÏto€her€daughter.ððÌà ` àòòLoretta€œQuarcoo›óó€is€the€human€resources€manager€for€the€Institute,€of€whichÐ ð@ Ðshe€is€one€of€the€founders.€€She€followed€Tamraððs€case€closely.€€She€said€thatÏKatelyn€was€very€responsive€to€Tamra,€who€was€nurturing€and€caring€towards€herÏdaughter.€€She€thought€that€Tamra€followed€the€plan€of€care€in€a€substantial€way.Ìà ` àòòDebbie€Holderóó€is€the€personnel€manager€of€Wal„Mart.€€She€testified€thatÐ p"À ÐTamra€was€employed€in€April€1997,€and€remained€on€the€job€in€Illinois.€€TheÏrecords€reflect€that€Tamra€is€a€good€cashier,€making€minimum€wage,€with€medicalÏcoverage.Ìà ` àòòAnn€œRichey›óó€is€a€registered€school€nurse,€employed€at€the€Teen€LearningÐ ð*@&$ ÐCenter€in€Chattanooga.€€She€has€known€Tamra€since€1995,€and€saw€her,€withÏKatelyn,€on€a€daily€basis€during€the€1995„96€school€year.€€She€was€impressed€withÏthe€way€Tamra€cared€for€her€child,€always€prompt€for€inoculations€and€other€similarÏhealth€precautions.€€She€believed€that€Tamra€ð ðdefinitely€could€take€on€the€nurturingÏside€toward€her€baby.ððÌà ` àòòRita€œWaller›óó€is€employed€by€Hamilton€County€as€a€social€worker€for€theÐ °730 Ðpregnancy€program.€€She€met€Tamra€in€the€1996€school€year.€€She€believed€thatÐ Ð9 52 ÐTamraððs€temper€problems€were€derived€from€the€fact€that€she€had€no€control€of€what€Ïhad€happened€to€her.€€She€found€Tamra€ð ðto€be€a€very€good€œmomñ ñ€.€.€.€ñ ññ ñ,ðð€ð ðñ ñloving›€and€kindÏtowards€that€baby.ððÌà ` àòòCarolyn€Thomasóó€is€Tamraððs€mother.€€She€is€a€secretary€at€the€University€ofÐ  ` ÐIllinois€in€Springfield,€married€to€Edward€Thomas,€a€mechanic.€€Their€combinedÏincome€is€about€$90,000.00€yearly.€Tamra€lives€with€them.€€She€extolled€theÏrelationship€between€her€daughter€and€granddaughter.Ìà ` àòòDale€Petersonóó€is€the€guardian€ad€litem€for€Katelyn.€€He€testified€that€TamraÐ à Ðhad€a€mature€attitude€towards€her€mixed„race€child€(African„American€andÏCaucasian),€and€filed€his€report€in€evidence.Ìà ` àññòòññThe€ññòòññReport€of€the€Guardian€Ad€œLitemñ ñ.ñ ññ ñ:ñ ññ ñ€ñ ñ›€óóHis€comments€are€noteworthy,€and€heÐ ð@ Ðbelieves€Tamraððs€approach€to€the€ancestry€of€her€child€is€admirable€„€that€the€issueÏshould€simply€be€confronted€and€help€Katelyn€to€understand€that€she€should€beÏproud€of€her€ancestry.Ìà ` àParents€have€a€fundamental€liberty€interest€in€the€care€and€custody€of€theirÏchildren€under€both€the€United€States€and€the€Tennessee€Constitutions.€€òòœNash›„Ð $à МPutnam›€v.€œMcCloud›,óó€921€S.W.2d€170€(Tenn.€1996)€(quoting€òòStanley€v.€Illinois,óó€405Ð °&"  ÐU.S.€645,€92€S.€Ct.€1208,€31€L.€Ed.€œ2d›€551€(1972);€òòHawk€v.€Hawk,óó€855€S.W.2d€573Ð Ð( $" Ð(Tenn.€œ1993ññ)ññ.›€€òòIn€Re€Adoption€of€Female€Child€(Bond€v.€œMcKentie›),€óó896€S.W.2dÐ ð*@&$ Ð546,€547€(Tenn.€1995);€òòœNale›€v.€Robertson,€óó871€S.W.2d€674,€678€(Tenn.€1994).€Ð -`(& ÐAccordingly,€Tenn.€Const.€art.€I,€ðð€3€and€U.S.€Const.€amend.€XIV€afford€parentsÏfaced€with€the€possibility€of€losing€their€children€with€important€due€process€rights.€ÏSpecifically,€these€parents€are€entitled€to€a€hearing€on€adequate€notice.€€òòœStanelyññ›ññññ€v.Ð p3À., ÐIllinois,€óóññññ405€U.S.ññññòòññ›€óóat€649,€and€legal€representation€when€the€circumstances€requireÐ 5à0. Ðit.€€òòœLassiter›€v.€Department€of€Social€œServs›.,€óó452€U.S.€18,€31„32,€101€œS.Ct›.€2153,Ð °730 Ð2162€(1981);€òòState€ex€rel.€œT.H.›€v.€Min.,óó€802€S.W.2d€625,€626€(Tenn.€App.€1990).Ð Ð9 52 Ðà ` àThe€Stateððs€interest€in€protecting€children€must€be€tempered€by€a€parentððsÏconstitutionally€protected€privacy€interests€in€raising€his€or€her€children€free€fromÏunwarranted€governmental€interference.€€Thus,€a€parentððs€rights€may€be€terminatedÏonly€when€the€continuation€of€the€relationship€between€the€parent€and€the€childÏposes€a€substantial€threat€of€harm€to€the€child.€€òòœPetrosky›€v.€œKeene›,€óó898€S.W.2d€726,Ð 0 € Ð728€(Tenn.€1995);€òòœOððDaniel›€v.€œMessler›,€óó905€S.W.2d€182,€186€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€Ð P   ÐIn€order€to€warrant€termination€of€their€rights,€a€parentððs€conduct€must€be€of€the€sortÏproscribed€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„2„403(a)(2)€(1991);€òòState€v.€œHines›,€óóApp.€No.Ð à Ð88„54„II,€slip.€op.€at€8„9€(Tenn.€App.,€July€22,€1988),€òòperm.€œapp›.€denied€óó(Tenn.€OctÐ ° Ð17,€1988).Ìà ` àBecause€of€the€importance€of€the€interests€at€stake€in€a€terminationÏproceeding,€due€process€also€requires€the€state€to€support€its€petition€by€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence.€€òòœSantosky›€v.€œKramer›,€óó455€U.S.€745,€747„48,€102€œS.Ct›.€1388,Ð 0€ Ð1391„92€(1982);€òòState€v.€Smith,€óó785€S.W.2d€336,€339€(Tenn.€1990).€€ThisÐ P   Ðheightened€standard€instructs€the€fact„finder€concerning€the€degree€of€confidenceÏthat€it€must€have€in€its€conclusion€and€requires€that€there€be€no€serious€doubtÏconcerning€the€correctness€of€the€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€evidence.€ÏòòœOððDaniel›€v.€Messier,€óó905€S.W.2d€€at€187„88.Ð Ð( $" Ðà ` àThere€is€little€evidence€that€Tamra€abandoned€Katelyn€within€the€purview€ofÏTennessee€law,€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„102,€òòet€seq.,óó€because€the€trial€court€took€judicialÐ -`(& Ðnotice€of€the€fact€that€Tamra€regularly€visited€and€supported€her€child,€and€there€wasÏno€evidence€whatever€of€abuse€or€neglect.€€We€think€the€evidence€falls€far€short€ofÏthe€clear€and€convincing€standard€of€showing€that€Tamra€did€not€substantiallyÏconform€to€the€plan€of€care.€€It€follows€that€the€judgment€is€not€supported€by€aÏâ âpreponderance€of€all€the€evidence.€€The€judgment€is€accordingly€reversed,€withÐ °730 Ðcustody€of€Katelyn€œbeing€awarded€to€Tamra€pursuant€to€her€counterclaim.€€Costs€areÏassessed€to€the€petitioner.Ìâ âÓÓÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€JudgeÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€Judge›