ÿWPCŒ* …# VUNa %¯ 0 Dµw@ù 0`9 b™ U>¡ 4ß ó 0ˆ 0DŠ Î 0JÖ UP 0Tp 0^Ä 0h" 0rŠ 0|ü 0†x 0þ 1uŽU, 0d/ D3“ BÆ 0@ãU,#U >OƒU6B)FDCo AM²U*ÿ;)?dK£tî4bv~–!vÓ# AOç(Æ6) 0Dü) D/@* Bo*˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(óf$¡¡Ò€°ÒÒÀ°Ò š›DœDžŸD ¡Ó€«¬(83‚ª$©©Ý ƒóf!ÝÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÝ  Ý- ù-<èÀ( 9Z &Courier RegularGav Ôô3|x¬(8(3ß«$¤¤Ý ƒóf!ÝÒ€°ÒÒÀ°ÒÝ  Ýà Ø àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô&@FÐZ ‹8CaslonOpnface BT Regular2" 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!#$% ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ,,,,'ÿÿdxd d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman yÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ)ÝÝ  ÝÌÌÌ< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d66667Border 1dd€-7Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial 1Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÔ€9ÔÔ€9ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€9XÔÌÌAprilÏ22,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó 5Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€5ÔÔ€5ôÔTenn.€Code.€Ann.€37„1„102(b)(10)€(Supp.€1995)€provides:€Ï"Dependent€and€neglected€child"€means€a€child:Ìà à(A)€Who€is€without€a€parent,€guardian€or€legal€custodian;Ìà à(B)€€Whose€parent,€guardian€or€person€with€whom€the€child€lives,€byÏreason€of€cruelty,€mental€incapacity,€immorality€or€depravity€is€unfit€toÏproperly€care€for€such€child;Ìà à(C)€€Who€is€under€unlawful€or€improper€care,€supervision,€custodyÏor€restraint€by€any€person,€corporation,€agency,€association,Ïinstitution,€society€or€other€organization€or€who€is€unlawfully€kept€outÏof€school;Ìà à(D)€€Whose€parent,€guardian€or€custodian€neglects€or€refuses€toÏprovide€necessary€medical,€surgical,€institutional€or€hospital€care€forÏsuch€child;Ìà à(E)€€Who,€because€of€lack€of€proper€supervision,€is€found€in€anyÏplace€the€existence€of€which€is€in€violation€of€law;Ìà à(F)€€Who€is€in€such€condition€of€want€or€suffering€or€is€under€suchÏimproper€guardianship€or€control€as€to€injure€or€endanger€the€morals€orÏhealth€of€himself€or€others;Ô€3ÔÌÔ€5Ôà à(G)€€Who€is€suffering€from€or€has€sustained€a€wound,€injury,Ïdisability,€or€physical€or€mental€condition€caused€by€brutality,€abuse€orÏneglect;Ìà à(H)€€Who€has€been€in€the€care€and€control€of€an€agency€or€personÏwho€is€not€related€to€such€child€by€blood€or€marriage€for€a€continuousÏperiod€of€eighteen€(18)€months€or€longer€in€the€absence€of€a€court€orderÏand€such€person€or€agency€has€not€initiated€judicial€proceedings€seekingÏeither€legal€custody€or€adoption€of€the€child;€orÌà à(I)€€Who€is€or€has€been€allowed,€encouraged€or€permitted€to€engageÏin€prostitution€or€obscene€or€pornographic€photographing,€filming,Ïposing,€or€similar€activity€and€whose€parent,€guardian€or€other€custodianÏneglects€or€refuses€to€protect€such€child€from€further€such€activity.Ì€Ì AÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€5ÔThe€juvenile€court€at€that€hearing€terminated€theÏfather's€parental€rights,€from€which€there€was€no€appeal.€€Ì jÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€5ÔÔ€5ôÔThis€code€section€was€amended,€effective€January1,€1996.€€òòSeeóóÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€37„1„147€and€36„1„113€(Supp.€1995).Ì *Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€5ÔÔ€5ôÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„102(b)(19)(B)€(Supp.€1995)€states:ÌÌà8 à€€€(19)€"Severe€child€abuse"€means:ÌÌà8 à€€€€€€€€.€.€.ÌÌà8 à€€€€€€€€(B)€Specific€brutality,€abuse€or€neglect€towards€aÏchild€which€in€the€opinion€of€qualified€experts€has€caused€orÏwill€reasonably€be€expected€to€produce€severe€psychosis,Ïsevere€neurotic€disorder,€severe€depression,€severeÏdevelopmental€delay€or€retardation,€or€severe€impairment€ofÏthe€child's€ability€to€function€adequately€in€the€child'sÏenvironment,€and€the€knowing€failure€to€protect€a€child€fromÏsuch€conduct.Ìà8 àÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA:Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA:Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€'ÔÓ&€22X„d&ÓÑ#€22Xd#ÑÔ€3ÔÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÝ  ÝÖ€4ÖÑ , ÑÑ\R AØ'\ћрÑÑ7€ … XXdÈdÈ7ÑÔ€5ÔÓ` °ƒX.h—XÓÑ  Ñœà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àApril€22,€1996Ì›à àà àà àà àà àà àà àœòòà àFOR›€PUBLICATIONóóÌÌÙ€€ÙœßL€8:7;+'h|à` à. `€€Lß›à@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OFÏTENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌJON€SAXTON€NASH„PUTNAM€ANDà à(ÌSANDRA€ELAINE€NASH„PUTNAM,à à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àPlaintiffs„Appellees,à à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€DavidsonÏCircuitÌà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€Hon.ÏMuriel€Robinson,Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à(€€JudgeÌÒ € ÒÒ h Òà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€S.€Ct.ÏNo.€01S01„9504„CV„00047Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌLOU€ANNE€McCLOUD,à àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àDefendant„Appellant.à à(ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Petitioners„Appelleesóó:à àà àòòForÏDefendant„Appellantóó:ÌÌRobert€D.€Tukeà àà àà àà àà àGregoryÏD.€SmithÌTuke,€Yopp€&€Sweeneyà àà àà àWillis€&ÏKnightÌNashvilleà àà àà àà àà àà àNashvilleÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòò òÔ€5„ÔÔ€ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€5ÔÔ€5XÔóóó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌJUDGMENT€OF€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌAFFIRMED;€CASE€REMANDED€TOÌCIRCUIT€COURT.à àà àà àà àà àà àREID,€J.ÇÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÓ` °‚X.h—XÓÓÓà àThis€case€presents€an€appeal€from€the€decision€ofÏthe€Court€of€Appeals€affirming€a€judgment€terminating€theÏparental€rights€of€the€respondent„mother€and€decreeing€theÏadoption€of€the€child€by€the€petitioner„foster€parents.€€TheÏrecord€supports€that€judgment.ÌÌà àDebra€McCloud€was€born€on€December22,€1988.€€TwoÏmonths€later,€in€February€1989,€she€became€a€ward€of€theÏstate,€subject€to€the€management€of€its€Department€of€HumanÏServices€(DHS)€and€the€pronouncements€of€its€courts.€€SinceÏthe€State€became€her€òòparensóó€òòpatriaeóó,€Debra€has€been€the€œvictim›Ïof€œinconsistent›€counsel€provided€by€State„employed€experts,Ïinconsistent€positions€by€DHS€with€regard€to€her€custody,€andÏconflicting€decisions€by€a€juvenile€court€referee,€a€specialÏjudge€of€the€juvenile€court,€the€circuit€court€on€twoÏhearings,€and€two€appeals€to€the€Court€of€Appeals.€€InÏaddition,€she€was€the€victim€in€two€criminal€courtÏproceedings.€€This€Court,€seven€years€later,€finally€adjudgesÏher€legal€fate.ÌÌà àThe€precipitating€circumstances€were€acts€of€abuseÍand€neglect€by€her€parents.€€Evidence€of€physical€abuse,€aÏscratch€and€some€bruises,€first€appeared€on€the€day€thatÏDebra's€mother,€the€appellant€Lou€Anne€McCloud,€returned€toÏwork.€€Debra€was€six€weeks€old.€€Her€father,€Kenneth€McCloud,Ïwho€was€alone€with€the€child€before€Ms.McCloud€arrived€home,Ïexplained€that€he€had€dropped€the€baby.€€During€the€next€week,ÏMs.McCloud€observed€additional€bruises,€a€swollen€lip,€aÏblack€eye,€and€abrasions€in€the€child's€vaginal€area.€€TheÏfather€avowed€that€all€these€conditions€were€the€result€ofÏaccidents€which€occurred€while€he€was€keeping€the€child.€ÏMs.McCloud's€mother€suggested€to€her€daughter€that€theÏinjuries€were€not€the€results€of€accidents.€€On€February16,Ï1989,€Debra's€babysitter€called€Ms.McCloud€and€told€her€thatÏDebra€had€a€severe€laceration€inside€her€mouth€and€a€highÏfever.€€Debra€was€taken€to€a€hospital,€where€an€examinationÏrevealed€bruises€and€lacerations€on€her€head,€face,€andÏstomach,€vaginal€bleeding€and€a€bite€mark€on€the€child'sÏbreast.€€ÌÌà àQuestioning€by€police€officers€and€DHS€personnelÏproduced€an€admission€by€the€father€that€he€had€struck€theÍchild€because€she€would€not€be€quiet.€€The€father€was€arrestedÏat€the€hospital,€Ms.McCloud€was€arrested€later.€€The€fatherÏwas€charged€with€aggravated€assault€and€assault€and€battery,Ïand€Ms.McCloud€was€charged€with€aggravated€assault€forÏfailing€to€protect€her€child€from€abuse€by€the€father.ÌÌà àUpon€petition€filed€on€February16,€1989€in€theÏjuvenile€court€by€DHS€asking€that€the€child€be€declaredÏœdependent›€and€œneglected,›× ƒ; ××  ×€temporary€custody€was€awarded€to€DHS,Íand€on€February21,€1989,€the€child€was€placed€with€Mr.€andÏMrs.€Nash„Putnam,€the€appellees,€as€foster€parents.€€ÌÌà àDebra€was€the€first€child€kept€by€the€Nash„PutnamsÏpursuant€to€an€agreement€with€DHS€that€children€would€not€beÏplaced€with€them€for€extended€periods€of€time€and€they€wouldÏnot€be€permitted€to€adopt€a€child€placed€with€them€except€withÏthe€approval€of€DHS.€€However,€by€November€1989,€the€Nash„Putnams€had€commenced€efforts€to€adopt€Debra,€which€includedÏdiscussions€with€Ms.McCloud€and€the€DHS€case€worker.€€TheÏrelationship€between€the€foster€parents€and€DHS€soon€becameÏstrained€because€DHS€resisted€the€Nash„Putnams'€efforts€toÏhave€the€mother's€parental€rights€terminated.ÌÌà àThe€goal€of€the€original€foster€care€plan€preparedÏby€DHS€was€that€Debra€and€her€mother,€who€had€separated€fromÏthe€father,€be€reunited€by€December€1989.€€As€a€part€of€thatÍplan,€Ms.McCloud€began€attending€classes€and€counselingÏsessions€designed€to€improve€her€parenting€skills€and€herÏability€to€tolerate€stress.€€She€visited€with€Debra€to€theÏextent€allowed€by€the€custody€order.ÌÌà àIn€December€1989,€another€child€was€born€to€theÏMcClouds;€in€June€1990,€they€divorced;€in€July€1990,ÏMs.McCloud€was€convicted€on€three€counts€of€aggravatedÏassault€and€received€a€four€year€sentence,€all€of€which,Ïexcept€for€45€days,€was€suspended;€and€the€father€was€orderedÏto€serve€one€year€of€an€eight„year€sentence€on€six€convictionsÏof€aggravated€assault€and€one€conviction€of€assault€andÏbattery.€€Visitation€between€Debra€and€her€mother€continuedÏwhile€Ms.McCloud€was€incarcerated.€€€€ÌÌà àDHS€reports€prepared€in€August€and€October€1990,Ïsupported€the€return€of€custody€to€Ms.McCloud€by€SeptemberÏ1991;€this€plan€was€approved€by€the€juvenile€court€andÏsubsequently€ratified€by€a€DHS€multi„disciplinary€team.€ÏDuring€this€time,€the€Nash„Putnams€strongly€criticized€DHS'sÏfoster€care€program€on€a€local€television€show.€€They€alsoÍdisclosed€to€the€DHS€case€worker€that€they€planned€toÏintervene€in€the€case€and€that€"Missy,"€the€name€they€hadÏgiven€Debra,€"will€be€practically€grown€by€the€time€thisÏmatter€is€settled."€€They€referred€to€plans€to€appear€onÏnational€television€shows€on€which€DHS€"would€look€lessÏfoolish€if€they€were€planning€to€terminate"€Ms.McCloud'sÏparental€rights.€€ÌÌà àOn€April9,€1991,€Ms.McCloud€moved€the€juvenileÏcourt€for€a€hearing€on€the€issue€of€custody.€€The€Nash„Putnams,€in€a€motion€to€intervene,€petitioned€the€juvenileÏcourt€to€terminate€Ms.McCloud's€visits€with€the€child.€€œAt›Ïthe€hearing,€a€juvenile€court€referee€increased€rather€thanÏterminated€the€mother's€visitation€privileges.€€On€May6,Ï1991,€the€guardian€ad€litem€appealed€the€decision€to€theÏjuvenile€court€judge,€who€recused€himself€and€appointed€aÏspecial€judge.€€Eight€months€later,€on€January6,€1992,€theÏspecial€judge€concluded€the€hearing€and€rendered€a€decision.ÌÌà àOn€the€appeal€to€the€juvenile€judge,€heard€by€theÏspecial€judge,€DHS€reversed€its€two„and„one„half„year'sÍsupport€of€Ms.McCloud's€right€to€retain€her€parental€rightsÏand,€instead,€supported€the€foster€parents'€position€thatÏMs.McCloud's€visits€should€be€terminated.€€DHS€apparentlyÏrelied€upon€the€views€of€the€third€clinical€psychologist,€whoÏwas€retained€to€evaluate€Debra's€condition€and€circumstancesÏafter€DHS€had€discharged€two€clinical€psychologists€previouslyÏretained€for€that€purpose.€€However,€the€special€judge€deniedÏthe€request€that€the€mother's€visitations€be€terminated€andÏset€July8,€1992€as€the€date€for€a€further€hearing€on€theÏissue€of€custody.× ƒ< ××  ×€€œThis€judgment€determining€visitation›€wasÏappealed€to€the€circuit€court,€which€accepted€jurisdiction.€ÏDuring€the€hearing€of€the€appeal€in€the€circuit€court,€theÏNash„Putnams€filed,€as€an€original€suit€in€the€circuit€court,Ïa€petition€for€the€adoption€of€Debra.€€ÌÌà àThe€decision€of€the€circuit€court€on€the€appeal€fromÏjuvenile€court€was€appealed€to€the€Court€of€Appeals.€€ÌThose€proceedings€were€described€by€JudgeKoch,€who€wrote€forÏthe€Court€of€Appeals,€as€follows:€€ÌÌà à"The€special€juvenile€judge€filed€an€order€onÏJanuary€6,€1992€that€was€highly€critical€of€the€department'sÏhandling€of€the€case.€€The€special€judge€found:€(l)€that€theÏdepartment€had€failed€to€make€reasonable€efforts€to€reuniteÏMs.McCloud€and€her€daughter;€(2)€that€the€department€hadÏbetrayed€Ms.McCloud€by€leading€her€to€believe€that€herÏdaughter€would€be€returned€to€her€if€she€followed€through€withÏthe€foster€care€plan;€(3)€that€Ms.€McCloud€had€remedied€theÏconditions€that€had€required€the€removal€of€her€daughter€inÏFebruary€1989;€and€(4)€that€it€was€in€the€child's€bestÏinterests€to€increase€visitation€in€an€effort€to€reuniteÏMs.McCloud€and€her€daughter€on€or€before€July8,€1992.€€TheÏspecial€judge€also€set€a€hearing€on€July8,€1992€'to€determineÏif€custody€will€be€transferred€from€DHS€to€Lou€Ann€McCloud,Ïand€the€visitation€rights,€if€any,€of€the€foster€parents.'ÌÌ€€€€€à à"The€special€juvenile€judge€was€never€able€toÏconduct€the€July8,€1992€hearing€because€the€Nash„PutnamsÏpursued€an€appeal€to€the€circuit€court.€€NotwithstandingÏMs.McCloud's€objections€to€the€prematurity€of€the€appeal€andÍthe€court's€jurisdiction,€the€circuit€court€decided€toÏentertain€the€appeal,€to€stay€the€juvenile€court€proceedings,Ïand€to€set€a€hearing€for€May21,€l992.ÌÌ€€€€€à à"On€the€day€of€the€hearing,€the€Nash„Putnams€filed€aÏpetition€in€the€circuit€court€to€terminate€Ms.McCloud'sÏparental€rights€and€to€adopt€the€child.€€Rather€thanÏsupporting€the€Nash„Putnams€as€it€had€in€the€proceeding€beforeÏthe€special€juvenile€judge,€the€department€changed€itsÏposition€again€and€recommended€that€the€child€be€returned€toÏMs.McCloud€in€a€graduated€manner.ÌÌ€€€€€à à"Following€six€days€of€hearings,€the€circuit€courtÏentered€an€order€on€June18,€1992,€finding€(l)€that€the€childÏwas€dependent€and€neglected;€(2)€that€the€child€was€a€specialÏneeds€child;€(3)€that€the€child€had€bonded€to€the€Nash„Putnams;€(4)€that€the€Nash„Putnams€had€more€than€sufficientlyÏmet€the€child's€needs€during€the€three€years€she€had€been€inÏtheir€care;€and€(5)€that€visitation€and€placement€with€Ms.ÏMcCloud€would€not€be€in€the€child's€best€interests.€ÏAccordingly,€the€circuit€court€ordered€the€immediateÍtermination€of€Ms.McCloud's€visitation€rights€and€remandedÏthe€case€to€the€juvenile€court€with€directions€to€theÏdepartment€'to€proceed€with€proper€petitions€for€terminationÏof€parental€rights€of€the€mother€allowing€adoption€proceedingsÏto€be€initiated€by€the€foster€parents.'€€Ms.McCloud€and€theÏdepartment€have€appealed€from€this€order.ÌÌ€€€€à à"This€case€should€never€have€reached€this€court€inÏits€present€posture.€€It€highlights€the€shortcomings€in€theÏpresent€foster€care€and€adoption€procedures€whose€purposeÏshould€be€to€mitigate€the€damage€dysfunctional€familiesÏinflict€on€children.€€These€cases€deal€with€delicate,€farÏreaching€issues€that€are€best€decided€quickly€and€finally.€ÏRegrettably,€the€present€statutory€scheme€for€dealing€withÏthese€issues€invites€delay,€and€every€day€that€passes€makes€aÏfinal€decision€more€difficult€and€more€painful€to€allÏinvolved.ÌÌ€€€€€à à"There€is€no€shortage€of€victims€in€this€case.€€ToÏbe€sure,€Debra€McCloud€is€the€victim€of€serious€physicalÏabuse.€€While€her€physical€wounds€have€healed,€she€stillÍsuffers€from€psychological€wounds€received€at€her€father'sÏhands€when€she€was€two€months€old.€€But€Ms.McCloud€and€theÏNash„Putnams€are€victims€as€well.€€Like€the€child,€they€haveÏbeen€victimized€by€vacillating€department€personnel€tooÏpreoccupied€with€departmental€policies€and€procedures,Ïconflicting€expert€opinions,€statutes€creating€hazyÏjurisdictional€boundaries€that€permit€judge€shopping€andÏdelay,€and€discordant€judicial€attitudes€concerning€the€bestÏinterests€and€rights€of€all€the€parties.ÌÌ€€€€€à à"The€department€cannot€be€faulted€for€removing€DebraÏfrom€the€McCloud€home€and€placing€her€in€a€foster€home.€ÏCertainly€the€Nash„Putnams€cannot€be€faulted€for€taking€theÏchild€in€and€for€supporting€and€nurturing€her€while€she€hasÏbeen€in€their€care.€€Nor€can€they€be€faulted€for€theirÏinevitable€emotional€attachment€to€the€child.€€There€is,Ïhowever,€no€justification€for€the€department's€clumsy€delay€inÏbringing€about€a€prompt€and€conclusive€resolution€of€theÏchild's€fate€or€for€the€circuit€court's€assumption€ofÏjurisdiction€in€the€clear€absence€of€statutory€authority."ÌÌà àFinding€the€court€compelled€by€statutes€governingÏthe€jurisdiction€of€the€juvenile€and€circuit€courts,€the€CourtÏof€Appeals€held€that,€because€the€circuit€court€did€not€haveÏjurisdiction€to€hear€an€appeal€from€the€juvenile€court's€orderÏdenying€the€motion€to€terminate€Ms.McCloud's€visits€with€theÏchild,€which€was€not€the€only€issue€before€the€juvenile€court,Ïthe€circuit€court's€order€was€void.€€However,€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€recognized€that€the€circuit€court,€pursuant€to€itsÏplenary€jurisdiction€over€the€petition€for€adoption,€wouldÏconsider€all€matters€previously€considered€by€it€and€theÏjuvenile€court,€and€therefore,€remanded€the€case€to€theÏcircuit€court.€€The€Court€of€Appeals€held€that€the€circuitÏcourt€should€decide€two€issues,€whether€the€mother's€parentalÏrights€should€be€terminated€and€whether€adoption€should€beÏordered.€€ÌÌà àThe€petition€to€adopt€was€heard€in€the€circuit€courtÏon€November2,€1993.€€The€entire€record€of€the€prior€hearingÏin€that€court€was€made€an€exhibit€and€considered€by€the€court.€ÏIn€addition,€the€court€heard€testimony:€€that€the€child€hadÏformed€a€bond€with€the€foster€parents€and€breaking€the€bondÍwould€be€extremely€traumatic€to€the€child;€that€the€fosterÏparents€had€been€excellent€parents€to€the€child,€although€theÏfoster€father€had€not€seen€his€own€daughter€from€a€previousÏmarriage€in€two€years€and€was€not€current€in€making€childÏsupport€payments;€and,€from€two€clinical€psychologists,€thatÏthe€child's€best€interests€would€be€served€by€her€remainingÏwith€the€foster€parents.€€On€the€other€hand,€there€wasÏtestimony:€€that€the€mother€had€made€extensive€progress€in€theÏtraining€designed€to€make€her€an€appropriate€parent;€by€a€DHSÏsocial€worker€recommending€the€return€of€the€child€to€theÏmother;€that€Ms.McCloud€had€been€a€good€parent€to€her€secondÏdaughter;€that€after€the€juvenile€court€increased€visitation,Ïthe€child€and€mother€showed€genuine€affection€for€each€other;Ïand,€from€a€counselor€with€a€master's€degree€in€psychology,Ïthe€recommendation€that€the€child€be€returned€to€the€mother.€€ÌÌà àThe€court€terminated€the€mother's€parental€rightsÏand€allowed€the€foster€parents€to€adopt€the€child.€€The€courtÏfound€that€the€proof€established€the€following€conditions€andÏcircumstances€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(1)(A),(B),(C);€(2);€and€(3)€(1991),× ƒ= ××  ×€which€are,€asÏfollows:ÌÌÓÓà8 à1)€€The€child€has€been€removed€from€theÏcustody€of€the€parent€by€the€court€for€atÏleast€one€(1)€year€and€the€court€findsÏthat:ÌÌà8 à(A)€The€conditions€which€led€to€theÏremoval€or€other€conditions€which€in€allÏreasonable€probability€would€cause€theÏchild€to€be€subjected€to€further€abuse€orÏneglect€and€which,€therefore,€prevent€theÏchild's€return€to€the€care€of€theÏparent(s)€still€persist;ÌÌà8 à(B)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€theseÏconditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€earlyÏdate€so€that€the€child€can€be€returned€toÏthe€parent€in€the€near€future;€andÌÌà8 à(C)€The€continuation€of€the€legal€parentÏand€child€relationship€greatly€diminishesÏthe€child's€chances€of€early€integrationÏinto€a€stable€and€permanent€home.ÌÌà8 à2)€€The€parent€has€been€found€to€haveÏcommitted€severe€child€abuse€against€theÏchild;ÌÌà8 à3)€€The€parent€has€been€sentenced€to€moreÏthan€two€(2)€years'€imprisonment€forÏconduct€which€has€been€or€is€found€to€beÏsevere€child€abuse....ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed€the€termination€ofÏMs.McCloud's€parental€rights.ÌÌÌÌà@ àòòò òStandard€of€Reviewóóó óÌÌà àThe€standards€of€review€applicable€to€this€case€areÏwell€stated€in€òòAaron€v.€Aaronóó,€909€S.W.2d€408,€4l0€(Tenn.Ï1995),ÌÌÓÓà8 à€€€€€In€cases€such€as€the€one€underÏsubmission,€where€the€cause€was€triedÏwithout€a€jury,€we€note€that€whileÏconcurrent€findings€of€fact€are€bindingÏon€the€reviewing€court€if€supported€byÏany€material€evidence,€such€a€rule€doesÏnot€apply€to€questions€of€law€or€mixedÏquestions€of€law€and€fact.€€òòBubis€v.ÏBlackmanóó,€435€S.W.2d€492,€498€(Tenn.€Ct.ÏApp.€1968).€€Mixed€questions€of€law€andÏfact€are€subject€to€review.€€òòMurdockÏAcceptance€Corp.€v.€Jonesóó,€362€S.W.2dÏ266,€268€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1961).€€We€findÏthat€a€presumption€of€correctness€doesÏnot€attach,€but€as€with€questions€of€law,Ïthis€Court€has€great€latitude€toÏdetermine€whether€findings€as€to€mixedÏquestions€of€fact€and€law€made€by€theÍtrial€court€are€sustained€by€probativeÏevidence€on€appeal.ÌÌÌÌÓÓòòSeeóó€òòalsoóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€27„1„113,€27„3„103€(1980);€Tenn.ÏR.€App.€P.€13.Ì€Ìà@ àòòò òAnalysisóóó óÌÌà àEven€though€òòIn€re€Adoption€of€Female€Childóó,€896ÏS.W.2d€546€(Tenn.€1995)€and€òòPetrosky€v.€Keeneóó,€898€S.W.2d€726Ï(Tenn.€1995),€had€not€been€decided€when€the€Court€of€AppealsÏrendered€its€decision€in€this€case,€the€issues€presented€byÏthis€case€are€determined€by€the€principles€set€forth€in€thoseÏcases.ÌÌà àIn€three€recent€decisions,€this€Court€examined€theÏconstitutional€rights€of€parents€regarding€their€children.€ÏThese€cases€recognized€that,ÌÌÓÓà8 àTennessee€courts€have€historically€heldÏthat,€"a€parent€is€entitled€to€theÏcustody,€companionship,€and€care€of€theÏchild,€and€should€not€be€deprived€thereofÏexcept€by€due€process€of€law.€€It€is€aÍnatural€right,€but€not€an€inalienableÏone.€€The€parents€are€trusted€with€theÏcustody€of€the€child€upon€the€idea€thatÏunder€the€instincts€of€parental€devotionÏit€is€best€for€the€child."ÌÌÌÌÓÓòòIn€Re€Adoption€of€Female€Childóó,€896€S.W.2d€546,€547€(Tenn.Ï1995)(quoting€òòState€ex€rel.€Bethell€v.€Kilvingtonóó,€100€Tenn.Ï227,€236,€45€S.W.€433,€435€(1898));€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855ÏS.W.2d€573,€577€(Tenn.€1993).ÌÌÓÓ€€à8 àParents€...€have€a€fundamental€libertyÏinterest€in€the€care€and€custody€of€theirÏchildren€under€both€the€United€States€andÏTennessee€Constitutions.€€òòStanley€v.ÏIllinoisóó,€405€U.S.€645,€92€S.Ct.€1208,Ï31€L.Ed.2d€551€(1972);€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855ÏS.W.2d€573€(Tenn.1993).€€However,€thisÏright€is€not€absolute€and€the€State€mayÏinterfere€with€parental€rights€if€thereÏis€a€compelling€State€interest.€€òòSantoskyÏv.€Krameróó,€455€U.S.€745,€102€S.Ct.€1388,Ï71€L.Ed.2d€599€(1982);€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855ÏS.W.2d€at€579.ÌÌÌ€ÌòòNale€v.€Robertsonóó,€871€S.W.2d€674,€678€(Tenn.€1994).ÌÌÌÌ€€à8 àThis€Court€held€œin€òòIn›€re€Adoption€ofÏFemale€Childóó,€896€S.W.2d€546,€547„48Ï(Tenn.€1995),€that€"in€a€contest€betweenÏa€parent€and€a€non„parent,€a€parentÍcannot€be€deprived€of€the€custody€of€aÏchild€unless€there€has€been€a€finding,Ïafter€notice€required€by€due€process,€ofÏsubstantial€harm€to€the€child.€€Only€thenÏmay€a€court€engage€in€a€general€'bestÏinterest€of€the€child'€evaluation€inÏmaking€a€determination€of€custody."ÌÌÌÌòòPetrosky€v.€Keeneóó,€898€S.W.2d€726,€728€(Tenn.€1995).ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€first€issue€is€whether€the€pleadings€and€proofÏin€the€case€before€the€Court€support€a€finding€of€substantialÏharm€to€the€child,€that€would€justify€the€termination€ofÏMs.McCloud's€parental€rights.€€The€petition€filed€by€DHS,€andÏconsidered€by€the€trial€court€in€the€adoption€proceedings,Ïcharge€that€Debra€was€a€"dependent€and€neglected"€child€asÏdefined€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„102(b)€and€reliedÏspecifically€upon€subsection€(G),€which€includes€in€thatÏdefinition€a€child€"[w]ho€is€suffering€from€or€has€sustained€aÏwound,€injury,€disability,€or€physical€or€mental€conditionÏcaused€by€brutality,€abuse€or€neglect."€€That€sectionÏdescribes€a€substantial€harm,€and€the€petition€was€adequateÏnotice.€€ÌÌà àThe€record€in€this€case€supports€the€concurrentÏfindings€by€the€trial€court€and€the€Court€of€Appeals€thatÏMs.McCloud€was€responsible,€along€with€her€husband,€for€theÏinjuries€and€resulting€harm€to€the€child.€€There€was€evidenceÏthat€she€was€aware€that€the€abuse€was€occurring€prior€to€theÏdate€she€took€the€child€to€the€hospital,€that€she€failed€toÏprotect€the€child€from€the€abuse,€and€that€the€conduct€wasÏlikely€to€cause€great€bodily€harm€or€death.€€ÌÌà àThe€conclusion€is€that€the€constitutionalÏrequirements€of€notice€and€proof€of€substantial€harm€have€beenÏmet,€thus€allowing€the€Court€to€intrude€upon€the€mother'sÏparental€rights.€€ÌÌà àThe€next€issue€is€whether€the€proof€is€sufficient€toÏsupport€the€termination€of€the€mother's€parental€rightsÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147.€€That€section€providesÏthat€parental€rights€may€be€terminated€if€the€court€finds€byÏclear€and€convincing€evidence€that€termination€is€in€theÏchild's€best€interests€and€also€finds€the€existence€of€one€orÏmore€of€several€conditions,€including:ÌÌÓÓà8 à(2)€The€parent€has€been€found€to€haveÏcommitted€severe€child€abuse€against€theÏchild;ÌÌà8 à(3)€The€parent€has€been€sentenced€to€moreÏthan€two€(2)€years'€imprisonment€forÏconduct€which€has€been€or€is€found€to€beÏsevere€child€abuse.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€Court€of€Appeals€found:ÌÓÓÌÔ€3Ôà8 àÔ€5Ô€€€€€After€reviewing€the€record€in€thisÏcase€we€think€the€evidence€is€clear€andÏconvincing€(1)€that€Ms.€McCloud€was€awareÏthat€the€abuse€was€occurring,€(2)€thatÏshe€failed€to€protect€the€child,€(3)€thatÏthe€conduct€was€likely€to€cause€greatÏbodily€harm€or€death€and€(4)€that€theÏabuse€caused€the€severe€psychologicalÏproblems€described€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð37„1„102(19)(B).× ƒ> ××  ×ÌÌà8 à€€€€€...ÌÌÔ€3Ôà8 àÔ€5Ô€€€€€We€consider€the€following€facts€toÏbe€established€by€clear€and€convincingÏproof.€€First,€the€child€suffered€severeÏtrauma€as€a€result€of€the€abuse,€theÏpsychological€effects€of€which€have€beenÏdeep€and€persistent.€€Second,€theÏemotional€support€allowing€the€child€toÏcope€with€the€lasting€psychologicalÏeffects€of€the€abuse€has€been€supplied€byÏthe€foster€parents.€€Third,€as€a€resultÏthe€child€has€formed€a€bond€with€theÏfoster€parents€as€great€as€the€bondÏbetween€a€child€and€its€natural€parents.€ÏFourth,€breaking€that€bond€after€five€andÏa€half€years€would€be€extremely€traumaticÏto€the€child.€€In€addition,€the€recordÏdoes€not€support€a€finding€that€Ms.ÏMcCloud€would€be€able€to€supply€theÏrequired€emotional€support€for€the€childÏto€successfully€cope€with€the€loss.€€ForÏthese€reasons€we€think€the€trial€judgeÏwas€correct€in€finding€that€terminatingÏMs.€McCloud's€parental€rights€was€in€theÏchild's€best€interests.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€record€supports€the€finding€by€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€that€Ms.McCloud€committed€severe€child€abuse€underÏSection€37„1„147(d)(2),€and€that€terminating€the€mother'sÏparental€rights€was€in€the€child's€best€interest.€ÏMs.McCloud's€argument€that€the€statute€applies€only€to€oneÍwho€"commits"€the€abuse€is€untenable.€€Allowing€a€child€to€beÏabused€is€egregious€abuse.ÌÌà àThe€record€also€supports€the€Court€of€Appeals'Ïfinding€that€Ms.McCloud€"has€been€sentenced€to€more€than€twoÏ(2)€years'€imprisonment€for€conduct€which€has€been€or€is€foundÏto€be€severe€child€abuse."€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„147(d)(3).€ÏAny€doubt€regarding€the€meaning€of€that€statute€was€removed€byÏthe€1996€amendment.€€The€statute€now€reads:ÌÌÓÓÔ€3Ôà8 àÔ€5ÔThe€parent€or€guardian€has€been€sentencedÏto€more€than€two€(2)€years€imprisonmentÏfor€conduct€against€the€child€who€is€theÏsubject€of€the€petition,€...€which€isÏfound€by€the€court€hearing€the€petitionÏto€be€severe€child€abuse€....€€UnlessÏotherwise€stated,€for€purposes€of€thisÏsubdivision,€œð ðsentencedð ð›€shall€not€beÏconstrued€to€mean€that€the€parent€orÏguardian€must€have€actually€served€moreÏthan€two€(2)€years€in€confinement,€butÏshall€only€be€construed€to€mean€that€theÏcourt€had€imposed€a€sentence€of€two€(2)Ïor€more€years€upon€the€parent€orÏguardian.ÌÌÌÌÓÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(5)€(Supp.€1995).€€With€orÏwithout€the€amendment,€the€focus€is€on€the€seriousness€of€theÍoffense€as€determined€by€the€severity€of€the€sentence,€ratherÏthan€the€time€actually€incarcerated.€€The€conclusion€on€thisÏissue,€therefore,€is€that€the€record€supports€the€decisionÏterminating€Ms.McCloud's€parental€rights.ÌÌà àMs.McCloud€also€asserts€on€this€appeal€that€theÏcourt€erred€in€granting€the€adoption.€€That€contention€isÏbased€solely€on€the€claim€that€the€court€erred€in€terminatingÏher€parental€rights.€€Ms.McCloud€did€not€assert€at€the€trialÏand€does€not€assert€in€this€Court€that€the€Nash„Putnams€areÏnot€suitable€persons€to€adopt€Debra.€€Since€the€issueÏregarding€the€termination€of€parental€rights€has€been€resolvedÏagainst€her,€the€issue€of€adoption€must€be€resolved€againstÏher€also.€€ÌÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€is€affirmed,Ïand€the€case€is€remanded€to€the€circuit€court.Ì€€Ìà àCosts€are€taxed€against€the€appellant€Lou€AnneÏMcCloud.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àReid,€J.ÌÌÌConcur:ÌÌAnderson,€C.J.,€Drowota,€Birch,Ì€€€and€White,€JJ.Ì€€€€