IN RE CUSTODY OF CF, 00-566.

• Decision Date: 15 February 2001
• Docket Number: No. 00-566.,00-566.
• Citation: 304 Mont. 134,18 P.3d 1014,2001 MT 19
• Parties: In the Matter of the CUSTODY and Parental Rights OF C.F., H.F., and J.F., Youths in Need of Care.
• Court: Montana Supreme Court

18 P.3d 1014

2001 MT 19

304 Mont. 134

In the Matter of the CUSTODY and Parental Rights OF C.F., H.F., and J.F., Youths in Need of Care.

No. 00-566.

Supreme Court of Montana.

Submitted on Briefs December 21, 2000.

Decided February 15, 2001.

Peter Bovingdon, Assistant Public Defender, Helena, MT, for Appellant.

Honorable Joseph P. Mazurek, Attorney General; Tammy K. Plubell, Assistant Attorney General, Mike McGrath, County Attorney; Carolyn A. Clemens, Deputy County Attorney, for Respondent.

Randi M. Hood, Chief Public Defender, Helena, MT (For Youth).

Justice W. WILLIAM LEAPHART delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶ 1 Appellant (Michael) appeals from the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order of the First Judicial District Court terminating parental rights to his five year-old son, J.F. Michael is not the father of C.F. or H.F., the other children involved in this case. Although the District Court also terminated the parental rights of J.F.'s mother in the same proceeding, she is not a party to this appeal. We affirm the ruling of the District Court.

¶ 2 Michael has been in prison for a large portion of J.F.'s life. At the time of the District Court's order terminating his parental rights, he was incarcerated in the Montana State Prison, serving two consecutive five-year terms for forgery. He also has three convictions for domestic violence. One involved J.F.'s mother. The other two involved a previous relationship. Michael contends that these problems have all been related to his past alcohol abuse. He has taken steps to address this abuse and has recently expressed a desire for a relationship with his son.

¶ 3 The Montana Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) assumed protective custody of J.F. in October, 1998, following an incident in which his mother was arrested for drunken driving with J .F. and his sister in the car. Michael was incarcerated at the time, so DPHHS placed J.F. with his maternal grandmother, although both DPHHS and the grandmother noted that this was only a short term solution. J.F. was declared a "youth in need of care" by stipulation of both parents in November, 1998.

¶ 4 At the time he signed the stipulation, Michael was incarcerated in the Lewis and Clark County Jail awaiting sentencing on the forgery charges. He was sentenced in January 1999 to two five-year terms to be served consecutively but with all of the second term suspended. He was initially placed in the Great Falls prerelease center and was determined to be eligible for parole on May 16, 2000.

¶ 5 At some point, Michael expressed an interest in regaining custody of his son following his release. Therefore, in November, 1999, DPHHS prepared a treatment plan, setting out conditions Michael would have to meet to regain custody of his son. This plan required, among other things, that Michael be able to provide J.F. with a stable home, food, clothing and shelter; that Michael complete a chemical dependency evaluation and follow all recommendations; that he arrange for and participate in a program to address his domestic violence; that he arrange for and participate in contacting J.F. via the telephone and letters; that he successfully complete parenting classes; that he abstain from the use or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs and submit to random urinalysis, breathalyser, or blood testing; and that he abide by the law.

¶ 6 Michael demonstrated significant compliance with the terms of his treatment plan. He testified at the termination hearing that he had completed chemical dependency treatment and had achieved over a year of sobriety. He successfully completed an anger management program designed to address issues of domestic violence. The supervisor of Michael's parenting classes testified that he did so well that they explored the possibility of having him participate as a co-facilitator in future classes. Finally, although not a condition of his treatment plan, Michael's testimony at the termination hearing expressed a sincere commitment to change his life and establish a relationship with his son.

¶ 7 In January, 2000, DPHHS petitioned the District Court for a permanency plan and for termination of Michael and J.F.'s mother's parental rights. This petition noted Michael's progress on his treatment plan. However, as of the date of the petition, J.F. had been in the temporary custody of DPHHS for over fourteen months, and DPHHS asserted that Michael would not be in a position to parent his child in the near future. The petition asked the court to terminate Michael's parental rights in the interests of finding a permanent home for J.F. and the other children involved. The District Court scheduled a hearing on the petition for February 29, 2000. This hearing was postponed to May 31, 2000, primarily to give J.F.'s mother an opportunity to complete her treatment plan.

¶ 8 On May 10, 2000, shortly before his parole eligibility date, Michael was arrested for violating the rules of the prerelease center. He pled guilty to seven infractions and was transferred to the Montana State Prison to serve the remainder of his forgery sentences. As a consequence of these violations, it was unclear when he might be eligible for parole and available to parent J.F. Michael testified that he might be eligible for parole after as few as 120 days of clear conduct. DPHHS argued, however, that Michael would likely be subject to annual parole review, with the possibility that he would serve at least another year before becoming eligible for release.

¶ 9 Following the scheduled hearing, the District Court concluded that Michael had failed to successfully complete his treatment plan and it was unreasonable to expect that he would be able to successfully complete it in the foreseeable future. It then entered the order terminating Michael's parental rights to J.F., which Michael now appeals.

ISSUE

¶ 10 The sole issue on appeal is whether the District Court abused its discretion when it determined that Michael had not successfully completed his treatment plan and that it would not be reasonable to expect him to do so in the future. Michael argues that he substantially complied with the conditions of the plan. The State argues that substantial compliance is not the same as successful completion, that Michael will not be in a position to provide for his son anytime in the near future, and that J.F.'s best interests are served by termination and permanent placement with an adoptive family. We agree.

¶ 11 The decision to terminate parental rights is within the discretion of the trial court, and we review such a ruling for an abuse of discretion. In re J.M.J., 1999 MT 277, ¶ 16, 296 Mont. 510, ¶ 16, 989 P.2d 840, ¶ 16 (citing In re C.M. (1997), 281 Mont. 183, 186, 932 P.2d 1063, 1065). While the decision is discretionary, the court must make specific factual findings prior to terminating parental rights. We review such findings to determine whether they are clearly erroneous. In re C.D.S., 2000 MT 313, ¶ 5, 302 Mont. 466, ¶ 5, 14 P.3d 1248, ¶ 5; In re J.H., 2000 MT 11, ¶ 20, 298 Mont. 41, ¶ 20, 994 P.2d 37, ¶ 20. A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is not supported by substantial evidence; if the district court misapprehended the effect of the evidence; or if, after reviewing the record, this Court is left with a definite and firm conviction that the district court made a mistake. In re T.Z., 2000 MT 205, ¶ 10, 300 Mont. 522, ¶ 10, 6 P.3d 960, ¶ 10; In re Snyder, 2000 MT 61, ¶ 10, 299 Mont. 40, ¶ 10, 996 P.2d 875, ¶ 10 (citing In re J.N., 1999 MT 64, ¶ 11, 293 Mont. 524, ¶ 11, 977 P.2d 317, ¶ 11).

¶ 12 Section 41-3-609(1), MCA, sets out specific findings the court must make prior to terminating parental rights. For the purposes of this case, the District Court must have found that J.F. is a "youth in need of care," as defined by § 41-3-102(23), MCA, and that:

(i) an appropriate treatment plan that has been approved by the court has not been complied with by the parents or has not been successful; and (ii) the conduct or condition of the parents rendering them unfit is unlikely to change within a reasonable time.

Section 41-3-609(1)(f), MCA. As J.F. was declared a "youth in need of care" by stipulation, the only issues are whether the District Court erroneously found that Michael did not successfully complete an appropriate treatment plan and that the conduct or condition rendering him unfit is unlikely to change within a reasonable time.

¶ 13 A. Did the District Court erroneously find that Michael did not successfully complete an appropriate treatment plan?

¶ 14 Michael does not contend that the treatment plan prepared by DPHHS and approved by the District Court was inappropriate. Rather, he argues that by successfully completing parenting and anger management class, attending chemical dependency treatment, and staying sober, he substantially complied with the court-approved treatment plan and thus his parental rights should remain intact.

¶ 15 Treatment plans, developed prior to a termination hearing, are intended to provide a framework for a parent to meet the needs of the child, regain custody and preserve the parent-child relationship. This Court has previously recognized that a parent's mere compliance with a treatment plan is not enough to forestall an otherwise...