E.M. v. State Dept. of Human Resources

• Decision Date: 18 September 1992
• Citation: 612 So.2d 486
• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals
• Parties: E.M. v. STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. 2910393.

Page 486

612 So.2d 486

E.M. v. STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

2910393.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

Sept. 18, 1992.

Rehearing Denied Oct. 23, 1992.

Certiorari Denied Jan. 22, 1993

Alabama Supreme Court 1920174.

Cheryl L. Baggott, Montgomery, for appellant.

William Prendergast and Lynn S. Merrill, Asst. Attys. Gen., for appellee.

Frederick T. Enslen, Montgomery, Guardian ad litem.

L. CHARLES WRIGHT, Retired Appellate Judge.

The Montgomery County Department of Human Resources filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of E.M. (mother) and S.M. (father) to their daughter, K.M, and their son, S.M. After oral proceedings, the trial court ordered the termination of all parental rights. The mother appeals.

The mother asserts that the trial court erred in terminating her parental rights because clear and convincing evidence was offered proving that she was physically, financially, and mentally able to care for the children. She further avers that termination was improper because DHR failed to make reasonable efforts toward reunification of the family.

In order to terminate parental rights based on the State's petition, a court must make several findings. First, the court must determine that the child is dependent based on clear and convincing evidence. Second, the court must find that there exists no viable alternative to termination of the parent's custodial rights. Ex parte Beasley, 564 So.2d 950 (Ala.1990). The trial court was presented the evidence ore tenus; therefore, its decision is presumed to be correct and will be set aside only if the record reveals the decision to be plainly and palpably wrong. Varnadore v. Department of Human Resources, 543 So.2d 1194 (Ala.Civ.App.1989).

Although a child's parents have a prima facie right to custody, the paramount concern in these proceedings is the child's best interests. Mitchell v. State Dep't of Human Resources, 513 So.2d 647 (Ala.Civ.App.1987). In determining the child's best interests, the court must examine whether the parents are physically, financially, and mentally able to provide for their child. Mitchell. If clear and convincing evidence reveals that the parents cannot or are unwilling to discharge these responsibilities, parental rights may be terminated. Mitchell; § 26-18-7, Code 1975.

The record reflects that DHR became involved with the mother as early as 1971. In that year one of her former husbands filed a neglect complaint against her regarding their son. From that point on DHR had continual contact with her through the birth of six children and a reported five marriages and divorces. The mother reported that five of her seven children are living.

In 1972 one of the mother's sons was placed in his maternal grandmother's physical custody because of inadequate care. In 1983 the maternal grandmother also received temporary legal custody of the mother's remaining two children. The mother never regained custody of these children.

S.M. and K.M., the children at issue, were born in 1985 and 1986, respectively.

In 1987 temporary legal custody of S.M. and K.M. was placed with DHR because of neglect, possible sexual abuse, and a physically abusive environment. The mother and the father were divorced shortly thereafter. Services were provided to the mother, and in August 1988 physical custody of the children was returned to the mother. In February 1989 the children were returned to foster care because the father had violated the court's order and was residing in the home with the mother and the children. DHR was aware of the father's abusive nature and determined that the children would not be safe if allowed to remain in the home.

A termination petition was filed in April 1990. We cannot determine from the record what transpired concerning that petition. However, another petition for termination was filed in January 1991. The initial hearing on the January 1991 petition was held four months later and was continued until October 1991 by agreement of all the parties. At that time, K.M. was placed with her step-brother and his wife and S.M. remained in foster care. Hearings on the termination petition were held in November 1991, March 1992, and April 1992. By April 1992 the children had been in foster care for approximately five years.

At the time of the hearing, the mother was 38 years old and was on medication for seizures, asthma, and diabetes. She was unemployed. She testified that she received $412 per month in social security benefits. Her rent payment was $250 per month, and her utilities averaged approximately $150 per month. She received $165 per month in food stamp benefits.

The record indicated that the mother repeatedly had numerous, unrelated persons living in her house. The mother had a history of allowing people to be abusive to her. The persons, male and female, living with her changed from week to week, which caused DHR to be apprehensive about placing the children in such an environment. DHR repeatedly warned the mother that no visitors should be present during the children's visits. The mother continued to have visitors present. There was evidence presented that in 1990 the mother's older daughter, who was in the maternal grandmother's custody, was raped by a man when she was visiting her mother.

The record reflects that DHR offered and provided services to the mother before and after the children were returned to foster care. Such services included parenting classes, a homemaker, mental health counseling, transportation, a psychiatric evaluation, monitoring and supervision of the children's placement, case management counseling, visitation, and assistance with finances. The record indicates that the mother was not willing to take direction from DHR and that she consistently refused to comply with its requests.

DHR recommended that the parental rights be terminated because the parents had not met the requirements outlined by the department. It averred that since the children had been in its custody the department had seen no improvement in the mother's situation that would warrant the children's remaining in foster care for any further length of time....