Department of Human Services v. G. L. H.

316 P.3d 428, 260 Or. App. 72
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedDecember 18, 2013
DocketJ120042; Petition Number 01J120042M; A154396
StatusPublished

This text of 316 P.3d 428 (Department of Human Services v. G. L. H.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Department of Human Services v. G. L. H., 316 P.3d 428, 260 Or. App. 72 (Or. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

SCHUMAN, P. J.

In this juvenile dependency case, the Department of Human Services (DHS) appeals from a permanency judgment of the juvenile court dismissing the state’s wardship over mother’s six-year-old child, J. The child also appeals from the juvenile court’s judgment and joins in DHS’s contention that the juvenile court erred in dismissing the wardship. DHS and the child have requested that we review this case de novo. We decline to exercise our discretion to review de novo, but we conclude that the juvenile court’s findings are not supported by legally sufficient evidence, Dept. of Human Services v. N. P., 257 Or App 633, 639, 307 P3d 444 (2013), and, for that reason, that the juvenile court erred in dismissing jurisdiction. We therefore reverse the juvenile court’s judgment.

DHS has been involved with the family since 2011, when intensive home services were provided to mother on a voluntary basis. The child was taken into protective custody on March 5, 2012, after multiple calls to DHS expressing concerns of neglect.

The state filed a petition for jurisdiction on March 6, 2012. At a status hearing on May 4, 2012, mother admitted to the juvenile court’s jurisdiction based on allegations that (1) mother’s mental health problems and borderline intellectual functioning interfere with her ability to competently care for J and J’s siblings; (2) mother’s use of methamphetamine impairs her ability to provide minimally adequate care for J and J’s siblings; and (3) mother’s impulsive and angry behavior places J and J’s siblings at risk of harm in her care.

J was placed in foster care with another sibling, and the juvenile court took jurisdiction over J and established a permanency plan of reunification, with a concurrent plan of adoption.1 At a permanency hearing on March 1, 2013, [75]*75the juvenile court found that DHS had made reasonable efforts and that mother had not made sufficient progress toward meeting expectations. The court continued the case plan of reunification and ordered mother to participate in services. The court also ordered DHS to “staff case w/A.G. within 45 days,” which the parties understand to be a shorthand instruction to move the case forward to termination of parental rights. The court attached findings to the judgment supporting the determinations that DHS had made reasonable efforts and that mother had not made sufficient progress.2 The court set a permanency hearing for May 28, 2013.

At that hearing, neither mother, child, nor DHS presented any testimony. Mother did not challenge the juvenile court’s continued jurisdiction or seek to dismiss the [76]*76wardship. The court received into evidence DHS caseworker Judy Cooper’s report outlining DHS’s efforts to achieve the primary plan of return to parent. The report noted that mother had had “spotty” participation in drug and anger management treatment, had received counseling services, and was on medication for depression. The report stated that, although there was no evidence that mother was continuing to use methamphetamine regularly, she continued to exhibit poor judgment as to safety issues, had failed to visit the child regularly, and had overdosed on antidepressant medication in a suicide attempt on February 26, 2013. Cooper’s report also referred to two psychological evaluations of mother. Both evaluations had concluded that mother had significant limitations that would impair her ability to parent. The report noted that, in a psychological evaluation performed on October 9, 2012, Dr. Deitch had concluded that mother

“is not considered to be a viable placement resource for her sons at this time, and she will require close oversight and supervision by another responsible adult, should a decision be made to return the children to her care. Her prognosis for being able to become a consistently safe and responsible long-term independent residential parenting resource for her sons is considered to be highly guarded.”

Cooper’s report concluded with a recommendation that the child continue as a ward of the court and remain in the custody of DHS for care, placement, and supervision. DHS requested that the court find that DHS had made reasonable efforts that were in the best interests of the child and that the court order that DHS and mother abide by the signed action agreement.

Cooper did not testify at the hearing but gave a statement that, as directed by the court in March 2013, DHS had met with an assistant attorney general twice but had not yet decided whether to pursue termination of mother’s parental rights. DHS was waiting for additional information and was considering a long-term placement of the child with his maternal grandfather, who was undergoing certification and wanted to be a placement for the child either through adoption or guardianship.

[77]*77The child’s attorney expressed approval of DHS’s plan, although she urged that DHS move more quickly. She explained that the child was doing well in his current foster placement and noted that mother had missed some recent visits.

Mother’s attorney reported that mother had completed a requested drug and alcohol assessment and had a series of clean urine tests, had a stable residence, and a letter from a psychiatrist who reported that “[w]e see no indications that [mother] would not be able to adequately parent her children.” Mother’s attorney reported that mother had told him that she was looking for work and also applying for SSI.

The juvenile court, as noted, did not take testimony but allowed those present at the hearing to make statements. The maternal grandmother expressed concern for the number of placements and requested that she be considered as a resource for the child. The child’s maternal grandfather explained that he was prepared to care for the child as soon as he was certified and expressed agreement with DHS’s plan. Mother explained that she had missed one visit with the child because of an interview and one visit because of a misunderstanding. She asked for additional supervised visits. No person present at the hearing requested a termination of the wardship.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the juvenile court stated that it would make the findings requested by DHS. Nonetheless, the court said:

“You know, these cases don’t always work out perfectly. And this may not be a great solution, but I’m going to dismiss the case today.
“I order [ed] the State to staff it, hoping that they would agree that it was appropriate to move forward to terminate the mother’s parental rights, they elected not to do so — and without having them decided on their end. And mom has made some progress towards the issues that I have jurisdiction over.
“The case is going to be dismissed. Thank you.”

[78]*78The juvenile court issued a permanency judgment on May 28, 2013, in which it found that DHS had made reasonable efforts and that mother had made sufficient progress toward meeting the expectations set forth in the service agreement. The judgment did not include an explicit finding as to whether the child could be safely returned to mother’s care. With regard to DHS’s reasonable efforts, the judgment stated that findings were attached and incorporated. A form attached to the judgment set forth the facts demonstrating that reasonable efforts were made to reunify the family.

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Related

Department of Human Services v. N. P.
307 P.3d 444 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 2013)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
316 P.3d 428, 260 Or. App. 72, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/department-of-human-services-v-g-l-h-orctapp-2013.