In re A.N.

2021 Ohio 4214
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 2, 2021
Docket110608
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2021 Ohio 4214 (In re A.N.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re A.N., 2021 Ohio 4214 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).

Opinion

[Cite as In re A.N., 2021-Ohio-4214.]

COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

IN RE A.N. : : No. 110608 Minor Child : : [Appeal by Father] :

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION

JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: December 2, 2021

Civil Appeal from the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division Case No. AD-20902756

Appearances:

Scott J. Friedman, for appellant.

Michael C. O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecuting Attorney, and Joseph C. Young, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, P.J.:

Appellant-Father (“Father”) appeals from the juvenile court’s

decision awarding permanent custody of his minor child, A.N., to the appellee

Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services (“CCDCFS” or “the

agency”). For the reasons that follow, we affirm. I. Procedural Background

CCDCFS became involved with the family when A.N., then 12 years

old, was left home alone after Father was hospitalized. On March 3, 2020, the

agency filed a complaint alleging that A.N. was abused, neglected, and dependent,

and requesting a disposition of temporary custody. The complaint alleged that

Father lacked appropriate parenting skills and judgment to provide proper care for

A.N.1 The juvenile court granted the agency’s motion for predispositional custody

the same day.

On June 1, 2020, the court conducted a hearing on the agency’s

complaint. The father denied the allegations and the matter was continued for trial.

On June 3, 2020, the agency developed a case plan that included services addressing

Father’s mental health needs and substance abuse concerns. His case plan also

focused on appropriate parenting, which included setting clear boundaries on age-

appropriate interactions and conversations. The goal of the case plan was

reunification. Father disagreed with the established case plan, contending that he

did not need assistance with his parenting of A.N.

On September 24, 2020, Father stipulated to an amended complaint

alleging A.N. dependent and agreed to temporary custody. On October 15, 2020,

the juvenile court adjudicated A.N. dependent and granted the agency temporary

custody. The court approved the agency’s case plan for Father, and A.N.’s case plan

was amended to include mental health services. Reunification remained the goal.

1 A.N.’s mother is deceased. In January 2021, CCDCFS moved to extend temporary custody,

contending that Father was progressing on his case plan. However, on February 12,

2021, the agency filed a motion to modify temporary custody to permanent custody

because of Father’s failure to follow through with case plan services and show any

benefit from the services already completed. At a review hearing on February 22,

2021, the agency orally withdrew its motion for an extension of temporary custody,

advising the court that it would move forward on its motion for permanent custody.

On March 18, 2021, the agency filed a notice of emergency

amendment to Father’s case plan, advising that it was suspending Father’s visitation

and communication with A.N. because of concerns regarding A.N.’s mental health

when the visitations occurred. The juvenile court conducted a hearing where

Jamessa Motley (“Motley”), the agency case worker assigned to the case, testified

that A.N. suffers from anxiety when visiting with Father. She stated that Father’s

conversations were inappropriate and negative. Specifically, she stated that Father

discussed his case plan and legal proceedings with A.N., criticized A.N.’s appearance

by asserting that he was wearing “gay” or “gang” colors, and made A.N.

uncomfortable with derogatory remarks about his foster mother and her sexuality.

At the hearing, Father admitted that he did not want his child wearing

“gay colors,” or participating, wearing, or representing “that type of activity.” Father

stated that during the visits he would educate his son about God, the Bible,

anthropology, and the process of maturity. He stated that he understood why his son was “stressed” during his visits because he was teaching his son things contrary

to what his foster mother was telling A.N.

Over objection, the juvenile court adopted the emergency

amendment to the case plan and suspended Father’s visitation. Trial on the agency’s

motion for permanent custody remained set for May 26, 2021.

The day before trial, Father requested a continuance for the purpose

of ordering a polygraph test for himself and Motley. Prior to the start of trial, the

court denied Father’s request.

II. Permanent Custody Hearing

Katie Russell (“Russell”) testified that she is A.N.’s therapist at Ohio

Mentor. She stated that she began working with A.N. on March 17, 2020. According

to Russell, A.N. was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) and

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”). She stated that A.N. suffered

from psychosomatic symptoms such as difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, and

headaches when extremely stressed. Russell stated that these symptoms were

triggered by stress from Father and school. She stated that Father criticized A.N.

and did not appreciate A.N.’s mental health needs. Russell testified that A.N. was

not comfortable communicating with Father because to do so was showing

“weakness.” She stated that A.N. struggled to stay focused on himself because he

worried about his father’s health and his inability to take care of his father. She

stated that A.N. assumed the role of caregiver when “he just wanted to a be a kid.” Russell testified that A.N. commented that he preferred to stay in

foster care. She stated that A.N. is happy with his foster family, and that his foster

mother actively engages in the therapeutic process and facilitates A.N.’s usage of his

coping skills when symptoms occur. According to Russell, A.N. wished for

permanent custody to the agency.

Motley testified that she was assigned to the case in March 2020, and

developed a case plan for Father that included mental health services, substance

abuse treatment and counseling, and parenting.

Regarding the mental health component, Father had been involved

with Circle Health in 2018, but was only being treated with pharmacological care —

not therapeutic care. Father self-reported that he suffers from depression and

anxiety; however, the agency learned that Father was not forthcoming because

medical records revealed that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and

schizoaffective disorder, which both have effects of auditory and visual

hallucinations. Additionally, the records noted that Father’s medication compliance

was sporadic. Following an assessment with the court’s diagnostic clinic, the

Father’s case plan included cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological services

for medications, and in-home services to assist with visitation.

Motley testified that Father often exhibited paranoia behaviors —

asserting that the agency was “out to get him,” blaming the agency, or complaining

that he was being targeted during visitations. She stated that when Father participated in remote staffing reviews, he became very volatile and argumentative

and had to be muted by the facilitator.

Motley stated that Father did not initially engage in therapeutic

services, which was concerning because if he was noncompliant with his

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In re L.R.-R.
2022 Ohio 3744 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2022)
In re O.C.
2022 Ohio 190 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2022)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2021 Ohio 4214, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-an-ohioctapp-2021.