2026 IL App (2d) 260027-U No. 2-26-0027 Order filed June 11, 2026
NOTICE: This order was filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23(b) and is not precedential except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
In re G.S., a minor.
(The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee v. Antwon F., Respondent-Appellant).
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Kane County. Honorable Kathryn D. Karayannis, Judge, Presiding. No. 22-JA-147
JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the judgment of the court. Justices McLaren and Mullen concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: There was no error in the trial court’s judgment finding respondent father unfit and terminating his parental rights.
¶2 Respondent, Antwon F., pro se, appeals from the trial court’s judgment finding him unfit
and terminating his parental rights over the minor, G.S. We find no error in the trial court’s
judgment; thus, we affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 We note that Antwon has elected to proceed pro se in this appeal, as is his right. He has
submitted a handwritten brief using the template provided on our supreme court’s website. The
form of the brief is not the problem, but its content is. Although parties to termination proceedings
are entitled to file memoranda in lieu of an appellate brief, which have less stringent requirements (Ill. S. Ct. R. 311(a)(6) (eff. July 1, 2018); Ill. App. Ct. Second Dist. R. 107(a)), certain basic
elements should still be present, such as citations to the record, citations to case law and statutory
authority, as well as clear and direct prose. What we have received instead is page after page of
statements, organized by date, containing Antwon’s generic complaints about the proceedings and
posing rhetorical questions, all of which generally deny any responsibility for having engaged in
domestic violence or for having caused the conditions that led to the minor’s removal. While this
court possesses the authority to strike Antwon’s brief and dismiss the appeal, we have chosen to
overlook these deficiencies in favor of ensuring a definitive resolution to this matter. For its part,
the State specifically does not ask us to strike Antwon’s brief, highlighting a pertinent interest in
disregarding issues with a parent’s pro se brief to reach finality for the minor involved. See, e.g.,
In re Re.R., 2026 IL App (4th) 260025, ¶¶ 38-44. We agree with the State that this is the better
course, and we proceed to the facts of this case.
¶5 Connie S. gave birth to G.S. in August 2022. Antwon was not listed as G.S.’s father on her
birth certificate. For context, we note that back in February 2022, the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS) opened a case into the physical abuse of L.S. (then 15),
G.S.’s older half-sister. Reports from that case indicate that Antwon, L.S.’s stepfather, struck L.S.
with a broomstick, and told her that she was “lucky that she is still breathing” and that he “didn’t
end [her] life right now.” That investigation became case No. 22-JA-36, in which L.S. was
ultimately adjudicated as neglected and made a ward of the court.
¶6 In November 2022, DCFS received reports that Antwon had physically assaulted Connie,
causing extensive “bruises all over [Connie’s] body.” The State subsequently filed a petition for
adjudication of neglect, which alleged that G.S.’s environment was injurious to her welfare. 705
ILCS 405/2-3(b) (West 2022). Specifically, the petition alleged that there was both domestic
-2- violence and dangerous drugs in the home (Connie’s apartment in Elgin), and that both Antwon
and Connie failed to protect G.S. from conditions in that environment. DCFS was also alerted that
Antwon had been observed placing his hand over G.S.’s mouth, and obstructing her breathing, to
get her to stop crying. The record also indicates that Connie attempted to prevent DCFS from
seeing or taking custody of G.S. Accordingly, in December 2022, the trial court made an urgent-
and-immediate-necessity finding and granted the State’s ex parte request for temporary shelter
care. The trial court also issued a warrant permitting the authorities to take custody of G.S. A
caseworker later testified that she made four or five attempts to have G.S. taken into care, but that
Connie continued to evade contact.
¶7 At a subsequent court date on April 24, 2023, after multiple attempts to serve Antwon, the
trial court granted leave to serve him by publication. On May 5, 2023, the warrant was executed
and G.S. was finally taken into protective custody; she was ultimately placed in the same foster
home with L.S. On June 27, 2023, Connie appeared in court and she was admonished regarding
the neglect petition. Connie indicated that G.S.’s father was either Antwon or another individual.
The trial court noted that Antwon and any other potential unknown fathers had been considered
served by publication. On August 30, 2023, Antwon appeared in court. Antwon reported that he
does “side jobs” and was receiving disability payments. The trial court appointed the public
defender to represent him and ordered Antwon to submit to paternity testing.
¶8 On September 13, 2023, the parties returned to court for a scheduled pretrial hearing.
Paternity testing had not yet been completed. Connie stipulated to the injurious environment
allegations based on domestic violence and substance abuse. Connie further stipulated that she had
not been compliant with any prior court-ordered services in L.S.’s case. The court continued the
case for the paternity determination.
-3- ¶9 On October 31, 2023, the court received the results of DNA testing and determined that
Antwon was G.S.’s biological father. The court proceeded to conduct the adjudication hearing. A
caseworker testified about the history of the allegations and her efforts to locate Antwon. Antwon
testified that he and Connie had an “off and on” relationship for the preceding 17 years. At the
hospital, after G.S. was born, Connie told Antwon that he might not be G.S.’s father. Antwon
denied having ever lived with Connie and stated that he had not been involved in G.S.’s life since
she was born. The court adjudicated G.S. neglected and continued the case for a dispositional
hearing. The court admonished both parents to comply with all orders and service plans or risk the
involuntary termination of their parental rights.
¶ 10 On December 7, 2023, the trial court held a dispositional hearing, and found that both
parents were unwilling or unable to care for G.S. No transcript was included in the record for the
dispositional hearing or the court’s findings.
¶ 11 Following an integrated assessment, Antwon’s service plan called for him to complete
random toxicology screenings, individual psychotherapy, a partner abuse intervention program
(PAIP), a parenting education course, interactive parent-coaching services, a psychological
assessment, and a parenting capacity assessment, as well as to follow up with any further
recommended services.
¶ 12 The first permanency hearing was held on March 12, 2024. After the hearing, the trial court
entered findings that Antwon had not made reasonable efforts or reasonable progress for G.S. to
be placed in his care. On June 11, 2024, the court entered an order following a status update in the
case, admonishing both the parties and the court’s caseworkers of the court’s expectations. On
September 18, 2024, following a permanency hearing the court found that both parents had made
-4- reasonable efforts but could not find that the parents had made reasonable progress towards
reunification. (This hearing is also not included in the report of proceedings.)
¶ 13 On December 9, 2024, the trial court heard the updated status of the case, and set a
permanency review for March 17, 2025, in anticipation of a goal change. (This hearing is also not
included in the report of proceedings.)
¶ 14 On March 17, 2025, prior to the start of the hearing, Antwon asked if he could be heard on
complaints regarding his attorney, whom Antwon said “yell[ed] at [him] like *** a little kid.”
Antwon also stated that he felt “lost” and only had been involved in the case because of the
paternity finding. According to him, he had already “done all the services” the court asked him to
do. The court explained that the CASA and GAL reports painted a much different picture of
Antwon’s compliance, stating that he had been unsatisfactorily discharged from parenting
coaching. Antwon insisted that “they said that we graduate” and told the court he was “going to
have a lawsuit[.]” Antwon insisted that he had never received a police report concerning his alleged
abuse of L.S. or G.S. and claimed that he had been falsely accused and “racially profil[ed]”
concerning those incidents. The trial court continued the hearing to June 9, 2025, so that it could
review the assessments and receive updated reports.
¶ 15 On June 9, 2025, the trial court held the permanency hearing. At the start of the hearing,
Connie’s counsel sought to introduce, at Connie’s insistence, a series of police reports detailing
her and Antwon’s involvement with the Elgin police department, including L.S.’s removal and
G.S.’s removal. Counsel candidly stated that the reports were not favorable to Antwon or Connie,
but that counsel felt compelled to seek their admission given Connie’s (and Antwon’s) insistence.
None of the reports was more recent than May 2023. The trial court indicated it would not admit
the evidence as the hearing was about G.S.’s permanency, and the reports were not relevant to that
-5- issue. All parties then jointly stipulated to the most recent reports by the GAL, the CASA liaison,
and the agency caseworker. All reporting indicated that G.S. was struggling with significant
developmental problems as an infant. G.S. required occupational therapy, developmental therapy,
physical therapy, and speech therapy. Meanwhile, G.S.’s foster parents had enrolled G.S. in a
therapeutic preschool and were meeting all of her needs.
¶ 16 With respect to Antwon, reporting indicated that he never remedied his unsatisfactory
dismissal from parental coaching and had yet to begin individual therapy. The case notes indicated
that he was on the waitlist through one of the court-service providers, Guardian Angels. When
Antwon was notified that the waitlist was lengthy, he was encouraged to seek treatment from
several other service providers but never attempted to. Antwon refused to provide any insurance
information to the caseworker because it was “not a criminal case” and stated that it was the
caseworker’s job, and not his, to ensure that he received counseling. The report noted multiple
instances where Antwon was combative with case workers. Despite the foregoing, during
supervised visits, Antwon was generally appropriate with the minor and he had attended (via
Zoom) approximately 10 of G.S.’s therapy sessions, of which she had four a week.
¶ 17 The trial court also reviewed the results of Antwon’s parenting-capacity assessment. The
evaluator determined that Antwon manifests severe anger issues and presents with low cognitive
functioning. He reads at a second-grade level and his capacity for daily living and social skills,
based on his own responses, was assessed as borderline. He reported receiving SSI benefits since
he was a child for an unspecified learning disability. Antwon claimed that he was “fired from his
last job because he had to attend meetings for DCFS” and expressed that the ongoing court
proceedings were an inconvenience to him. Antwon also denied having committed any acts of
domestic violence against Connie or L.S., and denied having been the subject of multiple indicated
-6- findings by DCFS. Although he was observed to have mostly pleasant interactions with G.S. (under
supervision), he manifested no awareness of her significant developmental needs. According to
the evaluator, Antwon’s statements indicate that he expects even very young children should
display strict obedience and he is apt to view independent thought and development as
“disrespectful.”
¶ 18 After the close of evidence and the parties’ arguments, the trial court made extensive factual
findings. In particular, with respect to Antwon, the trial court noted multiple reports identifying
specific instances where Antwon became abusive and combative with both caseworkers and
treatment providers. The trial court also discussed the findings from the parenting capacity
assessment. The trial court stated that both Antwon and Connie appeared unwilling or unable to
accept that “this is not a criminal case but rather a juvenile case,” and that it was not simply about
who G.S. would live with temporarily, but about G.S.’s long-term welfare. The trial court was
incredulous about Antwon’s statement that he felt “lost” noting that he had over two years of access
to court services from L.S.’s case and G.S.’s case in which to orient himself. The trial court found
that neither parent had made reasonable efforts, or reasonable progress, and set G.S.’s permanency
goal to substitute care pending a determination of parental rights.
¶ 19 The State subsequently filed a termination petition alleging that Antwon was an unfit parent
on the grounds that he: (1) failed to maintain reasonable degree of interest, concern or
responsibility as to G.S.’s welfare (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(b) (West 2024)); (2) failed to protect G.S.
from conditions in her environment that were injurious to her welfare (id. § 1(D)(g); (3) failed to
make reasonable efforts to correct the conditions that were the basis G.S.’s removal during the nine
months after she was adjudicated neglect (id. § 1(D)(m)(i)); (4) failed to make reasonable efforts
to correct the conditions that were the basis G.S.’s removal during a subsequent nine-month period
-7- (id.); and (5) failed to make reasonable progress toward G.S.’s return during the initial nine-month
period (id. § 1(D)(m)(ii)).
¶ 20 The record indicates that the trial court held the unfitness hearing on October 20, and
October 22, 2026. However, transcripts from those proceedings were not included in the record on
appeal. Antwon has given us no explanation for their absence, or an appropriate substitute. Cf. Ill.
S. Ct. R. 323(c), (d) (eff. July 1, 2017).
¶ 21 The report of proceedings resumes with the trial court’s unfitness findings on January 12,
2026. The transcript of those detailed unfitness findings numbers 22 pages. Based on the evidence
at the hearing, the trial court found Antwon was not credible and that the State had proved
Antwon’s unfitness on each count by clear and convincing evidence. The trial court further
determined that it was in G.S.’s best interest to be adopted by her foster parents, whom G.S. had
lived with for nearly three years.
¶ 22 At the close of the hearing, the public defender indicated she would prepare and file a
notice of appeal on Antwon’s behalf. Antwon requested the court appoint him appellate counsel,
but also stated that he was now employed. The trial court determined that his earnings precluded
a further finding of his indigency and that he could afford to hire an attorney. Nevertheless, Antwon
elected to proceed with this appeal pro se.
¶ 23 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 24 As we have noted already, Antwon’s appellate brief fails to comply with the most basic
requirements expected of litigants in this court. The purpose of such rules is to require parties to
present clear and orderly arguments so that we may properly ascertain and dispose of the issues
involved. Hall v. Naper Gold Hospitality LLC, 2012 IL App (2d) 111151, ¶ 7. Antwon’s pro se
status is no excuse; “pro se litigants are presumed to have full knowledge of applicable court rules
-8- and procedures and must comply with the same rules and procedures as would be required of
litigants represented by attorneys.” In re Estate of Pellico, 394 Ill. App. 3d 1052, 1067 (2009). This
court is not a repository into which the appellant can dump the burden of research. County of
McHenry v. Thomas, 317 Ill. App. 3d 892 (2000). It is fundamentally not our role to act as a party’s
advocate or seek error in the record. U.S. Bank v. Lindsey, 397 Ill. App. 3d 437, 459 (2009). In
addition, as we have noted, the record is incomplete. An appellant has the burden to present a
sufficiently complete record of the proceedings, and in the absence of such a record on appeal, it
will be presumed that the order entered by the trial court was in conformity with the law and had
a sufficient factual basis. Foutch v. O’Bryant, 99 Ill. 2d 389, 391-92 (1984).
¶ 25 Because a biological parent’s right to raise his or her child is a fundamental liberty interest
and involuntary termination of parental rights is a drastic measure (In re Gwynne P., 215 Ill. 2d
340, 353 (2005)), we have elected not to strike Antwon’s brief or dismiss this appeal. Rather, we
determine that our review will provide this case with the finality it deserves. We further note that
at no point does Antwon offer any coherent argument that either he was fit to parent G.S. or that
his parental rights should not have been terminated.
¶ 26 The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/1-1 et seq. (West 2024)) sets forth a two-
stage process for the involuntary termination of parental rights. In re Keyon R., 2017 IL App (2d)
160657, ¶ 16. Initially, the State has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that
the parent is unfit under any single ground set forth in section 1(D) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS
50/1(D) (West 2024)). See 705 ILCS 405/2-29(2), (4) (West 2022); In re J.L., 236 Ill. 2d 329, 337
(2010). If the trial court finds the parent unfit, the State must then show by a preponderance of the
evidence that termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest. See 705 ILCS 405/2-
29(2) (West 2020); In re D.T., 212 Ill. 2d 347, 367 (2004). On appeal, this court will not disturb a
-9- trial court's finding with respect to parental unfitness or a child’s best interest unless it is against
the manifest weight of the evidence. In re N.B., 2019 IL App (2d) 180797, ¶¶ 30, 43. A decision is
against the manifest weight of the evidence “only if the opposite conclusion is clearly apparent or
the decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on the evidence.” Keyon R., 2017 IL App (2d)
160657, ¶ 16.
¶ 27 We begin with the findings of Antwon’s unfitness. We need not address all five counts in
the State’s petition, as any one count, properly proven, is sufficient to sustain a finding of parental
unfitness. In re D.C., 209 Ill. 2d 287, 296 (2004). While there is no basis to disturb any of the trial
court’s findings, we will focus on the reasonable progress count.
¶ 28 Pursuant to section 1(D)(m)(ii) of the Adoption Act a parent may be found unfit due to
“[f]ailure by a parent *** to make reasonable progress toward the return of the child to the parent
during any 9-month period following the adjudication of neglected or abused minor.” 750 ILCS
50/1(D)(m)(ii) (West 2022). Reasonable progress is an objective standard, which exists when a
parent’s progress in complying with directives given for the return of the children is sufficiently
demonstrable such that the court, in the near future, will be able to order the child returned to
parental custody. In re F.P., 2014 IL App (4th) 140360, ¶ 88. Reasonable progress includes
compliance with service plans and court directives considering the conditions that gave rise to the
child’s removal and other conditions that would prevent the court from returning custody to the
parent. In re C.W., 199 Ill. 2d 198, 213-14 (2002).
¶ 29 The record is overwhelmingly clear that Antwon failed to make reasonable progress during
the nine months alleged in the State’s petition. With the exception of keeping some appointments
for supervised visitation, and despite being capable of maintaining gainful employment, the record
shows that Antwon failed to complete any of the tasks assigned to him in the service plan. Rather
- 10 - than engage with service-providers, Antwon consistently maintained a negative attitude, and
denied or minimized his role in the abuse of Connie, L.S., and G.S. Although we do not have a
transcript of the unfitness proceedings, we have no reason to doubt that it was consistent with the
evidence we have received from the hearing, or doubt that it was consistent with the trial court’s
extensive written and oral findings. See also Foutch, 99 Ill. 2d at 391-92 (explaining presumption
that the trial court’s judgment was correct and that the evidence supported the judgment).
¶ 30 What is more, Antwon’s brief before this court maintains his hostility to the proceedings.
He is laser-focused on the allegations of abuse, maintaining that he never lived with Connie or
spoke to the police, and so concludes that he could not have been responsible for any physical
abuse. He never addressed what services he attempted to complete and seems to have little interest
in actually having G.S. placed in his care. As the trial court noted, during more than two years of
post-adjudicative services, Antwon never progressed beyond supervised visitation and has shown
shockingly little concern for G.S.’s welfare. This was not a borderline case. At no point in time
would it have been appropriate to place G.S. in his care, as Antwon was never clear that he
maintained a residence, let alone one suitable for a child. Thus, even if we were not to rely on the
Foutch presumption, we are satisfied that the record overwhelmingly showed Antwon was unfit.
¶ 31 We reach the same conclusion with respect to the trial court’s best-interests findings. At the
best-interests stage, a court is not so much concerned with the parent’s past conduct. Instead, a
court must focus on the child’s welfare and whether the termination of a parent’s rights will
improve the child’s future. See In re D.M., 336 Ill. App. 3d 766, 771-72 (2002). At this point, a
parent’s interest in maintaining the parent-child relationship must yield to the child’s interest in a
stable, loving home life. In re M.C., 2018 IL App (4th) 180144, ¶ 34. Put differently, “[t]he issue
is no longer whether parental rights can be terminated; the issue is whether, in light of the child’s
- 11 - needs, parental rights should be terminated.” (Emphasis in original.) In re D.T., 212 Ill. 2d 347,
364 (2004).
¶ 32 The Juvenile Court Act enumerates factors for assessing a child’s best interests, which must
be considered in the context of the child’s age and developmental needs. These factors include:
(1) the minor's physical safety and welfare; (2) the development of the minor’s identity;
(3) familial, cultural, and religious background; (4) sense of attachment, including love, security,
familiarity, and continuity of relationships with parental figures; (5) the minor’s wishes and goals;
(6) community ties; (7) the minor’s need for permanence; (8) the uniqueness of every family and
child; (9) the risks related to substitute care; and (10) the preferences of the person available to
care for the child. 705 ILCS 405/1-3(4.05) (West 2024). The trial court need not explicitly
reference every factor in rendering its decision. In re Jaron Z., 348 Ill. App. 3d 239, 262-63 (2004).
We review the trial court's best-interests finding under the manifest-weight-of-the-evidence
standard. In re B’yata I., 2014 IL App (2d) 130558-B, ¶ 41.
¶ 33 We are satisfied that the record amply supports the trial court’s best-interests determination.
The transcript of the best-interests hearing shows there was considerable evidence that G.S. was
well bonded to her foster parents, and that they were highly involved in helping to treat her special
needs and sensory development issues. At the time of the hearing, G.S. had been in foster care,
with the same foster family for nearly three years, the same foster family that took L.S. in. G.S.
also refers to both of her foster parents as “Mom” and “Dad,” and G.S. has a strong relationship
with her foster parents’ extended family. As important, G.S.’s foster parents remained committed
to her permanency and to meeting all of her needs.
¶ 34 Termination of parental rights is a drastic measure (In re Gwynne P., 215 Ill. 2d 340, 353
(2005)), and we must review the facts of a termination of parental rights case with close scrutiny.
- 12 - In re S.W., 315 Ill.App.3d 1153, 1157 (2000). However, a trial court is in the best position to view
and evaluate the parties and its termination decision is entitled to great deference. In re N.T., 2015
IL App (1st) 142391, ¶ 27. After careful review of the record, and in light of the deference we grant
to the trial court’s findings, we agree with the State that there was no error here and that the
termination of Antwon’s parental rights was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.
¶ 35 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 36 For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Kane County.
¶ 37 Affirmed.
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