In re Mar.H.

2018 Ohio 883
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided March 9, 2018·No. L-17-1171·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

LUCAS COUNTY

In re Mar.H., Mal.H., M.Hi. Court of Appeals Nos. L-17-1171 Trial Court No. JC 14241955

DECISION AND JUDGMENT

Decided: March 9, 2018

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Laurel A. Kendall, for appellant.

Angela Y. Russell, for appellee.

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JENSEN, J.

{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a judgment of the Juvenile Division of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas awarding permanent custody of Mar. H., born March 15, 2008, (“Child One”); Mal. H., born October 23, 2009 (“Child Two”); and M.Hi., born August 14, 2012 (“Child Three”) to Lucas County Children Services (“LCCS”) and terminating the parental rights of the biological parents. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

{¶ 2} E.M. is the biological mother of Child One, Child Two, and Child Three.

L.H. is the biological father of Child One and Child Two. S.H. is the biological father of Child Three. Neither L.H. nor S. H. are parties to this appeal.

{¶ 3} This case originated when the court granted interim temporary custody of the children to LCCS on August 4, 2014. The day before, a neighbor had reported that Child Three was outside, alone, with a “soaking” diaper. When the police responded to the call, they found all three children near the home, alone. In the opinion of an LCCS caseworker who accompanied the officers to check on the welfare of the children, the family home was in “deplorable condition.” It was a Sunday morning. The children reported that their mother had not been home since Wednesday.

{¶ 4} The juvenile court adjudicated the children as neglected. A case plan with a goal of reunification was filed August 15, 2014. Various services were recommended to mother. On August 3, 2015, an extension of temporary custody was granted. The trial court found that LCCS had made reasonable efforts to finalize a permanency plan. On December 3, 2015, the children were placed in the legal custody of mother, with protective supervision awarded to LCCS until further order of the court.

{¶ 5} On May 25, 2016, Child One, then eight years old, told the assistant principal at his elementary school that he wanted to drown himself. The assistant principal invited Child One to her office and spoke with him “extensively” about his feelings and home life. Child One indicated that he was often unhappy and afraid. Child One further indicated that when his mother left at night he was responsible for watching Child Two and Child Three. Child One told the assistant principal that the family had very little food in the home and that he was hungry. The assistant principal called LCCS to report what she had learned. LCCS Caseworkers went to the school to interview Child One and Child Two. The assistant principal also called mother and informed her that Child One had made a statement about harming himself. The assistant principal suggested to mother that she take Child One to the rescue crises center for evaluation. There is no evidence that mother followed through with the assistant principal’s suggestion.

{¶ 6} On May 26, 2016, a motion to change disposition was filed. A shelter care hearing was held and interim temporary custody awarded to LCCS.

{¶ 7} On July 20, 2016, an amended case plan with a goal of reunification was filed. The coversheet indicates that LCCS provided mother with a copy of the plan “at the time that it was filed at court.”

{¶ 8} An “ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW” of the case plan was filed August 2, 2016. The coversheet indicates that LCCS provided mother with a copy of the document “at the time that it was filed at court.” The review indicates that mother was making insufficient progress towards addressing her use of alcohol, insufficient progress toward addressing the issues of neglect, some progress towards addressing the cleanliness of the home, and some progress toward addressing her mental health issues. The review indicates that despite LCCS recommendations that Child One and Child Two attend counseling services, mother failed to get the children to their appointment in March of 2016. It was further reported that because of school and transportation issues mother indicated that there was “not a good enough day” for the children to attend counseling.

{¶ 9} On October 24, 2016, LCCS filed a motion for permanent custody. In its motion, LCCS alleged that after mother was reunited with the children in December 2015, she failed to reengage in the recommended services for substance abuse treatment, the family’s housing conditions deteriorated, and mother failed to take the children to the recommended counseling services. The motion further alleged that after the children were removed from the mother in May 2016, mother failed to complete case plan services to address her “parenting deficits.” It further alleged that mother had been diagnosed with a mental health condition but that she failed to take medication as prescribed, had missed several medical appointments, and had failed to engage in the recommended counseling services. A disposition hearing was conducted over several days in April and May, 2017. The following evidence was produced at the hearing.

{¶ 10} Sherrie Twining is employed by LCCS as an emergency services assessment worker. Ms. Twining described, in detail, the circumstances under which this case began: the children, then ages 6, 4, and 1, were found walking the neighborhood, “very dirty” and unsupervised on August 3, 2014. Garbage was “laying everywhere” inside the family home. While trying to make contact with mother, Twining discovered that the children had been left unsupervised before. The children were arrested for safekeeping and taken to LCCS.

{¶ 11} Kim Casdorph is a caseworker with LCCS. Ms. Casdorph testified that LCCS held temporary custody of the children from August 2014 through December 2015 and then again from May 2016 through the May 2017 hearing. During the interim period mother held custody of the children while LCCS had protective supervision.

{¶ 12} Ms. Casdorph explained that she was first assigned to the family in August 2014. She indicated that the children were initially removed from mother’s custody because of the conditions of the home and lack of supervision. Mother’s first case plan addressed both of these concerns.

{¶ 13} On September 18, 2014, mother was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Because mother was intoxicated at the time of the arrest, LCCS added substance abuse services to her case plan.

{¶ 14} By the end of October 2014, mother had participated in the recommended mental health assessment. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health services were added to her case plan. Mother engaged in dual program for substance abuse and mental health services at A Renewed Mind. By the end of 2014, however, mother’s insurance lapsed and she could no longer attend services there. In February 2015, mother engaged in substance abuse and mental health services at New Concepts. At first, mother made progress. However, because mother’s phone wasn’t always on, she missed transportation opportunities provided to her by the service provider. By May of 2015, mother was discharged from New Concepts as unsuccessful. A short time later, mother engaged in mental health, substance abuse and medication management services at Unison. Mother successfully completed an intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment service in October 2015.

{¶ 15} In regard to parenting services, Ms. Casdorph explained that in May 2015, mother and Child Two began parent-child interactive therapy to help mother address

Child Two’s behavioral issues (defiance, testing the limits, acting out). In Ms. Casdorph’s opinion, when mother attended the interactive therapy, she did well and was open and receptive to the therapist’s suggestions. In addition to the interactive therapy, LCCS linked mother with a parent advocate, a community advocate, and a visit coach.

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In re Mar.H., 2018 Ohio 883 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018).

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