In re N.C.

763 A.2d 913, 2000 Pa. Super. 362, 2000 Pa. Super. LEXIS 3416
Superior Court of Pennsylvania·Decided November 30, 2000·Published·Cited by 37 cases

Opinion

MONTEMURO, J.:

¶ 1 Appellants, K.C. (Mother) and R.R.M. (Father), appeal from an order entered in the Lancaster County Orphans [915] Court involuntarily terminating their parental rights regarding their sons, N.C., born December 9, 1988, and N.E.C., born February 17,1990.1 Since before the birth of their children, Mother and Father have resided together.

¶ 2 On December 1, 1993, the Lancaster County Children and Youth Service Agency (CYS) learned that Father was physically abusing E.C. and placed the child in emergency foster care. On January 5, 1994, Appellants signed a family service plan, and on February 16, 1994, signed a placement plan amendment for the return of E.C. to their home. The amendment required both parents to obtain psychological evaluations, complete recommended psychological therapy, demonstrate them ability to care adequately for E.C., and cooperate with the personal parent tr ainer provided by CYS. On March 1, 1994, the family court held an adjudication and disposition hearing at which it found that E.C. was an abused and dependent child. Accordingly, the court granted legal custody of E.C. to CYS, and approved the placement plan amendment.

¶ 3 On June 21,1994, a six month review hearing was held in family court. CYS reported that, since the March proceeding, Appellants had both received psychological evaluations. Mother was diagnosed with mild retardation and bilateral hearing impairment, and Father was assessed as functioning at a borderline level. Since March, both parents had regularly visited E.C. at CYS and participated in parenting training. However, the personal parent trainer characterized Father’s interaction as detached, and, after the hearing, the court continued E.C. in the custody of CYS for three more months.

¶ 4 On September 29, 1994, at the nine month review hearing, the personal parent trainer again reported that both parents were participating in parenting training. For that reason, and to make E .C. eligible for placement in a program for at-risk preschoolers, CYS recommended that E.C. be returned to the physical custody of his parents. Thus, the court ordered CYS to relinquish physical custody of E.C. to Appellants. However, on November 8, 1994, caseworkers visiting the family observed a lump and puncture wound on the child’s forehead. E.C. told the caseworkers that his father had struck him with a flashlight and CYS immediately resumed physical custody.

¶ 5 On December 12, 1994, the family court held a second adjudication and disposition hearing. At the hearing, the court again found E.C. dependent and approved a new placement plan that CYS and the parents had signed. The new plan required Appellants to complete individual counseling to address the abuse, and to demonstrate their ability to provide adequate parental care and their commitment to E.C.

¶ 6 On March 23, 1996, at the 15 month review hearing, CYS reported that neither parent had attempted to comply with the placement plan. The parents refused to cooperate with the personal parent trainer and often refused to meet with the trainer at all. CYS had also referred Appellants to Catholic Charities, but Appellants did not take advantage of services offered by that agency either. Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, the court continued E.C. in the custody of CYS.

¶ 7 On June 20, 1995, the court held the 18 month review hearing, at which the court approved a new placement plan amendment. The plan required Appellants to take parenting classes offered by the Spanish American Civic Association, attend counseling sessions at the Lancaster Guidance Center, provide physical and mental health treatment for both children, and resolve certain financial problems. The plan also required Mother to obtain treatment for her hearing impairment and Father to obtain employment and budget counseling. After the hearing, the court [916] continued E.C. in the custody of CYS for six more months.

¶ 8 On August 19, 1995, Appellant’s older son, N.C., was hospitalized for treatment of severe behavioral and emotional problems. Appellants participated in parenting training and family therapy at the hospital. On September 6, 1995, N.C. was discharged from the hospital and continued to receive outpatient therapy. After returning home, however, N.C.’s problems escalated again. Upon further assessment, N.C.’s therapists concluded that Appellants were not capable of implementing the techniques necessary to provide N.C. with the environment he needed to improve his mental and emotional health.

¶ 9 On October 10,1995, at the 22 month review hearing for E.C., CYS reported that neither parent had completed a parenting training program, individual counseling or family counseling. Father had not obtained employment or budget counseling, and Mother had not addressed her hearing impairment. Appellants had also failed to address their financial problems and visited their sons only when CYS transported them for visits.

¶ 10 On October 26, 1995, N.C. was discharged from outpatient counseling and returned to Appellants’ home, although a hospital counselor stated that she had observed no improvement in their parenting skills. After N.C. returned home, CYS continued to provide intensive in-home support for his parents. N.C. briefly reentered public school and enrolled in a therapeutic after-school program, but, on December 14,1995, he was again hospitalized.

¶ 11 On January 2, 1996, the family court held an adjudication and disposition hearing in the interest of N.C. At the hearing, CYS caseworkers and mental health professionals who were treating N.C. recommended removing him from Appellants’ care. The court found N.C. dependent, placed him in CYS custody and approved a placement plan proposed by CYS. The plan contained the same requirements as the plan for E.C., and an additional requirement that Appellants follow N.C.’s health reports and demonstrate their ability to meet his mental health needs. Shortly thereafter, on January 11, 1996, N.C. was discharged from the hospital and placed in foster care.

¶ 12 On April 8 and August 20, 1996, the family court held further review hearings that affected both children. At each hearing, CYS caseworkers again indicated that Appellants had not fulfilled them obligations under the placement plans. •

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In re N.C., 763 A.2d 913, 2000 Pa. Super. 362, 2000 Pa. Super. LEXIS 3416 (Pa. Ct. App. 2000).

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