FILED MAY 5, 2016 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Parental Rights to ) ) No. 33276-4-III J.L. Q-R; J.N. Q-R. ) (consolidated with 33277-2-III) ) ) ) ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION ) )
FEARING, C.J. -The trial court entered a dependency order removing three
daughters from their home after the two oldest daughters accused the father of sexual
abuse and the mother denied the accusation of abuse. Upon entry of the dependency
order, the trial court ordered the State of Washington to provide the mother mental health
counseling and therapy with a Spanish-speaking counselor for the purpose, in part, of
convincing the mother to believe abuse occurred. The mother speaks only Spanish. The
State ignored the order and assigned a retired male police officer, who spoke only
English, to counsel the mother. The State then sought to terminate the mother's parental No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JN.Q.-R.
rights to the two younger daughters. We reverse the parental termination order because
of the State's violation of the dependency order.
FACTS
This appeal concerns the Quijano family. The father and mother are Juan and Inez
Quijano. Juan and Inez are the biological parents of three daughters: Hannah, born in
1998, Julie, born in 2000, and Jacinta, born in 2007, and two young sons: Karl, born
2003, and Jesus, born 2011. Inez appeals from the trial court's termination of her
parental rights to her daughters, Julie and Jacinta. All names are fictitious. This factual
statement comes from the parental termination trial.
Both Juan and Inez Quijano grew up in Central America and speak only Spanish.
Inez never attended school. At the time of trial, Inez Quijano lived in Wenatchee with
her two sons. Juan Quijano no longer occupied the family home. The three daughters I lived in a foster home in Chelan.
The State of Washington removed Hannah, Julie, and Jacinta from the Quijano
home on August 19, 2013, because the two oldest daughters alleged their father sexually
abused them. Neither parent had any prior history with Washington's Child Protection
Services. After the removal, the State filed a dependency action for all three daughters.
Inez Quijano denies that any of her daughters told her, before their removal from
the family home, of sexual assault. Nevertheless, both Julie and Hannah reported that
they recounted the abuse to their mother, that Inez confronted the father about the abuse,
2 I No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
and that the abuse then ended. The abuse ended one year before the first report to
authorities of molestation. In August 2013, Chelan County law enforcement arrested
Juan Quijano for child rape, but the State never prosecuted him after his release. He sat
in jail for three days.
On August 19, 2013, the same day as the removal of the daughters from the •.
Quijano home, Inez Quijano separated from Juan. Inez has not seen Juan since. Juan has
not returned to the home since. He has had no contact with his daughters. The State
entered a default order of dependency against Juan, and Juan never participated in II services during the dependency proceeding. Because of her view of God, Inez does not
consider divorce an option.
The State deemed Inez Quijano's only parental deficiency to be neglect and failure
to protect her daughters. The State found no other deficiencies during the dependency
action.
On December 2, 2013, the trial court entered orders of dependency for all three
daughters as to Inez. The orders with regard to Julie and Jacinta read, in part:
[X] Services for the parents/guardians/legal custodians entered pursuant to RCW 13.34.130 ... I [X] as follows: As set out in the attached "Settlement proposal- [Hannah, Julie and Jacinto] - 11/27/13": follow recommendations of I psychological evaluation[.]
Ex. 2 at 7. The settlement proposal attached to the order of dependency declared:
3 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JN.Q.-R.
A hearing will be set on March 5, 2014, in the above-named dependency cases, at which time an order may be entered which places the child(ren) in the mother's home, if the following conditions are met: 1. Mother [Inez] has participated in mental health counseling with a Spanish-speaking provider, who will include in therapy information on recognizing the signs/symptoms of victims of sexual abuse; 2. [Inez] has participated in the mental health counseling of her daughters [Hannah], [Julie] and [Jacinto] at Children's Home Society on a weekly basis, as recommended by the children's counselor(s); and 3. The providers of counseling/therapy in nos. 1-2 above report that [Inez] has made progress and that there are no concerns for the safety of the child(ren) if returned to the mother's home under court supervision.
Ex. 2 (emphasis added).
The orders of dependency directed the State of Washington to provide and Inez
Quijano to engage in individual therapy, family counseling, and psychological
evaluation. The State offered the services to increase Inez's understanding of sexual
abuse and to prepare a safety plan so abuse would not reoccur. The State, however, did
not consider development of a safety plan a service. According to John Plotz, the State
caseworker assigned to the Quijano case, Inez Quijano completed all services and was
cooperative. Inez, without any order, also completed a parenting class. The parenting
class taught Inez how to speak and draw close to her daughters. Inez periodically visited
with her daughters, and no problems arose with visitation.
At the request of the State, Inez Quijano obtained a protection order against her
husband that precluded his contact with her and the family. The State told Inez she
needed to obtain the order in order to regain custody of her children. The safety plan
4 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
included the order. The language of the petition for the protective order and the order
was English, but translated to Inez in Spanish. Inez's attorney placed in the petition,
signed by Inez, the following language: "Ms. [Q] has expressed her beliefs that the
alleged abuse did not occur but is willing to get a protection order and comply with the
protection order to have her daughters placed in her home." Ex. 15 at 5, 6.
On November 19, 2013, Dr. John Fishburne, a Wenatchee psychologist,
performed a psychological evaluation, at the request of the State, of Inez Quijano.
Fishburne does not speak Spanish. When performing an evaluation, Fishburne usually
takes a history, performs a diagnostic interview, conducts intelligence or cognitive
testing, and prepares a personality assessment. Because of a language barrier, Fishburne
only performed, through a translator, a diagnostic interview of Inez. He "hoped" this
limited evaluation would be reliable.
When speaking with John Fishburne, Inez Quijano spoke only in a positive light.
During the interview, Inez was cooperative, pleasant, often tearful, intense, sincere, and
never defensive directly. She reiterated her daughters were good and her husband could
not have abused the daughters.
Dr. John Fishburne diagnosed Inez Quijano with an adjustment disorder and
personality disorder, not otherwise specified. As a result of his diagnosis, Dr. John
Fishburne recommended that the State provide Inez therapy, parenting classes, and later
in home services if the State returned the daughters to their home. Dr. Fishburne believes
5 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
that Inez and the dependency process would have benefitted from a psychologist who I spoke Spanish, rather than him, performing the psychological evaluation. Fishburne
desired the State to appoint, for Inez, a Spanish-speaking counselor who understood her
background and culture.
The State of Washington assigned a white male, Michael Magnotti, to counsel
Inez Quijano. Magnotti has been a mental health and relationship counselor since 2006.
He served as a Wenatchee police officer from 1986 to 2006. The State asked Magnotti to
help Inez understand the sexual abuse so that she would cooperate in forming a safety
plan for her daughters to return home. Magnotti believed the father abused the daughters.
Michael Magnotti counseled Inez Quijano on eighteen occasions from December
2013 to April 2014. Magnotti does not speak Spanish and employed an interpreter to
speak with Inez. Magnotti does not believe that having an interpreter impeded his ability
to provide Inez with mental health services because Inez never said "I don't understand"
or "the translation's bad." Report of Proceedings (RP) at 169. f During the counseling of Inez Quijano, Michael Magnotti never developed a I rapport with Inez. Michael Magnotti believes he was not the best counselor for Inez. In i the end, Inez insisted her husband was innocent and that her daughters lied, used drugs,
and were misinfluenced by others. Magnotti quit counseling sessions because of an I impasse. He provided no therapy to Inez. If 6 I t I No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
According to State caseworker, John Plotz, the State of Washington recognizes
merit to assigning Spanish-speaking service providers to monolingual clients. During
trial and on direct examination, Plotz testified to an absence of Spanish-speaking
psychologists in the Wenatchee area or surrounding regions. He did not identify the
geographic area included in the surrounding regions. On cross-examination, John Plotz
corrected his testimony and stated that the State had no Spanish-speaking psychologists
on contract in this area. He further testified the State was "bound by the contract." RP at
194. He did not specify what he meant by "the contract," nor testify why the State was
bound by a contract. RP at 194.
Mackenzie Miller, at Children's Home Society in Wenatchee, counseled Hannah
and Julie individually once a week for one hour from September 2013 to September
2014. Miller diagnosed each daughter with posttraumatic stress disorder because of
each's respective history and symptoms. She directed the girls to write a narrative about
how the abuse felt and their resulting struggles. Miller taught each girl ways to keep
herself safe. Julie and Hannah expressed dismay with the little contact they had with
their brothers. Miller deemed a relationship with the brothers as important for the girls'
health. Hannah and Julie had earlier provided some of the parenting for the boys.
Mackenzie Miller engaged in family therapy with Inez, Hannah, and Julie Quijano
two or three times in late 2013 or early 2014. Miller warned the two daughters in
advance that discussing the sex abuse with the mother would not help because of the
7 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
mother's denial. Both girls wanted to voice their concerns anyway to their mother with
Miller present. During one or more sessions, Inez Quijano insisted that no abuse
occurred and that the daughters were lying. She cried when the allegations were
discussed. Inez refused to participate in preparing a safety plan in the event the father
suddenly returned home. In the end, Miller deemed the sessions partly productive in that
the daughters expressed themselves and she had prepared the daughters for their moth.er's
response.
Edith Pasion, also a counselor at Children's Home Society, provided counseling
for the youngest daughter, Jacinta, beginning in September 2013. Jacinta encountered
distress when first placed in foster care because of missing her mother and her father
being in jail. She experienced nightmares, hid in closets, wet her bed, and cried often.
Pasion diagnosed Jacinta with posttraumatic stress disorder. According to Pasion, the
disorder could have resulted from being removed from her mother. Jacinta improved
with therapy. Pasion is fluent in Spanish and also translated for Inez Quijano when
Mackenzie Miller provided family counseling. I I The two brothers, who reside with Inez Quijano, miss their sisters.
PROCEDURE
On October 30, 2014, the State petitioned to terminate Juan and Inez Quijano's
respective parental rights to Hannah, Julie, and Jacinta. The State later terminated Juan's , i
rights by default. The trial to terminate Inez's rights to her daughters proceeded on I 8 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
March 9, 2015, and lasted one day. At the start of trial, the State dismissed the
termination petition for the oldest daughter, Hannah.
During trial, the State called Inez Quijano, Mackenzie Miller, Mike Magnotti,
John Fishburne, Edith Pasion, John Plotz, and guardian ad litem Marge Littrell as
witnesses. Inez Quijano testified through a translator. Inez Quijano called no witnesses.
During Inez Quijano's testimony, the State of Washington asked her whether she
would prevent her husband Juan from returning to the home, with or without a court
order. Inez responded that the judge controlled whether Juan could return home. She
affirmed that her husband did nothing wrong, but she would not revoke the protection
order so that she could keep custody of her daughters.
During her testimony, Inez Quijano insisted that she participated in all services
required. She declared that she would protect her daughters.
Social worker John Plotz testified at trial that the services provided by the State
did not correct Inez Quijano's parental deficiencies. He did not know of any other
service the State could provide to correct the deficiencies when she continued to deny the
abuse. Plotz averred that there is no likelihood that conditions will change such that the
children can return to their mother in the near future.
During the direct examination of John Plotz, the trial court asked defense counsel
if he intended to object to the leading questions that the State's counsel posed Plotz. The
court commented that the State's attorney is "doing all the testifying." RP at 191.
9 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
During cross-examination, John Plotz admitted that, to his knowledge, Juan
Quijano has not attempted to contact the daughters. He expressed, however, a concern
that the husband might return to the home.
During trial, psychologist John Fishburne testified Inez Quijano's rigidity created
a barrier to services. This rigidity also compromised her ability to parent. Unless Inez
Quijano recognized abuse occurred, additional services would be futile. At the same
time, Fishburne averred that Inez would benefit by therapy specifically targeted to her
and by a counselor who spoke Spanish. He agreed that a child of a parent with a
personality disorder can lead a productive life.
During trial, counselor Michael Magnotti insisted that Juan Quijano abused his
daughters. Also, without Inez admitting to the abuse, he would not recommend the return
of the daughters. Magnotti would not concede the possibility that the daughters lied.
Therapist Mackenzie Miller testified that Hannah, Julie, and Jacinta would not be
safe if they returned home because of a lack of trust in their mother and an inability to
speak with their mother. Miller opined that Inez Quijano cannot protect her daughters
without admitting to the abuse that occurred.
During trial, the State asked Edith Pasion, Jacinta's counselor:
Q: ... Given what we've discussed today, Ms. Pasion, do you have an opinion as to whether it would be safe for [Jacinta] to return home at this point? A: (no audible response) Q: Or in her best interest?
10 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
A: At this point in time ... You know, this is a difficult answer. Question to answer. It is and it isn't because I did part of the family and I know that mom loves her children, but I think my place today is to advocate for [Jacinta] and for her best interest and her safety and her wellbeing, and my response, based on what I've answered so far, would be no.
RP at 92 (emphasis added).
During her testimony, Edith Pasion opined the girls should not be returned home
unless the mother takes their side. She later limited this opinion to only the two oldest
daughters, not to Jacinta. She also wanted to be assured one hundred percent that dad
would not return home. Pasion first averred that all Quijano daughters, if returned home,
would continue to be traumatized by what previously occurred. On cross-examination,
she conceded Jacinta would not suffer continuing trauma since she never reported any
trauma to her. Pasion could not answer the question of how long the father must be gone
for her to conclude he will not return. She did not know why the court could not prepare
a safety plan for the children to return home. Pasion added that Jacinta is bonded with
her foster mother. She worried that, if Jacinta's father or another man abused her, the
mother would not believe a report of abuse.
Guardian ad litem Marge Littrell recommend that parental rights be terminated
with Julie and Jacinta. She would not recommend the children return home without Inez
Quijano agreeing the abuse occurred.
11 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.N.Q.-R.
The trial court granted the State's petition and terminated Inez Quijano's rights to
Julie and Jacinta. The court entered the following findings of fact with respect to each
daughter:
2.12 Services Offered or Provided. All services ordered pursuant to RCW 13.34.130, and RCW 13.34.136, and all necessary services reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future, have been expressly and understandably offered or provided. 2.12.1 The services ordered for the mother were a psychological evaluation, participation in individual therapy, and participation in therapy with the children. The mother completed these services. Visitation is not a service, however the mother did attend all visitation. The mother completed parenting education classes.
2.12.3 There are no other services that have been identified or requested that are reasonably available and capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future. The department made all reasonable efforts to remediate the parental deficiencies. 2.12.4 The mother did not request or identify any additional services. The mother argues that Spanish speaking providers would have been preferable. The mother argues that female providers would have been preferable, specifically referring to the individual counseling provided to her by Mike Magnotti. The department is limited to contracted service providers and cannot pick the best providers in every case. There is no evidence that Spanish speaking providers were available. There is no evidence that a female counselor was available to provide counseling services. There is no evidence that Mike Magnotti provided inadequate services. There is no evidence to support that a different result would have been reached if Spanish speaking or female service providers were available. Mr. Magnotti testified that after several months of working with the mother no progress was made. Mr. Magnotti's position that no progress was made is no different than the experience of all other service providers in the case, the case worker, the Guardian ad Litem and the Court in interacting with the mother.
CP at 85-86. Other important findings are in an appendix.
12 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Inez Quijano contends, among other assignments of error, that the trial court erred
in finding that the State fulfilled its statutory obligation to provide all necessary services
reasonably available and capable of correcting her parental deficiencies. She argues that
the State failed to offer mental health services tailored to her specific needs because the
State only offered her counseling with monolingual English-speaking providers. Inez
maintains that her only hope of reunification with her daughters was to obtain sufficient
insight to overcome her unqualified denial of her daughters' allegations and she could not
achieve that level of insight with the providers to whom the State referred her. We agree.
The State violated its obligation to provide services when it failed to obey the
dependency order's directive to provide Spanish-speaking services and to provide
therapy. The State also violated its duty when failing to deliver services personalized for
Inez's needs.
A parent's right to control and custody of her children is a fundamental civil right.
In re Dependency ofK.NJ., 171 Wn.2d 568, 574, 257 P.3d 522 (2011). As the United
States Supreme Court observed:
The fundamental liberty interest of natural parents in the care, custody, and management of their child does not evaporate simply because they have not been model parents or have lost temporary custody of their child to the State. Even when blood relationships are strained, parents retain a vital interest in preventing the irretrievable destruction of their family life. If anything, persons faced with forced dissolution of their
13 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
parental rights have a more critical need for procedural protections than do those resisting state intervention into ongoing family affairs.
Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 753, 102 S. Ct. 1388, 71 L. Ed. 2d 599 (1982).
In Washington State, termination of parental rights entails a two-step process. In
re Welfare of C.B., 134 Wn. App. 942, 952, 143 P.3d 846 (2006). First, the State must
show that six statutory requirements under RCW 13 .34.180( 1) are established by clear,
cogent, and convincing evidence. RCW 13.34.190(1)(a)(i). This means the State must
show that the relevant ultimate facts in issue are "' highly probable.'" In re Dependency
of KR., 128 Wn.2d 129, 141, 904 P.2d 1132 (1995) (quoting In re Welfare ofSego, 82
Wn.2d 736, 739, 513 P.2d 831 (1973)). Second, the State must show by a preponderance
of the evidence that termination is in the best interests of the child. RCW
13.34.190(1)(b); In re Welfare of MR.H, 145 Wn. App. 10, 24, 188 P.3d 510 (2008).
Inez Quijano focuses on the fourth of the six initial statutory requirements, the
State's provision of services needed to correct deficient parenting skills. When the State
seeks to terminate a parent's rights, it must show, in part, by clear, cogent, and
convincing evidence:
That the services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 have been · expressly and understandably offered or provided and all necessary services, reasonably available, capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been expressly and understandably offered or provided.
14 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.N.Q.-R.
RCW 13.34.180(1)(d) (emphasis added). Under this statute, the State must provide all
court-ordered and necessary services to the parent. In re Dependency ofD.A., 124 Wn.
App. 644, 650-51, 102 P.3d 847 (2004). To meet its statutory burden, the State must
tailor th~ services it offers to meet each individual parent's needs. In re Dependency of
T.R., 108 Wn. App. 149, 161, 29 P.3d 1275 (2001).
In addition to the services ordered by the court in the dependency order, the State
must identify the necessary services in a permanency plan within sixty days of the child's
removal from the home. RCW 13.34.136(1). Moreover, and most relevant to this
appeal:
The supervising agency or department shall provide all reasonable services that are available within the department or supervising agency, or within the community, or those services which the department has existing contracts to purchase. It shall report to the court if it is unable to provide such services.
RCW 13.34.136(2)(b)(vii) (emphasis added).
In seeking to terminate Inez Quijano's parental rights, the State disingenuously
suggests that it need only offer services to parents through providers who hold contracts
with the State. DSHS social worker John Plotz testified that Spanish-speaking providers
were available in the region, but that DSHS could not refer Inez to them because they
were not contracted with the State. RCW 13.34.136(2)(b)(vii) directs otherwise. The
statute commands that DSHS "shall" provide all reasonable services, and those services
are not limited to those providers with whom DSHS has an existing contract. The statute
I No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
expressly reads that the "department shall provide all reasonable services that are
available within the department or supervising agency, or within the community, or those
services which the department has existing contracts to purchase." RCW
13.34.136(2)(b)(vii) (emphasis added). Note that the disjunctive "or" separates those
services within the community and those services for which the State has existing
contracts.
The State of Washington also ignores the dictate of RCW 13 .34 .180( 1)( d), which
demands that "the services ordered under RCW 13.34.136 [be] ... expressly and
understandably offered or provided." (Emphasis added.) The statute provides no excuse
to the State to avoid providing services ordered but not available with providers under
contract. Washington decisions repeat the obligation to provide ordered services. The
State must provide all court-ordered and necessary services to the parent. In re
Dependency ofD.A., 124 Wn. App. at 651 (2004 ). The statute expressly requires both
that all services ordered have been provided, and that all necessary services reasonably
available have been provided. In re Dependency ofTL.G., 126 Wn. App. 181, 200, 108
PJd 156 (2005).
The State violated its duty by failing to provide counseling and therapy to Inez
Quijano with Spanish-speaking providers. The dependency order expressly directed Inez
to complete "mental health counseling with a Spanish-speaking provider." Ex. 2
(Settlement Proposal (revised)). The order's section on services, with the attachment to
16 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
the order, directed the State to provide "mental health counseling with a Spanish-
speaking provider, who will include in therapy information on recognizing the
signs/symptoms of victims of sexual abuse." Ex. 2 (Settlement Proposal (revised))
(emphasis added).
We find the State's view that it need not obey a court order disconcerting. All
other individuals and entities must obey court orders. The State should be the first to
obey. As Justice Brandeis wrote eight-eight years ago, the State is "the omnipresent
teacher" that "[f]or good or ill, teaches the whole people by its example." Olmstead v.
United States, 277 U.S. 438, 485, 48 S. Ct. 564, 72 L. Ed. 944 (1928) (J. Brandeis
dissenting) overruled in part on other grounds by Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 88
S. Ct. 507, 19 L. Ed. 2d 576 (1967) and Berger v. New York, 388 U.S. 41, 87 S. Ct. 1873,
18 L. Ed. 2d 1040 (1967). The State's demand that Inez Quijano follow the court
dependency order in order to regain custody of her daughters is hypocritical when it
ignores the same order.
The State's own testimony supported the need for counseling and therapy in the
Spanish language. John Plotz testified that the State prefers Spanish-speaking providers
when a parent is monolingual. Dr. Fishburne testified that he forewent portions of his
psychological assessment of Inez because of language barriers. While Dr. Fishburne
testified that his limited evaluation did not affect his diagnosis of Inez, he admitted that
he normally conducts the omitted tests when completing an intake session with a client.
17 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
Dr. Fishburne also recommended to the State that therapy and counseling of Inez be
performed in Spanish. Michael Magnotti, who speaks no Spanish, never developed a
rapport with Inez Quijano.
The State providers acknowledged that Dr. Fishburne and Mike Magnotti, two
Caucasian, male, monolingual English-speaking United States citizens, were not the ideal
providers for Inez, a Salvadoran, female, monolingual Spanish-speaking immigrant. The
American Psychological Association (AP A) would agree. The AP A notes in particular:
Research on culturally adapted interventions indicates that interventions in clients' native languages are more effective than those conducted in English, culturally adapted interventions are more effective than those not targeted to specific cultural groups, and ethnic matching in the therapeutic dyad is likely to improve client retention and therapeutic outcomes.
AM. PSYCHOL. Ass'N, WORKING WITH IMMIGRANT-ORIGIN CLIENTS: AN UPDATE FOR
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 8 (2013), http://www.apa.org/topics/immigration/
immigration-report-professionals.pdf. In some instances, a lack of cultural competency
can lead to misdiagnosis or overpathologization of immigrant clients. See also AM.
PSYCHOL. Ass'N, CROSSROADS: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF IMMIGRATION IN THE NEW
CENTURY 32-3 3 (2012), http://www.apa.org/topics/immigration/immigration-report.pdf.
Eastern Washington has a particular need for the State of Washington to offer
Spanish-speaking services to Hispanic parents. As of the 2010 United States census, 25.8
percent of Chelan County, Inez Quijano's home county, were Hispanic or Latino. Other
18 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JN.Q.-R.
eastern Washington counties have large and economically essential Hispanic populations:
Douglas County 28.7 percent; Grant County 38.3 percent; Yakima County 45 percent;
Franklin County 51.2 percent; and Adams County 59 .3 percent. Of course, not all
Hispanics are monolingual Spanish. We have no statistic as to the number of
monolingual Hispanics in Washington State or eastern Washington, but nine percent of
Hispanics nationwide are monolingual. Many English-speaking Hispanics view Spanish
as their first language and converse more comfortably in the Spanish tongue.
John Plotz's testimony that the State had no Spanish-speaking psychologists under
contract lacks plausibility. Spanish-speaking Edith Pasion provided services for Jacinta.
The State does not explain why Pasion could not be available to provide services to Inez.
The State may not wish the same counselor to counsel both the mother and the daughter,
but the State never provided evidence of this desire and following the court order should
have assumed precedence over such a wish.
If a Spanish-speaking counselor was not available, the State should have known of
this unavailability before entering the dependency order and objected to any language
requiring the Spanish speaker. At the least, the State should have notified the trial court
of the unavailability of Spanish language services long before filing the termination
petition and asked for a modification to the dependency order. The last sentence of RCW
13.34.136(2)(b)(vii) demands that the State report to the court if it is unable to provide
ordered services.
19 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
The State also violated the dependency order by failing to provide Inez Quijano
therapy. The December 2, 2013, order directed the State to provide mental health
services that "will include in therapy information on recognizing the signs/symptoms of
victims of sexual abuse." Ex. 2 (Settlement Proposal (revised)) (emphasis added). The
order further directed the "[t]he providers of counseling/therapy in nos. 1-2 above report
that [Inez] has made progress and that there are no concerns for the safety of the
child(ren) if returned to the mother's home under court supervision." Ex. 2 (Settlement
Proposal (revised)). Mike Magnotti testified that he provided counseling, but not
therapy. Dr. John Fishburne diagnosed Inez with a personality disorder, which is a
psychological condition highly resistant to treatment and more alterable with therapy,
rather than merely counseling.
The dependency order like the psychological profession recognizes a distinction
between counseling and therapy. On the one hand, counseling services denote short-term
treatment for clients with a specific and immediate need such as improving relationships,.
alleviating stress, or changing a lifestyle. A counselor focuses on the present tense.
Therapy consists of all the components of counseling with additional services. Therapy
connotes a longer duration of assistance and addresses the client's extended past. The
therapeutic process helps the client to find the root causes of emotional and behavioral
patterns. Therapy explores one's past in order to gain more understanding about one's tl moods, feelings, and ways of thinking. Since therapy addresses root causes, therapy I 20 I t No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
would have better assisted Inez Quijano in understanding the nature of sexual abuse and
in recognizing the need to be supportive of her daughters when they speak of abuse.
The State may contend that Mackenzie Miller, when meeting with Hannah, Julie,
and Inez Quijano, provided group therapy. Miller never characterized her counseling
sessions with all three present as therapy. Any such therapy was not individual therapy
for Inez Quijano or focused on her needs. The dependency order required individual
therapy, and the trial court found, in finding 2.12.1, that the order of services included
individual therapy.
The State also breached its duty to tailor the services it offered to meet Inez
Quijano's individual parental needs. Dr. John Fishburne testified that Inez needed a
provider who was culturally competent and capable of providing treatment specifically
targeted to sexual abuse. Counselor Michael Magnotti may have possessed the latter
qualification, but even he admitted that he lacked the former characteristic.
We affirm the trial court's findings in a parental rights termination proceeding so
long as they are supported by substantial evidence from which a rational trier of fact
could find the necessary facts by clear, cogent and convincing evidence. In re
Dependency of K.S.C., 137 Wn.2d 918, 925, 976 P.2d 113 (1999). Whether substantial
evidence exists to support the superior court's findings is measured in light of the "highly
probable" test. In re Welfare of Carpenter, 21 Wn. App. 814, 816, 587 P.2d 588 (1978).
Under that test, the evidence must be more substantial than in the ordinary civil case in
21 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JNQ.-R.
which proof need only be by a preponderance of the evidence. In re Welfare of Hall, 99
Wn.2d 842, 849, 664 P.2d 1245 (1983). The evidence establishes a "high probability"
when permanent deprivation is necessary for the physical and mental welfare of the child.
Carpenter, 21 Wn. App. at 816.
The trial court found that the State expressly and understandably offered or
provided all ordered services. The undisputed evidence shows otherwise. No Spanish-
speaking service providers assisted Inez Quijano.
The trial court found that the State is limited to contracted service providers and
cannot pick the best providers in every case. The trial court also found that Spanish-
speaking providers were unavailable. The first finding is more in the nature of a
conclusion of law because the court ruled that the department need not seek services from
providers not under a contract. As explained above, this legal premise is erroneous. We
hold that the second finding is not supported by substantial evidence. The trial court
likely based its finding on the presumption that Spanish-speaking services were available
only if the State had a contract with a Spanish-speaking provider. This presumption is
false. John Plotz testified that Spanish-speaking providers were available in the
Wenatchee 'region, but not under contract. Edith Pasion provided Spanish-speaking
counseling. Regardless, the lack of availability of a Spanish-speaking counselor and
therapist is immaterial, since the dependency order directed services be provided in Inez
Quijano's language.
22 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
The trial court, in its findings of fact, never addressed whether the State provided
therapy to Inez Quijano or whether the State tailored services to Inez Quijano's needs.
The undisputed evidence supports the conclusion that the State breached these
obligations to provide services. In short, the State failed to prove compliance with RCW
13 .34.180( 1)( d) by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence.
Futility of Services
If the State fails to provide all necessary services, but the evidence in the record
nonetheless shows that such services would not have remedied a parent's deficiencies in
the foreseeable future, this court will uphold the termination. In re Welfare ofHall, 99
Wn.2d at 850-51 (1983). Stated differently, when the record establishes that the offer of
services would be futile, the trial court can make a finding that the State has offered all
reasonable services. In re Welfare of MR.H, 145 Wn. App. at 25 (2008). In light of this
principle, the State argues that assigning Inez Quijano a different provider would have
been futile because her refusal to recognize or admit the possibility that her husband
abused her daughters remained unchanged during the entire eighteen-month dependency
and because the evidence showed Inez would make no progress in the foreseeable future.
Inez Quijano contends that the record demonstrates that the assignment of Spanish-
speaking providers would not have been futile because she was willing to participate in
any services necessary to have her children returned. She emphasizes that State
witnesses admitted that Spanish-speaking providers would have been preferable.
23 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
We hold in favor of Inez Quijano with regard to the alleged futility of services for
three reasons. First, the record is not clear who the trial court treated as bearing the
burden of proving futility or the lack thereof. Second, the trial court never addressed f whether individual therapy was futile. Third, we question whether providing services in I a monolingual parent's indigenous language should ever be considered futile.
In its appellate brief, the State argues that, in order to prevail, Inez Quijano must .I .
provide evidence from the trial record demonstrating how a different provider would
have corrected her parental deficiencies. By framing its argument in this language, the
State imposes the burden of showing a lack of futility on Inez Quijano. The trial court's
findings may echo the State's burden allocation. In findings of fact 2.12.4 to 2.13, the
court wrote:
2.12.3 There are no other services that have been identified or requested that are reasonably available and capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future ....
2.12.4 ... There is no evidence that Spanish speaking providers were available. There is no evidence that a female counselor was available to provide counseling services. There is no evidence that Mike Magnotti provided inadequate services. There is no evidence to support that a different result would have been reached if Spanish speaking or female service providers were available .... 2.13 Potential for Remedial Action. There is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to either parent in the near future.
CP at 85-86.
24 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
The findings of fact, read as a whole, suggest the trial court considered the State to
carry the burden of proof, on clear and convincing evidence, to show ordered or
additional services would be futile. Nevertheless, the trial court, in finding of fact 2.12.4,
repeatedly wrote that "there is no evidence" to support factual assertions concerning the
need for individualized services forwarded by Inez Quijano. This language suggests the
trial court imposed on Inez the burden of proof or production to defeat the State's claim
of futility.
We disagree with assessing the burden of proof or a burden of production on Inez
Quijano. Contrary to the State's framing of the futility doctrine, Inez does not bear the
burden of proving anything. In re Welfare of Hall, 99 Wn.2d 842 (1983), the first case in
which our Supreme Court articulated and applied the futility rule, makes no mention of a
parent needing to point to evidence in the record to prove that she would have improved
in the foreseeable future had appropriate services been ordered. No case imposes the
burden of proof concerning the lack of futility on the parent. Under statute, the State
must offer all ordered and necessary services, and the futility doctrine is an exception to
the general rule. The State should carry the burden of proving an exception and the yoke
of excusing its violation of a court order.
The State failed to provide Inez Quijano individualized therapy with a Spanish-
speaking provider, despite the dependency order mandating this service. The State may
deny that therapy, and even therapy in the Spanish language, would have helped.
25 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
Nevertheless, the trial court never entered a finding that therapy would be futile. Instead
the trial court failed to recognize that the court previously ordered therapy in Spanish and
that Michael Magnotti conceded he provided no therapy.
We question whether services ordered in the parent's only language should ever be
found futile. As previously written, the American Psychological Association promotes
the need for psychological interventions in the client's native tongue. Therapy, which
includes an extensive reach into the client's background, culture, and religion, should
particularly be conducted in the client's home language. A Spanish-speaking therapist,
with an understanding of Central American culture, could have better empathized with
Inez Quijano and broken Inez's barriers to recognizing sexual abuse of her daughters.
Inez Quijano demonstrated a willingness to complete all services and comply with
court orders. When reunification depends on one particular factor and the State fails to
provide ordered and helpful services to address the factor, the State should not be
excused from providing less than optimal service providers on the basis of futility.
Related in nature to the futility doctrine is RCW 13 .34 .180( 1)( e), the fifth of the
sixth initial factors in parental termination, which reads, in relevant part:
That there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future. A parent's failure to substantially improve parental deficiencies within twelve months following entry of the dispositional order shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future. The presumption shall not arise unless the petitioner makes a showing that all
26 No. 33276-4-III (consolidated with 33277-2-III) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
necessary services reasonably capable of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been clearly offered or provided.
The State argues that Inez Quijano failed to rebut the presumption contained I within RCW 13.34.180(1)(e) that "there is little likelihood that conditions will be I remedied so that the child can be returned to the parent in the near future" because she
failed to improve substantially within twelve months of the entry of the order of
dependency. Nevertheless, RCW 13.34.180(l)(e)'s rebuttable presumption does not
apply here because the State fails to show "that all necessary services reasonably capable
of correcting the parental deficiencies within the foreseeable future have been clearly
offered or provided." We have already held that the State failed to provide such
necessary services.
This appeals raises many issues other than whether the State provided necessary
and ordered services. We do not reach these other questions. Inez Quijano may raise the
issues again if the State files another petition to terminate her parental rights.
CONCLUSION
We reverse and dismiss the petition to terminate Inez Quijano's maternal rights to
Julie and Jacinta. The dismissal is without prejudice in that the State may file another
petition after providing services consistent with this opinion.
27 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJL.Q.-R.; JN.Q.-R.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
Pennell, J.
28 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.NQ.-R.
Appendix
Additional Findings of Facts
2.13 Potential for Remedial Action. There is little likelihood that -conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to either parent in the near future. 2.13 .1 . . . Prior to the dependency being established, throughout the life of the dependency and by her testimony at trial, the mother has refused to acknowledge that the sexual abuse occurred or even to entertain the possibility that the sexual abuse occurred. The mother's unwavering denial that the sexual abuse occurred has been expressed to all service providers, the case worker and the court. The mother testified that she believed her daughters lied about the abuse and that the accusations were the result of "bad influence" on behalf of unidentified friends. The mother testified that her husband could never have committed the abuse and that he was a "good man." The testimony reflects that when confronted about the abuse in group therapy sessions her response was to accuse the child of lying and to continue to deny that the abuse occurred. 2.13.2 The mother's primary current deficiency that prevents her daughters from being returned to her care is her inability to accept that the sexual abuse perpetrated by her husband occurred or even to accept the possibility that the abuse occurred. The court finds that even if a parent had doubts about the accusations, a fit parent would have taken steps to protect the children and make sure the children were safe. The mother did not take the steps a fit parent would take to protect and keep the [sic] her daughters safe. The mother's priority is her husband rather than her daughters.
2.13 .4 The mother's failure to substantially improve her parental deficiencies within twelve months following entry of a dispositional order has given rise to a rebuttable presumption that there is little likelihood that conditions will be remedied so that the child can be returned to the mother in the near future. The mother has not rebutted the presumption. For [Julie] the near future and foreseeable future is six months to one year. For [Jacinta] the near future and foreseeable future is three months to six months. There is no evidence that conditions would change for the mother over the next twelve months given that nothing has changed in the eighteen months since the children were physically removed from the home. The posture of the case at the time of trial is the same as at the time of removal.
29 No. 33276-4-111 (consolidated with 33277-2-111) In re Parental Rights ofJ.L.Q.-R.; J.N.Q.-R.
The court makes an affirmative finding that the mother is currently unfit to parent for all the reasons stated above.
2 .17 Best Interests of the Child. The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that termination of the parent-child relationship is in the best interests of the child. The testimony of the guardian ad litem, the case worker, the psychologist and the therapists support that termination is in the best interest of the child.
I t l