In re T.K.

Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided July 2, 2026·No. 2026CA00037·Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re T.K., 2026-Ohio-2583.]

IN THE OHIO COURT OF APPEALS FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT STARK COUNTY, OHIO

IN THE MATTER OF: T.K. Case No. 2026CA00037

Opinion and Judgment Entry

Appeal from the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. 2024JCV01439

Judgment: Affirmed

Date of Judgment Entry: July 2, 2026

BEFORE: Andrew J. King; William B. Hoffman; David M. Gormley, Judges

APPEARANCES: Brandon J. Waltenbaugh, Chris Eoff, Stark County Job and Family Services, for Appellee; Aaron Kovalchik, for Appellant.

Hoffman, J.

{¶1} Appellant-Mother R. K. appeals the decision of the Stark County Court of

Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, terminating her parental rights and granting

permanent custody of her minor child T.K. to Appellee Stark County job and Family

Services.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

{¶2} Appellant R.K. is the mother of minor child, T.K. (dob 3/25/2019), who is

the subject of this appeal. She is also the mother of minor children S.K. (dob 2/24/14), A.O. (dob 1/14/2015), and X.J. (dob 4/27/2018). (T. at 17, 23-24). J.B. is the Father of

T.K.

{¶3} On December 12, 2024, Stark County Job and Family Services (SCJFS) filed

Complaints alleging the dependency and/or neglect of the minor children. (T. at 17).

{¶4} The Complaint stated Appellant had lost custody of another child and S.K.

in 2014 due to concerns for Appellant’s mental health and domestic violence in the home.

S.K. was ultimately returned to Appellant’s custody at the conclusion of that case. Then

in 2022, Summit County Children Services removed the children due to continued

domestic violence in the home, lack of food in the home, and Appellant’s mental health.

The children were again ultimately returned to Appellant’s custody at the conclusion of

that case in May, 2024. SCJFS continued to receive reports about the family which

included the children coming to school unkempt, T.K. smelling like urine, the conditions

of the home, S.K. caring for the younger children, Appellant sleeping excessively and not

making food for the children, Appellant’s drug use, T.K.'s father having broken a window

in the home, and Appellant not cooperating with non-court attempts to remedy the

concerns by the agency. (T. at 29-30).

{¶5} On the same day, the trial court granted emergency temporary custody of

the children to SCJFS via an ex-parte order. The trial court also ordered Appellant to

complete a parenting assessment, a substance abuse assessment, and a drug screen within

48 hours, and comply with all recommendations.

{¶6} On December 13, 2025, the trial court held an emergency shelter care

hearing finding probable cause existed for the issuance of the emergency orders, SCJFS

had engaged in reasonable efforts to prevent the need for the removal of the children,

SCJFS had made intensive efforts to identify and engage appropriate and willing kinship caregivers for the children, continued residence of the children with Appellant was

contrary to the children's best interests. The trial court also approved and adopted the

pre-adjudicatory orders requested by SCJFS and placed the children into the temporary

custody of SCJFS. The trial court also found Appellant had an extensive history with

SCJFS due to concerns for her mental health, domestic violence in the home, and lack of

food in the home. Current concerns for the children included not being fed and being

unkempt at school and the older child S.K., who was 10 years old at the time, providing

for the younger children while Appellant slept.

{¶7} On February 27, 2024, the trial court found the children to be dependent

and continued their placement in the temporary custody of SCJFS. The trial court

reiterated its earlier concerns in addition to concerns Appellant tested positive for THC

and cocaine and had refused to cooperate with non-court services. The trial court also

placed the children into the temporary custody of SCJFS, approved and adopted the initial

case plan, found SCJFS had engaged in reasonable efforts to prevent the need for the

removal of the children, and continued residence of the children with Appellant was

contrary to the children's best interest, and SCJFS had made intensive efforts to identify

and engage appropriate and willing kinship caregivers for the children. (T. at 17, 24, 29).

{¶8} On July 8, 2025, the trial court reviewed the case and ordered status quo.

The trial court found Appellant had not yet completed a parenting evaluation, had failed

to complete recommended substance abuse treatment and had been discharged, did not

have housing, and was “more concerned with her phone than engaging with her children”

during visitation.

{¶9} On November 6, 2025, SCJFS filed motions seeking permanent custody of

three of the children, alleging, inter alia, the children could not be placed with Appellant within a reasonable amount of time and permanent custody was in the children’s best

interest. SCJFS also moved the trial court to change legal custody of S.K. to a kinship

provider.

{¶10} On November 7, 2025, the trial court again reviewed the case, finding SCJFS

had made reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan in effect and had made

intensive efforts to identify and engage appropriate and willing kinship caregivers for the

children. The trial court maintained status quo. With regard to Appellant, the trial court

found she had still not started her parenting assessment, was not compliant with

substance abuse treatment or drug screening, did not have stable housing, and had not

provided proof of income.

{¶11} On January 20, 2026, the Guardians ad litem for the children filed their

final reports. Attorney Amanda Krochka, the Guardian ad litem for S.K., A.O. and X.J.,

and Attorney Anastasia Dunigan, the Guardian ad litem for T.K., both recommended

permanent custody of the children be granted to SCJFS, based on the best interests of the

children. Both raised concerns regarding Appellant’s lack of compliance with her case

plan and the lack of safety care for the children.

{¶12} On January 26, 2026, a hearing was held on the pending motions for

permanent custody. At the hearing, the trial court heard the following evidence:

{¶13} Emily Smith testified she is employed by SCJFS and was the original

ongoing caseworker assigned to the case. (T. at 23). She testified to the procedural history

of the case and stated the children remained in the temporary custody of SCJFS

throughout the case. (T. at 24-25). Caseworker Smith testified the children were removed

from Appellant’s custody partly due to her mental health, substance abuse, history of

losing custody of her children, poor home conditions, domestic violence within the home, and the children attending school hungry and T.K. smelling of urine. (T. at 29-30). She

stated SCJFS first created a case plan to remedy those concerns, and the case plan was

approved and adopted by the trial court on several different occasions. (T. at 27-30). She

stated Appellant was provided with a copy of the case plan and she discussed it with her.

(T. at 35). Appellant’s case plan ordered her to complete a parenting assessment, a drug

and alcohol assessment, comply with all resulting recommendations, and comply with

random drug screening. (T. at 28). Appellant failed to complete a parenting assessment

during Ms.

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