In the Interest of: J.S. Appeal of: G.S.

Superior Court of Pennsylvania·Decided June 22, 2015·No. 2582 EDA 2014·Unpublished

Opinion

J-S10029-15

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

IN THE INTEREST OF: J.S., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA

:

:

APPEAL OF: G.S., FATHER : No. 2582 EDA 2014

Appeal from the Order Entered July 22, 2014 In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County Family Court at No(s): CP-51-DP-0001440-2014

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., STABILE, and PLATT,* JJ. MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED JUNE 22, 2015 Appellant, G.S. (“Father”), appeals from the order entered in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which adjudicated his minor daughter, J.S. (“Child”), dependent and committed her to the Department of Human Services (“DHS”). We affirm.

In its opinion, the trial court fully and correctly set forth the relevant facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them. We add only that Father timely filed a notice of appeal and concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) on August 13, 2014.

Father raises six issues for our review:

DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY ADJUDICATE CHILD DEPENDENT?

DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY ORDER THAT CHILD BE PLACED?

*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.

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DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY ORDER THAT DHS MAY CONSENT FOR MEDICATION FOR CHILD WITHOUT [FATHER’S] PERMISSION?

DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY FAIL TO ORDER THAT AN INTERSTATE COMPACT OCCUR FORTHWITH?

DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY ORDER [FATHER] TO HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION?

DID THE COURT ERRONEOUSLY RESTRICT [FATHER’S]

VISITATION WITH HIS CHILD, AS TO HER DISCRETION?

(Father’s Brief at 2).1 After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Vincent L. Johnson, we conclude Father’s first, second, third, and fourth issues merit no relief. The trial court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of those issues. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed September 12, 2014, at 9-12; 17-18; 19-20) (finding: (issues 1 and 2) court heard testimony from several witnesses and carefully considered all evidence presented at adjudicatory hearing; testimony revealed that Father’s home was in deplorable condition and was not appropriate for Child; specifically, both DHS social worker and Child Advocate social worker testified that Father’s home was extremely dirty, cluttered, and had repugnant odor; one social worker could not even complete her inspection of Father’s kitchen

because foul odor was so strong; by Father’s own admission, there were

1 For purposes of disposition, we have reordered Father’s issues.

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numerous fruit flies in house and litter box had not been cleaned for some time; additionally, social workers noted flies living in refrigerator among food available for Child to eat; there were also fire hazards in Father’s house, as home had no working smoke detectors or fire extinguishers; there was excessive clutter and debris in house, as well as peeling walls and ceilings; Father refused to permit social workers to access third floor of home, in clear violation of court’s order to allow DHS to access entire home; based on Father’s refusal to let social workers access third floor, whether potentially unsafe or dangerous conditions exist on third floor remains unknown; Father’s home has no doors on any rooms in house, which intrudes on Child’s privacy; DHS social worker testified that paternal grandmother (who lives with Father and Child) bathes 13-year-old Child, which makes Child uncomfortable;2 Father said he was unaware paternal grandmother bathes Child; Father’s family had previous history with DHS regarding similar allegations of hoarding and deplorable conditions in home; DHS social worker testified that Father’s home was inappropriate for Child; court found

2 Father claims the DHS social worker’s testimony about paternal grandmother bathing Child constituted inadmissible hearsay. Father did not object to this testimony at the dependency hearing or raise this complaint in his Rule 1925(a)(2)(i) statement, so it is waived. See In re S.C.B., 990 A.2d 762 (Pa.Super. 2010) (explaining that to preserve issue for appellate review, party must make timely and specific objection at appropriate stage of proceedings before trial court; failure to timely object to basic and fundamental error will result in waiver of issue on appeal); Ramer v. Ramer, 914 A.2d 894 (Pa.Super. 2006) (stating issues not raised in concise statement of errors complained of on appeal are waived).

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testimony of DHS’ witnesses credible; court also saw numerous pictures of Father’s house in which court could see home was deplorable and looked like burnt-out home; court also heard testimony about Child’s unaddressed mental health issues; Child has been diagnosed with schizophrenia; DHS social worker observed Child talking to herself extensively and pacing back and forth; Father stated Child’s behavior is “normal” for 13-year-old without mother or siblings; Father admitted he did not follow-up on scheduling appointment for Child’s mental health evaluation despite informing Child’s school that he would schedule appointment for Child; court was also concerned with Father’s mental health, based on DHS social worker’s interactions with Father and fact that Father had received mental health services in past and had been hospitalized for mental health treatment;3 based on totality of evidence, DHS presented clear and convincing evidence that Child lacks proper parental care and control; Child cannot grow and develop properly in Father’s home; allowing Child to remain in Father’s home would be contrary to Child’s health, safety, and welfare; thus, court properly adjudicated Child dependent under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6302, and committed her to DHS; (issue 3) court had authority under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 6339(b) to

permit DHS to consent to medical care and mental health treatment for

3 Father contends on appeal that the DHS social worker’s testimony about Father’s past mental health treatment was based on a lack of foundation and constituted inadmissible hearsay. Father did not raise these claims in his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal, so they are waived. See id.

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Child; in fashioning order, court sought to ensure Child receives appropriate medical treatment, especially given serious concerns about Child’s mental health; (issue 4) Child’s maternal grandparents reside in Arkansas; court’s order adjudicating Child dependent makes clear that DHS must explore inter-state compact for Arkansas forthwith; thus, Father’s issue is moot4). Accordingly, with respect to Father’s first, second, third, and fourth issues on appeal, we affirm on the basis of the trial court’s opinion.

In his fifth issue, Father argues the trial court lacked legal authority to compel him to submit to a psychological evaluation. Father relies on In re T.R., 557 Pa. 99, 731 A.2d 1276 (1999) (plurality), which Father claims stands for the proposition that a trial court cannot compel a parent to submit to a psychological evaluation over the parent’s objection, based on the particular parent’s constitutional right to privacy. Father suggests no genuine distinction exists between the facts in T.R. and the facts of this

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