Mary Ann Cooper v. Bristol Virginia Department of Social Services

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: August 10, 2021
• Docket: 0057213
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Russell, AtLee and Senior Judge Haley UNPUBLISHED

MARY ANN COOPER MEMORANDUM OPINION* v. Record No. 0057-21-3 PER CURIAM AUGUST 10, 2021 BRISTOL VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF BRISTOL Sage B. Johnson, Judge

(David Eddy, on brief), for appellant.

(Matthew B. Crum; Mark D. Haugh, Guardian ad litem for the minor child, on brief), for appellee.

Mary Ann Cooper (mother) appeals the circuit court’s order approving the foster care goal

of adoption. Mother argues that the circuit court erred in approving the foster care plan, finding that

it was in the best interests of the child, and finding that the Bristol Virginia Department of Social

Services (the Department) had provided “reasonable and necessary efforts or services” to her. Upon

reviewing the record and briefs of the parties, we conclude that this appeal is without merit.

Accordingly, we summarily affirm the decision of the circuit court. See Rule 5A:27.

* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. BACKGROUND1

On appeal, “we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, in

this case, the Department, and grant to it all reasonable inferences fairly deducible from the

evidence.” King v. King George Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 69 Va. App. 206, 210 (2018) (quoting

C. Farrell v. Warren Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 59 Va. App. 375, 420-21 (2012)).

Mother is the biological mother of two children, D.C. and J.C., but only J.C. is the subject

of this appeal. On January 31, 2018, the Department received a call concerning D.C. and the

family. During its investigation, the Department became concerned over allegations of abuse

and mother’s substance abuse. On February 1, 2018, the Department removed

then-ten-month-old J.C. from mother’s care.2

The City of Bristol Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court (the JDR court)

entered emergency and preliminary removal orders. The JDR court adjudicated that J.C. was

abused or neglected and subsequently entered a dispositional order approving a goal of return

home.

After the removal of J.C., the Department and foster mother noticed that J.C. had

“noticeable delays in his language and social/emotional skills” and exhibited “social stimming

behaviors.” The Department referred J.C. to physical, speech, and occupational therapy to

address his speech and developmental delays. J.C. functioned “several months below his actual

1 The record in this case was sealed. Nevertheless, the appeal necessitates unsealing relevant portions of the record to resolve the issues appellant has raised. Evidence and factual findings below that are necessary to address the assignments of error are included in this opinion. Consequently, “[t]o the extent that this opinion mentions facts found in the sealed record, we unseal only those specific facts, finding them relevant to the decision in this case. The remainder of the previously sealed record remains sealed.” Levick v. MacDougall, 294 Va. 283, 288 n.1 (2017). 2 The Department also removed then-ten-year-old D.C. Mother later regained custody of D.C. after the entry of a protective order. -2- age in all areas (gross motor, fine motor, cognitive, language, self-help and social emotional).”

He also had “tongue-tie,” which was clipped while he was in foster care. In addition, J.C. had

problems with aspiration and swallowing.

The Department reviewed with mother the requirements she had to meet to be reunified

with J.C. The Department required mother to obtain and maintain safe and stable housing

because when J.C. was removed from her care, mother was “staying back and forth with

friends . . . and family.” In March 2018, mother obtained an apartment. The Department also

required mother to show that she was financially stable, which she did once she was approved to

receive social security. In addition, the Department required mother to submit to random drug

screens and participate in substance abuse treatment. From July 20, 2018 to September 26, 2018,

mother was incarcerated for a drug offense. When mother was released from jail, she tested

negative at her drug screens and attended substance abuse treatment classes. Furthermore, the

Department referred mother to parenting classes and counseling, in which she participated.

Initially, the Department offered weekly supervised visitations to mother. Mother

participated in five visits before the Department received a letter from J.C.’s pediatrician

recommending that the visits stop. J.C.’s pediatrician explained that J.C. was “regressing instead

of progressing with his self-stimulating and developmental issues.” In June 2018, J.C.’s

pediatrician advised the Department that she did “not believe reinstating these visitations

EVER . . . [would] be in the child’s best interests.” The Department suspended the visits, and

the foster mother testified that after visitation with mother stopped, J.C. did not exhibit any

“stimming, humping or head banging behaviors.”

Despite the lack of visitation, mother “frequently” called the Department to inquire about

J.C. and his well-being. The Department provided mother with intensive in-home services and

parent coaching. In addition, J.C. began therapy with a therapist who was a certified trauma

-3- specialist. The therapist worked with J.C. on his anxiety, food obsession, emotional regulation,

oppositional behaviors, and sleep issues. The therapist testified that over the course of treatment,

J.C. had improved, especially with his anxiety, speech, and sensory issues.

Once mother and J.C. were stable, the Department offered mother another opportunity to

visit J.C. On March 28, 2019, mother visited with J.C. The Department reported that the visit

was “unremarkable”; however, after the visit, “all of [J.C.’s] behaviors that had abated returned

immediately.” J.C.’s pediatrician informed the Department that J.C.’s “behaviors will continue

to start every time you introduce someone from his past.” J.C.’s therapist agreed that J.C. should

not visit with mother because of the “threat of regression” and the emotional and physical

dangers to him. J.C.’s therapist suggested that mother “participate in some form of therapy that’s

going to help educate her [about her role in J.C.’s removal], and work on her own individual

needs.”

Considering J.C.’s reaction to the visit and the professionals’ recommendations, the JDR

court entered an order prohibiting mother from visiting J.C., yet the Department continued to

work toward a goal of return home. The JDR court subsequently disapproved the foster care

plan with the goal of return home and directed the Department to submit a new plan. After the

JDR court’s ruling, the Department requested assistance from a licensed clinical social worker,

who also was a certified trauma specialist. The therapist reviewed the records and met with

mother to work toward visitation. The therapist emphasized that mother needed to gain “the

insight into what had transpired, and . . . accept any accountability for what had happened and

that her son was in the position that he was in.” After six sessions, mother stopped attending

counseling and contacting the therapist. The therapist testified that mother had not accepted any

responsibility for her actions and continued to blame the Department for taking J.C. Mother

-4- explained that she was “already in therapy” with a different provider and “didn’t see the point” in

meeting with the Department’s therapist.

The Department submitted a new foster care plan with the goal of adoption, which the

JDR court approved on July 25, 2019. Both the Department and mother appealed the JDR

court’s rulings.3

Before the circuit court hearing, mother met with Dr. Steven Lawhon, a licensed clinical

psychologist, who performed a psychological evaluation and parenting assessment. Dr. Lawhon

also evaluated J.C. Dr. Lawhon found J.C. to be “very hyperactive” and “clearly

developmentally delayed.” Dr. Lawhon opined that someone, other than mother, had sexually

and/or physically abused J.C. when he was between the ages of six months and ten months old.4

Although Dr. Lawhon believed that mother clearly loved J.C., he stressed that she needed

“a lot of guidance and education and help” to become a “good parent.” Dr. Lawhon

recommended that mother “complete a course of treatment with an individual therapist” that

focused on parenting skills, anxiety, substance abuse, and “acceptance of personal responsibility

for unhealthy lifestyle choices.” Recognizing others’ stated concerns, Dr. Lawhon nevertheless

would support another attempt at reunification, provided that mother participated in individual

therapy and accepted responsibility “for the bad men in her life, for the drugs that she did and all

those sort of things.” Dr. Lawhon opined that mother had the “potential” to be able to reunite

with J.C., but she would likely need a year in therapy.

On October 8, 2020, the parties appeared before the circuit court. The Department

reported that J.C. had had “a lot of behavioral challenges, a lot of attachment issues . . . [and a]

3 The Department subsequently withdrew its appeal. 4 Dr. Lawhon testified that J.C.’s self-stimulation behavior was related to sexual abuse.

-5- lot of aggression . . . .” He had been with the same foster family since shortly after his removal.

The foster mother testified that J.C. required “constant supervision, because he has a decreased

attention span and he has impulsive behaviors.” J.C. had been sick “numerous times” with

pneumonia and asthma. J.C.’s aspiration issues remained a daily concern. J.C. had frequent

appointments with doctors and therapists to address his special needs.5

The Department reported that it had concluded that adoption was the most appropriate

goal for J.C. The Department remained concerned about mother’s ability to address all of J.C.’s

“significant needs.” Although mother had complied with the Department’s required services, she

had not accepted responsibility for J.C. being in foster care. Moreover, J.C. “just emotionally

cannot handle” reunification.

Mother emphasized that she had completed all the Department’s requirements, including

parenting classes and a parenting assessment. She testified that a month after the Department

removed J.C., she had found a home, which she had maintained throughout the case. Mother

received social security. She had not been involved in any relationships since the child’s

removal. Mother had access to transportation and was available to take J.C. to his appointments.

Mother testified that she had been in therapy with a licensed clinical social worker since

J.C.’s removal. She explained that her therapist provided substance abuse treatment, and while

acknowledging that she had used illegal drugs before J.C.’s removal, mother testified that she

had not used any illegal drugs since before March of 2018. All mother’s drug screens had been

negative. Mother’s therapist also worked with her on parenting skills.

Mother was frustrated that she had not been able to see J.C. based on “a recommendation

of a pediatrician.” Mother testified that she had tried to contact J.C.’s pediatrician, but the doctor

5 The foster mother testified that J.C. had had 342 appointments between February 2018 and September 2020. -6- would not speak with her. Mother explained that she “never did anything to [J.C.]” and had

“never hurt him.” Mother testified that after J.C.’s birth, she took J.C. to the pediatrician

regularly and a CHIP worker and nurse also visited their home to check on the family. At the

time, J.C. was meeting his childhood milestones. Mother testified that she “just want[ed] to hold

[J.C.]” and argued against the foster care goal of adoption.

After hearing the evidence and arguments, the circuit court found, by a preponderance of

the evidence, that the Department had met its burden of proof to support changing the foster care

goal from return home to adoption. The circuit court also found that the Department had “made

reasonable efforts to accommodate that change of goal and to accommodate [mother] in that

change of goal, and that those efforts have been unsuccessful . . . .” The circuit court

subsequently entered an order approving the permanency planning goal and remanding the case

to the JDR court for further hearings. This appeal followed.

ANALYSIS

Mother challenges the circuit court’s approval of the foster care goal of adoption. “A

preponderance-of-the-evidence standard governs judicial review of the foster care plan

recommendations . . . .” Boatright v. Wise Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 64 Va. App. 71, 79 (2014)

(quoting Najera v. Chesapeake Div. of Soc. Servs., 48 Va. App. 237, 240 (2006)). “On review,

‘[a] trial court is presumed to have thoroughly weighed all the evidence, considered the statutory

requirements, and made its determination based on the child’s best interests.’” Castillo v.

Loudoun Cnty. Dep’t of Fam. Servs., 68 Va. App. 547, 558 (2018) (quoting Logan v. Fairfax

Cnty. Dep’t of Hum. Dev., 13 Va. App. 123, 128 (1991)). “Where, as here, the court hears the

evidence ore tenus, its finding is entitled to great weight and will not be disturbed on appeal

unless plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.” Fauquier Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs. v.

-7- Ridgeway, 59 Va. App. 185, 190 (2011) (quoting Martin v. Pittsylvania Cnty. Dep’t of Soc.

Servs., 3 Va. App. 15, 20 (1986)).

Mother argues that the circuit court erred in finding that there was sufficient evidence to

support a change in the foster care goal. Mother contends that the Department did not provide

her with the “necessary services” to promote reunification because it limited her visitation with

J.C. “‘Reasonable and appropriate’ efforts can only be judged with reference to the

circumstances of a particular case. Thus, a court must determine what constitutes reasonable and

appropriate efforts given the facts before the court.” Harrison v. Tazewell Cnty. Dep’t of Soc.

Servs., 42 Va. App. 149, 163 (2004) (quoting Ferguson v. Stafford Cnty. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 14

Va. App. 333, 338 (1992)).

Here, the evidence proved that the Department provided mother with visitation in March

2019, notwithstanding that the experts recommended against doing so. Then, despite the reports

that J.C.’s behaviors had regressed after that visit, the Department continued to work with

mother on reunification and enlisted the assistance of a trauma specialist to review the record and

counsel mother. The circuit court found that the Department “was committed to reunification,”

but mother had stopped attending the sessions with the trauma specialist.

The circuit court found that J.C. is “a very complicated young boy with an incredible

amount of needs, both physical, emotional, psychological.” The record includes detailed

information about J.C.’s special needs, as well as mother’s progress and compliance with the

Department’s requirements. Nevertheless, the record also supports the circuit court’s finding

that mother had a “lack of understanding about what led to the traumatization” and did not accept

responsibility for J.C.’s trauma. The circuit court noted that even mother’s expert, Dr. Lawhon,

determined that mother lacked an understanding of her role in J.C.’s circumstances. The

evidence suggested that J.C. had been sexually abused, albeit not by mother, between the ages of

-8- six months and ten months, while he was in her care. Furthermore, mother’s refusal to accept

responsibility hindered any efforts for reunification.

At the time of the circuit court hearing, J.C. had been in foster care for most of his life.

The circuit court noted that while “981 [days in foster care] is an unusually long period of

time[,] . . . it’s not the end all and be all of it.” After hearing all the evidence, though, the circuit

court concluded that mother still was “not ready” to care for J.C. “It is clearly not in the best

interests of a child to spend a lengthy period of time waiting to find out when, or even if, a parent

will be capable of resuming his [or her] responsibilities.” Tackett v. Arlington Cnty. Dep’t of

Hum. Servs., 62 Va. App. 296, 322 (2013) (quoting Kaywood v. Halifax Cnty. Dep’t of Soc.

Servs., 10 Va. App. 535, 540 (1990)).

Based on the totality of the record, the circuit court did not err in changing the foster care

goal and finding that a goal of adoption was in the child’s best interests.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the circuit court’s ruling is summarily affirmed. Rule 5A:27.

Affirmed.

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