Peo in Interest of TF

• Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 15, 2025
• Docket: 24CA2241
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

24CA2241 Peo in Interest of TF 05-15-2025

COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS

Court of Appeals No. 24CA2241 Weld County District Court No. 23JV24 Honorable Anita Crowther, Judge

The People of the State of Colorado,

Appellee,

In the Interest of T.F., a Child,

and Concerning R.L.,

Appellant.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED

Division A Opinion by JUDGE HAWTHORNE* Román, C.J., and Bernard*, J., concur

NOT PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO C.A.R. 35(e) Announced May 15, 2025

Bruce T. Barker, County Attorney, David S. Anderson, Assistant County Attorney, Greeley, Colorado, for Appellee

Sandra K. Owens, Guardian Ad Litem, for T.F.

Reinaldo B. Valenzuela, Counsel for Youth, Loveland, Colorado, for T.F.

Lindsey Parlin, Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel, Denver, Colorado, for Appellant

*Sitting by assignment of the Chief Justice under provisions of Colo. Const. art. VI, § 5(3), and § 24-51-1105, C.R.S. 2024. ¶1 R.L. (mother) appeals the judgment terminating her

parent-child legal relationship with T.F. (the youth). We affirm.

I. Background

¶2 The Weld County Department of Human Services filed a

petition in dependency or neglect alleging that father had sexually

abused the then fourteen-year-old youth. Because of the youth’s

mental health needs, she was placed in residential treatment.

¶3 Mother made a no-fault admission, and the juvenile court

adjudicated the youth dependent or neglected. The court adopted a

treatment plan for mother which it later amended upon the

Department’s request.

¶4 The Department eventually moved to terminate the

parent-child legal relationship. Following a hearing, the juvenile

court terminated mother’s parental rights.

II. Termination Criteria and Standard of Review

¶5 A juvenile court may terminate parental rights if it finds, by

clear and convincing evidence, that (1) the child was adjudicated

dependent and neglected; (2) the parent has not reasonably

complied with an appropriate, court-approved treatment plan or the

plan has not been successful; (3) the parent is unfit; and (4) the

1 conduct or condition of the parent is unlikely to change within a

reasonable time. § 19-3-604(1)(c), C.R.S. 2024.

¶6 Whether a juvenile court properly terminated parental rights

presents a mixed question of law and fact because it involves

application of the termination statute to evidentiary facts. People in

Interest of A.M. v. T.M., 2021 CO 14, ¶ 15. “We review the juvenile

court’s findings of evidentiary fact — the raw, historical data

underlying the controversy — for clear error and accept them if they

have record support.” People in Interest of S.R.N.J-S., 2020 COA 12,

¶ 10. We review de novo the juvenile court’s legal conclusions,

including its determination as to whether the Department satisfied

its reasonable efforts obligation. See id.; People in Interest of A.S.L.,

2022 COA 146, ¶ 8.

¶7 It is for the juvenile court, as the trier of fact, to determine the

sufficiency, probative effect, and weight of the evidence and to

assess witness credibility. People in Interest of A.J.L., 243 P.3d 244,

249-50 (Colo. 2010).

2 III. Reasonable Efforts

¶8 Mother contends that that the juvenile court erred by finding

that the Department engaged in reasonable efforts to rehabilitate

her and reunify the family. We disagree.

A. Applicable Law

¶9 Before a court may terminate parental rights under section

19-3-604(1)(c), the Department must make reasonable efforts to

rehabilitate parents and reunite families. §§ 19-3-100.5(1),

19-3-208(1), 19-3-604(2)(h), C.R.S. 2024. “Reasonable efforts”

means “the exercise of diligence and care” to reunify parents with

their children. § 19-1-103(114), C.R.S. 2024.

¶ 10 Services provided in accordance with section 19-3-208 satisfy

the reasonable efforts requirement. § 19-1-103(114). The services

that “must be available and provided” as determined by individual

case planning include, among others, screenings, assessments,

home-based family and crisis counseling, information and referral

services to assistance resources, family time, and placement

services. § 19-3-208(2)(b). Additional services may be required if

funding is available, including, as relevant here, transportation and

family support services. § 19-3-208(2)(d).

3 ¶ 11 To evaluate whether a department made reasonable efforts,

the court should consider whether the services provided were

appropriate to support the parent’s treatment plan. People in

Interest of S.N-V., 300 P.3d 911, 915 (Colo. App. 2011). Whether a

department made reasonable efforts “must be measured holistically

rather than in isolation with respect to specific treatment plan

objectives.” People in Interest of My.K.M. v. V.K.L., 2022 CO 35,

¶ 35. The parent is ultimately responsible for using the services

provided to obtain the assistance needed to comply with the

treatment plan. People in Interest of J.C.R., 259 P.3d 1279, 1285

(Colo. App. 2011).

B. Analysis

¶ 12 Mother argues the Department failed to provide necessary

services by “taking a year and a half to request family therapy . . .

followed by a several month delay [and] only offer[ing] one therapist

who [mother] did not feel comfortable using.” But the record

reflects that the Department made numerous referrals for family

therapy, however, mother did not engage in other services to enable

the treatment providers to accept the referral:

4 • The caseworker first submitted a referral to North Range

Behavioral Health four months after the adjudication.

North Range declined the referral because they did not

feel qualified to address the family’s history of trauma

and sexual abuse.

• The caseworker identified another potential family

therapy provider, Flynn Counseling, but it also declined

the referral because mother needed to first engage in

individual therapy and “parental coaching classes such

as non-offending parent or informed supervision.”

• After filing the motion to amend the treatment plan, but

before the hearing on the motion, the Department

identified a fourth family therapy provider, Sovereignty

Counseling. Sovereignty Counseling indicated that

family therapy would not be in the child’s best interest if

mother did not complete parenting classes first.

• The caseworker testified that if mother had completed

other services to which she was referred, the treatment

providers would have felt more comfortable providing

family therapy.

5 ¶ 13 Mother also declined one of the referrals for family therapy.

Approximately eleven months before the termination hearing, the

caseworker contacted the youth’s individual therapist at her

residential placement who agreed to provide family therapy. But

mother objected, believing that having the same therapist provide

both individual and family therapy created a conflict of interest.

¶ 14 Mother next contends that “[a]fter the case had been pending

for approximately a year and a half the Department asked to amend

the treatment plan to add parent coaching and parenting

classes . . . when it was clear those services should have been part

of the initial treatment plan.” But the record shows that the

Department attempted to engage mother in these services prior to

moving to amend the treatment plan:

• The caseworker testified that the Department offered a

parenting coach through Specialized Alternatives for

Youth (SAFY) a year before the court amended the

treatment plan. The caseworker encouraged mother to

engage with SAFY, who offered services to address the

concerns that led North Range to decline the referral for

6 family therapy. SAFY contacted mother numerous times,

but she declined their services.

• Seven months before the treatment plan was amended,

the Department offered parenting classes for “parents

who had partners who abused children (non-offending

parent class).” The caseworker completed a referral to

Aspen Counseling for this non-offending parent class.

But Aspen Counseling did not hear from mother after

reaching out to her, and it subsequently closed the

service.

• A few months later, the caseworker offered to have Flynn

Counseling contact mother regarding the non-offending

parent class. Mother did not respond to this offer.

• Five months before the treatment plan was amended, the

Department offered trust-based relational interaction

(TBRI) as well as “virtual family therapy with parent

support” through Flynn Counseling. Mother did not

respond to this offer either.

¶ 15 During this time, the caseworker attempted to contact mother

and her legal team to “request[] an update on her willingness to

7 complete a non-offending parent class or TBRI classes,” but mother

did not respond. The caseworker also emailed mother a link to

attend classes virtually, but again did not receive a response.

Ultimately, the Department moved to amend the treatment plan

because mother would not engage in services.

¶ 16 Mother also asserts that she “suffered from a seizure disorder

and was unable to drive the several hours for an in person visit”

with the youth, but the Department “only offered to reimburse

[mother] if she used another form of transportation.” The juvenile

court found that the Department offered services related to mother’s

seizures, but mother “also declined those services.” The record

supports the court’s findings.

¶ 17 The caseworker testified that mother never signed a release of

information to allow the Department to obtain information

regarding her seizures. Even without this information, the

Department attempted to offer services and solve the related

transportation problems:

• The caseworker placed a referral for Creative Nursing “to

assist with . . . anything [mother] would need for her

8 seizures . . . they tried to reach her five different times

and were unsuccessful. She declined the services.”

• The Department offered to reimburse mother for mileage

or for Uber fares.

• The caseworker testified that she also “offered to do

what’s called a funds request for the Department to

either get [mother’s] rent paid or vehicle repairs or

monthly housing bills paid. So . . . she could take the

funding that she did have, put that aside and make a trip

to Grand Junction.” But mother never provided the

caseworker with information necessary to submit a funds

request.

• The caseworker offered to pay to have mother’s vehicle

repaired, which would have required three estimates, but

mother provided no estimates.

• Because the youth was in a qualified residential

treatment facility, the caseworker suggested a Medicaid

taxi.

¶ 18 In sum, the record supports the juvenile court’s finding that

the Department “made reasonable efforts to effectuate the treatment

9 plan,” including making referrals and putting services in place, but

mother ultimately “declined all of those services.” People in Interest

of A.V., 2012 COA 210, ¶ 12 (a court may consider a parent’s

unwillingness to participate in treatment when determining whether

a department made reasonable efforts).

IV. Treatment Plan Compliance

¶ 19 Mother next contends that the juvenile court erred when it

found that she did not substantially comply with her treatment

plan. We discern no basis for reversal.

¶ 20 A treatment plan is successful if it renders a parent fit. People

in Interest of C.A.K., 652 P.2d 603, 611 (Colo. 1982). Partial

compliance, or even substantial compliance, may not result in a

successful plan that renders the parent fit. People in Interest of

D.M.W., 752 P.2d 587, 588 (Colo. App. 1987). It is a parent’s

responsibility to ensure compliance with, and the success of, the

treatment plan. People in Interest of A.H., 736 P.2d 425, 428 (Colo.

App. 1987).

10 B. Analysis

¶ 21 The juvenile court adopted a treatment for mother which

required her, among other things, to (1) cooperate and maintain

contact with the Department; (2) obtain parenting skills and attend

family time; (3) maintain stable housing and employment; and (4)

address mental health issues by completing an evaluation and

attending recommended treatment. The amended treatment plan

required mother to also (1) complete non-offending parent classes;

(2) engage in parent coaching; (3) participate in trauma informed

parenting classes; (4) take an informed supervision class; and (5)

complete a psychological evaluation.

¶ 22 In determining that mother had not complied with her

treatment plan, the juvenile court found that mother did not comply

with “a number of objectives” especially “with regard to some of the

parenting objectives.” The court acknowledged that mother “had

been very consistent with the family time” but found that “a lot of

the parenting time remained hostile” and that mother and the youth

“did not progress.” Furthermore, the court found that mother (1)

never engaged with SAFY to receive help with multi-generational

trauma; (2) declined both the non-offending parenting class and

11 TBRI; (3) did not achieve housing or financial stability; and (4) did

not adequately address her mental health because she never

completed an evaluation or therapy.

¶ 23 To the extent mother asserts that she complied with her

treatment plan because she had stable housing and income, this

was never confirmed. The caseworker testified that mother lived

with maternal grandmother, but mother would not let the

caseworker see the house to see if it was appropriate for the youth.

Mother remained unemployed throughout the case and the

caseworker was concerned that mother was unable to provide

financially.

¶ 24 Mother further contends that she maintained contact with the

Department and other professionals. The caseworker acknowledged

that mother was “pretty consistent” in maintaining contact. But as

analyzed above, at least two service referrals were closed because

mother did not respond to the providers and mother did not

respond to many of the caseworker’s offers for additional services.

¶ 25 Mother also contends that because of her treatment plan

compliance, “reunification with her child was appropriate.” But she

admitted that returning the youth home was not an option “without

12 the family therapy.” As analyzed above, family therapy never began

because mother did not engage in prerequisite services required by

her treatment plan, such as parenting classes or coaching. And

without family therapy, family time never progressed beyond

therapeutically supervised virtual visits.

¶ 26 Additionally, the caseworker testified that mother’s mental

health prevented her from caring for the youth. In particular,

mother struggled to regulate her emotions during family time.

Given the youth’s needs, the caseworker opined, it was important

for mother to be “engaged in therapy regarding trauma, therapy

regarding understanding her daughter and her needs as well as her

own needs.” Mother attended five or six individual therapy sessions

but she never provided a mental health evaluation or a

psychological evaluation and did not sign appropriate releases to

allow the caseworker to monitor mother’s progress.

¶ 27 Because the juvenile court’s findings regarding mother’s lack

of compliance with her treatment plan are supported by the record,

we decline to disturb its determination.

V. Disposition

¶ 28 We affirm the judgment.

13 CHIEF JUDGE ROMÁN and JUDGE BERNARD concur.