R. L. M. S. v. Etowah County Department of Human Resources (Appeal from Etowah Juvenile Court: JU-06-73.03 and JU-07-283.03)

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REL: 11/06/2009 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 2080892 R.L.M.S. v. Etowah County Department o f Human Resources 2080926 J.B.C. v. Etowah County Department o f Human Resources Appeals from Etowah J u v e n i l e Court (JU-06-73.03 and JU-07-283.03) 2080892; 2080926 MOORE, J u d g e . I n a p p e a l number 2080892, R.L.M.S. ("the m o t h e r " ) a p p e a l s from t h e Etowah parental Juvenile Court's appeals I n a p p e a l number 2080926, J.B.C. from terminated that same judgment May 1, 2009, Resources t o the extent t h e Etowah ("DHR") f i l e d p e t i t i o n s t o terminate the parental A f t e r a June 1 9 , 2009, a judgment t e r m i n a t i n g t h e mother's and t h e f a t h e r ' s p a r e n t a l that We a f f i r m . C o u n t y D e p a r t m e n t o f Human the j u v e n i l e court entered June 29, 2009. that i t History r i g h t s o f t h e mother and t h e f a t h e r . from ("the f a t h e r " ) h i s parental rights to thechildren. Procedural trial, terminating her r i g h t s t o A.C. a n d J.C., two o f h e r c h i l d r e n ("the children"). On judgment r i g h t s t o t h e c h i l d r e n on The m o t h e r a n d t h e f a t h e r b o t h t i m e l y a p p e a l e d judgment; t h i s court consolidated t h e appeals ex mero motu. Issues In h e r appeal, erred the mother argues t h a t t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t i n terminating contends, her parental the j u v e n i l e court conditions. failed rights t o consider The m o t h e r a l s o a r g u e s t h a t 2 because, she her current the juvenile court 2080892; 2080926 e r r e d i n f i n d i n g t h a t p l a c i n g the c h i l d r e n w i t h the m a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r , K.P., terminating father was not a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e to the mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s . "adopts and incorporates children's the In h i s appeal, arguments the of [the mother]." Mother's Current Section 12-15-319(a), Ala. Conditions Code 1975, a 1 part of the Alabama J u v e n i l e J u s t i c e A c t , c o d i f i e d at § 12-15-101 e t Ala. Code 1975, provides, in pertinent seq., part: "If the juvenile court finds from clear and convincing evidence, competent, material, and r e l e v a n t i n n a t u r e , t h a t the p a r e n t s of a c h i l d are unable or unwilling to discharge their r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and f o r t h e c h i l d , o r t h a t t h e c o n d u c t o r c o n d i t i o n o f t h e p a r e n t s r e n d e r s them u n a b l e t o p r o p e r l y c a r e f o r t h e c h i l d and t h a t t h e c o n d u c t o r c o n d i t i o n i s u n l i k e l y t o change i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e f u t u r e , i t may terminate the p a r e n t a l r i g h t s of the p a r e n t s . " As previously construed language evinces may be at the the terminated time of by this legislative court, the above-quoted intent that parental o n l y upon c l e a r and trial, the convincing parent presently proof rights that, demonstrates an T h i s Code s e c t i o n was f o r m e r l y c o d i f i e d a t § 2 6 - 1 8 - 7 ( a ) , A l a . Code 1975. By A c t No. 2008-277, A l a . A c t s 2008, t h e Alabama Legislature, among other things, renumbered § 26-18-7(a). 1 3 2080892; 2080926 inability or unwillingness to discharge his or her r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o and f o r t h e c h i l d r e n a t i s s u e o r t h a t t h e conduct or presently condition of the parent unable t o p r o p e r l y and that the foreseeable care Human Res., existence evidence or her children termination convincing i s u n l i k e l y t o change i n 859 So. 2d 439, 444 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2003) of of parent See D.O. v . C a l h o u n C o u n t y Dep't o f of current r e l a t i n g t o a parent's i n a b i l i t y his the f o rthe children at issue such conduct o r c o n d i t i o n future. renders or or unwillingness i s implicit parental conditions rights ("[T]he conduct t o care f o r i n the requirement that be and based on clear evidence."). F o c u s i n g on h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s l e a d i n g up t o , a n d a t t h e time of, the t r i a l , t h e mother m a i n t a i n s that DHR d i d not p r e s e n t c l e a r and c o n v i n c i n g evidence of a present on h e r p a r t t o p r o p e r l y care for the children. shows, w i t h o u t d i s p u t e , t h a t , on J a n u a r y 1, 2009, t h e m o t h e r was r e l e a s e d from j a i l period. goals Within inability The e v i d e n c e f o l l o w i n g an e i g h t - m o n t h i n c a r c e r a t i o n a week, t h e m o t h e r met one o f DHR's f o r h e r by e x t r i c a t i n g h e r s e l f from a l e n g t h y relationship with the father stated harmful t h a t had been c h a r a c t e r i z e d by 4 2080892; 2080926 recurring domestic thereafter, v i o l e n c e and c r i m i n a l t h e mother complied with conduct. Shortly another of DHR's c o n d i t i o n s by e s t a b l i s h i n g a s t a b l e and s u i t a b l e r e s i d e n c e i n a mobile home w i t h B.S., a s t e a d i l y e m p l o y e d n o n v i o l e n t man w i t h no c r i m i n a l b a c k g r o u n d , w i t h whom s h e b e g a n a relationship. obtaining The m o t h e r t h e n met a n o t h e r steady and suitable months until t h e time o f DHR's g o a l s b y employment r e s t a u r a n t , e a r n i n g $280 t o $300 p e r week. of the t r i a l , romantic at a Over t h e next t h e mother local five consistently v i s i t e d with the children while maintaining her relationship, residence, behavior a n d employment incidences criminal r e s o l v e d h e r l e g a l t r o u b l e s by a r r a n g i n g t o serve 115 months services, the paying r a t h e r than DHR c a s e w o r k e r The m o t h e r of apparently probation, violence. no also of o r domestic with restitution, and p e r f o r m i n g returning to j a i l . assigned t o t h e case community Talessia English, i n 2007, t h a t t h e mother appeared " r e l a t i v e l y s t a b l e . " testified M i l d r e d Heard, a DHR c a s e w o r k e r who h a d p r e v i o u s l y been a s s i g n e d t o t h e c a s e , t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r a p p e a r e d t o be i n a s i t u a t i o n very s i m i l a r t o t h e one e x i s t i n g i n 2006 when H e a r d h a d b e e n "very comfortable" p l a c i n g the children with her. 5 2080892; 2080926 However, parental when deciding rights exist, whether grounds the j u v e n i l e court to terminate i s not l i m i t e d t o e v i d e n c e o f c u r r e n t c o n d i t i o n s ; i t may a l s o c o n s i d e r history 624 of the parent. Ex p a r t e State Dep't o f Human R e s . , So. 2d 589, 593 ( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . The lost mother's custody officials past o f A.C. discovered d a u g h t e r s , C.W., history shows t h a t t h e mother i n January 2006 when A.C. another and of the not a t the time Although a n d was n o t d i r e c t l y a t f o r t h e i n c i d e n t , DHR d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e m o t h e r regain participating meeting. mother custody i n an According completed of A.C. and a psychological plan addition, she met e s t a b l i s h e d g o a l s evaluation, domestic-violence-prevention s u i t a b l e housing. request without could first ("ISP") t o H e a r d , o v e r an e i g h t - m o n t h p e r i o d , t h e and Heard's C.W. individualized service classes, and mother's a b a n d o n e d i n an a u t o m o b i l e on t h e s i d e o f a m o t h e r was w o r k i n g fault first law-enforcement p u b l i c highway w i t h o u t s u f f i c i e n t c l o t h i n g o r food. the the past that parenting classes. of obtaining In employment However, t h e m o t h e r d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h she end 6 her relationship with the 2080892; 2080926 father. The m o t h e r t o l d H e a r d t h a t she and t h e f a t h e r no 2 longer together, but, in actuality, she were continued her r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e f a t h e r , c o n c e i v i n g J.C. w i t h t h e f a t h e r i n M a r c h 2006 and h i d i n g t h a t p r e g n a n c y f r o m DHR. the mother's c o n t i n u e d DHR agreed to place mother A.C. gave Unaware o f i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h t h e f a t h e r , H e a r d and and C.W. S e p t e m b e r 20, 2006, on a " t r i a l The 3 birth back w i t h the mother on basis." t o J.C. on December 20, 2006. H e a r d t e s t i f i e d t h a t a t t h a t t i m e DHR d i d n o t p e r c e i v e J . C . t o be " a t r i s k " and t h a t she was " v e r y c o m f o r t a b l e " the mother stay, t o keep c u s t o d y o f J.C. allowing a brief After with hospital t h e m o t h e r t o o k t h e i n f a n t J . C . i n t o t h e home w i t h t h e father and the mother's other t h e r e a f t e r , Heard d i s c o v e r e d children. At 4 t h a t t h e f a t h e r was some living point with t h e m o t h e r , and H e a r d i n f o r m e d t h e f a t h e r t h a t he w o u l d have to meet h i s own ISP goals. She scheduled a psychological T h e m o t h e r was a c t u a l l y l e g a l l y m a r r i e d t o a n o t h e r man, W.S., b u t she h a d l e f t W.S. w i t h o u t d i v o r c i n g h i m t o p u r s u e an "on and o f f " r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e f a t h e r . 2 T h e m o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t she h i d t h e p r e g n a n c y o u t o f f e a r t h a t DHR w o u l d s e e k c u s t o d y o f t h e baby. 3 T h e m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a t t h a t t i m e , she l i v e d w i t h t h e f a t h e r , C.W., and A.C. The m o t h e r a l s o h a d a n o t h e r c h i l d , V.C., who d i d n o t r e s i d e w i t h h e r a t t h a t t i m e . 4 7 2080892; 2080926 evaluation underwent complete f o r the an father more evaluation. any part Nevertheless, DHR of The than father the ISP goals d i d not take The the the mother p r o v i d e d c h i l d r e n and C.W. mother in April were 2007 but d i d not steps to he never attempt established any c h i l d r e n f r o m t h e home; a p p a r e n t l y , l e v e l of care once, by to Heard. remove the DHR was s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e t o the c h i l d r e n . removed when she from the custody of was arrested and i n c a r c e r a t e d f o r f e l o n y i d e n t i f y t h e f t and f o r f o r g i n g c h e c k s ; the for f a t h e r a l s o was c o n f i n e d related charges. obtained c u s t o d y o f C.W., relative to receive placed DHR W.S., the b u t DHR and c a r e i n t o f o s t e r care. to j a i l at that time, mother's could apparently legal not f i n d husband, a suitable f o r t h e c h i l d r e n , so t h e y were At that point, Talessia English, a s o c i a l - s e r v i c e s worker, took over the case. English t e s t i f i e d t h a t she met w i t h t h e m o t h e r w h i l e t h e m o t h e r was i n jail i n J u l y 2007 and t h a t t h e m o t h e r t o l d h e r t h a t she h a d committed the crimes t o fund her a d d i c t i o n t o the p r e s c r i p t i o n p a i n k i l l e r Lorcet. However, E n g l i s h l a t e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e 8 2080892; mother 2080926 h a d "changed addiction. released immediately from contacted jail custody of the c h i l d r e n . continued English mother how s h e testified that the t o r e u n i t e w i t h W.S., who E n g l i s h p e r f o r m e d a home a n d DHR p l a c e d i n W.S.'s home on December the children 19, 2007, with on a n o t h e r basis." a n d he a n d t h e m o t h e r r e u n i t e d , she i n t e n d e d children remain suitable shelter moved could The m o t h e r Two weeks l a t e r , a f t e r t h e f a t h e r was r e l e a s e d that drug t h e mother w i t h DHR a t t h a t t i m e . t o have c u s t o d y o f C.W. s t u d y o f W.S.'s r e s i d e n c e , 2007, t o determine i n f o r m e d E n g l i s h t h a t she i n t e n d e d "trial her alleged i n November English m o t h e r was v e r y c o o p e r a t i v e the about 5 When regain her story" i n with t o leave with W.S. t h e mother i n f o r m e d W.S. until a n d employment. the father from in a English English agreed t o l e t the t h e mother The m o t h e r suitable developed another I S P with the family. jail could obtain subsequently home. English Pursuant t o that ISP, E n g l i s h s t a t e d t h a t DHR n e v e r o f f e r e d t h e m o t h e r s e r v i c e s aimed a t r e s o l v i n g any a l l e g e d drug a d d i c t i o n because t h e mother had r e c a n t e d h e r statement and t h e mother d i d n o t a p p e a r t o have a d r u g p r o b l e m . 5 9 2080892; in 2080926 January 2008, the mother and the f a t h e r took c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d r e n w i t h DHR p r o v i d i n g d a y - c a r e The father agreed h o w e v e r , he was to participate a r r e s t e d and a g a i n in 6 parenting a n d A p r i l 2008, a n d DHR recommended r e t u r n i n g t h e c h i l d r e n t o t h e m o t h e r February which 2008 i f she o b t a i n e d she d i d n o t d o . The April children 2008. The mother foster While in the foster checkbook and later subsequently mother a valid care f o r actually permanently driver's license, 7 entered f o s t e r former classes; According to English, the mother p r o v i d e d p r o p e r the c h i l d r e n between J a n u a r y in services. i n c a r c e r a t e d i n February 2008, w i t h o u t h a v i n g met h i s I S P g o a l s . e x c e p t f o r one e p i s o d e , physical had care arranged f o r the l a s t with time i n the c h i l d r e n ' s to care f o r the c h i l d r e n t e m p o r a r i l y . mother's forged at home, least the two mother checks. stole She a r r e s t e d and a g a i n i n c a r c e r a t e d , t h i s time a was from The mother l e f t the c h i l d r e n w i t h a p a t e r n a l aunt w h i l e she t r a v e l e d t o G a d s d e n . W h i l e i n Gadsden, t h e mother's a u t o m o b i l e b r o k e down, e x t e n d i n g h e r s t a y f o r s e v e r a l d a y s . The m o t h e r d i d n o t l e a v e s u f f i c i e n t d i a p e r s a n d f o o d f o r t h e c h i l d r e n , b u t t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r p r o v i d e d them. 6 A p p a r e n t l y , t h e mother c o u l d not a f f o r d t o pay the f e e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h reinstatement o f her d r i v e r ' s l i c e n s e , which h a d b e e n s u s p e n d e d f o r some u n s t a t e d r e a s o n . 7 10 2080892; April 2080926 2008 u n t i l J a n u a r y 1, 2009. f a t h e r got out o f j a i l E n g l i s h t e s t i f i e d that the around the time o f the mother's offense and t h a t she i n i t i a t e d t h e r e u n i f i c a t i o n p r o c e s s w i t h h i m , b u t he d i d n o t meet any o f h i s I S P g o a l s , f o r c i n g t h e c h i l d r e n t o remain i n f o s t e r care. Upon h e r r e l e a s e f r o m j a i l again sought out the f a t h e r , "off and on" with former coworker. the father's parole the mother. that condition the was then the f a t h e r ' s required The parted returned not t o that due o u t " b e t w e e n them, i n early January jail, living friend and t h a t one c o n d i t i o n o f mother t e s t i f i e d to on p a r o l e longtime the f a t h e r and a " f a l l i n g father subsequently who The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d with and B.S., on J a n u a r y 1, 2009, t h e m o t h e r and 2009. the communicate i n part to the mother The father mother's only c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h h i m s i n c e J a n u a r y 2009 was a l e t t e r she h a d received s h o r t l y before mother B.S., almost who expenses. she trial. immediately had known A f t e r the parents s p l i t , started "dating" f o r four years, and l i v i n g sharing the with living 8 B o t h B.S. and t h e m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t by t h e t i m e o f t h e t r i a l t h e y h a d become e n g a g e d . The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she h a d f i l e d f o r d i v o r c e f r o m W.S. i n t h e s p r i n g o f 2009, b u t 8 11 2080892; 2080926 Heard t e s t i f i e d t h a t a l t h o u g h the mother appeared t o i n t h e same s i t u a t i o n as t h e one was "very that comfortable" placement subsequent had conduct. worked incarcerations. English concerned about the mother's recurrent English out and also of b e h a v i o r " help to testified circumstances her due mother, mother's exhibited a "pattern stabilize c h i l d r e n to the she the conduct t e s t i f i e d t h a t she was criminal r e t u r n i n g the not criminal t h a t e x i s t e d i n 2006 when that o f r e l y i n g on until she mother other had men could to regain custody of the c h i l d r e n , o n l y to then r e t u r n to the f a t h e r lose c u s t o d y of As E n g l i s h p u t her and c h i l d r e n because of her then "something happens" t o cause the children's lives. English a l t h o u g h the mother appeared " r e l a t i v e l y of trial, she the mother. legal could not English testified t h a t she the mother would remain out of j a i l , testified the for a instability s t a b l e " at the recommend r e t u r n i n g and problems. i t , the mother would " h o l d i t t o g e t h e r " few months, b u t in the be that, time children to d i d n o t know w h e t h e r whether the mother would t h e d i v o r c e was n o t y e t f i n a l a t t h e t i m e o f t r i a l . The m o t h e r and B.S. had n o t s e t a d a t e f o r t h e i r m a r r i a g e , b u t b o t h a g r e e d t h e y were w a i t i n g f o r t h e d i v o r c e t o become f i n a l before proceeding. 12 2080892; 2080926 remain c o n s i s t e n t l y employed, o r whether t h e mother would s t a y w i t h B.S. E n g l i s h s a i d t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n need permanency and t h a t t h e y s h o u l d n o t have t o w a i t a n d see how t h e m o t h e r w o u l d do. The mother parenting provided and testified that she had benefited domestic-violence-prevention from the DHR had classes a n d t h a t she b e l i e v e d she c o u l d be a g o o d p a r e n t t o the c h i l d r e n . The m o t h e r s a i d she h a d done e v e r y t h i n g DHR asked, "except f o r s t a y i n g out of j a i l . " relationship with maintained that the children she h a d no p l a n s to be had She c o n s i d e r e d good. The to reunite with her mother the father a n d t h a t she was c o m m i t t e d t o h e r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h B.S. mother d e n i e d she h a d a p a t t e r n o f r e l y i n g on o t h e r The men to r e g a i n c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d r e n , s t a t i n g t h a t she h a d o n l y once l e f t t h e f a t h e r t o a t t e m p t r e u n i f i c a t i o n w i t h W.S. The m o t h e r s t a t e d t h a t s i n c e she h a d l a s t been r e l e a s e d from p r i s o n had changed and had "got [ h e r ] l i f e t o g e t h e r " b y , among she other t h i n g s , g o i n g t o c h u r c h a n d b e i n g w i t h a man who does n o t h o l d h e r down. "work this The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she d e s e r v e d more t i m e t o out." The mother admitted that she had had a p r o b l e m b e i n g t r u t h f u l i n t h e p a s t , b u t she a s k e d t h e j u v e n i l e 13 2080892; 2080926 court t o b e l i e v e that she had r e h a b i l i t a t e d . t h a t t h e m o t h e r was now " f o c u s e d " her life As has a n d was c o m m i t t e d t o t u r n i n g around and r e g a i n i n g c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d r e n . t h i s court has noted, the question truly and c o m p l e t e l y juvenile court. R e s 6 So. 3d 1195, whether a parent r e h a b i l i t a t e d s o a s t o resume t h e custody of a c h i l d i sa question the B.S. t e s t i f i e d o f f a c t t o be d e t e r m i n e d b y T.B. v. C u l l m a n C o u n t y Dep't o f Human 1199 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 8 ) . "If the j u v e n i l e court i s convinced from i t s observations that the parent acted s h o r t l y before the t e r m i n a t i o n - o f - p a r e n t a l - r i g h t s h e a r i n g so as t o make i t a p p e a r t h a t he o r s h e was a d d r e s s i n g o r h a d resolved i d e n t i f i e d obstacles to reunification but t h a t , i n r e a l i t y , the b a r r i e r s t o r e u n i f i c a t i o n had o n l y b e e n t e m p o r a r i l y removed o r m e r e l y h i d d e n , t h e juvenile court may conclude that grounds f o r termination s t i l l exist." J.W.M. v. C l e b u r n e C o u n t y Dep't o f Human Res., 438-39 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 7 ) ( p l u r a l i t y o p i n i o n ) . From t h e e v i d e n c e regarding most o f w h i c h was u n d i s p u t e d , could 980 So. 2d 432, have inferred that t h e mother's past the j u v e n i l e court t h e mother had history, reasonably engaged in a longstanding p a t t e r n o f a c h i e v i n g temporary s t a b i l i t y only t o engage criminal in misconduct that resulted i n her i n c a r c e r a t i o n and i n a b i l i t y t o p r o p e r l y care f o r the c h i l d r e n . 14 2080892; 2080926 The j u v e n i l e c o u r t a l s o r e a s o n a b l y c o u l d have d e t e r m i n e d t h a t the circumstances e x i s t i n g at the time of t r i a l represented only another b r i e f c o r r e c t i o n of the underlying c o n d i t i o n that had l e d the mother s a f e t y , and w e l f a r e t o commit acts jeopardizing of the c h i l d r e n . the h e a l t h , B a s e d on t h a t inference, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t r e a s o n a b l y c o u l d have c o n c l u d e d , as i t d i d , that the mother children trial. may that the despite remained unable her apparent to properly rehabilitation B a s e d on o u r l i m i t e d s t a n d a r d care f o r the a t the time of of review, this court not r e w e i g h t h e e v i d e n c e and s u b s t i t u t e i t s o p i n i o n f o r of the j u v e n i l e court; j u d g m e n t when evidence that findings. instead, i t i s supported i s sufficient by court clear must a f f i r m and convincing to s u s t a i n the j u v e n i l e See J.C. v. S t a t e 1172, 1183-86 this court's Dep't o f Human R e s . , 986 So. 2d ( A l a . C i v . App. 2007) (discussing a p p l i c a t i o n of ore tenus s t a n d a r d of r e v i e w i n t e r m i n a t i o n - o f - p a r e n t a l - r i g h t s cases). Accordingly, terminating we current not the judgment r i g h t s should be reversed of the j u v e n i l e court to consider the mother's p a r e n t a l due t o t h e a l l e g e d f a i l u r e the do conditions agree of the mother. 15 that 2080892; 2080926 Viable Alternatives Before determine Beasley, t e r m i n a t i n g p a r e n t a l r i g h t s , a j u v e n i l e c o u r t must that 564 there So. a r e no v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s . 2d 950, 952 (Ala. Ex 1990). One parte viable a l t e r n a t i v e i s placement o f the c h i l d a t i s s u e w i t h a s u i t a b l e r e l a t i v e q u a l i f i e d t o r e c e i v e and care f o r t h e c h i l d w h i l e t h e parent completes placement parte the best and q u a l i f i e d relative child's process, (Ala. 2004). t o r e c e i v e and care of meeting minority." when i n t e r e s t s of the c h i l d . A the c h i l d ' s J.B. v. C l e b u r n e such See Ex relative i s f o r a c h i l d when "can s a f e l y and p r o p e r l y d i s c h a r g e responsibilities Res., rehabilitative J.R., 896 So. 2d 416 suitable the serves the the parental needs during the C o u n t y Dep't o f Human 991 So. 2d 2 7 3 , 283 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2008) . Whether a r e l a t i v e i s s u i t a b l e t o assume c u s t o d y o f a c h i l d a n d w h e t h e r such placement serves t h e best i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d a r e both questions T.B. o f f a c t t o be d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t . See v . C u l l m a n C o u n t y Dep't o f Human R e s . , 6 So. 3d 1195, 1204-05 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 8 ) . In t h i s maternal case, the j u v e n i l e court grandmother") f o u n d t h a t K.P. ("the was n o t a s u i t a b l e p e r s o n 16 t o assume 2080892; 2080926 custody of the children. supports that maternal Clear determination. grandmother Christmastime in The r e c o r d last 2007 and c o n v i n c i n g visited and indicates that the with that evidence the children she had no at ongoing relationship with the children. A l t h o u g h s h e was aware o f t h e children's into the foster-care the repeated placements maternal grandmother h a d made custody of the c h i l d r e n u n t i l first offered herself as no attempts to shortly before t r i a l a relative system, obtain when s h e placement. i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e m a t e r n a l grandmother and d i s c o v e r e d h a d b e e n c i t e d b y DHR f o r n e g l e c t i n g t h e m o t h e r . DHR t h a t she The m a t e r n a l g r a n d m o t h e r a l s o "gave" t h e m o t h e r t o DHR a t age 13 when t h e mother repeatedly r a n away from home and the maternal grandmother d e t e r m i n e d she c o u l d n o t c o n t r o l t h e mother. maternal time grandmother of t r i a l , f o r robbery. that had another was i n c a r c e r a t e d maternal a s o n , who, a t t h e at a state prison i n Atmore A d d i t i o n a l l y , the m a t e r n a l grandmother she i s d i s a b l e d together, child, due t o r h e u m a t o i d the evidence grandmother almost compels The testified arthritis. a finding was n o t f i t t o assume Taken that the custody of the c h i l d r e n a n d t h a t p l a c i n g t h e c h i l d r e n w i t h h e r w o u l d n o t be 17 2080892; 2080926 i n the c h i l d r e n ' s best i n t e r e s t s . the j u v e n i l e court p l a c e the Hence, we do n o t a g r e e t h a t committed r e v e r s i b l e e r r o r i n f a i l i n g c h i l d r e n w i t h the maternal to grandmother. Conclusion The j u v e n i l e c o u r t p r o p e r l y c o n s i d e r e d c u r r e n t c o n d i t i o n s i n l i g h t of t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l context t h a t placement w i t h the maternal and properly g r a n d m o t h e r was determined not a v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e ; t h e r e f o r e , we a f f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t t e r m i n a t i n g t h e mother's p a r e n t a l r i g h t s . any arguments o t h e r a l s o a f f i r m the Because the than those we f a t h e r has have a l r e a d y P.J., rights. AFFIRMED. Thompson, we AFFIRMED. 2080926 raised rejected, judgment t e r m i n a t i n g h i s p a r e n t a l 2080892 not and Pittman, concur. 18 Bryan, and Thomas, J J . ,

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