IN RE NORTHERN-WALKER MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of MARQUISE C. NORTHERNWALKER and JAC’QUISE W. NORTHERNWALKER, Minors.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, f/k/a
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
February 22, 2007
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 271498
Wayne Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 03-422512-NA
JASMINE L. NORTHERN,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
MARQUISE C. WALKER,
Respondent.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and Fitzgerald and Donofrio, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent mother appeals as of right from an order terminating her parental rights to the
minor children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i), (g), and (j). We affirm.
The trial court did not err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination were
established by clear and convincing evidence. MCR 3.977(J); In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337;
445 NW2d 161 (1989). Marquise came into care July 31, 2003, because of unsuitable housing
and environmental neglect. He appeared to be well cared for in all other respects and the referee
was hopeful that the child would be returned to his parents’ care in short order. However,
respondent mother’s substance abuse and mental health issues became an obstacle and were
large components of her treatment plan. Jac’Quise came into care on July 1, 2004, based on the
fact that Marquise was still in foster care and attempts at reunification were unsuccessful.
Although respondent mother took steps just before the termination hearing to address her
alcoholism, she lacked consistency and evidence of a solid after-care program. Her psychiatric
evaluation revealed that respondent mother had schizo-affective disorder. Therapy and a drug
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regimen were recommended, but respondent mother did not follow through with the
recommendations. Housing remained an issue as well. Respondent mother had at least five
homes during the proceedings, none of which was suitable. At the time of the termination trial,
respondent mother was living with a girlfriend and the girlfriend’s teenaged son in a twobedroom apartment. In addition, the children each had very special medical needs that
respondent mother did not seem to appreciate. Although she was ordered to attend their medical
appointments, respondent mother attended only one in three years.
It was clear that the conditions leading to adjudication continued to exist, that respondent
mother was unable to provide the children with proper care or custody, and that the children
would have likely been harmed if returned to their mother’s care. The trial court was required to
terminate respondent mother’s parental rights unless it appeared from the record that termination
was clearly not in the children’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); In re Trejo Minors, 462 Mich
341, 356-357; 612 NW2d 407 (2000). Marquise had been in foster care for three years, and
Jac’Quise for two years. During that time respondent mother failed to substantially comply with
her parent-agency agreement and she failed to regularly visit the children. Additionally, the
children each had special needs. They were entitled to permanence and stability.
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ E. Thomas Fitzgerald
/s/ Pat M. Donofrio
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