IN RE REED/FLETCHER/MCDANIEL MINORS

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STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS In the Matter of VINCENT JAMES REED, ALSIA SADE REED, CARMIESHIA GAIL FLETCHER, and ROSARIO MCDANIEL, JR., Minors. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, UNPUBLISHED November 28, 2000 Petitioner-Appellee, v No. 225058 Wayne Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 97-354189 KENDRA ILENE REED, Respondent-Appellant, and ROSARIO MCDANIEL, RONALD LEE THOMAS, SAMUEL FLETCHER, a/k/a JOHN FLETCHER, and ANTHONY COLLINS, Respondents. In the Matter of ROSARIO MCDANIEL, JR., Minor. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY, Petitioner-Appellee, v No. 225188 Wayne Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 97-354189 ROSARIO MCDANIEL, Respondent-Appellant, -1- and KENDRA ILENE REED, RONALD LEE THOMAS, SAMUEL FLETCHER, a/k/a JOHN FLETCHER, and ANTHONY COLLINS. Before: Zahra, P.J., and Hood and McDonald, JJ. MEMORANDUM. Respondent mother, Kendra Ilene Reed, appeals as of right from an order terminating her parental rights to the minor children. Respondent father, Rosario McDaniel, also appeals as of right from an order terminating his parental rights to the minor child Rosario McDaniel, Jr. Their rights were terminated pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (3)(c)(i), (3)(g), and (3)(j); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), (3)(c)(i), (3)(g), and (3)(j). We affirm. Respondent mother reportedly left her children alone on three different occasions. On April 21, 1997, she and the minor children were taken to the emergency room of Sinai Hospital because of an overdose of iron pills. Respondent mother was despondent because she discovered that the man she was in love with was married. A parent/agency agreement was signed in May 1997, and respondent mother was required to attend therapy and parenting classes, find suitable housing, attend visitation, and obtain a legal income. At trial, the case worker, Tamika Massaquoi acknowledged that respondent mother had, at one time, completed all requirements except the suitable housing provision of the agreement. However, the completion of the other goals in the agreement was not celebrated because respondent mother failed to incorporate the skills learned in parenting classes into the visits with the children. The counselor acknowledged completion of the initial therapy sessions, but would not return the children in the absence of additional counseling. Respondent mother refused to attend additional counseling sessions. Finally, respondent mother refused to find suitable housing until the children were returned. Respondent father did not begin to plan for the minor child until it was clear that respondent mother would not regain custody. Although he signed a parent/agency agreement shortly before the termination hearing, he did not take an interest in fulfilling the details of the agreement, and at trial, blamed the failure to attend visits or have a home evaluation on the evaluating agency and Massaquoi. The trial court heard the contradictory testimony presented by respondent father and Massaquoi and terminated his parental rights to the minor child. The trial court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. In re Trejo, 462 Mich 341, 352; 612 NW2d 407 (2000). There was no evidence that either respondent could provide proper care and custody within a reasonable period of time considering the age of the children. Termination was required unless the court found that termination was clearly not in the children’s best interests. Id. at 364- -2- 365. On this record, we cannot conclude that termination was clearly not in the children’s best interests. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in terminating the parental rights of respondents. Affirmed. /s/ Brian K. Zahra /s/ Harold Hood /s/ Gary R. McDonald -3-

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