Opinion
1120813 and 1120814.
2013-11-8
Ex parte J.M.P. (In re J.M.P. v. Alabama Department of Human Resources). Ex parte M.G.N. (In re M.G.N. v. Alabama Department of Human Resources).
Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Civil Appeals (Mobile Juvenile Court, JU–08–910.93, JU–08–911.93, JU–08–912.93, JU–08–913.93, JU–09–262.93, and JU–10–1485.01, George A. Brown, J.; Court of Civil Appeals, 2110770 through 2110775 and 2110776 through 2110781).through2110775 and 2110776 through 2110781). Patricia W. Hall, Mobile, for petitioner J.M.P. Kent Baxley, Mobile, for petitioner M.G.N.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Civil Appeals (Mobile Juvenile Court, JU–08–910.93, JU–08–911.93, JU–08–912.93, JU–08–913.93, JU–09–262.93, and JU–10–1485.01, George A. Brown, J.; Court of Civil Appeals, 2110770 through 2110775 and 2110776 through 2110781).through2110775 and 2110776 through 2110781).
Patricia W. Hall, Mobile, for petitioner J.M.P. Kent Baxley, Mobile, for petitioner M.G.N.
Luther Strange, atty. gen., and Sharon E. Ficquette, gen. counsel, and Elizabeth L. Hendrix, asst. atty. gen., Department of Human Resources, for respondent.
PER CURIAM.
1120813—WRIT QUASHED. NO OPINION.
1120814—WRIT QUASHED. NO OPINION. BOLIN, SHAW, MAIN, and WISE, JJ., concur.
STUART and BRYAN, JJ., concur specially.
MOORE, C.J., and PARKER and MURDOCK, JJ., dissent.
STUART, Justice (concurring specially).
This Court previously granted the petitions filed by J.M.P. (“the father”) and M.G.N. (“the mother”) (hereinafter collectively “the parents”) seeking certiorari review of the Court of Civil Appeals' judgment affirming separate judgments entered by the Mobile Juvenile Court terminating both of their parental rights as to their six children. I concur in this Court's decision to quash the previously granted writs; I write specially to emphasize that the goal of reuniting children with their parents must be balanced by the rights of those children to permanency and appropriate living circumstances.
It is clear from the unambiguous language of the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act, § 12–15–101 et seq., Ala.Code 1975 (“the AJJA”), that juvenile courts considering matters affecting the custody of children must show “a preference at all times for the preservation of the family....” § 12–15–101(b)(8), Ala.Code 1975. Moreover, when circumstances nevertheless require the removal of a child from his or her parents' custody, the AJJA mandates that juvenile courts act to reunite that child with his or her parents “as quickly and as safely as possibly ... unless reunification is judicially determined not to be in the best interests of the child.” § 12–15–101(b)(3), Ala.Code 1975. In such a situation—when reunification is determined not to be in the best interests of the child—the AJJA provides that parental rights may be terminated; § 12–15–319(a), Ala.Code 1975, provides:
“If the juvenile court finds from clear and convincing evidence,
competent, material, and relevant in nature, that the parents of a child are unable or unwilling to discharge their responsibilities to and for the child, or that the conduct or condition of the parents renders them unable to properly care for the child and that the conduct or condition is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, it may terminate the parental rights of the parents.”
Clear and convincing evidence is “[e]vidence that, when weighed against evidence in opposition, will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm conviction as to each essential element of the claim and a high probability as to the correctness of the conclusion.” § 6–11–20(b)(4), Ala.Code 1975.
In the present case, the Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) became involved with the family in April 2008 when one of the children was taken to the hospital following an apparent antihistamine overdose and the parents later left the hospital with the child contrary to the recommendation of the on-duty medical personnel. An investigation was conducted by DHR following the hospital's referral, and, based on concern over the children's health and hygiene, the state of the family's home, and the mother's behavior and her refusal to take a drug test, DHR made the decision to remove the children from the parents' custody.
When informed of that decision, the mother admitted to using marijuana and methamphetamine; the father also later admitted that he used methadone to self-medicate for arm pain so that he could work.
At this time the parents had five children. The oldest of these children is not part of these proceedings, and DHR is pursuing permanent relative placement for him. Subsequent to the initial removal of children in April 2008, the mother has given birth to two more children, who were also removed from the home.
In accordance with the AJJA, DHR's initial goal was to work toward reunifying the children with the parents. To help achieve that end, DHR set goals with the parents and worked to help them become drug-free, to find suitable housing, and to gain the ability to provide for their children. However, at a May 2009 individualized-service-plan meeting at which both parents were present, DHR made the decision to change its plan to termination of parental rights based on the parents' lack of progress toward reaching the goals DHR had set.
The juvenile court subsequently entered orders noting that the new permanency plan for the children was adoption.
At that same meeting, the father refused to undergo a drug screen and the mother tested positive for marijuana.
In March 2010, DHR filed petitions to terminate the parents' parental rights. The petitions generally alleged that the parents had previously failed to provide for the material needs of the children, that they were unable to do so at the present time, and that it was unlikely that they would be able to do so at any time in the foreseeable future. A hearing on the petitions was held in January 2012, and, in April 2012, the juvenile court entered orders terminating the parents' rights to six of their children.
The juvenile court's decision is supported by clear and convincing evidence. During the four-year period between the time the children were removed from the home and the time their parental rights were terminated, the parents failed to demonstrate that they were able “to discharge their responsibilities to and for the child[ren].” § 12–15–319(a). Parents' responsibilities toward their children include the responsibilities “to provide adequate food, medical treatment, supervision, education, clothing, [and] shelter.” § 12–15–301, Ala.Code 1975 (defining “neglect” as the failure to provide those items). At the termination-of-parental-rights hearing, the juvenile court heard evidence indicating that the parents have moved at least 6 times, and possibly more than 10 times, during those 4 years, alternately living with relatives “a few nights here and there,” in different vehicles, in a one-room camper, and most recently in a three-bedroom house whose ownership was apparently the subject of litigation. When a DHR representative attempted to inspect that house before the termination-of-parental-rights hearing, she was refused access beyond the living room. At the termination-of-parental-rights hearing, the father acknowledged that the house “needs a bunch of work” and was not yet a stable and safe place to live, though he expressed optimism that it would not take him long to make it so. The mother also testified that there was not adequate room for the children. Thus, although the parentshad been given approximately four years to demonstrate an ability to provide adequate shelter for their children, the clear and convincing evidence indicates that they had been unable to do so.
The evidence also indicates that the parents lacked the ability to provide otherwise for their children, including at least two with special needs. The mother testified at the termination-of-parental-rights hearing that she could not work because of a problem with her birth certificate and an inability to obtain proper identification. DHR had contacted the State of Arizona, where the mother was apparently born, on her behalf to determine how to resolve that problem and then shared the information obtained with the mother; however, the mother has apparently failed to act on that information to date. Although apparently willing to work, the father testified that he is essentially unable to obtain anything more than irregular work as a laborer because of his lack of education and dental problems. He also testified that he has eyesight problems, carpal-tunnel syndrome, and either a tumor or cyst in his arm. The father's ability to work is further impaired by the fact that his driver's license has been suspended, although he acknowledged that, even though he has already been incarcerated once for traffic tickets, he continues to operate an unregistered and uninsured vehicle without a license. Finally, although the parents receive some government benefits, they acknowledge that the mother's benefits have been reduced as a sanction for fraud, apparently as a result of claiming children that either did not exist or that she did not have custody of; the parents attribute the situation to a “mix up in the paperwork.”
Based on this and other evidence in the record, I agree with the juvenile court and with the Court of Civil Appeals that there is clear and convincing evidence that the parents are currently unable to discharge their responsibilities to and for their children. Moreover, their current circumstances, coupled with their past history, indicate that that inability is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. See A.R. v. State Dep't of Human Res., 992 So.2d 748, 760 (Ala.Civ.App.2008) (stating that court must consider parents' current conditions or conduct relating to their ability to care for their children but may also consider the past history of the family).
To date, the children have now been out of the parents' custody for over five years. DHR initially worked to reunite the family following the removal of the children in April 2008, attempting to help the parents stop using drugs by recommending treatment programs and even arranging medical care for the father to help resolve pain in his arm for which he was self-medicating with methadone. DHR also arranged parenting classes, which the parents completed, and psychological evaluations, which they did not complete because, they testified, the juvenile court did not specifically require them to do so. Finally, DHR attempted to help them better their financial and housing situation by trying to help the mother obtain identification so she could obtain legal employment and by providing information and an application for low-income housing, which the mother testified she completed but which was unsuccessful, presumably because of the parents' poor credit rating. Although the parents appear to have made some progress toward becoming drug-free since April 2008,
DHR's efforts to rehabilitate the parents still have not enabled the parents to obtain stable housing or the means to provide for their children. That failure, however, is not due to a lack of reasonable efforts by DHR, which I believe fulfilled its duty to use reasonable efforts to reunite the family. See, e.g., T.B. v. Cullman Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 6 So.3d 1195, 1198 (Ala.Civ.App.2008) (“Generally speaking, when a child is removed from the parental home, DHR has a duty to use reasonable efforts to reunite the family.”).
The mother was enrolled in a methadone-treatment program at the time of the termination-of-parental-rights hearing. The father had been enrolled in the program but was forced to drop out when he was incarcerated. He testified that he was now drug-free; however, after testing positive for methadone in 2009—before he entered the program—he did not show up for any further drug screens DHR had scheduled for him. A DHR representative testified that DHR eventually stopped scheduling drug screening after the decision was made to terminate parental rights.
In M.A.J. v. S.F., 994 So.2d 280, 290–91 (Ala.Civ.App.2008), the Court of Civil Appeals stated:
“In 1998, our legislature, in response to the passage of the federal Adoption and Safe Families Act (‘the ASFA’), enacted § 12–15–62(c), which requires juvenile courts to hold a permanency hearing to determine a child's disposition within 12 months of the date the child first entered foster care. See A.D.B.H. v. Houston County Dep't of Human Res., [1 So.3d 53, 69 (Ala.Civ.App.2008) ] (Moore, J., concurring in part and concurring in the result). Based on similar statutory provisions in their states, many other courts have concluded that their legislatures have established 12 months as a presumptively reasonable time for a parent to rehabilitate so as to be able to reunite with the child. See Kurtis A. Kemper, Annotation, Construction and Application by State Courts of the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act and Its Implementing State Statutes, 10 A.L.R.6th 173, 193 (2006). We have recognized that, ‘[a]t some point, ... the child's need for permanency and stability must overcome the parent's good-faith but unsuccessful attempts to become a suitable parent.’ M.W. v. Houston County Dep't of Human Res., 773 So.2d 484, 487 (Ala.Civ.App.2000). Consistent with that statement, and the purpose behind the ASFA and § 12–15–62(c) to ‘ensure “that children are provided a permanent home as early as possible,” ’ A.D.B.H., 1 So.3d at 69 (Moore, J., concurring in part and concurring in the result) (quoting Kemper, 10 A.L.R.6th at 193), we hold that when DHR timely exerts reasonable rehabilitation and reunification efforts, the parents generally shall have 12 months from the date the child enters foster care to prove that their conduct, condition, or circumstances have improved so that reunification may be promptly achieved.”
See also T.G. v. Houston Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 39 So.3d 1146, 1152 (Ala.Civ.App.2009) (“[M]aintaining a child in foster care indefinitely is not a viable alternative to termination of parental rights.”), and N.A. v. J.H., 571 So.2d 1130, 1134 (Ala.Civ.App.1990) (stating that “at some point, [children's] need for permanency must outweigh repeated efforts by DHR to rehabilitate the [parent]”). In the instant case, I believe the juvenile court correctly determined, after approximately 4 years, well beyond the presumptively reasonable 12–month timeline described in M.A.J., that the children's need for permanent and stable and appropriate living circumstances outweighed any other considerations.
In Ex parte G.C., 924 So.2d 651, 661–62 (Ala.2005) (Stuart, J., concurring specially), I recognized the inherent rights of parents concerning their children, while simultaneously acknowledging the limits inherent to those rights, stating:
“Children are a gift from God.6 They need and deserve the love and support of both their mothers and their fathers. Parents have God-given rights concerning their children, which are and should be protected by state government. With every right we possess, however, comes responsibility. Rights must be claimed and responsibilities assumed or they may be forfeited.
“....
“Parental rights are counterbalanced by the responsibilities parents assume with those rights. See Lehr v. Robertson, 463 U.S. 248, 103 S.Ct. 2985, 77 L.Ed.2d 614 (1983). The father in this case lost his prima facie right to custody because of his failure to timely assume his responsibilities as a father.
“______________________________
“ 6 Psalms 127: 3–5.”
In the instant case, the clear and convincing evidence establishes that the parents—though willing—are unable to assume and fulfill their responsibilities as parents. Accordingly, I concur to quash the writ, effectively affirming the judgments of the Court of Civil Appeals and the juvenile court.
BRYAN, J., concurs.
MOORE, Chief Justice (dissenting).
J.M.P. and M.G.N. appealed the juvenile court's termination of their parental rights to six of their children, J.P., C.P., S.P., S.N., T.P., and S.J.M.P., which the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed. This Court initially granted certiorari review and now quashes the writs. I respectfully dissent. For the reasons discussed below, I would reverse the trial court's termination of J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s God-given parental rights to six of their children and remand the case because I do not believe the evidence in this case rises to the level of the clear and convincing evidence required by § 12–15–319(a), Ala.Code 1975. Section 12–15–319(a) is phrased in present and future terms, and I believe the juvenile court has terminated J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental rights without clear and convincing evidence that J.M.P. and M.G.N. are currently unable to discharge their parental duties. See S.U. v. Madison Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 91 So.3d 716, 720 (Ala.Civ.App.2012), and D.O. v. Calhoun Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 859 So.2d 439, 444 (Ala.Civ.App.2003).
I. Facts and Procedural History
In April 2008, M.G.N., the mother, gave her son C.P. a Benadryl brand antihistamine for his allergies. She left C.P., who was four years old, at home with an adult babysitter and went to pay the rent. When J.M.P., the father, returned home, C.P. was suffering from an altered mental state or possible seizures. J.M.P. did not know that M.G.N. had given C.P. the antihistamine. A Department of Human Resources (“DHR”) caseworker testified that C.P. was unconscious and was taken to the hospital. J.M.P. took C.P. to the hospital for treatment; it is unclear whether M.G.N. was there. The hospital requested a urine screen on the child, which the parents refused. The hospital wanted to admit C.P. for observation overnight, but the parents also refused to leave C.P. J.M.P. and M.G.N. left the hospital with C.P. against medical advice.
The hospital provided DHR a report about C.P.'s condition and the parents' refusal to allow a drug screen. Amy Marcus, a child-protective-services worker, was assigned to investigate. Marcus investigated the family home the following afternoon. At the time, the family lived in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, single-wide mobile home that they were renting. When Marcus arrived, she found the children J.P., C.P., S.P., and S.N., ages five, four, three, and two, respectively.
The children did not seem to have been bathed in a day or so, and their teeth appeared decayed. The children all were dirty, wearing sagging, dirty-looking diapers and carrying bottles. The diapers appeared to have been worn for some length of time, though none of the children appeared to have a diaper rash. Marcus noted that the house was not clean and that the food supply was insufficient. J.M.P. stated that he had just been paid and could obtain groceries.
T.P. and S.J.M.P. were both born during the dependency proceedings. T.P. was placed with M.G.N.'s sister.
M.G.N. was present when Marcus was there and in an agitated state. Marcus described M.G.N. as “very high strung” and said that she appeared to be under the influence of drugs. M.G.N. related that she had not been at the hospital with C.P. and that J.M.P. had not known she had given C.P. the antihistamine. J.M.P. corroborated M.G.N.'s story about her giving C.P. the medication without his knowledge. Marcus discovered that one of the bathrooms in the mobile home was not operational and the entrance was blocked by a sofa. The bathroom had only recently malfunctioned, and the couple had requested maintenance to fix it. The other bathroom toilet had to be flushed by hand. The stove and refrigerator were working.
Marcus returned to the DHR office and discussed the condition of the mobile home and the mother's appearance with her supervisor. Marcus returned the following day and asked M.G.N. to undergo a drug screen. M.G.N. refused and said she wanted to contact her attorney. Marcus left the mobile home, discussed the matter further with her supervisor, and concluded that the children needed to be removed from the home. Thereafter, Marcus contacted M.G.N. by telephone and informed her of the decision to remove the children from their home. M.G.N. refused to have her children placed with any relatives and asked Marcus to come back later when she would cooperate. Because of M.G.N.'s noncompliance with Marcus, DHR petitioned the juvenile court for custody of the children, alleging that M.G.N. was using drugs and that the home was not stable or clean. M.G.N., who initially stated that she had taken an energy pill that resulted in her “high strung” appearance, admitted later to using marijuana and methamphetamine.
Upon learning that M.G.N. had refused the drug test, J.M.P. left the mobile home with their children and went to the home of his adult son's mother, where the children would have sufficient room and would also be safe. J.M.P. was unaware that M.G.N. was using methamphetamine while caring for their children because she did not use the drugs in front of him. J.M.P. returned the children to the mobile home after DHR contacted him and advised him that he would be arrested if he did not do so. On April 23, 2008, the court awarded the Mobile County DHR custody of the minor children J.P., C.P., S.P., and S.N.
DHR took J.P. and C.P. to the hospital to be tested for exposure to methamphetamine, because Marcus had observed a propane tank and other items outside the trailer. J.M.P. testified the propane tank was used to heat his truck and that the other items were used in his work as a painter. Marcus did not find a methamphetamine lab, but DHR was still concerned about the children's possible exposure to methamphetamine. The children's drug screens returned negative. J.P. and C.P., who were five and four years old, respectively, were diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome;
they were nonverbal, had large bruises on their heads, and were being bottle-fed. J.P. and C.P. banged their heads and arms against the vehicle DHR used to transport them upon removing them from their mobile home, which may have led to the bruising and bleeding in J.P.'s case. DHR completed an initial abuse and neglect report for the children. The children were “indicated” for “other risk of serious harm” as a result of inadequate supervision and inadequate food. DHR never alleged that either M.G.N. or J.M.P. abused the children, physically or otherwise.
Fragile X syndrome is a condition similar to autism.
DHR admitted all the children to foster care on April 23, 2008. DHR's initial permanency plan was “return to parent.” J.M.P. and M.G.N. were required to be drug-free, to find suitable housing for the children, and to provide for the basic needs of the children. To help achieve those goals, DHR offered the parents random drug screens, drug assessments, and drug treatment. M.G.N. was assessed in March 2009. After M.G.N.'s drug assessment, which recommended that she receive intensive outpatient drug treatment, M.G.N. enrolled in AltaPointe Health System's Gateway Drug Treatment Center on June 30, 2010, which involved methadone treatment. M.G.N. was still enrolled in Gateway one week before the termination hearing. M.G.N. was compliant with every aspect of her treatment. She tested positive for methadone, but she is enrolled in a methadone-based treatment program. She receives regular drug screens as part of her treatment program. At the time of the termination hearing, she had been seeing a psychologist for drug and other problems for almost two years.
J.M.P. tested positive for methadone. DHR offered him random drug screens, medical care, and a drug assessment. The assessment recommended random drug screening for J.M.P., but did not recommend formal treatment. J.M.P. took some random drug screens but refused others. He refused one drug screen in May 2009, before his paternity was established for the children.
J.M.P. was assessed in September 2009, which was the last drug screen before the termination hearing. J.M.P. missed a drug screen in April 2010 because he was not present at an individualized service plan (“ISP”) meeting.
J.M.P.'s paternity has been established for J.P., C.P., S.P., S.N., and T.P. S.J.M.P. has not had DNA testing.
DHR offered J.M.P. medical treatment as an alternative to methadone for a painful cyst on his arm, because he used methadone for pain management in order to work. He received medical treatment but continued to use methadone. A DHR worker encouraged J.M.P. to undergo drug treatment to stop using methadone. J.M.P. later voluntarily enrolled in the Gateway drug-treatment program in July 2010 in order to formally obtain methadone. J.M.P. remained enrolled in the Gateway drug-treatment program until February 2011, when he was incarcerated as the result of some outstanding traffic tickets. At the time of the termination hearing, J.M.P. was no longer enrolled in the methadone program.
DHR assisted the family in trying to acquire housing. DHR workers provided limited assistance in this regard. DHR referred the family to Section 8 housing. The Housing Authority of the City of Mobile refused to give the couple an application. Keri Lett, a social worker, contacted the Housing Authority and learned that there was a freeze on benefits. Lett admittedthat J.M.P. and M.G.N. did not have a chance with the Housing Authority. Lett gave them an application for a low-income apartment. Lett did not help M.G.N. fill out the application and did not think she was capable of filling it out. J.M.P. and M.G.N. did not ask for Lett's help and, to her knowledge, did not complete the application. However, M.G.N. testified she did apply for the apartment. M.G.N. and J.M.P.'s credit ratings were so poor that they could not get an apartment or a rental home. J.M.P. and M.G.N. had lived with several relatives and friends after they left the mobile home. J.M.P. and M.G.N. had relocated at least 10 times in almost 4 years. The couple lived in a camper trailer, which they moved to three different locations until they obtained a house in November 2011. The couple notified Lett each time they moved the camper trailer. They had lived in the camper trailer on a relative's property for eight months before moving into a house on the same property.
J.M.P.'s relatives own the three-bedroom house they are now living in. M.G.N. gave Lett their address at the new house on December 12, 2011. J.M.P. pays electricity and water but does not pay rent. On January 18, 2012, Lett conducted an unannounced “pop-up” visit at J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s new house, a few days before the termination hearing. M.G.N. informed Lett that she was not ready for her to see the whole house. Lett was unable to view the entire house because items were stored in several rooms, and she was unable determine whether the house was suitable for the children. J.M.P. testified that the house would provide the children a safe and stable place to live. At the hearing, M.G.N. offered equivocal testimony as to whether the house was large enough for all the children. However, M.G.N. testified that they would be able to move out the stored items to make room for the children.
DHR workers told J.M.P. and M.G.N. that they would have to work in order to demonstrate that they could care for the children financially. J.M.P. has worked during the pendency of this case, though inconsistently. An ISP report indicated that one of J.M.P.'s strengths is that he works hard to provide for the children. He works both as a painter and doing odd construction jobs. At times, his jobs have been very good. He does electrical, plumbing, drywalling, painting, and remodeling. J.M.P.'s income ranges from $200 to $2,000 per job, depending on the type and length of job. J.M.P. also receives food stamps.
M.G.N. does not work. She states that she could not work because she does not have identification. M.G.N. has had difficulty obtaining any identification because her name is not on her birth certificate. Lett provided M.G.N. with information about how to acquire proper identification. M.G.N. made unsuccessful attempts to obtain a proper birth certificate. She does have a birth certificate that was stamped “limited usage only.” M.G.N. depends on J.M.P. as her primary source of monetary support. At the time of the termination hearing, M.G.N. was also receiving $170 in food stamps each month.
J.M.P. completed parenting classes and had J.P. and C.P.'s Fragile X syndrome explained to him. He believes that J.P. and C.P. would require extra care beyond M.G.N.'s care because of their condition. J.M.P. had difficulty placing J.P. and C.P. on Supplemental Security income prior to DHR's involvement. He also had difficulty obtaining food stamps because he is self-employed and has no standard proof of income.
DHR provided visitation for J.M.P. and M.G.N. and all the children. During these times, both parents interacted appropriately with the children with affection and care. The children also were affectionate and warm to both parents. However, the parents did not interact much with J.P. and C.P., who have Fragile X syndrome. Up until April 2010, the parents had visitation twice a month with their children at non-DHR locations, including local parks and McDonald's fast-food restaurants. J.M.P. and M.G.N. did not cause any issues or problems during most of the visitations. However, Lett testified that S.N. and S.P.'s therapist sat in during one visitation. Lett stated that “it was told to [S.P.] to say that you want to live with the foster parent who she's with now, so that [the children] could continue to see [the parents].”
In April 2010, the parents had visitation with their children at a McDonald's fast-food restaurant. Apparently, the foster parents would not allow J.M.P. to buy a meal for J.P., who had been misbehaving, or for S.P. and S.N., because the foster parents had prepared snacks for them. The children became upset when they did not get a meal at McDonald's. J.M.P. became angry and used profanity in front of his children and the foster parents. At the April 2010 ISP meeting, the team decided to decrease J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s visitation to once per month and to hold the visitation at the DHR facility. The ISP team made that decision based upon the incident at the McDonald's fast-food restaurant and the parents' slow progress.
J.M.P. and M.G.N. did not provide significant financial assistance to their children during the pendency of this case. They regularly brought snacks and gifts during visitations. They would also bring cakes and cookies for birthdays and holidays. They also brought Christmas presents. After S.J.M.P. was born, the parents provided her with clothes and formula when she was placed with M.G.N.'s sister.
DHR investigated M.G.N.'s relatives as placement resources for the children and placed an older child with her brother D.P. M.G.N.'s sister, T.B., had taken custody of S.J.M.P. shortly after the child was born in September 2010. S.J.M.P. was with her aunt for about six months until a background check was completed that revealed that T.B. had prior criminal charges for drug use. S.J.M.P.'s placement was not renewed with T.B. M.G.N.'s mother was not available as a resource because her husband would not submit to a background check.
DHR investigated J.M.P.'s relatives as placement resources as well. Lett stated that J.M.P.'s sister, S.G., was terminally ill with cancer and was not ready to take the children. However, M.G.N. testified that S.G.'s cancer was in remission then and was still in remission. J.M.P.'s sister and niece were to take the children S.P. and S.N., but both placements fell through.
DHR changed the permanency plan for the children from return to parent to termination of parental rights on May 19, 2009. Lett testified that the parents did not make sufficient progress in DHR's assessment to warrant the children being returned to their care. DHR stopped giving the parents drug screens in 2010 once the permanency plan changed to termination of parental rights. On March 16, 2010, DHR filed petitions to terminate the parental rights of J.M.P. and M.G.N. as to six of their children. On January 24, 2012, the juvenile court held a hearing for the matter. On April 25, 2012, the juvenile court entered orders terminating the parental rights of M.G.N. and J.M.P. to six of their children. The parents appealed to the Court of Civil Appeals, which affirmed the orders of the juvenile court on March 29, 2013. J.M.P. and M.G.N. both filed petitions for a writ of certiorari with this Court, which granted the writs on June 5, 2013.
J.M.P. and M.G.N. contend that the orders of the juvenile court and the judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals conflict with Alabama cases that require that the termination of parental rights must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. As to each of the children, the juvenile court found by clear and convincing evidence “competent, material, and relevant in nature” that,
“[s]ubsequent to the original finding of dependency [DHR] made all reasonable efforts to promote reunification by offering numerous services to the parents, including assistance with housing, assistance with drug dependency, parenting classes, visitation, evaluation of possible relative placement, and other services.
“That reunification efforts failed because of the failure or refusal of the parents to accept services and to amend their circumstance for the best interest of the child and to place themselves in a position to reclaim custody of the child.”
J.M.P. and M.G.N. argue that DHR did not present clear and convincing evidence to the juvenile court and that, therefore, the juvenile court's orders terminating their parental rights are erroneous. They also argue that DHR did not use reasonable efforts to reunite them with the children and to prevent the termination of their parental rights. Because I agree with them, I must dissent from quashing the writs.
II. Standard of Review
“ ‘The ore tenus rule applies in cases involving termination of parental rights. When the evidence is presented ore tenus, the judgment of the trial court is “presumed correct and will be set aside only if the record reveals the judgment to be plainly and palpably wrong.” ’ ” Ex parte J.R., 896 So.2d 416, 423 (Ala.2004) (quoting G.D.M. v. State, 655 So.2d 1020, 1022 (Ala.Civ.App.1995)). “[The ore tenus] rule does not relieve this Court of its responsibility to ensure that those facts clearly and convincingly warrant the termination of parental rights.” Ex parte T.V., 971 So.2d 1, 9 (Ala.2007). The clear-and-convincing standard requires “an exacting level of certainty based on evidence of the parent's current situation.” Id. (emphasis added). This Court does “ ‘ “not sit in judgment of the facts,” ’ ” but “ ‘ “review[s] the factfinder's determination of facts only to the extent of determining whether it is sufficiently supported by the evidence, that question being one of law.” ’ ” Id. (quoting Hinds v. Hinds, 887 So.2d 267, 272–73 n. 2 (Ala.Civ.App.2003)).
III. Analysis
A. The Source of Parental Rights
God, not the state, ordained the institution of the family. “The law recognizes that a higher authority ordains natural parenthood, and a fallible judge should disturb the relationship thus established only where circumstances compel human intervention.” Ex parte Sullivan, 407 So.2d 559, 563–64 (Ala.1981). Likewise,
“[t]he laws of nature teach us that the relation of parent and child is sacred, that the welfare of the child is conserved by the cultivation and promotion of that affection which should exist between parent and child, and that as a general proposition no one can watch over the growth and development of the child as a loving father or mother can and will.”
Montgomery v. Hughes, 4 Ala.App. 245, 247, 58 So. 113, 113–14 (1911).
Current members of this Court have likewise addressed the divine source of parental rights. Justice Parker has opined:
“God, not the state, has given parents these rights and responsibilities, and, consequently, ... courts should interfere as little as possible with parental decision-making, instead deferring to parental authority whenever it has not been fundamentally compromised by substantial neglect, wrongdoing, or criminal act.”
Ex parte G.C., 924 So.2d 651, 677–78 (Ala.2005) (Parker, J., dissenting). Justice Parker explained that “the law recognizes that parental authority is ordained by God as a governing sphere distinct from that of the state and, consequently, that parents or guardians, not state officials or courts, generally know what is best for, and act in the best interest of, their children.” Id. at 686.
Justice Stuart has stated that “[c]hildren are a gift from God. They need and deserve the love and support of both their mothers and their fathers. Parents have God-given rights concerning their children, which are and should be protected by state government.” 924 So.2d at 661 (Stuart, J., concurring specially) (footnote omitted). Justice Bolin has also noted “that parents have a God-given right and responsibility to rear their children and that they should be allowed to do so unfettered by state interference.” 924 So.2d at 667 (Bolin, J., concurring specially).
B. The Termination of Parental Rights
Alabama is a common-law state, § 1–3–1, Ala.Code 1975, but “ ‘ [p]roceedings to terminate parental rights were unknown at common law.’ ” Ex parte C.V., 810 So.2d 700, 720 (Ala.2001) (Johnstone, J., concurring specially) (quoting In re Termination of Parental Rights of P.A.M., 505 N.W.2d 395, 397 (S.D.1993) (emphasis added)). Therefore, “because the termination of parental rights is purely statutory, statutes governing the termination of parental rights must be strictly construed.” Id. (emphasis added). Like adoption, the termination of parental rights is a process “ ‘created by the state acting as parens patriae, the sovereign parent. Because the exercise of sovereign power involved in [termination] curtails the fundamental parental rights of the natural parent, the ... statutes must be closely adhered to.’ ” Sullivan, 407 So.2d at 563 (quoting Davis v. Turner, 337 So.2d 355, 360 (Ala.Civ.App.1976)(emphasis added)).
Alabama's Juvenile Justice Act, § 12–15–101 et seq., Ala.Code 1975, has these overriding goals: “To preserve and strengthen the family of the child whenever possible” and “[t]o reunite a child with his or her parent or parents as quickly and as safely as possible when the child has been removed from the custody of his or her parent or parents,” “with a preference at all times for the preservation of the family.” § 12–15–101(b)(1),(3), and (8), Ala.Code 1975. We have said before that “the intent of the Juvenile Justice Act is not punitive but rehabilitative.” Ex parte S.F.R., 598 So.2d 1006, 1008 (Ala.1992).
The Juvenile Justice Act enumerates the circumstances in which a juvenile court may terminate parental rights:
“If the juvenile court finds from clear and convincing evidence, competent, material, and relevant in nature, that the parents of a child are unable or unwilling to discharge their responsibilities to and for the child, or that the conduct or condition of the parents renders them unable to properly care for the child and that the conduct or condition is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, it may terminate the parental rights of the parents.”
§ 12–15–319(a), Ala.Code 1975. The Court of Civil Appeals has explained the twofold evidentiary requirement of the statute:
“Because the statute is phrased in present and future terms, a juvenile court may terminate a parent's parental rights only if clear and convincing evidence shows that the parent is currently unable to discharge his or her parental duties properly ... and that the conduct or condition that prevents the parent from assuming or exercising proper care will likely persist in the foreseeable future.”
S.U. v. Madison Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 91 So.3d 716, 720 (Ala.Civ.App.2012) (emphasis added) (citing D.O. v. Calhoun Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 859 So.2d 439, 444 (Ala.Civ.App.2003) (“[T]he existence of evidence of current conditions or conduct relating to a parent's inability or unwillingness to care for his or her children is implicit in the requirement that termination of parental rights be based on clear and convincing evidence.”)).
Further, “without evidence as to the parent's present ability to care for [the children] and existing conditions of her home and life style, there can be no ‘clear and convincing’ evidence that the children's best interests would be served by terminating the parent's parental rights.” Hamilton v. State, 410 So.2d 64, 66 (Ala.Civ.App.1982) (emphasis added). “Clear and convincing evidence” is defined elsewhere in the Alabama Code as “[e]vidence that, when weighed against evidence in opposition, will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm conviction as to each essential element of the claim and a high probability as to the correctness of the conclusion.” § 6–11–20(b)(4), Ala.Code 1975.
The Court of Civil Appeals applies the definition of clear and convincing evidence from § 6–11–20(b)(4) in termination-of-parental-rights cases. See J.C. v. State Dep't of Human Res., 986 So.2d 1172, 1184 (Ala.Civ.App.2007); and L.M. v. D.D.F., 840 So.2d 171, 179 (Ala.Civ.App.2002).
“In determining whether ... to terminate the parental rights, the juvenile court shall consider the following factors including ...:
“....
“(7) That reasonable efforts by the Department of Human Resources or licensed public or private child care agencies leading toward the rehabilitation of the parents have failed.
“....
“(12) Lack of effort by the parent to adjust his or her circumstances to meet the needs of the child in accordance with agreements reached, including agreements reached with local departments of human resources.”
§ 12–15–319(a)(7) and (12). “Reasonable efforts” are
“efforts made to preserve and reunify families prior to the placement of a child in foster care, to prevent or eliminate the need for removing the child from the home of the child, and to make it possible for a child to return safely to the home of the child. In determining the reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child, and in making these reasonable efforts, the health and safety of the child shall be the paramount concern.”
§ 12–15–312(b), Ala.Code 1975. “[R]eunification of the parent and the child is the overarching purpose for which ‘reasonable efforts to rehabilitate’ must be made.” J.B. v. Jefferson Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 869 So.2d 475, 481 (Ala.Civ.App.2003). Moreover, “DHR has the duty to make reasonable efforts to rehabilitate the [parents] so that family reunification might be attainable.” C.B. v. State Dep't of Human Res., 782 So.2d 781, 785 (Ala.Civ.App.1998).
C. Whether DHR Presented Clear and Convincing Evidence
DHR provided three reunification goals for J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s family: 1) to be drug-free, 2) to find suitable housing, and 3) to be able to provide for their children's needs. DHR caseworkers addressed those goals with the parents during ISP meetings. DHR argues that the parents did not cooperate sufficiently in attaining those goals to warrant reunification. However, between late 2010 and late 2012, J.M.P. and M.G.N. sought to address each of their ISP goals. The record reflects that, at the time of the termination hearing, J.M.P. and M.G.N. had either accomplished or made significant progress on all three goals.
1. Drug–Free
Juvenile courts may consider a parent's “excessive use of alcohol or controlled substances” in determining whether to terminate parental rights. § 12–15–319(a)(2), Ala.Code 1975. The juvenile court found that DHR here “made all reasonable effort to promote reunification by offering numerous services to the parents, including ... assistance with drug dependency.”
Although DHR did offer services to the parents, DHR did not provide clear and convincing evidence that the parents' current conduct involved the use of drugs or had risen to the “excessive use of ... controlled substances” that the court might consider as a factor for terminating parental rights. Before the termination hearing in January 2012, J.M.P.'s last drug screen was in September 2009. M.G.N.'s last positive drug screen occurred approximately three years before the termination hearing. M.G.N. remained in a drug-treatment program at the time of the hearing and remains subject to random screens in the program. M.G.N.'s decision to continue the drug-treatment program should not count as a strike against her but as a positive indication of M.G.N.'s efforts to comply with DHR's reunification goals.
In addition, J.M.P.'s drug assessment recommended only drug screens and not any formal treatment for a drug problem. Nonetheless, J.M.P. voluntarily started the Gateway program for methadone treatment. However, J.M.P. was unable to complete the program after he was incarcerated for outstanding traffic tickets. According to J.M.P., he has been drug-free since his release from jail.
In view of the two-year vacuum of evidence pertaining to the parents' drug use, apart from legally obtained methadone, and the lack of any negative testimony regarding the effect of M.G.N.'s drug-rehabilitation efforts, the record simply does not contain sufficient evidence from which the juvenile court could have been convinced that M.G.N. and J.M.P. suffer from “excessive use of alcohol or controlled substances” as a current condition or exhibit drug-use conduct that would prevent them from caring properly for their children. See M.G. v. Etowah Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 26 So.3d 436, 443 (Ala.Civ.App.2009) (“[G]iven the lack of any negative testimony regarding the effect of the mother's drug-rehabilitation efforts, the record does not contain evidence from which the juvenile court reasonably could have been clearly convinced that the mother suffers from an ongoing drug-addiction ‘condition’ or exhibits drug-use ‘conduct’ that prevents her from properly caring for her children.”).
2. Suitable Housing
The Juvenile Justice Act provides that “[n]egligent treatment or maltreatment of a child” includes “the failure to provide adequate ... shelter.” § 12–15–301(7), Ala.Code 1975. DHR maintains that the parents did not sufficiently comply with its efforts to address housing for the children. The juvenile court found that DHR had made “all reasonable efforts to promote reunification by offering numerous services to the parents, including assistance with housing.”
The Juvenile Justice Act defines “reasonable efforts” as
“efforts made to preserve and reunify families ... and to make it possible for a child to return safely to the home of the child. In determining the reasonable efforts to be made with respect to a child, and in making these reasonable efforts, the health and safety of the child shall be the paramount concern.”
§ 12–15–312(b), Ala.Code 1975 (emphasis added). One factor the juvenile court may consider is “[t]hat reasonable efforts by [DHR] ... leading toward the rehabilitation of the parents have failed.” § 12–15–319(a)(7), Ala.Code 1975. However, it should be self-evident that DHR's efforts must be “reasonable” before the juvenile court may find that such efforts failed to achieve rehabilitation of the parents and reunification.
“Reasonable efforts” in regard to housing must make it possible for the children to return safely to a home with their family. § 12–15–312. Here, Section 8 housing was impossible because of a “freeze” on benefits.
Lett provided M.G.N. an application for a low-income apartment but did not think that M.G.N. could complete the application on her own. J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s poor credit ratings precluded the possibility of renting a home. DHR's efforts to assist in locating housing for the parents offered only impossibilities. The services DHR provided did not “make it possible” for the children to return safely to a home with their parents. Where a return home is not even a possibility for the family, DHR's efforts cannot be said to constitute clear and convincing evidence of “reasonable efforts ... leading toward the rehabilitation of the parents.” § 12–15–319(a)(7).
The record does not indicate whether this “freeze” on Section 8 housing applied only to J.M.P. and M.G.N. or was a general “freeze.”
In spite of DHR's lack of efforts to “make it possible for [the] child[ren] to return safely to the home,” J.M.P. and M.G.N. had obtained housing through relatives, without DHR's help. In the second week of December 2011, M.G.N. provided DHR with the address for their new home. On January 18, 2012, after waiting more than a month, Lett conducted a surprise “pop-up” visit to the new home. This “pop-up” visit occurred less than a week before the termination hearing. Understandably, M.G.N. was not prepared for a surprise DHR visit. She did not allow Lett to see the whole house because J.M.P.'s associates had items stored in other rooms. With the impending termination hearing, Lett was evidently unable to conduct a full home study before the hearing.
J.M.P. and M.G.N. had lived in their new house for about two months before the termination hearing. However, they also achieved a measure of stability by living at the same location for over 10 months. The parents lived on the same property, albeit in a small camper trailer, for eight months before moving to the house. Although the record indicates that the family's new home was the subject of litigation over the property, the record lacks clear and convincing evidence indicating that the house lacked working utilities,an adequate food supply, and a measure of cleanliness. The record also does not indicate whether the litigation would have any impact on J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s renting the home. The new home has three bedrooms, which would provide separate bedrooms for the boys, the girls, and the parents.
In conclusion, I believe the record does not contain clear and convincing evidence from which the juvenile court could have concluded that the parents' current home would be unsuitable for the needs of the children.
3. Provide for Children's Needs
DHR told the parents that they would have to work in order to demonstrate they could care for the children financially. In a termination-of-parental-rights proceeding, a juvenile court may consider the “[f]ailure by the parents to provide for the material needs of the child ... where the parent is able to do so.” § 12–15–319(9), Ala.Code 1975 (emphasis added). The language of this subsection requires the court to view “the parents” as a unit and as individuals, rather than pitting the mother's failure to work against the father's relatively consistent work history.
At the time of the termination hearing, J.M.P. was working, and, indeed, he has worked throughout the pendency of DHR's involvement with the family. DHR workers agreed that providing for the family was one of J.M.P.'s strengths. J.M.P. worked consistently when work was available. His income ranged from $200 to $2,000 per job, depending on the type and length of the particular job. M.G.N., however, has not worked outside the home. The fact that J.M.P., as the father, has worked to provide for his children and M.G.N. while M.G.N. has fulfilled the role of stay-at-home mother should not be a criterion for taking away wanted children from either the father or the mother. See In re Hickman, 489 So.2d 601, 602 (Ala.Civ.App.1986) (“Such inability was not due to failure of the father to work. He was ... nearly always employed in construction work but earning very low wages.”).
DHR presented no evidence indicating that the parents would be unable to properly clothe, feed, shelter, or educate their children based on J.M.P.'s income and supplemental government benefits. See M.G., 26 So.3d at 444 (“[T]he mere fact that the mother has only a limited income and must improvise to provide for the children due to financial constraints does not render her unable to properly care for the children.”). The record here does not contain clear and convincing evidence from which the juvenile court could have held that the income from J.M.P.'s work and supplemental government benefits would not provide, in the future, for the needs of the children.
As far as caring for, clothing, and feeding the children, J.M.P. admitted that he and M.G.N. would need assistance if they regained custody. M.G.N. also testified that she could not care for her children alone. She knew she would need J.M.P.'s assistance to care for them. However, acknowledging the need of assistance to care for one's children is vastly different than being unable to care for them.
There is a dearth of evidence, let alone clear and convincing evidence, in the record regarding J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s current unwillingness and inability to care for their children. I have “searched the record in vain for any evidence as to the current inability or unwillingness on the part of the parents to properly care for their children, or any evidence relating to the present condition of their home and lifestyle.” Wilson v. State Dep't of Human Res., 527 So.2d 1322, 1325 (Ala.Civ.App.1988) (Holmes, J., concurring specially) (some emphasis added). Because I believe the juvenile court terminated J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental rights without clear and convincing evidence of their current conditions and their current inability or unwillingness to effectively parent their children, I would hold that the judgments of the juvenile court are erroneous.
D. Reasonable Efforts
J.M.P. and M.G.N. also argue that DHR did not use reasonable efforts to reunite them with their children and thus to prevent the termination of their parental rights. DHR counters by maintaining that J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental efforts were virtually nonexistent until DHR sought to terminate their parental rights. Alabama's Juvenile Justice Act requires that both DHR and the parents expend their efforts of rehabilitation to reunify families. As noted above, DHR's “reasonable efforts” are “efforts made to preserve and reunify families ... and to make it possible for a child to return safely to the home of the child.” § 12–15–312(b). Juvenile courts may consider a “ [l]ack of effort by the parent to adjust his or her circumstances to meet the needs of the child in accordance with [DHR] agreements.” § 12–15–319(12), Ala.Code 1975. The Juvenile Justice Act “contemplates that a parent's actual lack of effort is to be considered in relation to a reasonable reunification plan that is already in place.” H.H. v. Baldwin Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 989 So.2d 1094, 1107 (Ala.Civ.App.2007).
Parental-rehabilitation plans must be specifically tailored to the particular problems that prevent proper parenting.
“The natural starting point in any fair and serious attempt to rehabilitate the parent and to reunite the parent with the child is identification of that characteristic, conduct, or circumstance that renders the parent unfit or unable to discharge his or her parental responsibilities to the child. Once DHR identifies the source of parental unfitness, the overarching goal of family reunification requires DHR to communicate its concerns to the parent and to develop a reasonable plan with the parent that is tailored toward the particular problem(s) preventing the parent from assuming a proper parental role.”
989 So.2d at 1105 (emphasis added).
Here, DHR developed a plan and tailored the plan by identifying three particular problems. The plan required J.M.P. and M.G.N. to address drug use, housing, and providing for the children. DHR argues that the parents' “purported efforts to cooperate with reunification plans were not sufficient enough to warrant the return of the child[ren].” DHR maintains that “the parents failed to address the issues that inhibited the ability to effectively parent their children.” DHR characterizes their work as “ ‘last-minute efforts undertaken in anticipation of the impending termination-of-parental-rights trial’ and thus insufficient to warrant reunification.” (Quoting A.M.F. v. Tuscaloosa Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 75 So.3d 1206, 1213 (Ala.Civ.App.2011).)
Even if J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s efforts to “adjust [their] circumstances to meet the needs of the child[ren] in accordance” with DHR agreements were nonexistent until DHR filed for the termination of their parental rights, which was not the case, the juvenile court must still consider J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s recent and current efforts as evidence of their current conditions. Courts must not forget the goals of Alabama's Juvenile Justice Act, among which is: “To preserve and strengthen the family of the child whenever possible” and “[t]o reunite a child with his or her parent or parents as quickly and as safely as possible when the child has been removed from the custody of his or her parent or parents,” “ with a preference at all times for the preservation of the family.” § 12–15–101(b)(1), (3), and (8), Ala.Code 1975 (emphasis added). “[T]he intent of the Juvenile Justice Act is not punitive but rehabilitative.” Ex parte S.F.R., 598 So.2d 1006, 1008 (Ala.1992).
Given the express goals of Alabama's Juvenile Justice Act, courts may not turn a blind eye when parents demonstrate significant efforts to “adjust [their] circumstances to meet the needs of the child[ren]” quite apart from agreements with DHR. § 12–15–319(12). The Court of Civil Appeals stated: “ ‘Generally, a parent who has been deprived of custody of his child on account of his misconduct is entitled to restoration of custody on a showing that he has reformed and is presently a suitable custodian.’ ” State Dep't of Pensions & Sec. v. Hall, 57 Ala.App. 290, 293, 328 So.2d 295, 298 (Civ.App.1976) (quoting 59 Am.Jur.2d. Parent and Child § 39).
J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s reformation and rehabilitation, though not complete, consisted of more than just an uncertain promise on the eve of the termination hearing. Indeed, from 2010 to 2012, the parents made significant efforts to address the three major issues that were inhibiting their abilities to effectively parent their children. Where J.M.P. and M.G.N. have made significant efforts at rehabilitation and reformation to meet the needs of their children, I believe we should not consider their prior “lack of effort to adjust [their] circumstances ... in accordance with agreements reached with [DHR]” as a factor in the termination of their parental rights. See § 12–15–319(12), Ala.Code 1975.
Moreover, as explained supra, I believe that DHR's efforts did not constitute “reasonable efforts.” “[A] juvenile court commits reversible error when it terminates parental rights based on an erroneous finding that DHR used reasonable efforts to reunite a parent with his or her child.” H.H., 989 So.2d at 1108–09. I would hold that the juvenile court committed reversible error by terminating J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental rights where DHR did not make reasonable efforts to reunite these parents with their children.
E. Viable Alternatives to Termination of Parental Rights
Termination of parental rights is governed by a two-pronged test:
“ ‘First, the trial court must conclude from clear and convincing evidence that the child is dependent.... Second, the court must consider and reject all other viable alternatives to termination of parental rights, so that it can conclude that the termination is in the child's best interests.’ ”
R.L.B. v. Morgan Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 805 So.2d 721, 724 (Ala.Civ.App.2001) (quoting H.M.W. v. Mobile Cnty. Dep't of Human Res., 631 So.2d 1049, 1050 (Ala.Civ.App.1993)). The Juvenile Justice Act defines a dependent child as, among other things, one “[w]ithout a parent ... willing and able to provide for the care, support, or education of the child” or one “[w]hose parent ... is unable or unwilling to discharge his or her responsibilities to and for the child.” § 12–15–102(8)2. and (8)6., Ala.Code 1975.
Because I would hold that DHR did not present the juvenile court with clear and convincing evidence that J.M.P. and M.G.N. are currently unwilling and unable to provide for the care, support, or education of the children, or otherwise to discharge their parental responsibilities, I would likewise hold that their children are not “dependent” children as defined by the Juvenile Justice Act. My conclusion would render unnecessary a discussion whether the juvenile court considered and rejected all viable alternatives to the termination of J.M.P. and M.G.N.'s parental rights.
IV. Conclusion
I would hold that the evidence in this case does not rise to the level of clear and convincing evidence so as to support the termination of J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental rights, “such action being the last and most extreme disposition permitted by statute.” D.O., 859 So.2d at 445. Although J.M.P and M.G.N. have by no means been perfect parents, their natural right to be parents has not been fundamentally compromised or abandoned by substantial neglect, wrongdoing, or criminal acts. Their case is not among “the most egregious of circumstances” that might justify a court's decision to dismantle a family and “strike[ ] at the very heart of the family unit.” Ex parte Beasley, 564 So.2d 950, 952 (Ala.1990).
For the reasons stated above, I would reverse the Court of Civil Appeals' affirmance, in effect reversing the judgments of the juvenile court terminating J.M.P.'s and M.G.N.'s parental rights to six of their children, and remand the case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. I therefore dissent.
PARKER, Justice (dissenting).
With the exception of Part III.C.2., I join Chief Justice Moore's dissent.