People v. Amanda J. (In re T.J)

1

2023 IL App (4th) 230256-U

In re T.J, G.J., and O.J., Minors

The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. Amanda J., Respondent-Appellant.

Nos. 4-23-0256, 4-23-0257, 4-23-0258

Court of Appeals of Illinois, Fourth District

August 1, 2023

This Order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Adams County Nos. 20JA69 20JA70 20JA71 Honorable John C. Wooleyhan, Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE STEIGMANN delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Harris and Knecht concurred in the judgment.

ORDER

STEIGMANN JUSTICE

¶ 1 Held: The trial court's finding respondent was unfit under section 1(D)(m) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m) (West 2022))) was not against the manifest weight of the evidence and the court did not err by admitting service plans into evidence.

¶ 2 Respondent, Amanda J, is the mother of T.J. (born May 2013), G.J. (born June 2016), and O.J. (born August 2020). In February 2023, the trial court found respondent was an unfit parent under the Adoption Act (see 750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(i) (ii) (West 2022)) and that termination of respondent's parental rights was in the children's best interests. (The children's father is deceased and not a party to the appeal.)

¶ 3 Respondent appeals, arguing, among other things, that the trial court's fitness findings were against the manifest weight of the evidence-specifically, the findings that she failed (1) to correct the conditions that were the basis for the children's removal and (2) to make reasonable progress toward the return of the children in any nine-month period following the adjudication of neglect of the children. Respondent does not appeal the court's finding that termination of her parental rights was in the children's best interests. We disagree and affirm.

¶ 4 I. BACKGROUND

¶ 5 A. The Petition for Adjudication of Wardship

¶ 6 In August 2020, the State filed petitions for adjudication of wardship for each minor child, alleging respondent neglected the children under section 2-3(1)(b) of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(b) (West 2020)) because the children's environment was injurious to their welfare due to (1) respondent's substance abuse and (2) exposure to domestic violence. That same day, the trial court entered an order placing temporary custody of the minors with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

¶ 7 In January 2021, following a hearing, the trial court entered an adjudicatory order finding the children neglected. In March 2021, the court conducted a dispositional hearing and found respondent unfit and unwilling for reasons other than financial circumstances alone to care for, protect, train, educate, supervise, or discipline the minors because of "lack of efforts/progress." The court also made the children wards of the court and placed custody and guardianship of the children with the guardianship administrator of DCFS.

¶ 8 B. The Petitions for Termination of Parental Rights

¶ 9 In May 2022, the State filed petitions for termination of parental rights, alleging respondent was unfit under section 1(D)(m) of the Adoption Act (750 ILCS 50/1(D)(m)(i), (ii) (West 2022)) because she failed to make (1) reasonable efforts to correct the conditions which were the basis for the removal of the children and (2) reasonable progress toward the return of the children within any nine-month time period after they were adjudicated neglected-namely, (a) January 29, 2021, to October 21, 2021 and (b) October 21, 2021, to July 21, 2022.

¶ 10 C. The Termination Proceedings

¶ 11 In January 2023 and February 2023, the trial court conducted hearings on the State's termination petitions. Respondent did not appear at the January hearing date.

¶ 12 1. The Fitness Portion of the Termination Proceedings

¶ 13 a. Jerilyn Niewohner

¶ 14 Jerilyn Niewohner, a retired caseworker at DCFS, testified she oversaw the case from August 2020 until she retired in September 2021. Niewohner testified that she created a service plan for respondent starting in August 2021 through February 2022. However, she later clarified the plan covered the preceding six months and included tasks yet to be completed through February 2022.

¶ 15 The plan showed tasks with start dates in August 2020 and showed those were evaluated in February 2021. It then listed the tasks continuing until August 2021. Niewohner testified service plans were created in the normal course of DCFS business and correctly indicated the progress of the parents during the period covered by the plan. The plan was admitted into evidence as the State's exhibit No. 2 without objection.

¶ 16 Niewohner testified the service plan required respondent to engage in the following tasks: (1) cooperation, (2) parental education, (3) employment, (4) mental health, and (5) substance abuse. Regarding cooperation, Niewohner rated respondent unsatisfactory because she had not cooperated with obtaining either a substance abuse assessment or a mental health assessment. Respondent also had ongoing parent education services, but it took six to nine months before she began to do anything in her plan. Respondent was rated unsatisfactory on her employment task because, although she said she was working for her landlord, she never provided proof of employment.

¶ 17 Niewohner rated respondent unsatisfactory on the mental health task because respondent took nine months to obtain an assessment. Niewohner testified as follows about that task:

"[A]fter nine months, she finally went to [a provider] to do an assessment. She did not report any kind of mental health issues or concerns, however, when we completed an integrated assessment at the beginning of the case, she reported some stress and some-I can't recall what that integrated assessment-but they recommended mental health services. So it was like she was telling them something different, and then she did an assessment and told them something different, so it was rated unsatisfactory ***."

Niewohner stated there was no recommendation for follow-up treatment in the mental health assessment and admitted she did not have evidence respondent was suffering from mental health issues. However, DCFS recommended respondent get another assessment somewhere else.

¶ 18 Niewohner rated respondent unsatisfactory on her substance abuse task because she again took nine months to obtain an assessment and did not report to the assessor that she had previously tested positive for amphetamines. Niewohner further stated:

"She reported to the *** screener that she's never used illegal drugs and she doesn't understand why DCFS has reported that she had positive tests. So basically, she said she does not need any services and she's never used illegal drugs.

Also, as a part of the substance assessment part in the service plan she was required to do drug drops randomly. Sometimes they were scheduled. That was unsatisfactory. She missed several. I have never had a positive drug screen on her, but I would say she missed at least 50 percent of the time."

Notes in the service plan stated respondent "failed to cooperate with requested random drug screens except one [in November 2020], which was negative for any illegal substances. [Respondent] failed 12 requested drug screens." When asked if respondent displayed visible signs of using substances, Niewohner testified it was "hard to say." She noted respondent was very thin and had unaddressed medical issues. Respondent was requested to seek medical care and allow DCFS to talk to the doctor. However, respondent never provided the name of a doctor or any medical releases. Respondent was rated satisfactory on her domestic violence, suitable housing, and visitation tasks. Visitation was supervised and concerns related to visitation were addressed quickly.

¶ 19 b. Angie Danzeisen

¶ 20 Angie Danzeisen testified she was assigned as the caseworker on the matter in September 2021 after Niewohner retired. She remained the caseworker until June 2022. Danzeisen prepared and evaluated a service plan dated February 16, 2022, that "covered the prior six months up and to this point." The plan was prepared in the ordinary course of DCFS business and accurately recorded the progress of the parents during the period covered by the plan. The plan showed the same tasks started in August 2020 as shown in State's exhibit No. 2, listed a target completion date of August 2022, and was evaluated in February 2022. ⁵

¶ 21 Danzeisen rated respondent unsatisfactory on her cooperation task because she did not cooperate with recommended services, failed to meet with a caseworker monthly, and failed to attend scheduled team meetings. Respondent provided limited proof of employment.

¶ 22 Regarding the mental health and substance abuse tasks, respondent again was rated unsatisfactory because she was not truthful in the initial assessment and did not complete the requested second assessment. Respondent also did not follow up with treatment or complete all required drug screens. Danzeisen testified respondent tested negative on the drug screens that she did complete. Respondent told Danzeisen she received services but failed to provide releases to substantiate her claims.

¶ 23 Respondent's visitation had been suspended because their father would show up when he was not supposed to be there, causing conflicts with the children. Danzeisen stated "visitation became more traumatizing than helpful for the kids. Therefore, it was suspended through the court." Respondent and the children's grandmother also tried to reach out to the children on social media and went to their school when they were not permitted to do so.

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