FABE, Chief Justice.
Philip J. is the father of nine children. The superior court terminated Philip's parental rights to his seven oldest children and then to his eighth child. Philip's appeals of the two separate termination orders (Case No. S-14810 and Case No. S-14994) were consolidated for consideration and decision. Philip maintains that the superior court erred in finding that active efforts were made to keep this Indian family together in both termination orders. He also argues that the superior court erred when it determined that his eighth child was a child in need of aid. We affirm both orders terminating Philip's parental rights.
Philip J. and Georgina J. are the biological parents of nine children: Sophie, Anne, John, Katherine, Nellie, Olivia, Alexandra, Alyssa, and Pete.
Philip and Georgina's history with OCS began in August 2004 when Philip and Georgina became "extremely intoxicated," and Philip "fired a rifle in the home and held the family hostage for three hours."
One evening in April 2005, Philip assaulted Georgina while both were extremely intoxicated.
The plans outlined services to address Georgina's substance abuse and the domestic violence perpetrated against her by Philip. Georgina began the recommended substance abuse counseling, but she quickly ceased participation. The case plan called for Philip to take classes at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center and meet with the Mountain Village ICWA staff. While Philip was incarcerated, OCS was in contact with Philip's probation officer, and Philip was provided with a copy of the case plan. Philip participated in several classes while incarcerated.
The family's stability improved during the summer of 2006, and OCS returned the children. Philip was no longer incarcerated, and he engaged with services. Edna was involved with the children on a daily basis, and the Tribe was monitoring the family. But despite Philip's effort prior to the children's return, he quickly ceased his clinic attendance. And although not reported to OCS at the time, in December 2006, while children were present and Georgina was intoxicated, Philip tried to rape Georgina's sister.
In July 2008 OCS again became involved with the family.
An OCS worker promptly investigated the incident, finding "parental substance abuse, lack of supervision by both parents, and exposure of the children to domestic violence."
OCS received another report of harm in October 2008, this time from the Bethel Police.
In September 2009 OCS received two more reports indicating that the children had been neglected and exposed to domestic violence.
OCS received additional reports of harm from the Tribe in early 2010, alleging that Philip had sexually assaulted his daughter Anne and possibly his daughters Sophie and Nellie.
A trooper interviewed Georgina four days after the incident, and she reported that Philip "went after" two of the children. Georgina indicated that she confronted Philip to protect the other children, despite having an infant in her arms and that Philip hit her in the head and sides and kicked her in the legs.
After the trooper met with Georgina, she sought medical care from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, where an x-ray showed evidence of healing fractures in her ribs. OCS offered to take Georgina and her children to the Emmonak Women's Shelter to protect them from domestic violence, but Georgina declined the offer.
In February 2010, while Philip was incarcerated, Edna and Georgina petitioned the Asa'carsarmiut Tribal Court in Mountain Village for an emergency protective order and a long-term protective order, attesting that Philip was "always drinking almost every other day and he [was] always beating on his wife and picking on his children" and that the children were often scared to go home. They further alleged that Philip "even point[ed] a gun at Georgina and her kids and sa[id] he could kill them." The Tribal Court issued the emergency protective order against Philip to protect both Georgina and
On February 25, 2010, an OCS worker investigated the reports of sexual assault. The OCS worker substantiated the report of harm based on physical and sexual abuse as well as mental injury to the children. The OCS worker concluded that because Philip was in jail, there was no immediate safety threat, and OCS did not take custody at that time.
The next month another OCS worker met with Georgina. The OCS case worker discussed counseling services and the children's educational needs. At the time, OCS efforts primarily targeted the needs of Georgina and the children. Georgina agreed to have Sophie and Anne participate in assessments and meet with the behavioral health aide in the village, but she was not receptive to any other options.
Clinic staff at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation received referrals from OCS for the children, and the clinic was willing to provide family counseling. Georgina attended an initial screening but did not participate in an assessment, and family counseling did not begin. The conditions of Philip's release mandated that he complete "[i]ntegrated treatment, mental health, [and] alcohol counseling" starting no more than 48 hours from release. And although Philip set up an appointment, he did not attend the appointment or get an assessment.
In April 2010 the Tribe informed OCS that Philip had returned to Mountain Village, in violation of the Tribal Court protective order. An OCS family services supervisor went to Mountain Village to meet with the family. The supervisor spoke with Georgina and identified domestic violence, sexual abuse, and substance abuse as safety threats. The supervisor explained that OCS would remove the children if Georgina stayed with Philip and offered to take Georgina and the children to a domestic violence shelter in Emmonak,
In May 2010 OCS specialist Iura Leahu was assigned to the family's case. At this time, the children were still living with Edna. Leahu met with and observed most of the children, discussed case planning with Georgina, and worked with the Tribe to develop a case plan. Georgina was not receptive.
Leahu spoke with Philip, who had relocated to Alakanuk, several times on the telephone to discuss the family case plan and safety threats in the home such as domestic violence and substance abuse. Leahu also suggested services but Philip refused. Philip responded that he wanted time to contact his attorney and that he or his attorney would contact Leahu. Philip did not contact Leahu. Leahu and Philip's attorney spoke once, but the attorney mainly questioned the need for certain provisions within the plan. Leahu testified that "[w]hen you have a parent denying
The Tribe similarly recommended that the children, Georgina, and Philip participate in a psychological assessment. The Tribe also suggested that Philip get a sexual abuse assessment. OCS next began coordinating for the family to meet with specialist Dr. Bruce Smith in St. Mary's for a comprehensive evaluation to identify an appropriate treatment plan.
Around June 2010 Georgina moved to Alakanuk to be with Philip even though the children were still living in Mountain Village. The next month, Georgina was admitted to the emergency room at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation with severe injuries. She had contusions and abrasions all over her body, including a laceration on her head that required stapling. The x-rays indicated that both her arms were broken; there was one clean break and at least one place where the bone was broken into multiple small pieces. She was transferred to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage where she had surgery on the arm fractures. Her x-rays also revealed that she had old rib fractures that were healing. The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation emergency room doctor testified that "[s]he was most likely assaulted with a stick, bat or other striking object" based on "the nature of the bruises." Philip stated that he had found her injured in their boat, but he did not report the incident to the police.
OCS next assigned social worker Debra Westdahl to the case, and she made referrals for Georgina, Philip, and their three oldest children to get comprehensive psychological assessments in St. Mary's with Dr. Bruce Smith. She also arranged for both parents to travel to St. Mary's for the assessments and for the children to travel so the family could have visitation. The parents did not show up to the assessment or visitation. Nonetheless, Dr. Smith conducted assessments of Sophie, Anne, and John. Dr. Smith also made recommendations about visitation and case planning based on his review of the parents' records. Dr. Smith recommended that the children remain in the custody of their grandparents and that they have no contact with their father until an assessment and treatment recommendations were complete. Dr. Smith observed that "[t]here appear[ed] to be an escalating pattern of harm to Georgina which if left uninterrupted can lead to continued battery and even homicide." He also recommended that both parents receive substance abuse counseling.
Westdahl met twice in person and three times telephonically with Philip and Georgina in Alakanuk between August and November 2010 to discuss case planning. The November 2010 case plan indicates that during these meetings Philip "refused to engage in any discussion regarding the current case plan. He stated that he needed to consult his attorney before he could participate in the case plan." The case plan further described a teleconference between Philip, his attorney, the social worker, and OCS's attorney during which his attorney "disputed each and every element of the case plan."
The case plan also noted the scheduled assessment for Philip with Dr. Smith in August 2010 and directed Philip to complete Dr. Smith's recommendations to address substance abuse, sexual abuse, anger management, domestic violence, and parenting. The case plan further directed Philip to take classes at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation to address those issues. The case plan did not permit visitation between Philip and the children, based on Dr. Smith's earlier recommendation. Westdahl arranged for visitation between Georgina and the children. They had three visitations between August and November 2010.
In February 2011 the superior court adjudicated the seven oldest children as children in need of aid.
Alyssa was born in March 2011. Six weeks later OCS filed an emergency petition for adjudication of a child in need of aid and for temporary custody, reporting that the parents "have refused for one year to engage in a case plan to reunify with their 7 other children" and that Alyssa was at risk because the safety threats were unmitigated. When OCS removed Alyssa, Westdahl again asked the parents to participate in services. Philip and Georgina refused and instead stated that they would speak to their counsel. After the removal, OCS placed Alyssa with Edna and Alyssa's siblings in Mountain Village.
OCS continued to make efforts to assist the family after Alyssa's removal. Westdahl visited Alyssa at Edna's home on a monthly basis and coordinated and supervised visits between all eight children and both parents. Westdahl also coordinated family travel to the supervised visitation in St. Mary's. During the termination trial, Westdahl arranged for three supervised visitation sessions, including transportation, between both parents and the five younger children.
During the termination trial in July 2011, Philip expressed interest in participating in a behavioral assessment, and Westdahl scheduled another assessment for Philip and Georgina with Dr. Smith.
In November 2011 Philip contacted a behavioral health aide in Alakanuk in response to a court order to receive services. The aide requested a copy of his recent assessment and later reminded Philip to provide one, but Philip did not submit the assessment information and did not attend any sessions. And between late 2011 and early 2012, the case was assigned two new social workers. The new social workers visited Alyssa and arranged visitation but apparently did not discuss the case plan with the parents.
Social worker Deborah Cramer was assigned to the case in late 2011. During her work on the case, she updated the case plans, facilitated and supervised visitation in St. Mary's and in Alakanuk, provided resources including food and dry goods, gave the family phone cards, and referred the parents to services, including substance abuse treatment, domestic violence counseling, anger management counseling, and parenting classes, but Philip declined to participate.
Philip participated in a substance abuse assessment. Cramer arranged transportation for Philip to go to this assessment in Emmonak, and Cramer facilitated the clinician's agreement to work with Philip on this and other issues. Philip refused additional sessions, and thus Cramer did not make further travel arrangements.
On June 29, 2012, the superior court issued a written order terminating Philip's and Georgina's parental rights to the seven oldest children.
On November 6, 2012, the superior court issued findings in Alyssa's case, relying on the evidence presented during the older children's case. The superior court found that OCS had made active efforts to provide remedial and rehabilitative services designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family, including: substance abuse assessment and treatment, mental health assessment and counseling, transportation assistance to attend services, team-decision-making meetings, parenting classes, anger management assessment and classes, efforts to locate parents, developing and updating a case plan, domestic violence counseling, and family visitation.
On November 14, 2012, the superior court issued its termination order, finding that Alyssa was a child in need of aid under AS 47.10.011(1) (abandonment), (6) (risk of physical harm), (8)(B)(i)-(ii) (risk of mental injury, particularly due to domestic violence), (9) (neglect), and (10) (substance abuse). The superior court further found that OCS had made active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that those efforts had been unsuccessful. The superior court commended OCS social worker Cramer's "excellent efforts" and found also that "OCS and the tribe made excellent efforts to support the grandparents who took on the job of raising all these children." Finally, the superior court noted that its decisions rested strongly on "the parents' utter refusal to work their case plans over these years, including the time Alyssa has been in custody."
Whether OCS made active efforts to provide remedial and rehabilitative services to reunify the family as required by ICWA is a mixed question of law and fact.
"`Findings of fact are clearly erroneous if a review of the entire record in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below leaves [this court] with a definite and
In a termination proceeding involving Indian children, the superior court must find, by clear and convincing evidence, that the State has made active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that those efforts were unsuccessful.
In general, active efforts will be found when OCS "`takes the client through the steps of the plan rather than requiring that the plan be performed on its own,'"
Here the superior court determined that "OCS ... met its burden [to demonstrate] that there have been active efforts to provide remedial services designed to prevent the breakup of the ... family which have remained unsuccessful." The superior court found that OCS's efforts included: (1) family case planning in 2005 before the Tribe requested that the case be closed; (2) twice offering to transport Georgina and the children to a shelter "to escape Philip"; (3) efforts "to provide substance abuse treatment and mental health counseling to the parents"; and (4) "a case plan [in 2005 and 2010] that included domestic violence counseling or classes." The superior court relied substantially on the parents' failure to participate in a suitable plan or program designed to reunite the parents with their children. The superior court found that this refusal rose to the level of abandonment as defined in AS 47.10.011(4).
Philip challenges the superior court's findings, suggesting that it was necessary for the court to address each element of the case plan and each social worker separately. Specifically, Philip claims that social worker Westdahl did not refer him to anger management, domestic violence, or batterer's programs, and that she did not provide him with specific information about the other referrals. Philip further claims that social worker Leahu's efforts were passive because Leahu suggested that Philip seek an assessment from a local behavioral health clinic in Alakanuk but did not set up an appointment for him. Philip also argues that "[t]here were no active efforts by the social workers after the referral to Dr. Smith" in August 2010.
The superior court was not required to make particular findings as to each social worker or each component of the case plan. Rather, the superior court may consider "the state's involvement in its entirety" in evaluating active efforts.
The superior court's consideration of OCS's efforts spanned involvement from 2004 through the termination trial in 2011. The superior court found that the scheduled assessment for the oldest children and the parents, the parents' decision not to attend that assessment, the social workers' attempts "to motivate the parents to engage in their case plan," and the parents' "lack of performance" demonstrated that active efforts were made. The superior court also cited several OCS efforts in the facts section of its decision, including family case planning in 2005; offers to transport Georgina and the children to a shelter for domestic violence victims;
Philip's interactions with both of the social workers whose efforts he challenged highlight his refusal to engage with services. Westdahl testified that she did not make referrals for Philip because he repeatedly declined her offers for services and refused outright to participate in assessments. Westdahl twice traveled to Alakanuk and encouraged Philip and Georgina to access services, and they twice refused.
Finally OCS was not unreasonable in its approach of postponing some treatment decisions until the parents had completed a psychological assessment.
As found by the trial court and supported by the record, over a period of seven years, OCS made active efforts to provide Philip with the services necessary for the retention of and reunification with his children. The superior court's findings and conclusions were not error.
Philip also argues that OCS's efforts were inadequate because he did not receive a referral for a batterer's intervention program even though a case worker had suggested that he should participate in such a program.
We have upheld an active efforts finding where OCS delayed efforts in order to obtain evaluation of a parent.
With respect to substance abuse counseling, OCS arranged for a comprehensive assessment in St. Mary's, which would have included an evaluation of Philip's substance abuse issues. OCS also made referrals to behavioral aides who could have addressed substance abuse in their counseling.
Philip contends that OCS "could have sought and obtained a court order for the evaluations," relying on Alyssa B. v. State, Department of Health & Social Services.
Philip argues that the superior court erred in finding that he was unwilling to
The trial judge may consider "the willingness of the parent to complete the steps necessary for reunification in evaluating whether OCS met the active efforts requirement."
There were repeated instances when Philip declined to participate in services. In April 2010 a court order in his criminal case required Philip to participate in "[i]ntegrated treatment, mental health, [and] alcohol counseling." The order referred him to a local clinic. The behavioral health aide trainee testified that Philip "called to make an appointment, but when the appointment came he failed to appear to his scheduled appointment."
Leahu similarly testified that when he worked with the family from May to around July 2010, Philip "didn't want to work a case plan with me." Still, Leahu began arranging the assessment with Dr. Smith. Leahu also discussed the case plan with Philip and his attorney and coordinated transportation for Anne to Bethel when she got sick.
Westdahl described OCS's many efforts in the summer of 2010, including setting up transportation and lodging for the parents and children in St. Mary's, scheduling the assessments for both parents and the three oldest children, and arranging visitation. The parents canceled on the day they were scheduled to go to St. Mary's. Westdahl also testified that she met with and spoke to the parents on the phone several times to develop the case plan from 2010 to 2011. Although Westdahl continued to offer an assessment to Georgina and Philip, "[t]hey refused,"
Philip points to some evidence that he was willing to participate in services, including his completion of classes while incarcerated in July 2005 and his meeting with a behavioral aide on two occasions in Mountain Village following his release. But we will only overturn the superior court's finding if we have a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made,
Philip first challenges the superior court's findings under AS 47.10.011 that Alyssa was a child in need of aid. He indicates that OCS's concerns about future risks to Alyssa were insufficient to support removal.
In a termination proceeding, AS 47.10.088(a)(1) requires the superior court to find, by clear and convincing evidence, that a child has been subjected to conduct or conditions described in AS 47.10.011. Here the superior court found that OCS presented clear and convincing evidence that Alyssa had been exposed to conduct or conditions listed in several subsections of AS 47.10.011:(1) (abandonment), (6) (physical harm), (8)(B)(i)-(ii) (mental injury or risk of mental injury, particularly as a result of exposure to domestic violence), (9) (neglect), and (10) (substance abuse). Only one statutory basis is required for a finding that a child is in need of aid.
We have explained that "the state is not required to wait to intervene until a child has suffered actual harm"
Under AS 47.10.011(8)(B)(i) and (ii), the superior court may find a child to be a child in need of aid if it finds that the conduct
The superior court found that Alyssa was "at substantial risk of mental injury as a result of a pattern of terrorizing, isolating, or corrupting behavior that will, if continued, result in mental injury."
Although Philip attests that "[t]here was no indication during Alyssa's life that [Philip] beat up [Georgina]," we have observed that the statute accounts for future harm based on one parent's past abuse of the other parent.
Alaska Statute 47.10.011(10) allows a court to find that a child is in need of aid if the "parent['s] ... ability to parent has been substantially impaired by the addictive or habitual use of an intoxicant, and the addictive or habitual use of the intoxicant has resulted in a substantial risk of harm to the child." The superior court here found by clear and convincing evidence that Philip's substance abuse met that standard with respect to "the children including Alyssa." The superior court based its finding on "the prior adjudication under this subsection in 2005, the parents' refusal to follow substance abuse recommendations, and [Philip's] continued use of alcohol that leads [to] escalation of his violence."
Philip maintains that there was no evidence of active substance abuse. But the superior court relied on the many severe and violent incidents involving alcohol to reach its conclusion under this subsection, including an incident when Philip fired a shotgun in the home while drinking; an incident when Philip assaulted a houseguest during a bout of drinking; and an incident when Philip was convicted of alcohol-related crimes. The superior court also noted that Philip had not followed through with treatment for his substance abuse. Despite referrals by numerous social workers, Philip has not participated in a full course of substance abuse counseling since 2006. Because these findings are supported by Philip's criminal convictions and the extensive testimony from OCS case workers, the superior court did not clearly err in finding that Alyssa was a child in need of aid due to Philip's substance abuse.
Philip contends that OCS failed to make efforts with respect to several specific treatment programs identified in his case plan and generally after his 2012 assessment by Dr. Smith. He also argues that the superior court clearly erred in finding him unwilling to participate in services.
In assessing whether active efforts have been made under ICWA,
Philip maintains that OCS's efforts in offering referrals to sexual offender treatment, substance abuse treatment, batterers' intervention programs, and the Healthy Families Program were inadequate. But OCS has discretion in determining what efforts to pursue based on the case plan and the parent's needs.
Philip contends that he was never referred to counseling to address his inappropriate boundary violations, despite a recommendation by Dr. Smith for such services. Philip also challenged the adequacy of OCS's efforts related to substance abuse, which included a referral in 2012 for residential substance abuse treatment. He suggests that Cramer's "generic referral to YK Behavior Health" was insufficient and that she should have taken additional steps to locate a specific batterer's intervention program. And he suggests that OCS should have better facilitated access to Healthy Families.
But Cramer testified that when she referred Philip to the YukonKuskokwim Health Corporation, she specifically requested parenting classes and services to address domestic violence, anger management, substance abuse, and inappropriate sexual behavior. She also testified that while Philip attended a substance abuse assessment in Emmonak and the counselor agreed to address additional problems, Philip did not continue to attend counseling appointments. Cramer referred Philip and Georgina to Healthy Families in May 2012, but Philip refused to comply. Despite that refusal, Cramer persisted in her recommendation during the termination trial, and Philip eventually attended and completed Healthy Families only after the conclusion of the hearing.
Philip contends that "OCS dug in their heels and stopped active efforts" after Philip met with Dr. Smith. This argument is undermined by trial testimony suggesting that after Philip participated in his assessment with Dr. Smith, Cramer referred him to the behavioral health clinic at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation despite his outright refusal to participate in treatment. The superior court did not err in finding that active efforts were made given Cramer's efforts and Philip's reluctance.
Cramer testified that she "basically begg[ed Philip] to work his case plan," and that despite her many referrals, he "flatly" refused. Although she did not fill out additional forms to provide access to services that Philip had already refused, this choice was reasonable given Philip's long-standing reluctance or refusal to participate in treatment. Given that Cramer made significant effort to engage Philip with services and that we have excused "further active efforts once the parent expresses an unwillingness to participate,"
Philip also challenges the superior court's finding that he was not willing to participate in services and treatment. He argues that his participation in a substance abuse evaluation and his deposition responses
Westdahl and Cramer both testified that Philip consistently declined their offers to provide services, and the superior court found that Cramer made "excellent efforts." We do "not reweigh evidence when the record provides clear support for the superior court's ruling."
We AFFIRM the superior court's orders terminating Philip's parental rights to his children Sophie, Anne, John, Katherine, Nellie, Olivia, Alexandra, and Alyssa.
