In re G. H.

Syllabus

The respondent mother appealed to this court from the judgment of the trial court terminating her parental rights with respect to her minor children G and N. At the time of the trial on the termination petitions, G was two and one-half years old and N was four years old. G, who was born prematurely and is considered medically complex, has never resided with the mother. P, the father of G and N, was also named as a respondent in the petitions for termination but died during the pen- dency of the proceedings. Held: 1. The trial court correctly concluded that the respondent mother failed to achieve a sufficient degree of personal rehabilitation as would encourage the belief that, within a reasonable time, she could assume a responsible position in the lives of G and N, as the record contained sufficient evidence to support that court's conclusion that the petitioner, the Com- missioner of Children and Families, had proven by clear and convincing evidence that the mother failed to rehabilitate, considering the ages and needs of G and N; moreover, contrary to the mother's claims, the trial court acknowledged that the mother complied with medication manage- ment and substance abuse treatment, obtained housing and secured part-time employment, but the court also noted that the mother was unclear as to how she would financially support the children if they were returned to her care, and considered the mother's progress in relation to her failure to consistently engage with and reap any benefit from individual counseling services, her resistance to appreciate and articulate how she would avoid negative relationships in the future, and her persistent involvement with P in the face of his multiple arrests for drug sales; furthermore, the court repeatedly emphasized the opinion of a psychologist that the mother exhibited continued and unaddressed mental health difficulties, had only a visiting relationship with G and N, was unable to keep her children safe during her extended r