In Re Ryan J. H.

Syllabus

This appeal concerns the termination of two parents' parental rights. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services (\DCS\) filed a petition in the Juvenile Court for Marshall County (\the Juvenile Court\) seeking to terminate the parental rights of Jared H. (\Father\) and Annalisa P. (\Mother\) to their minor child, Ryan J. H. (\the Child\). After a hearing, the Juvenile Court entered an order terminating Father and Mother's parental rights on a host of grounds and finding that termination of Father and Mother's parental rights is in the Child's best interest. Father and Mother appeal. We reverse several grounds rightly conceded on appeal by DCS. We affirm the grounds of failure to support as to Father and substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan as to both Father and Mother. In addition, we reverse the Juvenile Court's finding that DCS failed to prove the ground of failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody, and instead find that ground proven as to both Father and Mother by clear and convincing evidence. We find further that termination of Father and Mother's parental rights is in the Child's best interest. Thus, while we reverse the Juvenile Court's judgment in part, we affirm its termination of Father and Mother's parental rights to the Child.