SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
A-309-01T5F
IN THE MATTER OF E.M.B. AND
J.B.,
Minors.
Argued: December 4, 2001See footnote 11 - Decided: February 13, 2002
Before Judges Newman, Fall and Axelrad.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Middlesex County,
Docket Numbers FC-12-16-99 and FC-12-65-99.
Jane S. Blank, Deputy Attorney General, argued
the cause for appellant, New Jersey Division of
Youth and Family Services (John J. Farmer, Jr.,
Attorney General, attorney; Andrea M. Silkowitz,
Assistant Attorney General, of counsel; Ms.
Blank, on the brief).
Bruce S. Etterman argued the cause for respondents,
E.D. and H.D. (Hellring Lindeman Goldstein &
Siegal, attorneys; Mr. Etterman, on the brief).
Deborah Berk, Assistant Deputy Public Defender,
argued the cause as Law Guardian of E.M.B. and J.B.
(Peter A. Garcia, Acting Public Defender, Law
Guardian; Ms. Berk, on the brief).
The opinion of the court was delivered by
FALL, J.A.D.
On leave granted appellant, New Jersey Division of Youth and
Family Services (DYFS), appeals from orders entered in the Family
Part subsequent to termination of the parental rights of the birth
parents, directing DYFS to develop a new placement plan in
accordance with the recommendations of the child placement review
board, and scheduling a hearing to determine the permanency
placement plan that serves the best interests of the children.
The issues in this case center on a dispute between DYFS, the
maternal grandparents and the child placement review board
concerning the goal of the permanency placement plan for children
whose birth parents' parental rights have been terminated. All
parties agree that termination of the parental rights of the birth
parents and placement for adoption serves the best interests of the
children. However, the permanency plan presented by DYFS contends
foster parent adoption ensures the best interests of the children.
The maternal grandparents contend adoption of the children by them
serves the best interests of the children. Upon its review of the
DYFS plan, the child placement review board reported to the court
its recommendation that the permanency placement plan that ensures
the safety and health and serves the best interest of the children
is grandparent adoption. The trial court has ordered a summary
hearing to resolve that dispute.
This appeal raises significant issues regarding the effect of
a judgment of guardianship on the roles of DYFS, the court, and the
child placement review board. Under the circumstances of this
case, we hold that the termination of the parental rights of the
birth parents in the guardianship action did not divest the child
placement review board or the Family Part of their jurisdiction to
review the permanent placement plan submitted by DYFS in accordance
with the provisions of the Child Placement Review Act (the Act),
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-50 to -65.
A detailed review of the factual and procedural history is
necessary. E.M.B. was born on February 3, 1997; J.B. was born on
October 8, 1998. M.A.B. is the mother and J.E.B. is the father of
these children. E.M.B. tested positive for marijuana and methadone
at birth. On February 7, 1997, custody of E.M.B. was vested with
DYFS by the court upon the initiation of a Title 9 child abuse and
neglect complaint in the Family Part against the parents, docketed
as FN-12-185-97.
For a period of time, E.M.B. was placed with J.E.B. However,
on August 3, 1998, DYFS discovered that E.M.B. was living in
deplorable conditions, and the child was removed from J.E.B.'s home
and placed in foster care, where he has been since.
J.B. tested positive for methadone at birth, was removed from
his parents, and has been in foster care since November 5, 1998.
Despite being offered and provided services, programs and
treatment by DYFS, neither parent has followed through nor made
efforts to overcome his or her substance abuse problem and other
parental deficiencies. Both M.A.B. and J.E.B. relocated to Florida
and have not visited with the children since November 3, 1999.
Consistent with its policy to place children with relatives
when possible, upon removal of the children from their parents,
DYFS attempted to place the children with the maternal
grandparents, E.D. and H.D., who reside in New York City. Prior to
J.B.'s birth, an order was entered in the Title 9 action on
February 21, 1997, ordering a priority interstate assessment
concerning the possible placement of E.M.B. with E.D. and H.D. An
order entered in that action on March 7, 1997, directed that the
interstate evaluation be expedited. However, by letter dated April
23, 1997, New York's Administration for Children's Services advised
DYFS that E.D. and H.D. were unable to care for E.M.B. due to the
chronic thyroid condition of H.D.
Numerous orders were entered in the Title 9 action directing
that the parents and children be provided with services, programs
and supervised visitation. The parents failed to comply with or
benefit from these services and it became increasingly evident that
the original goal of reunification of the children with their
parents would not be in the best interests of the children.
In January 2000, E.D. and H.D. expressed an interest in
obtaining custody of both E.M.B. and J.B., and adopting them. On
February 16, 2000, an order was entered, again requesting an
interstate evaluation of E.D. and H.D. for possible placement of
the children with them, noting that it was "critical for prompt
eval[uation] given the length of time [the] children have been in
foster care." The order also provided that E.D. and H.D. be given
increasing visitation, "including unsupervised visitation as soon
as possible when deemed appropriate by DYFS."
An order was entered in the Title 9 action on March 29, 2000,
granting E.D. and H.D. legal custody of the children, with physical
custody remaining with the foster parents. Specifically, the order
stated that E.D. and H.D. were "granted joint legal custody for the
purpose of obtaining educational opportunities for the children;
the plan being to give them legal custody, then they will adopt
them." The order was "self executing in regards to transferring
custody to [E.D. and H.D.] subject to [a] transition plan being
agreed to by DYFS, . . . [the] foster parent[s] [and E.D. and
H.D.]"
An order entered on May 31, 2000 provided that custody, care
and supervision of E.M.B. and J.B. shall continue with DYFS;
physical custody of the children shall remain with the foster
parents; unsupervised visits between the children and E.D. and H.D.
shall proceed each week during weekends and other extended periods;
the DYFS permanency plan of adoption of the children by E.D. and
H.D. was accepted by the court; and DYFS was to file a guardianship
complaint within sixty days.
On June 5, 2000, DYFS filed a guardianship complaint against
M.A.B. and J.E.B., docketed as FG-12-50-00, seeking termination of
their parental rights as to E.M.B. and J.B., and the placement of
the children in the guardianship of DYFS for all purposes,
including placement for adoption. Notably, at the time the
guardianship complaint was filed, the permanency plan approved by
the court in the May 31, 2000 order contemplated adoption by E.D.
and H.D. An order entered on June 28, 2000 dismissed the child
abuse and neglect action.
M.A.B. and J.E.B. were served with the guardianship complaint
in Florida; however, they failed to respond or otherwise oppose the
relief sought in the complaint.
A home evaluation report of E.D. and H.D. dated July 7, 2000
by the City of New York Administration for Children's Services
stated, in pertinent part:
There is no reservation in making a strong
recommendation that [E.D. and H.D.] be granted
custody of their grandchildren [E.M.B. and
J.B.]. [E.D. and H.D.] appear perfectly
capable of providing a healthy and loving
environment for their grandchildren. We are,
therefore, approving the placement plan for
the children in the home.
A case management order in the guardianship action was entered
on August 9, 2000, directing completion of a bonding evaluation to
assess the relationship of the children with the foster parents,
and with E.D. and H.D. The order further provided that pending the
results of the bonding evaluation the children were to remain in
foster care placement.
At the request of DYFS, Dr. Lori Goldblatt, a psychologist,
performed the ordered psychological and bonding evaluation. In her
September 29, 2000 report, Dr. Goldblatt found that both children
were bonded and attached to the foster parents, noting that
If the children were removed from their foster
parents, they would initially suffer a grief
reaction, since this is the only home that
[J.B.] knows and the only stable home that
[E.M.B.] knows. [J.B.], especially, would
likely have a very strong grief reaction.
However, since he is less than two, the trauma
of this loss may be easier to overcome.
[E.M.B.] has lived with the [foster parents]
since he was eighteen months old and knows no
other real home. If he were removed from the
[foster home], he might revert to early
autistic behavior and confusion, as
demonstrated by his behavior in the train
station. He could likely get adequate support
from his grandparents in overcoming this loss.
But he might also experience additional
confusion if he is left with a neighbor whom
he doesn't know well either. [E.M.B.] needs
consistency of routine and people in his life,
in addition to appropriate educational
experiences and stimulation, to maximize his
potential, given his current level of
developmental delays.
. . . .
Both children have also adjusted to having
their grandparents in their lives and enjoy
these visits. It is unclear, though, how
committed [E.D. and H.D.] are to having
permanent full-time custody of their
grandchildren. They were aware that the
grandchildren were in foster care for at least
one and one-half years before they came
forward to state that they could now care for
them. [E.D. and H.D.] stated they couldn't
care for [E.M.B.] when he was first born due
to [H.D.'s] medical problems. However, they
have not been able to identify a permanent
alternative other than a babysitter, if either
one of them should again become incapacitated,
or in some way unable to care for the children
full time. Ideally, the children should be
raised by a biological relative if one is
available to care for them. However, this may
not necessarily be the best solution for these
children. The [foster parents] have been more
than willing to facilitate regular visitation
with the grandparents and have gone out of
their way to ensure that the children have
consistent contact with their grandparents.
They have also stated that they would have no
problem continuing this arrangement, if they
were granted custody. My recommendation is to
grant physical custody to the [foster parents]
with continued regular visits with their
grandparents, so the children may have the
benefit of both the parental relationship and
the grandparent relationship that they already
appear to enjoy.
An order entered on October 5, 2000 continued the weekend
visitation for E.D. and H.D. with the children, afforded them the
opportunity to obtain an independent bonding evaluation, and
scheduled a case management conference for October 16, 2000.
On October 16, 2000, M.A.B. and J.E.B. failed to appear. The
court granted the application of DYFS for entry of default against
M.A.B. and J.E.B. and directed DYFS to present its proofs on the
guardianship complaint through an affidavit of proof. DYFS advised
the court that its permanency plan for the children had changed
from grandparent adoption to foster parent adoption. E.D. and H.D.
were not present at the October 16, 2000 hearing; however, their
counsel was present and requested an adjournment to allow
completion of the bonding evaluation permitted by the October 5,
2000 order. At that time, the trial court determined it had "no
jurisdiction to decide in which home the children should be placed
for the purpose of adoption[.]" DYFS agreed to cooperate with the
completion of the independent bonding evaluation and advised the
court that E.D. and H.D. could contest the change in the DYFS
permanency plan by pursuing available administrative remedies.See footnote 22
By letter to E.D. and H.D. dated October 27, 2000, DYFS
stated:
This [is] to advise [you] that after careful
consideration of the facts in this case a
decision has been made to rule you out as
prospective caretakers for your grandchildren,
[E.M.B.] and [J.B.] We feel that it would be
in the best interest of the minor children for
them to remain in the home of their current
caretakers and that adoption by these
caretakers be consummated.
You have the right to request a formal review
of this decision by the Metropolitan Adoption
Resource Center, District Office Manager. If
you would like to request a review, please
contact the undersigned within ten (10) days
of receipt of this letter. . .
By letter dated November 3, 2000, counsel for E.D. and H.D.
informed DYFS that his clients requested an administrative hearing
to review DYFS's decision set forth in its October 27, 2000 letter.
As a result of the October 16, 2000 hearing, an affidavit of
proof of Constance Charleston, a DYFS Family Services Specialist,
dated January 12, 2001, was submitted to the court in support of
DYFS's application for entry of default judgment against M.A.B. and
J.E.B. In her affidavit, Ms. Charleston incorporated by reference
"each and every averment of facts set forth in the Complaint for
Guardianship, Docket No. FG-12-50-00 and the Protective Service
Complaint filed under Docket No. FN-12-185-97A as if these
averments were set forth as statements of fact in this Affidavit."
Ms. Charleston further stated that "[t]he purpose of this
incorporation is for the Court to consider the averments in both
Complaints as facts in making its decision to terminate the
parental rights of [M.A.B.] and [J.E.B.]"
In accordance with the October 6, 2000 order, Dr. Jerome
Goodman, a psychiatrist, performed a bonding evaluation at the
request of E.D. and H.D. In his February 2, 2001 report, Dr.
Goodman found the children "are affectionate and closely bonded
with [their foster mother]." He also found the children to be
bonded with E.D. and H.D., and recommended the children be placed
with the grandparents for adoption.
By letter to counsel for E.D. and H.D. dated February 15,
2001, DYFS stated that counsel would be contacted concerning a
Regional Dispositional Review of the Metropolitan Adoption Resource
Center's decision not to approve them as adoptive parents for their
grandchildren and, when completed, "[they] will be notified
accordingly of the Regional Administrator's decision." By letter
to the grandparents' counsel dated March 9, 2001, DYFS provided its
case notes related to the grandparents' involvement with the
children, in anticipation of "the Regional Dispositional Review
Conference."
During this period, the child placement review board continued
to review the placement status of the children and the modification
in the DYFS permanency placement plan pursuant to the Act. A child
placement review order was executed on March 21, 2001, expressing
dissatisfaction with the permanency planning decision of DYFS in
rejecting the grandparents' application for custody and placement
for adoption, and a "summary hearing for a review of permanency
plan issues" was scheduled by the court for May 21, 2001.
The judgment of guardianship was not executed until April 16,
2001. It briefly recited the procedural history, stating, inter
alia, that "the Court having found that it has no jurisdiction to
decide in which home the children should be placed for purposes of
adoption" and noting that "the Division having stated that the
grandparents have administrative remedies that they may pursue[.]"
The judgment stated that the court found by clear and convincing
evidence that termination of the parental rights of M.A.B. and
J.E.B. is in the best interests of the children, and placed both
children in the guardianship of DYFS for all purposes, "including
the placement of said [children] for adoption pursuant to N.J.S.A.
30:4C-15 through N.J.S.A. 30:4C-22[.]"
The judgment also specifically:
ORDERED that the Division shall notify
the Law Guardian and [E.D. and H.D.], as well
as their counsel . . . of all Child Placement
Review Board proceedings, all Division
proceedings or actions, and all applications
or proceedings related to the adoption of
[E.M.B. and J.B.]; and it is further
ORDERED that the Division continue to
give its full cooperation to and facilitate
the visitation of [E.M.B. and J.B.] with their
grandparents . . . during the period that the
Division maintains guardianship of the
children; and it is further
ORDERED that the Division shall provide
the [grandparents] with an appropriate avenue
of administrative relief by which they can
seek review of the Division's plan for
adoption of [E.M.B. and J.B.] by their foster
parents and a ruling allowing the
[grandparents] instead to adopt the children.
By letter to counsel for E.D. and H.D. dated April 27, 2001,
DYFS advised that the grandparents' request for a hearing in the
Office of Administrative Law (OAL) before an administrative law
judge (ALJ) to challenge DYFS's decision, was denied. DYFS advised
counsel that pursuant to N.J.A.C. 10:120A-3.1(a)3, the grandparents
were not entitled to an OAL hearing but would be afforded a
dispositional conference. The letter also stated that E.D. and
H.D. may arrange for a record of the dispositional conference to be
made and although testimony may be presented, "[t]here will be no
cross-examination of witnesses."
In accordance with the March 21, 2001 child placement review
order, the Family Part conducted a summary hearing on May 21, 2001
under the child placement review board docket numbers, FC-12-16-99
and FC-12-65-99. DYFS argued that the Family Part and child
placement review board had no jurisdiction to review the placement
plan; that an administrative appeal by the grandparents from the
DYFS foster parent adoption plan was being processed and
constituted adequate review of its placement decision; and that the
grandparents' ultimate remedy would be an appeal to this court from
any adverse administrative decision.
In considering the matter, the trial court expressed concern
that the administrative hearing being provided to E.D. and H.D. was
before a hearing officer employed by DYFS, stating "somehow that
just doesn't seem to give due process a fair shake[.]" After
considering the arguments, the judge concluded:
Here's my decision. My decision is that
the Division shall do exactly what the CPR
board wants them to do, come up with a new
plan. They've rejected the old one. Their
next meeting I do believe is June the 20th, .
. . and present that and see what the board
says. The board's gotta serve some purpose,
it's not there for window dressing. They
didn't like what you did the first time, do it
again. They will either accept it or reject
it. . . .
. . . .
Do what the board asks. Is that so hard?
And if you're not gonna do what the board
wants, then let's tell all these volunteers to
go home and not bother volunteering [their]
time and making like they're just doing
something and the Division can just go ahead
willy-nilly and do whatever it wants.
An order memorializing the judge's decision was executed on
May 25, 2001, directing that DYFS
shall create and submit to the Board a new
placement plan for [E.M.B.] and [J.B.] in
accordance with the March 21, 2001 Permanency
Order, which states that (a) the Child
Placement Review Board disagrees with the
Division's goal of adoption of the children by
their foster parents and (b) the goal of the
plan instead should be the adoption of the
children by their grandparents, [E.D. and
H.D.]
By letter dated June 4, 2001, counsel for E.D. and H.D.
advised the administrative hearing officer that the May 25, 2001
order of the Family Part might make the administrative appeal moot,
and asked that it be held in abeyance.
In response to the May 25, 2001 order, DYFS submitted an
addendum of its case plan to the child placement review board that
recited the basis for its permanent placement plan of foster parent
adoption "and continued increased visitation between the children
and grandparents[.]"
At its June 20, 2001 meeting, the child placement review board
rejected the addendum plan submitted by DYFS and continued to
recommend that the permanency placement plan provide for adoption
by the grandparents. The board also recommended a summary hearing
be held before the court as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, DYFS moved for reconsideration of the May 25, 2001
order. E.D. and H.D. filed a cross-motion, seeking enforcement of
the May 25, 2001 order. A hearing was held on these motions in the
Family Part on July 30, 2001. The judge denied DYFS's motion for
reconsideration and entered an order directing that "a special
interests hearing requested by the CPR Board" be held on October 1,
2001. The application of DYFS for a stay was denied.
On September 10, 2001, we granted the application of DYFS for
leave to appeal, stayed further proceedings in the Family Part
pending disposition of the matter, and accelerated the appeal.
On appeal, DYFS presents the following arguments for our
consideration:
POINT I
UPON THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER TERMINATING
PARENTAL RIGHTS, BOTH THE FAMILY COURT AND THE
CHILD PLACEMENT REVIEW BOARD LACK JURISDICTION
TO REVIEW AND OVERTURN THE DECISION BY THE NEW
JERSEY DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES
TO APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF THE MINORS IN THE
GUARDIANSHIP OF THE DIVISION BY THEIR FOSTER
PARENTS.
POINT II
A CHALLENGE BY THE PARENTS OF THE MOTHER WHOSE
PARENTAL RIGHTS TO HER CHILDREN HAVE BEEN
TERMINATED TO THE DETERMINATION BY THE NEW
JERSEY DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES,
THE GUARDIANS OF THE MINORS, TO APPROVE THEIR
ADOPTION BY THEIR FOSTER PARENTS MUST PROCEED
BEFORE THE DIVISION PURSUANT TO N.J.A.C.
10:120A-3.1(a)(3) WITH FINAL REVIEW BY THIS
COURT PURSUANT TO R. 2:2-3(a)(2).
The Child Placement Review Act was enacted "to establish
procedures for both administrative and judicial review of each
child's placement in order to ensure that such placement ensures
the safety and health and serves the best interest of the child."
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-51.
Under the Act, DYFS is required to file a notice of placement
with the Family Part within five days after placement of a child
outside the home and "[s]uch filing shall establish a continuing
jurisdiction of the court over the placement of the child."
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-53. However, that section goes on to state:
The division shall also file immediate
notice with the court of any change in
placement and of the permanent placement or
return home of the child. The court's
jurisdiction shall cease upon receipt of such
notification of the return home or alternative
placement of the child[.]
[(Emphasis added).]
Whether the termination of parental rights of the birth
parents and placement of the children in the guardianship of DYFS
for all purposes, including adoption, constitutes a "permanent
placement" that would divest the court of child placement review
jurisdiction was addressed in State in re T.G.,
173 N.J. Super. 146
(J.&D.R. Ct. 1980). In T.G., the court considered "the extent of
the jurisdiction of the court and the [child placement review]
boards designated by the [Child Placement Review Act] after [DYFS]
has been given guardianship of a child." Id. at 147.
In T.G., as here, DYFS contended "that once guardianship is
entered pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15, the jurisdiction of the
court ceases. Its position is that the granting of guardianship is
equivalent to permanent placement of the child." Ibid. The court
recognized that "if the grant of guardianship is the equivalent of
permanent placement, the court's jurisdiction ends upon that
grant." Ibid. The court outlined the contentions of DYFS, as
follows:
The Attorney General also cites N.J.S.A.
30:4C-21 in support of his contention that a
guardianship order ends the court's
jurisdiction. According to this section, an
order of commitment should not be restrictive
of DYFS' exclusive guardianship.
The Attorney General further argues that
since the review boards are only to be used as
an arm of the court, N.J.S.A. 30:4C-57, their
jurisdiction cannot exceed that of the court.
Therefore, when the court grants DYFS
guardianship, both the review board and the
court lack jurisdiction to review any future
placements that DYFS might make.
[Id. at 147-48.]
In rejecting the arguments of DYFS, the court stated, in
pertinent part:
The [Child Placement Review Act] clearly
indicates that the court does not lose its
jurisdiction when it grants guardianship to
DYFS. This continuing jurisdiction is
retained by the court whether the guardianship
order is made pursuant to a voluntary
agreement or after parental rights are
terminated. The act gave the [Family Part]
the authority to review placements made by
DYFS. According to the terms of the act,
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-52(b), a child placed outside
the home "means a child under the care,
custody or guardianship of the division."
(Emphasis supplied). The entire act speaks to
the procedure for reviewing the placements of
children by DYFS. To adopt the definition of
guardianship propounded by the Attorney
General would weaken the reviewing powers of
the court substantially. It was not the
intent of the legislators to reduce the power
of the court. According to the legislative
declarations in the act, N.J.S.A. 30:4C-51,
the clear intent of the law is to provide
periodic review of each child in placement in
order to establish either an alternative
permanent home or to return him to his home.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4C-55, DYFS is
required to submit a plan for the eventual
return home or permanent placement of each
child placed outside the home. The submission
of such a plan would be pointless if the court
did not retain jurisdiction to review the
placement. The fact that a child under the
guardianship of DYFS, i.e., placed outside of
his home, must have a plan submitted on his
behalf for eventual permanent placement
clearly indicates that guardianship is not the
equivalent of permanent placement.
The Attorney General's reliance on
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-21 as an indication of the
court's lack of jurisdiction in guardianship
cases is misplaced.
This section does indeed say that the
control of DYFS over a child under its
guardianship is to be unrestricted. However,
it also provides that DYFS may be removed as a
guardian upon a showing of good cause by a
court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore,
although DYFS has complete control over the
child the statute still allows a court to
review the division's actions upon charges
preferred.
. . . .
This court is also convinced that it has
jurisdiction to review placements made by DYFS
of children under their guardianship.
Until a child has actually been adopted
no permanency can be attributed to the
situation. . . .
. . . .
A child under the guardianship of DYFS
cannot be said to be in an immutable position.
There is no permanency in the situation. The
possibility of a change in the child's
placement always exists. Therefore until the
child has been adopted the court retains its
jurisdiction and power to review.
[T.G., supra, 173 N.J. Super. at 148-50 (other
citations omitted).]
The procedures for review of the out-of-home placement by DYFS
are clearly outlined in the Act. Once a child is placed in foster
care, N.J.S.A. 30:4C-55 requires DYFS to prepare and revise, when
necessary, a placement plan that, inter alia, contains "[a]
statement of the goal for the permanent placement . . . of the
child[.]" Upon the submission of the placement plan, the child
placement review board shall "act on behalf of the Family Part . .
. in reviewing the case of each child placed outside his home by
the division in accordance with a court order[.]" N.J.S.A. 30:4C-
58. All reviews by the child placement review board
shall include, but not necessarily be limited
to, the consideration and evaluation of such
matters as:
a. The appropriateness of the goal and
objectives of the placement plan and
anticipated date that the goal will be
achieved;
. . . .
j. The appropriateness of the division's
permanency plan and the division's reasonable
efforts to achieve that plan[.] . . .
[N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.]
The Act provides that after the child placement review board
has completed its review, it shall submit a written report to the
Family Part and DYFS. The report shall offer one of the following
findings, stating the specific reasons therefor:
a. That continued placement of the child
outside the home is not in the child's best
interest and the child should be returned home
within two weeks and that the division . . .
shall provide reasonable and available
services which are necessary to implement the
return home;
b. That continued placement outside of
the home is in the child's best interest on a
temporary basis until the long-term goal is
achieved, which long-term goal is:
(1) Return to the child's parents or
legal guardian,
(2) Adoption,
(3) Permanent placement with a relative,
(4) Long-term foster care custody,
(5) Independent living,
(6) Institutionalization, or
(7) An alternative permanent placement;
[or]
c. That continued placement outside the
home on a temporary basis is in the child's
best interest, but that there is not
sufficient information for the board to make a
recommendation, therefore, the board requests
the court to order the division . . . to
provide the needed information within two
weeks of the court order.
[N.J.S.A. 30:4C-60.]
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-60 also requires the child placement review board to
state in its report whether DYFS's placement plan satisfies the
criteria set forth in N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.
Upon review of the board's report, the Family Part is required
to issue an order "which it deems will best serve the health,
safety and interests of the child[ren]." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-61a. If
the placement plan does not satisfy the criteria set forth in
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58, "the court shall order that the placement plan
be modified or that a new plan be developed within 30 days." Ibid.
In reviewing the report of the child placement review board,
the Family Part may schedule a summary hearing if, inter alia:
(1) The court has before it conflicting
statements of material fact which it cannot
resolve without a hearing; or
. . . .
(3) The court concludes that the interests of
justice require that a hearing be held; or
. . . .
(6) If the review is to serve as a permanency
hearing.
[N.J.S.A. 30:4C-61b.]
The Act also contemplates review and approval of the permanent
placement plan by the Family Part. N.J.S.A. 30:4C-61.2.
DYFS argues that N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1,See footnote 33 enacted subsequent to
the court's decision in T.G., limits the role of the child
placement review board subsequent to the entry of a judgment
terminating the parental rights of the birth parents once DYFS
notifies the Family Part that the child has been placed in a home
for purposes of adoption. N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1 provides, as
follows:
When a child is placed in a home for the
purpose of adoption, the division shall notify
the family part of the Chancery Division of
the Superior Court in the child's county of
supervision in writing of the placement. Upon
receipt of the notice, the board shall not
schedule further reviews of the case unless:
a. The child is removed from the adoptive
home;
b. The complaint for adoption was not
filed within eight months of the placement
and the filing of the complaint is not
imminent; or
c. The plan for the child was modified
so that immediate adoption by the stated
adoptive parents no longer is the goal.
The division shall send the court and the
board a status report on the case every four
months. When a complaint for adoption has
been filed, the division shall inform the
court and no further board reviews shall be
held while that action is pending.
When a judgment of adoption has been
entered the court shall dismiss the complaint
pursuant to [N.J.S.A. 30:4C-53].
If a child is placed in an adoptive home
prior to the completion of the initial court
review, the court shall retain jurisdiction to
complete the review.
DYFS contends that since none of the three post-termination
circumstances outlined in N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1a-c exists, the child
placement review board and the Family Part lack jurisdiction to
review the placement. We disagree.
Prior to the termination of the parental rights of M.A.B. and
J.E.B. the "plan for the child[ren] was modified so that immediate
adoption by the stated adoptive parents" as set forth in the court-
approved permanency plan, i.e., the grandparents, was "no longer
the goal." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1c. Additionally, pursuant to the
last paragraph of N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1, the Family Part retains
jurisdiction to complete the placement review where the child is
placed in an adoptive home prior to completion of the initial court
review.
Here, the circumstances do not warrant the application of
N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1 to preclude exercise of placement review. In
its May 31, 2000 order, the Family Part accepted and approved the
DYFS permanency placement plan that provided for adoption of E.M.B.
and J.B. by E.D. and H.D. DYFS's change of the goal of its
permanency plan from grandparent adoption to foster parent adoption
essentially coincided with the entry of default against M.A.B. and
J.E.B. at the October 16, 2000 hearing. It was clear by the
October 5, 2000 order that E.D. and H.D. were contesting the
conclusions of Dr. Goldblatt, upon which DYFS apparently based its
change in the permanency plan, and had retained Dr. Goodman, their
own expert, to conduct a bonding evaluation. Under these
circumstances, the child placement review board and the court were
unable to effectively review the change in the permanency plan
until completion of the bonding evaluation by Dr. Goodman.
The March 21, 2001 child placement review board order
memorialized the board's dissatisfaction with the permanency
planning decision of DYFS and a summary review hearing was
scheduled before the court for May 21, 2001.
We conclude that the execution of judgment of guardianship on
April 16, 2001 did not divest the child placement review board or
the Family Part of their jurisdiction under the Act to determine
whether the bests interests of E.M.B. and J.B. were being served by
the change in the permanency placement plan that provided for
adoption by the foster parents, since the court review of that
modification in the permanency plan was not yet completed.
Although E.D. and H.D. did not formally intervene in the
guardianship action, the procedural history of both the Title 9
child abuse and neglect action and the Title 30 guardianship case
illustrate there was an ongoing dispute between the grandparents
and the foster parents as to whether the goal of the DYFS
permanency plan should be foster parent or grandparent adoption.
The record does not contain a copy of the October 16, 2000
transcript. From the record provided, we conclude the court was
initially satisfied with the sufficiency of the administrative
remedy being afforded to the grandparents by DYFS to challenge its
decision on the permanency plan. Once the Family Part judge became
aware of the specifics of that proposed administrative challenge,
the judge concluded it was insufficient.
However, we conclude that the statutory scheme for review of
a permanent placement plan by the child placement review board and
the Family Part, as provided in the Act, cannot be transmogrified
into an administrative agency review process, effectuated through
a change in the permanency planning goal by DYFS that essentially
coincided with the decision to terminate the parental rights of the
birth parents in the guardianship case. Moreover, the Act
contemplates an independent judicial review of DYFS's permanency
placement plan, separate and apart from any rights the grandparents
may possess to contest the internal administrative decision of
DYFS.
We are in general agreement with the court's analysis in T.G.
that when interpreting N.J.S.A. 30:4C-53, the phrase "permanent
placement" is not synonymous with the phrase "termination of
parental rights." However, we also recognize that N.J.S.A. 30:4C-
58.1 deprives the Family Part and child placement review board of
jurisdiction to review placement decisions by DYFS once the initial
court review of that placement decision has been completed unless
the child is removed from the adoptive home; the complaint for
adoption was not filed within eight months of the placement and the
filing of the complaint is not imminent; or the plan for the child
was modified so that immediate adoption by the stated adoptive
parents no longer is the goal. N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1a-c.
Our review of other reported decision supports these
conclusions. In In re C.W., M.W. & N.F. Guardianship,
183 N.J.
Super. 47, 53 (App. Div. 1982), we ruled that courts continue to
have jurisdiction over the placement of children "notwithstanding
the fact that it committed them to the guardianship of DYFS[,]"
"[s]ince the court must determine whether the permanent placement
plan submitted by DYFS is in the best interests of each of these
children[,]" pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4C-61.
These conclusions, however, must be distinguished from the
issue of the authority of the court to internally review placement
decisions made by DYFS for children in its custody. In State in
Interest of J.B.,
293 N.J. Super. 485 (Ch. Div. 1996), Judge
Clarkson S. Fisher, Jr. held that the issue of whether a child
should be removed from one set of foster parents and placed with
another is to be resolved through an administrative appeals
process, and not through a summary child placement review board
hearing. Id. at 490. However, the issue before Judge Fisher did
not involve a permanent placement planning review issue under the
Act. Here, the issue for resolution is the ultimate permanency
issue _ among those bonded to the children, who should be permitted
to adopt? That issue is for the Family Part to determine through
application of the procedures set forth in the Act for review of
the permanency placement plan.
In Division of Youth and Family Servs. v. S.C.,
246 N.J.
Super. 414, 428 (App. Div.), certif. denied,
126 N.J. 334 (1991),
when faced with a request for visitation by a natural mother whose
parental rights had been terminated as to her child, we stated that
"[o]nce parental rights are terminated and the child is placed
under the guardianship of the Division, an alternative permanent
placement is made and the court's jurisdiction ends." However, in
S.C. the issue was the jurisdiction of the court to order post-
termination visitation, not review of a DYFS permanency placement
plan. We elaborated, as follows:
The clear language of the applicable statutes
precludes the granting of post-termination
visitation. It may well be that in certain
situations, post-termination visitation would
be in the best interests of older children who
developed a demonstrable bond with their
natural parents, but that is not so in this
case.
[Ibid.]
More recently, in S.R. v. Div. of Youth & Family Servs.,
311 N.J. Super. 431 (App. Div.), certif. denied,
157 N.J. 542 (1998),
we affirmed an order of the Family Part dismissing a grandmother's
complaint for custody filed subsequent to a judgment terminating
the parental rights of the birth parents. Prior to the termination
of parental rights trial, the grandmother was given the option of
requesting judicial review of DYFS's permanency planning decision
to seek foster parent adoption through application of the child
placement review process. Id. at 343. The grandmother elected not
to go forward with the child placement review, indicating she would
instead take steps to intervene in the pending guardianship
proceeding. However, the grandmother failed to intervene in the
termination proceedings. Id. at 434-35. The guardianship matter
was tried and the court entered a judgment terminating the parental
rights of the birth parents based upon the testimony and evidence
received at trial, and granted DYFS guardianship of the children
for all purposes, including the placement for adoption. Id. at
435. Approximately five months later, the grandmother filed a
complaint against DYFS seeking custody. Ibid. Under those
circumstances, we concluded that "[n]either the trial court nor we
have, to date, been given any reason to apprehend that the
children's best interests are not well served by the guardianship
order and DYFS's permanency plan." Id. at 437.
In S.R., there was no issue placed before the child placement
review board prior to entry of the judgment of guardianship as to
whether the best interests of the children were being served by the
permanency placement plan advanced by DYFS.
Although it is true that the termination of parental rights
effectively terminates the legal relationship between the parents
and the child, it cannot be said to also divest the pre-adoption
jurisdiction of the court over a permanency plan that has not been
reviewed pursuant to the provisions of the Child Placement Review
Act. Indeed, the language of N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58.1 clearly
recognizes and defines the jurisdiction of the Family Part and
applicability of the Act in a post-termination setting.
We also note there are inherent difficulties with the
provisions of the DYFS addendum to the permanency placement plan
that further emphasize the importance of judicial review. There is
no dispute that the children have bonded with both the foster
parents and with the grandparents. At issue is the degree of those
bonds and their import and impact on the permanency placement plan.
The June 20, 2001 DYFS addendum to its case plan for E.M.B. and
J.B. provides for foster parent adoption with "continued increased
visitation between the children and the grandparents[.]" That
aspect of DYFS's permanency plan is unenforceable. In In re
Guardianship of K.H.O.,
161 N.J. 337, 362 (1999), our Supreme Court
stated that open adoption agreements that allow adoption, but
permit contact by the children with biological relatives "cannot be
judicially enforced, given the potential for disruption of the
child's family life under such arrangements and the fact that under
the adoption laws the adoptive parents' rights are paramount."
Additionally, in In re Adoption of Child by W.P.,
163 N.J. 158, 163 (2000), the Court held that following the termination of
parental rights through adoption, grandparents have no right to
seek visitation. Essentially, the Court held that the rights of
grandparents are derivative and are extinguished upon the
termination of the parental rights of the natural parents.
We also concur with the conclusion of the Family Part judge
that the administrative review process offered by DYFS is not the
type of plenary review desirable for resolution of the fundamental
issue of whether a permanency placement plan effectuates the best
interest of children. The position of DYFS is essentially that the
timing of the entry of the judgment of termination dictates the
authority for judicial review notwithstanding the child placement
review process required by the Act. That position is untenable.
The suggestion that the procedural turn of events in this case must
lead to a result where one permanency placement plan is subject to
judicial review and approval, but an amendment to that judicially-
approved permanency placement plan is only subject to
administrative agency review, flies in the face of the stated
purposes of the Act that requires judicial review of the placement
of children "to ensure that such placement ensures the safety and
health and serves the best interest of the child[ren]." N.J.S.A.
30:4C-51.
We do not suggest that the shift in the goal of the permanency
placement plan by DYFS was unwarranted or that it does not serve
the best interests of these children. That issue will be resolved
in the review hearing conducted in the Family Part. We also
emphasize to the Family Part that it should not afford any
presumption of correctness to the permanency placement plan
recommendations made by the child placement review board, nor to
the DYFS permanency placement plan. DYFS has performed its
statutory function of preparing and submitting for review a
permanency placement plan it contends serves the best interests of
the children. See N.J.S.A. 30:4C-55. The child placement review
board has performed its statutory review function of that plan and
has made certain recommendations. See N.J.S.A. 30:4C-58 to -60.
The function of the Family Part is to receive testimony, evidence
and information from all relevant sources pertaining to the best
interests of the children and determine a permanency placement plan
that "ensures the safety and health and serves the best interest of
the child[ren]." N.J.S.A. 30:4C-51; see also N.J.S.A. 30:4C-61.
Affirmed and remanded for proceedings consistent with this
opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
Footnote: 1 1 This appeal was submitted for decision without oral argument on the December 5, 2001 calendar; however, we granted a request for oral argument and the appeal was telephonically argued on December 4, 2001. Footnote: 2 2 The record supplied does not contain a copy of the transcript of the October 16, 2000 hearing. This history is derived from the recitations contained in the order of guardianship, which was not executed until six months later on April 16, 2001. Footnote: 3 3 Enacted by L. 1982, c. 24, § 10, eff. April 27, 1982.