in the Interest of L.C.L. and M.E.M., Children


Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed July 16, 2019. In The Fourteenth Court of Appeals NO. 14-19-00062-CV IN THE INTEREST OF L.C.L. AND M.E.M., CHILDREN On Appeal from the 315th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2016-03785J MEMORANDUM OPINION Appellant F.L. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s final decree terminating her parental rights with respect to her children L.C.L. (“Lorenzo”) and M.E.M. (“Melissa”).1 The trial court terminated Mother’s parental rights on predicate grounds of endangerment and failure to comply with the service plan for reunification. See generally Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), and (O). The trial court further found that termination of Mother’s rights was in the children’s 1 Lorenzo and Melissa are pseudonyms. Pursuant to Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.8, we use fictitious names to identify the minors and other family members involved in this case. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8. best interest. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(2). In six issues, Mother contends (1) the trial court erred in failing to file findings of fact and conclusions of law; (2) the trial court violated Mother’s equal protection rights under the Texas and United States constitutions; (3) the trial court erred in admitting evidence in violation of the Texas and United States constitutions; and (4) the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court’s findings of endangerment, failure to follow a family service plan, and that termination is in the best interest of the children. We affirm. BACKGROUND I. Pretrial Proceedings A. Pretrial Removal Affidavit On March 22, 2016, the Department received a referral alleging neglectful supervision of Lorenzo, Melissa, and their older sister A.M. (“Andrea”). The report stated that all three children were found home alone. Electricity to the home had been inoperable for three days. None of the children knew where Mother was. The referral noted that Mother “sleeps all day” and had been absent from the home overnight at least twice. The report further noted that “there is food all over the floor and by the front door.” The children were described as “very skinny.” At the time of the removal Andrea was fifteen years old, Lorenzo was five, and Melissa was four. Over the course of a three-month investigation Mother and the children moved. When the investigator located the family, Mother reported that she was from Honduras and had lived in the United States for five years. Mother had five children, the three who lived with her, and two others who lived in Honduras. Mother submitted to a drug screening at the Department’s request. Urine analysis was negative for all substances. A hair follicle analysis was positive for cocaine. 2 The investigator met Mother at her home and explained that due to the positive drug test Mother would need to place the children outside the home. The investigator provided Mother with a child caregiver resource form to be filled out with names of potential caregivers. Mother never completed the form for possible placement options. B. Department ...

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