Court terminates parental rights of Carla Collier, cites prolonged abandonment and safety risks

Judge Brown of the Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court on Nov. 17 ordered the termination of Carla Collier’s parental rights to her daughter, finding the child’s prolonged absence from the mother’s care, persistent safety concerns and insufficient remedial progress supported the change to an adoption goal.

The department of health and human services argued that after more than 25 months of involvement and multiple review hearings, the child has waited “a significant amount of time to achieve permanency,” and that active efforts and services had not produced the changes necessary to safely return her home. "The child has waited a significant amount of time to achieve permanency and finality," Sasha Thomas, counsel for the department, said in closing.

The court’s opinion summarized the record dating to the emergency removal on Sept. 1, 2023, and recounted repeated patterns the judge attributed to the respondent: transience and homelessness across multiple states, incidents the court described as abusive or neglectful in earlier records, frequent moves and a lack of sustained engagement with recommended services. The judge applied statutory standards read on the record and concluded there was clear and convincing evidence of abandonment, lack of progress on court-ordered services and a reasonable likelihood of harm if the child were returned to the mother’s care. "There is a preponderance of evidence supporting termination of parental rights in this case," the judge stated.

Testimony at the hearing described the child’s needs and recent progress in foster care. A caseworker reported that the child had experienced severe behavioral episodes earlier in the reporting period that prompted an ER visit and medication changes, but had shown recent stabilization on a new medication and was being placed on wait lists for trauma-focused therapy and ABA after an autism diagnosis. Foster care worker Ashley Beach testified she had maintained weekly or biweekly outreach to the mother and the mother’s counsel despite geographic barriers; she also described efforts to contact the Native Village of Buckland and to involve the mother in school meetings and treatment planning.

The mother, Carla Collier, testified she was recovering from a hysterectomy and described sending a birthday package to her daughter; she said she had not been sent a link to attend a virtual school meeting she wished to join. "Currently I am almost fully recovered after having a hysterectomy," Collier testified. Defense counsel reiterated written closing statements and asked the court to deny the termination petition.

The court acknowledged the foster placement’s extensive supports for the child — regular therapy, occupational and physical therapy, individualized education program supports and a foster mother with training in trauma-informed care — and found the foster home to be the least restrictive, most family-like placement for the child at this time. The judge noted the child had been in foster care for over two years and spoke to the child’s heightened need for stability and permanency.

Judge Brown ordered that Carla Collier’s parental rights be terminated, that the child be committed to the Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of adoption, and that future proceedings under the adoption code be treated as confidential. The judge also set a post-termination review hearing to be scheduled and advised Collier of her right to appeal. The court record reflects the child’s father previously released his parental rights.

The Native Village of Buckland and qualified expert testimony from tribal representatives were discussed during the hearing record; the court noted both earlier tribal comment and a later QEW who supported termination. Agency counsel stated attempts were made to reach tribal representatives for this hearing but that no representative attended the live session.