KALAMAZOO, MI -- Jonetta Woods will have more parenting time with her 5-year-old daughter before she faces a hearing in December that will determine if she will permanently lose custody.



Meanwhile, the Department of Human Services is recommending that she have her parental rights terminated.



Woods, who lost three children who were left alone during a fire at Interfaith Homes in February, was at the Gull Road courthouse Thursday for a permanency planning hearing. Currently Woods' surviving daughter, Drayanna O'Day, is staying with the girl's aunt.

The hearing came several months after a family court jury found that Woods, 25, and her former boyfriend, Fred Glespie, 19, were neglectful on Feb. 18 when 1-year-old Ty'onna Henderson and 3-year-old twins Tevin and Te'Niyah Williams were killed in the fire.



A caseworker said Thursday that the recommendation from DHS to terminate Woods' parental rights was based on reports by Dr. Jim Henry, of the children's trauma assessment center, and psychologist Dr. Randall Haugen.



Haugen's report indicated that Woods is "not able to care for herself, let alone a child," the caseworker said.



Woods' attorney, Dorphine Payne, argued that Woods hasn't gotten adequate services to help her with parenting. Drayanna's aunt has been getting parenting coaching but Woods hasn't been involved, Payne said.



Judge Patricia Conlon agreed with Payne and ordered that all services provided to the child should include Woods.



Conlon also set a termination hearing for Dec. 18 when therapists and psychologists who have worked with and evaluated Woods will testify. The judge will then determine if Woods' parental rights should be terminated.



"I'm not on a mission to terminate mom's rights or to reunite her with the child," Conlon said. "There are a lot of question marks. We need to know if she has the capacity to care for a child."



Conlon said she was "disappointed" that Woods has gotten pregnant, which complicates the situation, but was pleased with the caseworker's report about Woods' attitude.



The caseworker indicated that Woods has been very cooperative and has communicated well with DHS. Payne said Woods is involved with the Lift Up Through Literacy program, which teaches literacy skills to parents and children.



"That's something she sought out on her own," Payne said. "She's not only cooperative but willing."



Woods has also had clean drug tests and is taking prenatal classes during her pregnancy.



Conlon was pleased with the effort Woods has been making.



"One thing in your favor is that you are cooperative. That's better than a lot of parents I see," Conlon said.



Woods' ex-boyfriend Fred Glespie is facing involuntary manslaughter and child abuse charges in connection with the fatal fire and is awaiting trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.





Aaron Mueller is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact him at amuelle1@mlive.com or 269-568-3867. Follow him on Twitter.