Opinion
01-22-2015
In re CHARLES JAHMEL M., JR., and Others, Dependent Children Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc., Charles E. M., Respondent–Appellant, Graham–Windham Services to Families and Children, Petitioner–Respondent.
Carol L. Kahn, New York, for appellant. Carrieri & Carrieri, P.C., Mineola (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for respondent. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Patricia Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.
Carol L. Kahn, New York, for appellant.
Carrieri & Carrieri, P.C., Mineola (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Patricia Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.
GONZALEZ, P.J., RENWICK, DeGRASSE, MANZANET–DANIELS, GISCHE, JJ.
Opinion Orders, Family Court, New York County (Stewart H. Weinstein, J.), entered on or about September 10, 2013, which, inter alia, upon findings of permanent neglect (November 26, 2012, same court, Rhoda Cohen, J.), terminated respondent father's parental rights to the subject children and committed the custody and guardianship of the children to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of Social Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The findings of permanent neglect were supported by clear and convincing evidence (see Social Services Law § 384–b[7] ). The record demonstrates that the agency expended diligent efforts to strengthen the parental relationship between respondent and the three subject children. The agency scheduled regular visitation between the children and respondent, and provided respondent with drug referrals, referrals for domestic violence programs and parenting skills classes and conducted meetings and case conferences with respondent (see Matter of Julian Raul S. [Oscar S.], 111 A.D.3d 456, 457, 974 N.Y.S.2d 425 [1st Dept.2013] ; Matter of Jeovonni G. [Victoria V.], 101 A.D.3d 449, 450, 955 N.Y.S.2d 578 [1st Dept. 2012] ). While respondent contends that the agency failed to offer him financial support, furniture allotments, housekeeping services, or assistance in establishing a public assistance budget, the record demonstrates that the Administration for Children's Services and respondent's shelter caseworkers attempted to work with him to help him secure permanent housing, a public assistance budget, and employment so that he could care for the subject children as well as the three children then in his custody.
However, the record demonstrates that respondent permanently neglected the children by failing for over a year after they entered foster care to plan for their return by securing steady employment or appropriate permanent housing before the petition was filed (see Social Services Law § 384–b[7] ; Matter of Aisha T., 55 A.D.3d 435, 436, 866 N.Y.S.2d 628 [1st Dept.2008], lv. denied 11 N.Y.3d 716, 874 N.Y.S.2d 5, 902 N.E.2d 439 [2009] ). Moreover, respondent's failure to comply with random drug testing on a consistent basis, abide by an order of protection, complete a domestic violence program in a timely manner, and to visit the children regularly and in compliance with the established schedule supports the finding that he failed to plan for the children's future (see Matter of Elijah Jose S. [Jose Angel S.], 79 A.D.3d 533, 533–534, 912 N.Y.S.2d 213 [1st Dept.2010], lv. denied 16 N.Y.3d 708, 2011 WL 1161726 [2011] ).
A preponderance of the evidence shows that termination of respondent's parental rights was in the best interests of the children, who had been in foster care for approximately seven years and required permanency (see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d 136, 147–148, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824 [1984] ). A suspended judgment was not warranted under the circumstances, because there was no evidence that respondent had a realistic and feasible plan to provide an adequate and stable home for the subject children, two of whom have special needs (see Matter of Rayshawn F., 36 A.D.3d 429, 430, 827 N.Y.S.2d 52 [1st Dept.2007] ; Matter of Rutherford Roderick T. [Rutherford R.T.], 4 A.D.3d 213, 214, 772 N.Y.S.2d 49 [1st Dept.2004] ).