Opinion
2013-04-26
In the Matter of AIDEN J.W. Niagara County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent; Michael E.M., Respondent–Appellant.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Niagara County (John F. Batt, J.), entered June 13, 2011 in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b. The order terminated the parental rights of respondent. Kathleen E. Casey, Barker, for Respondent–Appellant. Susan M. Sussman, Niagara Falls, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Niagara County (John F. Batt, J.), entered June 13, 2011 in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b. The order terminated the parental rights of respondent.
Kathleen E. Casey, Barker, for Respondent–Appellant. Susan M. Sussman, Niagara Falls, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Alvin M. Greene, Attorney for the Child, Buffalo, for Aiden J.W.
MEMORANDUM:
Respondent father appeals from an order finding that he permanently neglected his child and terminating his parental rights. We reject the father's contention that Family Court failed to consider the appropriate factors, including the “special circumstances of an incarcerated parent,” in determining that the child was permanently neglected (Social Services Law § 384–b [7][a] ). Indeed, we agree with the court that the father “has failed to demonstrate any commitment to the responsibilities of parenthood and demonstrates a fundamental defect in his understanding of proper parenting responsibilities.” The petitioning agency is not required to “ ‘guarantee that the parent succeed in overcoming his or her predicaments' ... but, rather, the parent must ‘assume a measure of initiative and responsibility’ ” (Matter of Whytnei B. [Jeffrey B.], 77 A.D.3d 1340, 1341, 907 N.Y.S.2d 760).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.