Opinion
2000-05210, 2000-05211
Argued June 11, 2002
July 15, 2002.
In two related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b, inter alia, to terminate the mother's parental rights on the ground of neglect, the mother appeals from two orders of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Grosvenor, J.), dated May 3, 2000 (one as to each child), which, after a hearing, found that she permanently neglected her two children and terminated her parental rights.
Edward E. Caesar, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant.
Magovern Sclafani, New York, N.Y. (David A. LoRe of counsel), for petitioner-respondent.
Monica Drinane, New York, N.Y. (Diane Pazar of counsel), Law Guardian for the children.
Before: DAVID S. RITTER, J.P., SANDRA J. FEUERSTEIN, NANCY E. SMITH, THOMAS A. ADAMS, JJ.
DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the orders are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
A review of the record demonstrates that the agency fulfilled its duty to encourage the parental relationship between the mother and her children. Consequently, the Family Court correctly determined that the agency exercised diligent efforts to strengthen that relationship (see Matter of Alicia Shante H., 245 A.D.2d 509).
In addition, the record supports the Family Court's determination that the mother permanently neglected her children within the meaning of Social Services Law § 384-b(7). During the one-year period between December 1995 and December 1996, the mother only visited her children approximately 17 times out of 42 scheduled visits, failed to cooperate with drug screenings, failed to complete her drug rehabilitation program, and failed to take advantage of the housing services offered to her by the agency (see Matter of Luno Scott A., 292 A.D.2d 602; Matter of Vincent M., 255 A.D.2d 515; Matter of Jeremy KK., 251 A.D.2d 904; Matter of Tina D. v. Kenneth D., 213 A.D.2d 714). Accordingly, the Family Court correctly determined that the mother permanently neglected her children and terminated her parental rights.
The mother's remaining contentions are without merit.
RITTER, J.P., FEUERSTEIN, SMITH and ADAMS, JJ., concur.