Opinion
July 21, 1986
Appeal from the Family Court, Queens County (Pearce, J.).
Decision and order, as amended, modified, on the law and the facts, without costs or disbursements, by deleting therefrom the provisions directing the appellant to provide respondent Ronald N. with periodic visits with both children at the place of his incarceration. As so modified, decision and order, as amended, affirmed, without costs or disbursements, and matter remitted to the Family Court, Queens County, for a hearing on the issue of whether visits with respondent Ronald N. at his place of incarceration would be in the best interests of the children.
A close question was presented by the evidence as to the mental health and abilities of Edith N., the mother of the children herein. The appellant's expert witness, a psychiatrist, testified that the mother appears to be suffering from mild mental retardation and chronic schizophrenia. However, he also testified that he was unable to rule out the possibility that if the mother cooperated with treatment, she could be rehabilitated to be able to provide adequate care for the children. In light of this testimony, and giving due weight to the observations of the trial court (see, Barnet v Cannizzaro, 3 A.D.2d 745), the evidence as to the mother's inability to care for the children by reason of mental illness or mental retardation cannot be said to be clear and convincing (see, Matter of Hime Y., 52 N.Y.2d 242).
Nevertheless, in the event that the mother fails to cooperate with all rehabilitative efforts hereinafter made by the appellant, and to show a very substantial improvement in her ability to care for the children, the appellant will be able to bring another proceeding to terminate her parental rights on this ground.
Similarly, the evidence as to the mother's neglect of the children was sufficient to show that the mother is perilously close to having her parental rights terminated on the ground of permanent neglect.
In view of the absence of any evidence concerning whether visitation with Ronald N., the natural father of one of the subject children, would be in the best interests of either or both children, we remit the matter for a hearing on this issue (see, Family Ct Act § 622).
We have considered the parties' other contentions and find them to be without merit. Mangano, J.P., Gibbons, Thompson and Bracken, JJ., concur.