Opinion
2010-08465, 2010-08470, 2010-08473.
Decided on October 11, 2011.
In three related proceedings to terminate parental rights pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b on the ground of permanent neglect, the mother appeals from three orders of fact-finding and disposition (one for each child) of the Family Court, Kings County (Grosvenor, J.), all dated June 30, 2010, which, after fact-finding and dispositional hearings, found that she had permanently neglected the children, terminated her parental rights, and transferred custody and guardianship of the children to the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York and the petitioner, SCO Family of Services, for the purpose of adoption.
ORDERED that the orders of fact-finding and disposition are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Jeffrey C. Bluth, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant.
Carrieri Carrieri, P.C., Mineola, N.Y. (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for respondent.
Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Judith Waksberg of counsel; Laura Dillon on the brief), attorney for the children.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., ARIEL E. BELEN, SHERI S. ROMAN, ROBERT J., MILLER, JJ.
DECISION ORDER
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court properly determined that the petitioner established, by clear and convincing evidence, that it exercised diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship by, among other things, facilitating regular visitation with the children and repeatedly referring the mother to drug treatment programs ( see Social Services Law § 384-b[a], [f]; Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 NY2d 136, 142; Matter of Zechariah J. [ Valrick J.], 84 AD3d 1087; Matter of John M. [ Raymond K.], 82 AD3d 1100; Matter of Elijah P. [ C.I.P.], 76 AD3d 631, 632). Despite those efforts, the mother failed to plan for the future of the children by failing to complete a drug treatment program ( see Social Services Law § 384-b[a], [c]; Matter of John M. [ Raymond K.], 82 AD3d at 1100-1101; Matter of Malen Sansa V. [ Nancy J.], 70 AD3d 707, 708; Matter of Jada Ta-Toneyia L. , 66 AD3d 901, 902; Matter of Noelia T. , 61 AD3d 983, 984). Accordingly, the Family Court properly found that the mother permanently neglected the children.
Furthermore, the Family Court properly determined that it was in the best interests of the children to terminate the mother's parental rights, thus freeing the children for adoption by their foster parents ( see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 NY2d at 147-148; Matter of Zechariah J. [ Valrick J.], 84 AD3d at 1088-1089; Matter of Amber D.C. [ Angelica C.], 79 AD3d 865, 866; Matter of Jada Ta-Toneyia L., 66 AD3d at 902).
DILLON, J.P., BELEN, ROMAN and MILLER, JJ., concur.