Opinion
March 30, 1998
Appeal from the Family Court, Kings County (Greenbaum, J.).
Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
Contrary to the father's contention, he failed to apprise the respondent agency of his whereabouts for a period of over two years, far exceeding the six-month statutory period. Therefore, the agency was excused from demonstrating that it exercised diligent efforts to strengthen the parental relationship ( see, Social Services Law § 384-b [e] [i]; Matter of Valencia Katina H., 119 A.D.2d 821).
Joy, J. P., Krausman, Florio and Luciano, JJ., concur.