Opinion
2014-06-11
In the Matter of ELASIA A.D.B. (Anonymous). MercyFirst, et al., respondents; Crystal D.G. (Anonymous), appellant. In the Matter of Leanna I.P. (Anonymous). MercyFirst, et al., respondents; Crystal D.G. (Anonymous), appellant. In the Matter of Elijah L.M. (Anonymous). MercyFirst, et al., respondents; Crystal D.G. (Anonymous), appellant.
Cheryl Charles–Duval, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Warren & Warren, P.C., Brooklyn, N.Y. (Ira L. Eras of counsel), for respondent MercyFirst.
Cheryl Charles–Duval, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Warren & Warren, P.C., Brooklyn, N.Y. (Ira L. Eras of counsel), for respondent MercyFirst.
Scott A. Rosenberg, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler, Laura Morris, and Judith Waksberg of counsel), attorney for the children.
In related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the mother appeals from three orders of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Turbow, J.) (one as to each child), all dated January 15, 2013, which, after fact-finding and dispositional hearings, found that she permanently neglected the subject children, terminated her parental rights, and transferred guardianship and custody of the children to MercyFirst and the Commissioner of the Administration for Children's Services of the City of New York for the purpose of adoption.
ORDERED that the orders of fact-finding and disposition are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioning agency established by clear and convincing evidence that it made diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the relationship between the mother and the subject children by meeting with the mother to review her service plan, discussing the importance of compliance, providing referrals for drug treatment, and scheduling visitation between the mother and the subject children ( see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d 136, 142, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824;Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 381, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421, 462 N.E.2d 1139;Matter of Peter C., Jr. [Peter C.], 88 A.D.3d 702, 703, 930 N.Y.S.2d 264;Matter of Justina Rose D., 28 A.D.3d 659, 660, 813 N.Y.S.2d 229;Matter of “Female” V., 21 A.D.3d 1118, 1119, 803 N.Y.S.2d 636). Despite these efforts, the mother failed to “assume a measure of initiative and responsibility [and] plan for the future of [her] child[ren]” (Matter of Jamie M., 63 N.Y.2d 388, 393, 482 N.Y.S.2d 461, 472 N.E.2d 311) by “tak[ing] steps to correct the conditionsthat led to the removal of the child[ren] from [her] home” (Matter of Zechariah J. [Valrick J.], 84 A.D.3d 1087, 1087–1088, 923 N.Y.S.2d 653 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d at 143, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824;Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d at 393, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421, 462 N.E.2d 1139;Matter of Darryl A.H. [Olga Z.], 109 A.D.3d 824, 971 N.Y.S.2d 134;Matter of Peter C., Jr. [Peter C.], 88 A.D.3d at 703, 930 N.Y.S.2d 264;Social Services Law § 384–b[7][c] ). The mother's belated partial compliance with the service plan was insufficient to preclude a finding of permanent neglect ( see Matter of Tarmara F.J. [Jaineen J.], 108 A.D.3d 543, 544, 969 N.Y.S.2d 119;Matter of Hadiyyah J.M. [Fatima D.R.], 91 A.D.3d 874, 875, 938 N.Y.S.2d 565;Matter of Zechariah J. [Valrick J.], 84 A.D.3d at 1088, 923 N.Y.S.2d 653;Matter of Megan R.W. [Connie Lynn M.], 69 A.D.3d 737, 893 N.Y.S.2d 195). Accordingly, the Family Court properly granted the petitions and terminated the mother's parental rights. SKELOS, J.P., BALKIN, HALL and MALTESE, JJ., concur.