Opinion
07-13-2016
In the Matter of XIOMARA D. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, et al., respondents; Faith D. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Imani O.D. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, et al., respondents; Faith D. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2).
Elliot Green, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Wingate, Kearney & Cullen, LLP, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Rachel Ambats of counsel), for respondent St. Vincent's Services. Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Susan Clement of counsel), attorney for the children.
Elliot Green, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Wingate, Kearney & Cullen, LLP, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Rachel Ambats of counsel), for respondent St. Vincent's Services.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Susan Clement of counsel), attorney for the children.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, and BETSY BARROS, JJ.
Appeal from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Ilana Gruebel, J.), dated May 28, 2015. The order, after a dispositional hearing, in effect, terminated the mother's parental rights and transferred guardianship and custody of the subject children to the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York and St. Vincent's Services for the purpose of adoption.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The subject children have been in foster care since August 2009 based upon allegations of neglect by the mother. In August 2012, proceedings were commenced to terminate the mother's parental rights with respect to the subject children. In August 2013, a finding of permanent neglect with respect to the subject children was entered upon the mother's consent. Following a dispositional hearing in May 2015, the Family Court, in effect, terminated the mother's parental rights and transferred guardianship and custody of the subject children to the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York and St. Vincent's Services for the purpose of adoption. The mother appeals.
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court properly terminated her parental rights. “Termination of parental rights will free the children for adoption, providing them with the opportunity to have a permanent family” (Matter of Anthony R. [Juliann A.], 90 A.D.3d 1055, 1056–1057, 937 N.Y.S.2d 72 ; see Matter of Zechariah J. [Valnick J.], 84 A.D.3d 1087, 1088, 923 N.Y.S.2d 653 ). In light of the fact that the subject children had bonded with their foster mother, with whom they had resided for at least six years and who wished to adopt them, and the fact that the mother had no plan for the subject children's future, the court properly determined that the best interests of the children would be served by terminating the mother's parental rights and freeing them for adoption (see Matter of Corey S. [Angel S.], 112 A.D.3d 641, 642, 975 N.Y.S.2d 906 ; Matter of Anthony R. [Julian J.], 90 A.D.3d at 1056–1057, 937 N.Y.S.2d 72 ; Matter of “Baby Boy” E., 42 A.D.3d 536, 536–537, 840 N.Y.S.2d 130 ; Matter of Juanita F., 291 A.D.2d 496, 740 N.Y.S.2d 343 ).