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IN RE: CUSTODY AND GUARDIANSHIP OF VINCENT ANTHONY C., A Dependent Child Under the Age of Eighteen Years, Rosa C., a/k/a Rosa D., Respondent-Appellant, Cardinal McCloskey Children's and Family Services, Petitioner-Respondent.
Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Stewart Weinstein, J.), entered July 28, 1995, terminating respondent's parental rights upon a finding of permanent neglect, and awarding custody and guardianship of the subject child to the Commissioner of Social Services and petitioner agency for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
We agree with Family Court that the agency was excused from exerting diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship because of respondent's failure for more than six months to keep the agency apprised of her whereabouts (Social Services Law § 384-b[7][e] [i] ), and that, although unnecessary to the finding of neglect, there is clear and convincing evidence of such efforts while petitioner's whereabouts were known. These included urging respondent to seek therapy, attend parenting classes, and to visit the subject child on a more consistent basis (Social Services Law § 384-b[7][f] ), which respondent resisted (see, Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 385, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421, 462 N.E.2d 1139). Respondent's sporadic visits did not satisfy her obligation to maintain contact (Social Services Law § 384-b[7][b]; see, Matter of Marcel F., 212 A.D.2d 705, 706, 622 N.Y.S.2d 603), and her failure to avail herself of much needed psychiatric counseling the agency recommended until the termination petition was filed constituted a failure to plan (see, Matter of LeBron, 140 A.D.2d 276, 277, 528 N.Y.S.2d 572). Nor did respondent offer a feasible alternative plan for the child's future in suggesting as possible resources her mother or sister, neither of whom were willing to take on the responsibility. “[P]lanning responsibilities [are] not fulfilled by the providing of names of family members who turn out to be unable or ill-suited to care for the child.” (Matter of Charles Frederick Eugene M., 171 A.D.2d 343, 347, 577 N.Y.S.2d 253, appeal dismissed 79 N.Y.2d 977, 583 N.Y.S.2d 194, 592 N.E.2d 802.) Termination of respondent's parental rights is in the child's best interests, the child having bonded with the foster family with whom he had been living for more than a year at the time of the court's decision, and not having bonded with respondent despite her bi-monthly visits. The records containing the caseworker's notes were properly admitted at the fact-finding hearing.
MEMORANDUM DECISION.
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Decided: January 21, 1997
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
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