IN RE: KENDRA C.R. (2009)

Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Douglas E. Hoffman, J.), entered on or about February 29, 2008, which revoked a suspended judgment entered on a finding of permanent neglect, terminated respondent father's parental rights to the child and committed the child's custody to the Commissioner of Social Services and the petitioning agency for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.   Purported appeal from oral ruling, same court and Judge, on November 21, 2007, which terminated parental and visitation rights, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as nonappealable, and, in any event, as subsumed in the appeal from the order of disposition.

On March 4, 2005, respondent admitted having permanently neglected the child and consented to entry of a suspended judgment.   The preponderance of the evidence in the latest proceedings clearly established that respondent materially violated the terms of that suspended judgment.   His admitted drug use during the period in question was sufficient to warrant revocation of the suspension (see Matter of Angel P., 44 A.D.3d 448, 843 N.Y.S.2d 288 [2007];  Matter of Tiffany R., 7 A.D.3d 297, 776 N.Y.S.2d 785 [2004] ).   Drug abuse is a major obstacle to unification with a child, and was compounded in this case by respondent's conviction for sale of a controlled substance.   His failure to secure housing was also a material violation of the terms of the suspended judgment, and constituted independent grounds for revocation (see Matter of Fynn S., 56 A.D.3d 959, 961, 868 N.Y.S.2d 352 [2008];  Matter of Frederick MM., 23 A.D.3d 951, 953, 805 N.Y.S.2d 160 [2005] ).

The court may terminate parental rights after a finding of noncompliance with a suspended judgment (see Matter of Jennifer VV., 241 A.D.2d 622, 659 N.Y.S.2d 940 [1997] ).   At the time of the dispositional hearing, more than 2 1/2 years after respondent's consent to the suspended judgment, he still was not ready to take care of the child.   His proposed solution of having the paternal grandmother take temporary custody ignored her own medical needs and her reluctance to take on that role, as well as the child's preference for adoption by the foster mother.   In light of these circumstances, the court properly found the child's best interests called for transfer of her custody and guardianship to the agency (see Family Ct. Act § 631;  Matter of Star Leslie, 63 N.Y.2d 136, 147-148, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824 [1984];  Matter of Travis Devon B., 295 A.D.2d 205, 743 N.Y.S.2d 498 [2002] ).