IN RE: SOPHIA M.G.K. (2015)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BETH A. RATCHFORD, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD, ROCHESTER.

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum:  Respondent mother appeals from two dispositional orders that, inter alia, terminated her parental rights with respect to the two subject children and freed the children for adoption.   We affirm the order in each appeal.

We conclude with respect to both appeals that, contrary to the mother's contention, Family Court's determinations that she permanently neglected the children are supported by clear and convincing evidence (see Matter of Peter D., 262 A.D.2d 998, 998).   The mother failed to obtain required mental health evaluations and to obtain a suitable and stable housing situation (see Matter of Jessica Lynn W., 244 A.D.2d 900, 901).  “Because she failed to make any progress in overcoming the problems that initially endangered the children and continued to prevent their safe return, the court properly found that [the mother] was unable to make an adequate plan for her children's future” (Matter of Rebecca D., 222 A.D.2d 1092, 1092;  see Social Services Law § 384–b [7][a] ).   The court's determinations in both appeals that it was in the children's best interests to be adopted by the foster parents with whom they had lived for most of their lives rather than to be returned to the mother is entitled to great deference (see Matter of Elijah D. [Allison D.], 74 AD3d 1846, 1847), and we see no reason to disturb the court's determinations.

We have reviewed the mother's remaining contention in appeal No. 1 and conclude that it is without merit.

Frances E. Cafarell

Clerk of the Court