IN RE: JASON ANTHONY S. (Anonymous). (2000)

In a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminate the mother's parental rights on the ground that she is presently and for the foreseeable future unable by reason of mental illness to provide proper and adequate care for the children, the mother appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Greenbaum, J.), dated February 26, 1999, which, after a fact-finding hearing, found her unable to provide for the children by reason of mental illness, terminated her parental rights, and committed the guardianship and custody of the infant to the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York and Little Flower Children's Services.

ORDERED that the order of disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

 Contrary to the appellant's contention, the petitioner established by clear and convincing evidence that she was presently and for the foreseeable future unable by reason of her mental illness to provide proper and adequate care for the infant (see, Social Services Law § 384-b[4][c];  Matter of Juliana V., 249 A.D.2d 314, 671 N.Y.S.2d 105).   Contrary to the appellant's contention, the psychiatrist who testified at the hearing was the same psychiatrist who interviewed her before the hearing.

 The appellant's claim that the respondent failed to use reasonable efforts to reunite the family is unpreserved for appellate review (see, Matter of Juliana V., supra), and, in any event, without merit.   Unlike cases of parental termination due to permanent neglect (see, Matter of Shantelle W., 185 A.D.2d 935, 587 N.Y.S.2d 393;  Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421, 462 N.E.2d 1139), reasonable efforts are not required where the ground for termination is mental illness (see, Matter of Belinda S., 189 A.D.2d 679, 592 N.Y.S.2d 372;  Matter of Demetrius F., 176 A.D.2d 940, 575 N.Y.S.2d 552;  see also, Matter of Juliana V., supra).

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.