IN RE: IMANI L.J. (Anonymous). (2018)

DECISION & ORDER

In related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the petitioner appeals from an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Emily Ruben, J.), dated July 5, 2017.  The order, after a fact-finding hearing, dismissed the proceedings.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law and on the facts, the petitions are reinstated and granted, and the matter is remitted to the Family Court, Queens County, for a dispositional hearing to be conducted as expeditiously as possible, in accordance herewith.

The petitioner agency filed petitions to terminate the mother's parental rights to the four subject children on the ground of permanent neglect.  After a fact-finding hearing, the Family Court found that the petitioner failed to establish that it made diligent efforts to strengthen the parent-child relationship, and that the mother failed to maintain contact with or plan for the return of her children, and dismissed the proceedings.  The petitioner appeals.

To establish that a parent has permanently neglected a child, an agency must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that, for a period of one year following the child's placement with the agency, the parent failed to maintain contact with the child or, alternatively, failed to plan for the future of the child, although physically and financially able to do so, notwithstanding the agency's diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parent-child relationship (see Social Services Law § 384–b[3][g], [4][d], [7][a] ).  The threshold inquiry in a proceeding to terminate parental rights is whether the presentment agency demonstrated that it exerted diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship (see Social Services Law § 384–b[7][a];  Matter of Hailey ZZ. [Ricky ZZ.], 19 N.Y.3d 422, 429, 948 N.Y.S.2d 846, 972 N.E.2d 87;  Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 371, 474 N.Y.S.2d 421, 462 N.E.2d 1139).

The petitioner demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that it exercised diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship (see Social Services Law § 384–b[7];  Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d 136, 142–143, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824).  These efforts included scheduling and facilitating visitation, referring the mother to parenting classes, monitoring the mother's participation in the mental health treatment programs she selected, meeting with the mother to review the service plan, and explaining the importance of complying with the plan (see Matter of Dayyana M. [Autumn M.], 122 A.D.3d 854, 855, 995 N.Y.S.2d 748;  Matter of Devon M. [Dina J.], 119 A.D.3d 864, 989 N.Y.S.2d 352;  Matter of Melisha M.H. [Sheila B.R.], 119 A.D.3d 788, 989 N.Y.S.2d 312).

The petitioner also established by clear and convincing evidence that the mother failed to plan for the future of the children.  Although the mother regularly visited the children, she failed to plan for their future in that she failed to gain insight into the problems that caused the children's removal and prevented their return to her care (see Matter of Nathaniel T., 67 N.Y.2d 838, 840, 501 N.Y.S.2d 647, 492 N.E.2d 775;  Matter of Aleeyah T.M. [Shalicia A.], 127 A.D.3d 1197, 1197–1198, 7 N.Y.S.3d 562;  Matter of Zechariah J. [Valrick J.], 84 A.D.3d 1087, 1088, 923 N.Y.S.2d 653;  Matter of Joquan Jomaine–Anthony V., 39 A.D.3d 868, 869, 835 N.Y.S.2d 320).  These problems included her refusal to learn how to parent children with special needs and her inability to consistently keep her home sanitary and safe for the children.

Accordingly, upon a finding of permanent neglect, we reinstate the petitions and remit the matter to the Family Court, Queens County, for a dispositional hearing to be conducted as expeditiously as possible, to determine the best interests of the children (see Family Ct Act §§ 623, 625[a], 631;  Matter of I.N., 159 A.D.3d 705, 706, 71 N.Y.S.3d 597;  Matter of Ebony Starr B., 14 A.D.3d 507, 508, 787 N.Y.S.2d 393).

DILLON, J.P., BARROS, IANNACCI and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.