IN RE: MADISON G. (Anonymous). (2020)

DECISION & ORDER

ORDERED that the appeal from so much of the amended order of fact-finding and disposition as placed the mother under the supervision of the Administration for Children's Services for a period of three months under certain terms and conditions is dismissed as academic, without costs or disbursements;  and it is further,

ORDERED that the amended order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.

In November 2016, the Administration for Children's Services (hereinafter ACS) commenced these related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, alleging that the mother neglected her then six-year-old daughter, the child India G., and then five-year-old daughter, the child Madison G., by failing to provide India with an adequate education and by failing to provide the children with proper supervision or guardianship in that the mother suffers from a mental condition that impairs her ability to care for the children and due to the mother's repeated misuse of marijuana.  In an amended order of fact-finding and disposition dated November 30, 2018, made after fact-finding and dispositional hearings, the Family Court found that mother neglected the children and placed her under the supervision of ACS for a period of three months under certain terms and conditions.  The mother appeals.

The appeal from so much of the amended order of fact-finding and disposition as placed the mother under the supervision of ACS for a period of three months must be dismissed as academic, as that portion of the order has expired (see Matter of Justin P. [Damien P.], 148 A.D.3d 903, 903, 48 N.Y.S.3d 773;  Matter of Shaquan A. [Fan Fan A.], 137 A.D.3d 1119, 1119, 27 N.Y.S.3d 692).  However, the appeal from so much of the amended order of fact-finding and disposition as brings up for review the finding of neglect is not academic, since a finding of neglect constitutes a permanent and significant stigma that might indirectly affect the mother's status in future proceedings (see Matter of Justin P. [Damien P.], 148 A.D.3d at 904, 48 N.Y.S.3d 773;  Matter of Ethan B. [Frederick B.], 130 A.D.3d 816, 817, 12 N.Y.S.3d 549).

Family Court Act § 1012(f) defines a neglected child as one “whose physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of the failure of his [or her] parent ․ to exercise a minimum degree of care,” inter alia, in “supplying the child with adequate ․ education in accordance with the provisions of part one of article sixty-five of the education law” (Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i][A]), or “in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship” (Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i][B]).  “In a neglect proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the petitioner has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the subject child was neglected” (Matter of Geoffrey D. [Everton D.], 158 A.D.3d 758, 759, 71 N.Y.S.3d 556;  see Family Ct Act § 1046[b][i]).

Contrary to the contention of the mother and the attorney for the children, the Family Court's finding of educational neglect was supported by a preponderance of the evidence.  ACS met its prima facie burden of establishing educational neglect by presenting unrebutted evidence of India's excessive absences for the previous 21/212 school years and evidence that she was failing her current grade (see Matter of Kieara N. [Shasha F.], 167 A.D.3d 620, 621, 89 N.Y.S.3d 232;  Matter of Patrick S., 52 A.D.3d 837, 837, 861 N.Y.S.2d 128).  The mother failed to provide a reasonable justification for India's excessive absences (see Matter of Kieara N. [Shasha F.], 167 A.D.3d at 621, 89 N.Y.S.3d 232;  Matter of Joyitha M. [Reshmi M.], 121 A.D.3d 900, 901, 994 N.Y.S.2d 393).

ACS also established that the mother neglected the children due to her mental illness, and misuse of marijuana without participation in a rehabilitative program.  “While parental neglect may be based on mental illness, proof of a parent's mental illness alone will not support a finding of neglect” (Matter of Geoffrey D. [Everton D.], 158 A.D.3d at 759, 71 N.Y.S.3d 556).  “[A] neglect finding is proper upon proof of the causal connection between a parent's mental illness and requisite potential harm to the child” (Matter of Kiemiyah M. [Cassiah M.], 137 A.D.3d 1279, 1280, 28 N.Y.S.3d 411;  see Matter of Maurice M. [Suzanne H.], 158 A.D.3d 689, 691, 68 N.Y.S.3d 740).  Here, the evidence demonstrated a causal connection between the mother's mental illness and harm to the children (see Matter of Maurice M. [Suzanne H.], 158 A.D.3d at 691, 68 N.Y.S.3d 740).

The remaining contention of the attorney for the children is unpreserved for appellate review and, in any event, without merit.

DILLON, J.P., MILLER, BARROS and CONNOLLY, JJ., concur.