IN RE: JUDAH S. (Anonymous).  Administration for Children's Services (2020)

DECISION & ORDER

In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the father appeals from an order of fact-finding of the Family Court, Queens County (Mildred T. Negron, J.), dated January 18, 2019.  The order of fact-finding, insofar as appealed from, after a fact-finding hearing, found that the father neglected the subject children Victoria R. and Joel R., and derivatively neglected the subject child Judah S.

ORDERED that the order of fact-finding is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

In an order of fact-finding dated January 18, 2019, the Family Court found that the father neglected the children Victoria R. and Joel R. by failing to cooperate with the Administration for Children's Services (hereinafter ACS) to engage those children in therapy to address their behavioral issues, despite recommendations by a teacher and caseworkers that those children required therapy, and by failing to independently engage those children in therapy.  The court also found that the father derivatively neglected the child Judah S. by failing to engage Victoria and Joel in therapy.  The father appeals.

“ ‘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 Madison G. [Lynn T.], 181 A.D.3d 597, 598, 118 N.Y.S.3d 685, quoting Matter of Geoffrey D. [Everton D.], 158 A.D.3d 758, 759, 71 N.Y.S.3d 556).  “ ‘To find medical neglect, there must be a determination that the parent did not seek or accept medical care, and that such failure placed the child in imminent danger of becoming impaired’ ” (Matter of Maurice R. [Darlene R.], 157 A.D.3d 798, 799, 69 N.Y.S.3d 113, quoting Matter of Mia G. [William B.], 146 A.D.3d 882, 883, 45 N.Y.S.3d 516).  “A parent's unwillingness to follow a recommended course of psychiatric treatment which results in the impairment of a child's emotional health may support a finding of neglect” (Matter of Jaelin L. [Kimrenee C.], 126 A.D.3d 795, 796, 5 N.Y.S.3d 246).  “[I]n deciding whether a parent has been neglectful by depriving his or her child of adequate medical care, the court must determine whether the parent has provided an acceptable course of treatment in light of all of the surrounding circumstances” (id. at 796–797, 5 N.Y.S.3d 246).  “ ‘Great deference is given to the Family Court's credibility determinations, as it is in the best position to assess the credibility of the witnesses having had the opportunity to view the witnesses, hear the testimony, and observe their demeanor’ ” (Matter of Ashley A.F. [Juan T.], 181 A.D.3d 882, 883, 119 N.Y.S.3d 881, quoting Matter of Jose E. [Jose M.], 176 A.D.3d 1201, 1202, 109 N.Y.S.3d 672 [internal quotation marks omitted] ).

Here, a preponderance of the evidence established that Victoria and Joel suffered from behavioral issues at home and at school, the father was made aware of these issues on many occasions, and the father was advised to engage those children in therapy to address these issues, but he failed to do so despite those children's worsening behavior.  The evidence also established that the father failed to cooperate in forming a plan of treatment for Victoria and Joel, as he refused to consent to preventative services for those children, failed to utilize ACS's referrals for therapy, and failed to provide ACS with the information necessary to receive assistance in paying for the therapy.  Under the circumstances, the Family Court's determination that the father neglected Victoria and Joel was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Matter of Maurice R. [Darlene R.], 157 A.D.3d 798, 799–800, 69 N.Y.S.3d 113;  Matter of Jaelin L. [Kimrenee C.], 126 A.D.3d at 797, 5 N.Y.S.3d 246;  Matter of Charlie S. [Rong S.], 82 A.D.3d 1248, 1249, 920 N.Y.S.2d 187).  Moreover, the father's neglect as to Victoria and Joel supported a finding of derivative neglect as to Judah (see Matter of Mia G. [William B.], 146 A.D.3d at 884, 45 N.Y.S.3d 516;  Matter of Richard S. [Lacey P.], 130 A.D.3d 630, 634, 14 N.Y.S.3d 400;  Matter of Jaelin L. [Kimrenee C.], 126 A.D.3d at 797, 5 N.Y.S.3d 246).

DILLON, J.P., BALKIN, COHEN and WOOTEN, JJ., concur.