| Matter of Michelle Rennee H. |
| 2008 NY Slip Op 01544 [48 AD3d 684] |
| February 19, 2008 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| In the Matter of Michelle Rennee H., Also Known as Michelle H.Administration for Children's Services et al., Respondents; Marcel H., Also Known as MarcelLori H., Also Known as Marcel A., et al., Appellants. (Proceeding No. 1.) In the Matter of JulianPeter H., Also Known as Julian H. Administration for Children's Services et al., Respondents;Marcel H., Also Known as Marcel Lori H., Also Known as Marcel A., et al., Appellants.(Proceeding No. 2.) |
—[*1] Joan N.G. James, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant Marc A. (Anonymous), Sr., also known asMarc A. (Anonymous). Warren & Warren, P.C., Brooklyn, N.Y. (Adam M. Kazansky of counsel), for petitionermercyFirst. Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Marcia Egger of counsel), LawGuardian.
In two related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminateparental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the mother and the father separately appealfrom two orders of fact-finding and disposition (one as to each child) of the Family Court, KingsCounty (Hamill, J.), both dated August 22, 2006, which, after fact-finding and dispositionalhearings, found that they permanently neglected the subject children, terminated their parentalrights, and transferred custody and guardianship of the children to mercyFirst and theCommissioner of Social Services of the City of New York for the purpose of adoption.
Ordered that the orders are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The Family Court properly terminated the mother's and the father's parental rights upon theground of permanent neglect (see Social Services Law § 384-b [7] [a]). For acontinuous period of 17 months following the children's placement into foster care, the motherand the father failed to plan for the children's return despite the diligent efforts of the petitionermercyFirst to strengthen and encourage the parental relationship (see Matter of NathanielT., 67 NY2d 838, 840 [1986]; Matter of Tynell S., 43 AD3d 1171 [2007]; Matter of Darlene L., 38 AD3d552 [2007]; Social Services Law § 384-b [7] [a], [c]). The court properly committedthe children to the care and custody of mercyFirst and the Commissioner of Social Services ofthe City of New York for the purpose of adoption (see Matter of Evelyn Moncrieff G., 42 AD3d 568 [2007];Matter of Vincent Anthony C., 235 AD2d 283 [1997]).
The mother's and the father's remaining contentions are without merit. Rivera, J.P., Lifson,Angiolillo and Balkin, JJ., concur.