| Matter of Aaron Tyrell W. |
| 2009 NY Slip Op 00025 [58 AD3d 419] |
| January 6, 2009 |
| Appellate Division, First Department |
| In the Matter of Aaron Tyrell W. and Others, Infants. Ruth B.,Appellant; Family Support Services Unlimited et al., Respondents. |
—[*1] John R. Eyerman, New York, for Family Support Services Unlimited, respondent. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Diane Pazar of counsel), LawGuardian.
Orders of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Allen Alpert, J.), entered on or aboutOctober 23, 2006, which terminated respondent mother's parental rights to the subject childrenupon a fact-finding determination of her mental retardation, and committing the children'sguardianship and custody to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of Social Services for thepurpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
While respondent displays adequate adaptive skills in many areas, there is clear andconvincing evidence that she is unable, at present and for the foreseeable future, to provideproper and adequate care for the subject children by reason of her mental retardation (seeSocial Services Law § 384-b [4] [c]; [6] [b]; Matter of Leomia Louise C., 41 AD3d 249 [2007]).
Respondent's claim that the court erred in not holding a dispositional hearing is unpreserved.Were we to review it, we would find such a hearing unnecessary in finding termination ofparental rights to be in the best interests of the children (Matter of Antonio V., 268AD2d 341, 342 [2000], lv denied 95 NY2d 751 [2000]), despite their bond with theirmother, given her inability to care for them (see Matter of Joyce T., 65 NY2d 39, 49-50[1985]).
Respondent is not entitled to a new hearing based on ineffective assistance of counsel, as[*2]she failed to demonstrate actual prejudice and deprivation ofmeaningful representation by reason of counsel's deficiency (see Matter of James P., 17 AD3d 733 [2005]).Concur—Saxe, J.P., Nardelli, Buckley, Moskowitz and Renwick, JJ.