Case Name: In the Matter of Sylvia Maria P. and Another, Children Alleged to be Permanently Neglected. Little Flower Children's Services, Respondent; Maria Irene D., Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1997-11-06
Citations: 244 A.D.2d 175
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Sylvia Maria P. and Another, Children Alleged to be Permanently Neglected. Little Flower Children’s Services, Respondent; Maria Irene D., Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 244
Pages: 175–176

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Sylvia Maria P. and Another, Children Alleged to be Permanently Neglected. Little Flower Children’s Services, Respondent; Maria Irene D., Appellant.
[663 NYS2d 580]

Opinion:
—Order of disposition, Family Court, Bronx County (Stewart Weinstein, J.), entered on or about July 16, 1996, insofar as appealed from, terminating respondent's parental rights to the subject child upon a finding of permanent neglect, and committing her custody and guardianship to petitioner foster care agency and the Commissioner of Social Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Clear and convincing evidence supports Family Court's finding that respondent failed to maintain frequent and substantial contacts with the subject child for a period of more than one year subsequent to the placement of the child in foster care (Social Services Law § 384-b [7] [a], [b]; see, Matter of Aisha Latisha J., 182 AD2d 498, lv denied 80 NY2d 759). Given respondent's admitted history of multiple substance abuse, for which she remained in treatment through the hearing on the permanent neglect petition, and the substantial length of time that the child and her brother have been in the preadoptive home, adoption is clearly in the child's best interests. We have considered respondent's other arguments and find them to be without merit. Concur—Wallach, J. P., Nardelli, Tom, Mazzarelli and Colabella, JJ.