Opinion
2012-03-16
In The Matter of JOHN B. and Shawn B.Erie County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent;Julie W., Respondent–Appellant.
Alan Birnholz, East Amherst, for Respondent–Appellant. Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Alan Birnholz, East Amherst, for Respondent–Appellant. Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent. David C. Schopp, Attorney for the Children, The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Charles D. Halvorsen of Counsel), for John B. And Shawn B.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, CARNI, AND SCONIERS, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Respondent mother appeals from an order terminating her parental rights with respect to her twin sons. We affirm. Contrary to the mother's contention, petitioner established by clear and convincing evidence that she was physically able to plan for the future of her children but failed to do so ( see Social Services Law § 384–b [7][a] ). Petitioner established that, during the first year in which the children were in foster care, the mother attended 31 of the 52 visits that were scheduled. We note that some of the visits did not occur because petitioner cancelled the visit due to a lack of proper hygiene on the part of the mother when she appeared, or because the mother had a fever. Visits were suspended one year before the permanent neglect petition was filed, after the mother reported having a fever, until such time as the mother provided medical documentation that she did not have a contagious illness. The mother failed to provide that documentation. Although the mother complained that she had pain in various areas of her body and that she sometimes had fevers, she failed to pursue medical treatment for her ailments despite petitioner's recommendation that she do so. The mother testified that she was unable to complete the required programs for parenting classes, substance abuse and mental health treatment because she suffered from depression and thereafter developed a variety of serious physical illnesses. The Court of Appeals has concluded, however, that a mental health diagnosis is not sufficient to establish a lack of physical ability to plan for the future of the children ( see Matter of Hime Y., 52 N.Y.2d 242, 250–251, 437 N.Y.S.2d 286, 418 N.E.2d 1305), and the mother otherwise failed to provide evidence to substantiate her alleged physical illnesses in order to refute petitioner's evidence that she was physically able to plan for the future of her children.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.