Opinion
No. 2022-02968 Docket Nos. N-901-19 N-902-19
04-05-2023
In the Matter of Precise M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Tawana M. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Destin M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Tawana M. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2)
Lisa A. Manfro, Glen Cove, NY, for the appellant. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Jamison Davies and Deborah E. Wassel of counsel), for respondent. Twyla Carter, New York, NY (Dawne A. Mitchell and Diane Pazar of counsel), attorney for the children.
Lisa A. Manfro, Glen Cove, NY, for the appellant.
Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Jamison Davies and Deborah E. Wassel of counsel), for respondent.
Twyla Carter, New York, NY (Dawne A. Mitchell and Diane Pazar of counsel), attorney for the children.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., COLLEEN D. DUFFY, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JOSEPH A. ZAYAS, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the mother appeals from an order of fact-finding of the Family Court, Richmond County (Karen B. Wolff, J.), dated March 1, 2022. The order of fact-finding, upon a decision of the same court dated February 28, 2022, made after a hearing, found that the mother neglected the subject children.
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In 2019, the Administration for Children's Services (hereinafter ACS) commenced these proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, alleging that the mother neglected the subject children as a result of her untreated mental illness and based on her act of leaving the children with their maternal great-grandmother while the mother traveled out of state, without giving advance notice to the great-grandmother, without informing the great-grandmother when the mother would return, and without making provision for the children's support. After a hearing, the Family Court found that the mother neglected the children. The mother appeals.
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court retained jurisdiction to adjudicate the question of the mother's neglect of the older child, who was 17 years old when the proceedings were commenced and only reached the age of 18 during the pendency of the proceedings (see id. §§ 1013[c]; 1055[e]).
At a fact-finding hearing in a child protective proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the petitioner has the burden of establishing that the subject child has been abused or neglected by "a preponderance of [the] evidence" (id. § 1046[b][i]; see id. § 1012[f][i]). "Even though evidence of a parent's mental illness, alone, is insufficient to support a finding of neglect of a child, such evidence may be part of a neglect determination when the proof further demonstrates that the parent's condition creates an imminent risk of physical, mental, or emotional harm to the child" (Matter of Maurice M. [Suzanne H.], 158 A.D.3d 689, 690-691; see Matter of Joseph L. [Cyanne W.], 168 A.D.3d 1055). Proof of a parent's "ongoing mental illness and the failure to follow through with aftercare medication is a sufficient basis for a finding of neglect where such failure results in a parent's inability to care for [his or] her child in the foreseeable future" (Matter of Bella S. [Sarah S.], 158 A.D.3d 703, 704 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Khaleef M.S.-P. [Khaleeda M.S.], 203 A.D.3d 1160). In addition, the failure to supply a child with adequate support, despite being financially able to do so or being offered the means to do so, can support a finding of neglect (see Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i][A]; Matter of Tia B., 257 A.D.2d 366).
Here, ACS established by a preponderance of the evidence that the mother neglected the children. The evidence presented by ACS at the hearing demonstrated that the mother's lack of insight into her ongoing mental illness and her refusal to take medication or undergo mental health treatment placed the children at imminent risk of harm (see Matter of Christian G. [Alexis G.], 192 A.D.3d 1027; Matter of Anthony A.R. [Taicha P.], 188 A.D.3d 697; Matter of Nialani T. [Elizabeth B.], 164 A.D.3d 1245). In addition, the record supports the Family Court's finding that the mother neglected the children by leaving them with their great-grandmother without providing notice of when the mother would return and without making any provision for their support (see Matter of Nassair S. [Chareshma T.], 144 A.D.3d 604).
The mother's remaining contentions are without merit.
DILLON, J.P., DUFFY, CHRISTOPHER and ZAYAS, JJ., concur.