Opinion
2004-01474.
May 2, 2005.
In a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the father appeals from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Freeman, J.), dated January 2, 2004, made after fact-finding and dispositional hearings, which found that he permanently neglected the subject child, terminated his parental rights, and transferred guardianship and custody of the subject child to the petitioner St. Christopher-Ottilie and the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York for the purpose of adoption.
Before: Cozier, J.P., Ritter, Krausman and Skelos, JJ., concur.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
To establish permanent neglect as a basis for terminating parental rights, the petitioner was required to show that the parent "failed for a period of more than one year following the date [that the] child came into [its] care . . . substantially and continuously or repeatedly to maintain contact with or plan for the future of the child, although physically and financially able to do so, notwithstanding the agency's diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship" (Social Services Law § 384-b [a]; see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 NY2d 136, 142-143; Matter of Sheila G., 61 NY2d 368, 380). Here, it was established by clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner made diligent attempts to strengthen the relationship between the father and the subject child and that, despite these efforts, the father remained either indifferent or uncooperative to correcting the conditions that led to the removal of the subject child from his home ( see Matter of Luno Scott A., 292 AD2d 602, 603; Matter of Alicia Shante H., 245 AD2d 509). In addition, the evidence adduced at the dispositional hearing demonstrated that the subject child's best interests would be served by terminating the father's parental rights and freeing him for adoption by his foster parents ( see Matter of Brandon W., 262 AD2d 644; Matter of Maldrina R., 219 AD2d 723; Matter of Tiwana M., 267 AD2d 144).
The father's remaining contention is without merit.