Opinion
6749, 6749A.
October 13, 2005.
Orders of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Jody Adams, J.), entered on or about August 5, 2003, which, to the extent appealed from, upon findings of permanent neglect, terminated the parental rights of respondent father with respect to the subject children, and committed custody and guardianship of the children to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
John J. Marafino, Mount Vernon, for appellant.
Carrieri Carrieri, P.C., Mineola (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for St. Christopher-Ottilie, respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Daniel Greenbaum of counsel), Law Guardian.
Before: Tom, J.P., Saxe, Nardelli, Catterson and Malone, JJ.
The findings of permanent neglect are supported by clear and convincing evidence that, notwithstanding the agency's diligent efforts to refer respondent to numerous sex offender and domestic violence programs, respondent refused the referrals and gained no insight into the problems that led to the children's removal ( see Social Services Law § 384-b; Matter of Rigoberto M., 18 AD3d 405; Matter of Cordero D., 18 AD3d 382; Matter of Kaleemah Shaleah M., 6 AD3d 189).
The finding that it was in the children's best interests to terminate respondent's parental rights was supported by a preponderance of the evidence at the dispositional hearing ( see Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 NY2d 136, 147-148). The children have thrived in their foster home, and the circumstances do not warrant a suspended judgment.