Opinion
October 13, 1994
Appeal from the Family Court, New York County (Judith Sheindlin, J.).
Family Court's finding of permanent neglect is amply supported by appellants' failure, despite petitioner's diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship, to plan for the future of their children by, inter alia, not attending therapy and not participating in an alcohol treatment program. In light of the ages of the children, 12 and 13, at the time of the dispositional hearing, the history of mental and physical abuse suffered by them, and the expressed preference to avoid contact with the natural parents, it was in the children's best interests to terminate the natural parents' rights for the purpose of freeing the children for adoption.
Concur — Murphy, P.J., Sullivan, Rosenberger, Nardelli and Tom, JJ.