Opinion
Submitted May 7, 1999
June 28, 1999
In related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to adjudicate the subject children to be permanently neglected and to terminate parental rights, the mother appeals from two orders of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Ambrosio, J.), both dated October 1, 1996, which, after a fact-finding hearing, inter alia, terminated her parental rights as to the children Brandon W. and Obazine Courtney W., respectively, on the ground of neglect and transferred custody and guardianship of them to the petitioner.
Gina-Marie Reitano, Staten Island, N.Y., for appellant.
Rosin Reiniger, New York, N.Y. (Douglas H. Reiniger and Rebecca L. Mendel of counsel), for respondent.
Monica Drinane, New York, N.Y. (Valerie Pels of counsel), Law Guardian for the children.
FRED T. SANTUCCI, J.P., DANIEL W. JOY, SANDRA J. FEUERSTEIN, ROBERT W. SCHMIDT, JJ.
DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the orders of disposition are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The evidence in the record does not demonstrate that it is in the best interests of the children to be released to the custody of the mother. Despite the mother's recent entry into a drug rehabilitation program, her failure to complete such a program in the past despite many referrals by case workers, her failure to provide suitable housing, and her failure to maintain consistent visitation support the orders of disposition terminating her parental rights ( see, Social Services Law § 384-b[a]; Matter of Orange County Dept. of Social Servs. [Jeremy Myles P.] v. Joann P., 195 A.D.2d 512; Matter of Victoria B., 185 A.D.2d 811). Moreover, the testimony adduced at the fact-finding hearing demonstrated the strong bonding between the children and the foster parents, with whom the children have lived with for six years in the company of their other two older siblings ( see, Matter of Nathaniel T., 67 N.Y.2d 838; Matter of St. Vincent's Servs. [Joseph Bernard H.] v. Jean H., 211 A.D.2d 799).
The mother's remaining contention is without merit.