REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE FATHER’S SEXUAL ABUSE
After the Bronx County Family Court terminated her parental rights, and custody and guardianship of her children were transferred to Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York, the mother appealed.
Because “clear and convincing evidence” supported the Family Court’s finding of “permanent neglect,” the Appellate Division, First Department, left the outcome undisturbed.
Apparently, the mother failed to “acknowledge,” or “meaningfully address,” the sexual abuse of her daughters by their father. In addition to failing to plan for her kids’ future, the mother failed to enroll in, or complete, the “required sex offender program,” despite repeated prompting to do so.
And a “preponderance of the evidence,” supported the determination that it was in the kids’ best interests to terminate the mother’s rights and to allow the youngsters to be adopted by their foster parent – with whom the children had lived for four years and were “well bonded.”
There was no neglecting that ....
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DECISION