Under the Facts, Family Court Should Not Have Terminated Father’s Parental Rights—No Showing that Termination Would Increase Likelihood of Adoption
The Second Department determined Family Court should not have terminated father’s parental rights. Father had made progress in strengthening his bond with his children and there was no showing terminating his rights would increase the likelihood of adoption:
The record indicates that the father made sufficient progress toward strengthening his relationship with the subject children … . Furthermore, the older child is residing at a residential treatment center for children with emotional and behavioral issues, and there is no indication that he has any prospects for foster placement or adoption. Although the younger child resides with a foster family, the foster parents have indicated that they do not wish to adopt him out of concern that they could not handle him. Thus, on this record, there is no indication that termination of the father’s parental rights would increase the subject children’s opportunities for adoptive placement … .
Under these circumstances, the Family Court’s termination of the father’s parental rights was not in the best interests of the children and, instead, the court should have suspended judgment for one year… . Matter of Javon J. (Antoine J.), 2015 NY Slip Op 03363, 2nd Dept 4-22-15