Children’s Remaining in Foster Care Until Father’s Release from Prison Was Not a Sufficient Plan for the Children’s Future, Permanent Neglect Finding Proper
The Second Department determined a permanent neglect finding was proper. Children’s remaining in foster care until father’s release from prison was not a sufficient plan for the children’s future:
A parent’s incarceration does not obviate the obligation to develop a “realistic and feasible” plan for the children’s future … . A plan for children to remain in foster care throughout a parent’s incarceration and for a period of time thereafter as necessary to establish suitable living arrangements for the children is not a viable plan to secure permanency for the children … . Thus, “[t]he failure of an incarcerated parent to provide any realistic and feasible’ alternative to having the children remain in foster care until the parent’s release from prison . . . supports a finding of permanent neglect” … .
Here, the father failed to provide any feasible plan for the subject children other than continued foster care until after he was released from prison and had time to “get on [his] feet.” Accordingly, despite the petitioner’s diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship, the father failed to adequately plan for the children’s future, and the Family Court’s finding of permanent neglect was supported by clear and convincing evidence … . Matter of Jenna K. (Jeremy K.), 2015 NY Slip Op 07843, 2nd Dept 10-28-15