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THE FIRST DEPARTMENT, AGREEING WITH THE SECOND, DETERMINED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (ACS) DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUPERVISE A NONRESPONDENT MOTHER WHO HAD BEEN ABUSED BY RESPONDENT FATHER IN THE CHILD’S PRESENCE; THE AUTHORITY TO SUPERVISE A NONRESPONDENT MOTHER IS ONLY TRIGGERED WHEN THE COURT ORDERS THE CHILD REMOVED FROM THE HOME, NOT THE CASE HERE (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Gesmer, considering the appeal as an exception to the mootness doctrine, determined the court did not have the authority under the Family Court Act to order the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) to supervise a so-called “nonrespondent” mother who had been abused by respondent father in the presence of the 14-month-old child. By all accounts mother was “a good mother” and “very strong [and] hard-working.” Yet over the course of six months mother was subjected to 15 announced and unannounced home visits by an ACS caseworker who searched every room, the contents of the refrigerator, and inspected the child’s body:

As noted by the Sapphire W. Court [237 AD3d 41, Second Dept, 2-5-25] “in 2015, the Legislature enacted sweeping legislation that amended various statutes, including Family Court Act § 1017, in order to provide nonrespondent parents with greater participation in abuse or neglect proceedings, while also expand[ing] the options available to Family Court judges when craft[ing] appropriate orders respecting the rights of non-respondent parents [and] assuring the safety and well being of children who are the subjects of the proceedings . . . . Among other things, the legislation clarifie[d] the language of Family Court Act § 1017 by referring specifically to non-respondent parent, relative or suitable person as potential resources a court may consider after determining that a child must be removed from his or her home” … .

We agree with the sound reasoning in Matter of Sapphire W. and hold that Family Court Act §§ 1017 and 1027(d) do not permit supervision of a nonrespondent parent who has been caring for the child, in the absence of a court-ordered removal of the child. We further concur with the Second Department that, “[c]onsidering the intrusive and potentially traumatic impact of ACS involvement in a family’s life, the disproportionate involvement of Black and Hispanic children in the child welfare system cannot be ignored” … . Matter of R.A. (A.R.), 2025 NY Slip Op 04295, First Dept 7-24-25

Practice Point: The Administration for Children’s Services’ (ACS’) authority to supervise a nonrespondent mother who was abused by respondent father in the child’s presence is only triggered if and when the court orders the removal of the child from the home, not the case here. All agreed mother was “a good mother,” yet she was subjected to 15 announced and unannounced searches of her home and inspections of her child over the course of six months.

 

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