In re Darlene T.
The Family Court of Onondaga County adjudicated Darlene T. a neglected child due to the mother's unsafe conduct, including leaving the child unattended and entertaining male companions overnight. Following a dispositional hearing, the court remanded the child to the mother's custody under supervision and conditions. The petitioner appealed, arguing that the Family Court erred by not making an express finding regarding the child's best interests or the mother's fitness. The appellate court found the Family Court's order equivocal regarding the mother's fitness and erred in excluding testimony about the mother's post-petition conduct, which was relevant to her fitness. The order was reversed, and the matter remitted for further proceedings to include additional evidence and findings on the child's best interests.