In re Michael Anthony Vincent J.

The issue before us is not custody of the two children, who are not presently residing with the respondent parents. That issue will be resolved at the dispositional hearing that we all agree is necessary. The sole question here is whether the agency petitioning to terminate respondents’ parental rights met its burden of demonstrating that it made “diligent efforts” to reunite the family as required by Social Services Law § 384-b.

More than five years after the period in issue, we are asked to review a record covering a period from October 1991 to January 1993 upon which the experienced Judge,…