In Re Kenneth

OPINION

BEVILACQUA, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal by the petitioner, the Department for Children and Their Families (the department), from a decree of the Family Court denying and dismissing its petition seeking a termination of the parental rights of the respondent, Kenneth’s mother, 1 pursuant to G. L. 1956 (1969 Reenactment) § 15-7-7, as amended by P.L. 1970, ch. 132, § 1, on the ground that Kenneth was “permanently neglected.” 2

A hearing on the petition was held in 1980, and the following testimony and evidence were adduced. The respondent married Kenneth’s father on February 3, 1962,…