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Adoption
A Position Paper of the Florida Catholic Conference

     The Florida Catholic Conference and Catholic Charities have a long and successful history in advocating for the needs of children and families.  As licensed child-placing agencies, Catholic Charities have been leaders in child placement and have provided good and successful adoption placements since 1943.  This collaborative effort involves the well-being of not only of the child but also of many others, including adoptive parents, other siblings, birth parents, and birth grandparents.

     We believe and affirm that adoption is an act of love which should benefit all members of the adoption triad, and that it is a positive way of building families.

     The following principles should be considered in any proposed changes to Florida's adoption law.

  • A good final placement is the goal of a well-arranged adoption.  The well-being of the child as well as of the birth parents, adoptive parents and siblings must be considered.
     

  • Birth mothers should never be obligated to place (or agree to place) before the birth of the child.  Catholic Charities agencies do not enter into pre-birth agreements with birth parents.  Such agreements put birth parents under an obligation in regards to placing the child after birth.
     

  • A reasonable time frame must be allotted for the birth parent to sign a consent.  Adequate time for the birth mother to recover from physical and emotional stress should be considered, as should a revocation period of reasonable length.
     

  • There should be a court hearing to determine whether to remove the child from the adoptive home if the birth parent revokes consent or if the home study recommends against the adoption.
     

  • Notice to birth fathers should be timely and a diligent search should be required.  Official contact with and the signing of consent by the birth father are important, whenever possible.
     

  • Personal and legal counseling for birth parents and adoptive parents are essential.
     

  • There is a need for a strong licensing/credentialing system to establish statewide standards for those who perform the social investigation (home studies).
     

  • Agencies should not be regulated in the same manner as intermediaries.  Agencies are already highly regulated by 10M-24, Florida Administrative Code for Child Placing Agencies.  Moreover, 10M-24.019 addresses finances of agencies.  The purpose of licensing is to ensure compliance with statewide standards.  If agencies are to be regulated in the same manner as intermediaries, then intermediaries should be under the regulatory authority of the Department of Children and Families.
     

  • A central repository for adoption records should be established, to include intermediary and agency records and reports pertaining to the adoption.
     

  • The Florida Catholic Conference supports changes to Florida's adoption law which conform to high standards of social work and other professional practices that will clearly protect the triad.
     

January 2002