Adoption Agency Licensing Procedures Under Fire
No Morals Clause In August, 2002, reporter John P. Martin wrote a series of articles for the Newark, NJ
Star-Ledger criticizing the way the New Jersey
Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) handles child welfare issues - including licensing of adoption agencies.
No Morals ClauseNew Jersey has no required background check for agency licensing similar to the morals clause for daycare operators, and DYFS officials said that they are now looking into more stringent regulations, as a result of Martin's articles.
The term "licensed adoption agency" is presumed by many to mean that child welfare authorities have given it more than a cursory look. But does it?
Bill Pierce, former president of the National Council for Adoption, was quoted by Martin as putting the number of "incompetent or crooked or both" agencies at 20 percent at least.
If those who have the responsibility for licensing these agencies, whose business is children, don't do an adequate job, it will be up to the rest of us to be more diligent in researching with whom we entrust our families' futures, and to point fingers and call names until practices and laws are changed.
Update: In December 2002, the New Jersey Assembly passed
Measure A-2685, which provides the framework for tightened regulations. The measure was sent to the Governor for signing.
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