ADOPTIVE AND NATURAL PARENTS BEWARE

Someone sent me a link concerning a certain LDS Family Services agency. This complaint has been filed with the Texas Department of Child Protective Services. It concerns certain compliance violations filed on this agency. There are several of them on just this agency. Of course this agency is a member of the National Council For Adoption. I bet that I could find several other agencies in here. I bet they are all NCFA agencies.

This was their findings on this agency for the Shawn McDonald Case alone.


Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:11/1/2006
Standard Number:‡4220
Standard Description: Birth Parent Preparation
Technical Assistance Given: No

Narrative

The investigation revealed that due diligence was not used in making contact with the birth parent before the placement. Additional contacts had access with birth parent and operation did not act on information.

Let's look at all the complaints on this agency alone.


Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:12/27/2006
Standard Number:‡745.4033(a)(2)
Standard Description: Required Interviews include individual interviews with each child 3 years or older living in home and any other person living full time with family
Technical Assistance Given: Yes

Narrative

Documentation does not show children 3 years old or older being interviewed or observed if not verbal


Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:12/27/2006
Standard Number:‡745.4033(a)(4)
Standard Description: Required Interviews with Screening and Report must include a family group interview with family members living in the home
Technical Assistance Given: Yes

Narrative

Group interview not recorded in documentation.


Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:12/27/2006
Standard Number:‡745.4071(2)
Standard Description: Pre-Adoptive Home Screening Update-includes documentation of at least one visit to the adoptive home made within the six months prior to placement
Technical Assistance Given: Yes

Narrative

Pre-adoptive screening completed in November and placement in July, which was an eight month period of time.


Violation Details
Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:12/27/2006
Standard Number:‡43202a1
Standard Description: Post-Placement Supervision - Two Face-to-Face Contacts with Entire Family
Technical Assistance Given: Yes

Narrative

Documentation not showing that face-to-face contact was made with the entire family.

This particular violation was on seven cases.
Operation Number:42316-497
Operation Name:LDS Family Services
Date:3/28/2006
Standard Number:‡745.4061(1)
Standard Description: Pre-Adoptive Home Screening-includes age of the propective adoptive parents, who must be at least 18 years or older and documentation verifying age
Technical Assistance Given: No

Narrative

Form listed several spaces where prospective adoptive parents listed their birthdate, but there was no documentation to verify age, such as a copy of their birth certificate

Agencies need to be held to the same standard that we give animals. This is one of how many adoption agencies that hold themselves above the law when it comes to answsering to adoptive parents and natural parents. Its time we make them accountable to us.