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JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
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| The Polston family with their four daughters, six adopted sons, two sons-in-law, and grandchild; back row from left: Adam Voran-23 (Michelle’s husband), Rachel-19, Kevin-15, Cheryl-21, Brian Burnett-25 (Diana’s husband). Front row from left: Michelle Polston Voran-23, Michael-6, Joel-5 (in front), Ricky with Jeremiah-3, Deborah with Jonathan-1, Brandon-8, Diana Polston Burnett-25, and Brock Burnett-2 (grandbaby). |
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LAKELAND (FBW)—Florida Baptist Children’s Homes president Jerry Haag joined Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist today in noting an increase in adoptions this past year, especially for those traditionally more difficult to place—older children and sibling groups.
In recognition of “Explore Adoption Day” in Florida, Crist announced a record breaking 3,776 adoptions of children through Florida’s public adoption system during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. Crist issued a proclamation July 22 announcing “Explore Adoption Day” as a means to celebrate families who have adopted children and encourage others to adopt.
Haag said he strongly encourages the Crist Explore Adoption program (www.adoptflorida.org), and notes similar gains through the FBCH (www.fbchomes.org) which has cared for abused, neglected and orphaned children since 1904.
“It is truly a miracle to see a child that desperately wants to be adopted to be united with a caring Christian forever family of their own,” said Haag, who was appointed by Crist in June to serve a three-year term on the Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council.
Noting also a decrease in the number of children entering foster care, Crist, hosting a roundtable discussion in Tallahassee to kick off the initiative, credited the upswing to the “hard work of our adoption partners and the generous caring hearts of families across our state.”
“Our success represents much more than numbers and statistics,” Crist said. “It represents the restored hopes and dreams of children who now have safe and loving homes.”
Crist reported that as of July 1, 2009, there are 19,797 children in out-of-home care in Florida, some of whom are awaiting adoption. This figure represents a 32 percent decline from 2007 and is the lowest number in foster care in Florida since 2003, he said.
Citing a resolution in support of “adoption and orphan care” passed by messengers at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville in June, which calls on every Southern Baptist family to pray about whether God wants them to adopt or provide foster care for a child or children, Haag said he is hopeful for a denominational-wide emphasis on orphan care.
“I would hope that churches would seriously consider the recommendation from the Southern Baptist Convention and devote at least one Sunday each year to emphasize adoption and God’s call for His people to care for orphans,” Haag said.
Still, Haag expressed caution in the midst of the reporting record numbers for the second straight year in Florida.
“We cannot rest on past success. There are still way too many children waiting to be adopted,” Haag told Florida Baptist Witness. “These children ache to have a permanent family of their own. Clearly, we must continue to make a concerted effort to help more orphaned children find a forever family.”
As an adoptive parent and member of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Bill Bunkley told the Witness he is appreciative of the governor’s focus on adoption.
“Whenever there’s an opportunity for the governor or other members of state government to focus on the children in this state in foster care and those that are in need of an adoptive home—that is a very positive occurrence,” Bunkley said. “We can never have an overabundance of awareness of the little ones.”
As well, Bunkley said he believes Southern Baptists should consider putting muscle behind a resolution passed by messengers at the SBC annual meeting in June. He’d like to see churches minister to children by providing support to foster parents and those families and couples who decide to adopt.
As part of “Explore Adoption Day,” Crist highlighted incentives available to families adopting from state care, which includes most children available for adoption through FBCH. They include free health care through the state’s Medicaid program and free college tuition to one of Florida’s state universities, colleges or vocational schools. In addition, those children adopted from state care may be eligible for a monthly stipend to help defray some of the costs of adding a child to a family.
Other general benefits of adoptions Crist noted are:
•Adoption Assistance—In Florida, adopted children with special need are eligible for monthly adoption assistance.
•Adoption Tax Credit—Generally, a family who makes below $204,410 might be eligible to receive a tax credit. The form number is 8893. For more information go to www.irs.gov.
•Employer Adoption Benefits—The national Adoption Center provides a listing of employers who provide adoption benefits. Call 1-1800-TO-ADOPT for more information.
In an op-ed circulated by the governor’s press office, Crist detailed efforts by Florida Department of Children and Families and community-based partner agencies that provide service to foster children and “harder to place: teenagers, siblings who want to remain together, and children with major medical needs.”
Florida Supreme Court Judge Ricky Polston, who was with Crist in Tallahassee, adopted a sibling group of six brothers through the Tallahassee campus of the FBCH, according to a FBCH spokesperson. The Tallahassee campus is one of 12 locations of the FBCH—an agency of the Florida Baptist State Convention—which last year served 5,183 children and families through a variety of ministries.
Initially becoming foster parents to three brothers, Polston and his wife Deborah—parents to three adult children as well—were faced with tough decisions when asked to adopt additional siblings. Crist named Deborah Polston a “Point of Light” in recognition of Adoption Awareness Month in November, 2008. For more about the Polston’s, read the story in the Witness online at http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/News.asp?ID=9661, and on the FBCH website: http://www.fbchomes.org/2/stories_adoption/Polston.html.
Meanwhile, according to Florida Capital News and the TallahasseeDemocrat, at least some civil rights activists believe the number of children adopted in Florida could reach even higher if Florida’s Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1977 is lifted.
Homosexuals may currently serve as foster parents, but not adopt children. Last November, a Dade Circuit judge ruled in favor of a homosexual foster parent who petitioned to adopt two foster children he and his partner have cared for since 2004. The 3rd District Court of Appeal will hear the state’s challenge Aug. 25.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported Crist “hinted today” he might support lifting the ban when he was asked a question in relation to his “Explore Adoption Day” emphasis.
“I’d have to think about it,” the Democrat reported Crist, now a candidate for U.S. Senate, replying in response to a question about whether he would support the effort. At first, the Democrat reported, he said it would be the Legislature’s responsibility to change the law.
The Florida Times-Union reported Crist, in his visit to Jacksonville several hours later as part of his adoption emphasis, reaffirmed a statement he made when he was running for governor in 2006.
At that time Crist told The St. Petersburg Times, “My position is the traditional family is the best to adopt.”
In Jacksonville, the Times-Union asked him who should be able to adopt.
“I think Florida has it right, right now,” Crist told the Times-Union.
Bunkley, who is also serves as the legislative consultant for the Florida Baptist Convention, said he believes the ban on homosexual adoption is important because it is an effort to set a high standard.
“As a foster and now adoptive parent, it is very clear to me how important it is to set the standard of both a mom and a dad as the ideal environment for the balance necessary in raising kids,” Bunkley said.