Ritter, Joseph E.

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The Linacre QuarterlyVolume 20 | Number 1 Article 32-1-1953Policies and Procedures in Placement of Childrenfor AdoptionJoseph E. RitterFollow this and additional works at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/lnqPart of the Ethics and Political Philosophy Commons, and the Medicine and Health SciencesCommonsRecommended CitationRitter, Joseph E. (1953) "Policies and Procedures in Placement of Children for Adoption," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 20 : No. 1 ,Article 3.Available at: https://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol20/iss1/34 THE LINACRE QUARTERLY ============�============-"·ere not c�rried out in Catholic Hospitals and such women not OJ> y bore one child but some of them bore several children. Because of th;s, the Boston Lying-In group was studying the question. They took · 11 all the indigent pregnant women in the metropolitan area of Bostvi1. Their conclusion demonstrated that the mortality rate on well can d for and well treated cardiac pregnant women ll"HS Yery little higl. 'r than that of the normal wo1i1en. Even more striking than this is the history of the adnrnced them:·.'" of pregna11t tuberculous patients, especially those with far advarn ,,cl pulmonary tuberculosis. In the early part of the century, it was t 1c commonly accepted practice outside the Catholic hospitals to do a therapeutic abortion on these patients. Since this procedure is frow1,;'<l on by our hospitals, we were able to demonsfrate that during the cou, sc of the pregnancy these women improved as the time advanced. It w 1s after the delivery that these patients went bad. So, it was natural to reason why this took place. These women demonstrated to us that • he diaphragm rises as the uterus enlarges and at approximately ei1- ht months it reaches its highest point which, corollated with the cht st x-rays, showed the tuberculosis to be improving. After delivery, r he diaphragm dropped �and the disease advanced rapidly. Now, i '1is demonstrated that a high diaphragm permitting only a small excurs:on of the lung was desirable in the treatment of tuberculosis. So, what have we today? A surgical operation designed to raise the diaphragm to keep the movement of the lung at the minimum. So again, we poor mortals learn something new from the ways of the great Designer. \iVILLIAU P. CHESTEJt, M.D. 35 members of the Bronx Guild made a 3-doy retreat in March of last year their activity report indicates. There were also three Communion Breakfasts, one in March, a second in May and the third in October. At the last one a bronze plaque was presented to the Moderator, Rev. Ignatius Cox, S.J., upon his completion of fifty years in the priesthood. .{ THE LINACRE QUARTERLY 5 To the Clergy and Religious of the Archdiocese, the Most Re�er­end Joseph E. Ritter, Archbishop of St. Louis, addressed the following: "The placement of a child in a home for adoption is a very serious matter involving thoughtful regard for the child's entire future, in­cluding his religious, social and emotional well-being: It re�uiresknowledge of these factors as well as of legal and medical conside:a­tions as each affects the child, the natural parents and the adoptive parents and necessitates planning by a recognized child �la�i�g agency.It cannot be provided by an individual or g11oup of individuals not subject to proper safeguards no matter how well intentioned or sympa­thetic they may be. The Catholic Charities of St. Louis is prepared to help in any case involving placement of Catholic children for adoption and is the agency of the Archdiocese designated by me for this work. The clergy in parishes and the religious in hospitals and other .. institutions should not participate in placement of .children fM adop­tion unless the plan is being made by a recognized child placing agency. It is my hope that Catholic members of the medical and legal professions will follow this sa me policy." The editors of LINACRE QUARTERLY publish here a statement of the policies and procedures of the Catholic Charities of St. Louis prepared by the Committee on the Adoption of Children for the information of those who in any way might be connected with such placement. In general, the same procedures apply in a great many communities and it is thought the subject would b e  of general interest to all readers of this journal. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN FOR ADOPTION The placement of a child in a home for adoption is on� of. the most im­portant and delicate functions of any social agency operatmg m the field of child welfare. The fact that this premise is recognized by agencies of good standards is atte�ted to by the amount of thought, care, time and money that is invested in this aspect of child care. When the agency is a Cathol�c o�e, the feeling of responsibility in this matter is intensified by_ t_h� realizationthat in placing the child, it is assuming the great respons1bil1ty of deter­mining not only the kind of natural care that the child will receive but also the kind of preparation he will be given for his eternal life. The Catholic Charities of St. Louis is conscious of this responsibility and through its board, staff, and adoption committee has developed its policies regarding adoption so that its moral obligation to its wards and 6 THE LINACRE QUARTERLY .========:,;��,;;;;,;;;;;;;,,,======-= their potential adopti,·e parents may b discharged in a way conduch·e their temporal and spiritual welfare. Policies, .. Application Requirements 1. Religion: Catholic Charities accepts ap1Jlications only from famili,in which both husband and wife are practical Catholics. This fact must l attested to in writing by their presen·t pastor· or by a priest express]delegated by him to act in his name in regard to a specific applicatio1 Applications are not accepted from families of mixed religion because tl. agency, as guardian of a child dependent on it for protection of his interest feels morally obligated to place the child in the environment in which l1i . Catholic upbringing can be assured. A child has by virtue of his baptis1 acquired obligations and duties which he must be helped to meet. It is th conviction of the agency that he can best be given this help in a thorough l. Catholic setting and that, in the event of the death of one adoptive parenl the Catholicity of the surviving parent will safeguard the child's religio 2. Attitudes and relationship of adoz1tive parents: Although specifi,requirements in this area are difficult to set down, the attitudes and relation ships of the prospective adoptive parents are considered to be of basic im portance in the study of the application. The husband-wife relationshiJ must be a happy one in order to provide the hackgr.ound for a happy J if, for the child. The prospective adoptive parents should be mature peopl( and sufficiently flexible that they will be able to adjust to the great change a child will make in their way of lh·ing. Both must really want a child, and their reasons for wanting him must be wholesome. Thev must want an adopted child, and must be willing to al'C'ept the fact tliat he is a<lopted and must be ahle to help the C'hild grow 11µ knowing he is adopted. 3. Residf'ncf': Applications arc genera-ll_v accepterl from families whoreside within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Whene,·er excepti.ons are madt' regarding residence, they are based on the faC't that the child's security in an adopth·e home requires his placement in another diocese. Suc1 1 place­me11ts wiiuld be effected only with the approval and co-operation of the diocesan agency in the other diocese and with the knowledge and consent of the proper State agencies. 4. Citizenship: Adoptive applicants must be citizens of the UnitedStates by birth or naturalization. 5. Age: The age limitation of couples seeking to adopt infants is fortyyears for the woman and forty-five years for the man. For children over the age of infancy older adoptive parents are con­sidered. THE LINACRE QUARTERLY 7 6. Health: Both prospecti,·c adopti,·e parents must be in good health.Current physical cxami;1ations, including chest x-ra�,s and blood tests are required, The possibility of the prospectiYe adopti,·e parents having own children should be explorer!. 7. J-1 au.sing: Home enYironrnent should be of a leYel that is conduci,·eto wholesome familv life and health. The present housing shortage has necessitated flexibility in this area. Homes may be owned or rented. 8. Economic status: The �dopth·e applicants must be able to maintaina reasonable standard of living, to rear and educate the child adequ�tely, and to provide a l'easonable degree of security. Procedures : .• Because of the great �umber of families askii1g to ad·oi:it ·a child': and the comparativ�ly 1ew cl1ild�·en av�ilable, · the adoption process is apt,to· be • disappointingly slow: Adoptive parents will tell yo1i ·that the end lie \rrt is worth the long wait and the sincerity of their statement is proven b.')"'the·many' adoptive p arents who, having completed their first adoption, ·wish tomake a second app1icati-0n. ·' · · .-.,'fhe C�tholic Charities is ii:iterested in placing chiidren who �r_e arnil�blefor adoption in suitable homes. The children who are available _rriay b�e ofany age and race; they may have physical problems which can· be con:ected,or''tphyfsical handicaps which can not be eliminated. Except for ·children,vith special needs; the Catliof�- Cl;a:rities ·consiae'.rs appiications in the·cl)�.onological order in whic1\·:tf1e families come to tf1e· agency> Tlie wai"ti.ng··fkriod depends· �;, many-lyariable f�dors� such as· the 1i"unibe1; of cii.Jdrenlitvailahie, the humher of applicants, an1l the number who may withdrawtheir names. These· things cannot be foreseen, so it is not possible' to saycc(aC'tly how many 1l'lonth� the ·process will recpiire.I. In orde'i· to he listed and thereby considered in turn as potentialadopth·e par'eiits; a couple must write a letter stating their interest inadoptin,;. a child and givino· sucl1 information about themselves as their· ages,o o nationality, and their preference as to the age an·d sex of an adopted child.The\" .must also ask their pastor to write a letter of recommendation fort-hen� indicating that both husband and wife ;re practical Catholics. Theinqtiiry is listed by the agency on the date on which the second of thesetwo letters is received. A letter of acknowledgment giving the date· oflisting is sent to tl1e applicants. 2. When the Catholic Charities is ready to consider applications fromfamilies whose inquiries were listed as of a' particular date, a letter is 8 THE LINACRE QUARTERLY ========================= written to the family inviting them to arrange an appointment for n interview. 3. An office interview with husband and wife. together is arranged a dif it is agreed to proceed with the study, the couple is asked to fill out a formal application. 4. After the application has been received a study of the home is ma eby a caseworker to determine the suitability of the l1ome for a child. The study involves home visits and office interviews with the husba· 1 and wife separately and together, and collateral visits to references, clc relatives, pastor and physician. A complete medical report including chc ;t x-rays and blood tests must be submitted by the physician. The study al'otakes into account the age, background, nationality, racial characteristi< ,,employment, financial resources, physical and emotional traits of the pr,­spective adoptive parents, what they hope for in the way of age, sex m·dpotentialities of an adopted child. As far as is possible, these factors a· etaken into consideration later when a particular child is recommended f rthem.5. When all the information is available, the caseworker submits f .raction a report written to the Catholic Charities Committee on Adoption d Children. The Adoption Committee is composed of representatives of the clergy and religious, of the medical and legal professions, and of board a1�:l staff members. 6. The Committee, having also received complete information regardill';the background, physical and mental development, appearance, nationality and legal status of children available for adoption, makes recommendatior5 regarding the placement of a particular child in a particular home. The recommendation is based on similarities in the backgrounds of the child and the family and general suitability of the placement from the standpoint of age, sex, personality and intelligence of the child, and the prospecth-e adoptive parents' interest. 7. Applicants are notified of the action of the Committee and arrange­ments �re made to discuss with. them the history of the child recommended for them. 8. This information being acceptable to the applicants, arrangementsare made for the couple to' visit with the child. If they are favorably im­pressed and desire to accept the child, arrangements for placement are initiated. Prior to placement, further visits may be arranged, depending upon the ease with which the child can accept his transfer to a new setting. 9. At the time of placement a written medical history of the child isgiven to the a_doptive parents. THE LINACRE QUARTERLY 9 10. The applicants' pastor is notified of the placement.11. At the time of placement, applicants are asked to sign "Conditionsfor Placement," a brief agreement setting forth the relationship betweenadoptive family, child and agency during the probationary period. 12. The probationary period continues for at lea�t one year: This i� anagency policy and includes the nine months probat10nary per10d reqmredby the laws of Missouri. 13. At the end of the probationary period, the situation is revi�wedand an oral report is made to the Adoption Committee which _may eit�eragree to the filing of a petition for a�option or re�uest further _mf�rmat10uor an extension of the probationary period before fmal legal action is taken.14. If the Committee authorizes the filing of the petition for adoption,the adoptive parents are notified and they then retain their o:vn attorneyto handle the legal aspects of the situation. The agency furmshes :o �heattorney such information as is necessary for the petition. After rev1ewmgand approving the petition in the form in which it is to be filed, the a�encygives its written consent to the adoption and provides the court with awritten report of the study of the horn�, the child's background and theadjustment of the child and family to each other.15. The adoption hearing is held in a court of competent jurisdiction.When the adoption is granted the court arranges for the revision of thechild's birth record at the Bureau of Vital Statistics.16. A revised certificate of baptism is given to the adoptive parents.17. The adoptive parents' pastor is notified by letter of the completionof the adoption. The Catholic Physiciaw;' Guild of Wilmington, Delaware was the first professional organ isaticm in that state to endorse new adoption laws last summer revising those effective since 1935. In esse1�ce they �onform to theabove. The Guild felt that it was sound community planning to protect children and parents in the ways enumerated. 

Policies and Procedures in Placement of Children for Adoption

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Policies and Procedures in Placement of Children for Adoption

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