Background
Florida government officials have proposed a new rule that would strip state licenses from Florida shelters and foster care providers that care for unaccompanied children. The rule could have the effect of shutting down all existing facilities that care for unaccompanied children in Florida.
Before the rule is finalized, state officials will consider the opinions of Florida residents. If you are a Floridian or resident of Florida, please join the Young Center to submit a comment opposing the proposed rule, to make clear to Governor DeSantis and Florida government officials that the people of Florida are committed to the safety and health of all children and to being a place of welcome for immigrants. This effort should take just a few minutes but could have an immediate impact.
Take a stand: Submit a comment now
The deadline to submit a comment and make your voice heard is Thursday, March 3, at 11:59 pm ET.
How to submit a comment:
Click here.
Click on the "Make Comment" button.
Add personal info if you feel comfortable. Copy and paste your subject line and comment in the appropriate boxes and hit the "Submit Comment" button.
The government will only consider unique comments, so it is important to put your thoughts into your own words. Below is sample language—a “template comment”—that you can use to create your own comment. We encourage you to revise the template to highlight your own concerns and include any experiences, perspectives, and values that inform your opinions. Please remember that if you have served as a Young Center Child Advocate you cannot share children’s stories, though you may discuss how volunteering as a Child Advocate has impacted you.
Template Comment:
SUBJECT:
Proposed Rule 65C-9.004, Standards for Unaccompanied Alien Children Homes and Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Programs
COMMENT:
Dear Secretary Harris,
I am a Florida resident/I am a Floridian and I am writing today to express my strong opposition to the Proposed Rule from the Department of Children and Families titled “Standards for Unaccompanied Alien Children Homes and Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Programs.” The proposed rule would strip ORR shelters in Florida that care for unaccompanied children of state licenses and effectively shut their doors, directly harming and discriminating against unaccompanied children. I urge the agency to withdraw the entire proposed rule and restore the State of Florida’s commitment to the care and protection of all children.
State licensing standards and oversight are critical elements for child safety and proper care. Licensing standards exist to ensure that the physical site, staffing levels, and services in group homes and foster families are safe for children. Licensing standards also provide benchmarks for the state to make sure that facilities are advancing children’s well-being.
Unaccompanied immigrant children who come to the United States seeking safety or a chance at a better life often survive threats of violence, kidnapping, and trafficking to make it to our borders. Many have survived persecution, abuse, and violence. After leaving dangerous circumstances in their home communities-leaving behind loved ones and essential support systems-they travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles, because they hope they will find safety and an opportunity to reach their full potential in the United States.
Licensed, community-based placement and appropriate care is critical to ensuring that unaccompanied children get the care they need to be safe and healthy. By prohibiting existing shelters from welcoming new unaccompanied children, and denying new licenses and license renewals for any facility or foster family that cares for unaccompanied children, the proposed rule endangers the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children.
As problematic, the proposed regulation would intrude into children’s lives after they reunify with their families, while they go through their immigration cases by requiring check-ins, appointments, and unwanted phone calls. Such unnecessary and intrusive government interference will make families afraid to come forward to reunify with children in shelters; this in turn will prolong children’s time in custody and separation from family and compound their trauma. The harder it is for families to reunite, the worse the outcomes will be for children, families, and all of us.
Instead of prohibiting existing shelters from welcoming new unaccompanied children and denying new licenses and license renewals for any facility or foster family that cares for unaccompanied children, Florida officials should welcome immigrant children and focus on ensuring access to quality care and services for all children. That’s the very least we should offer to children who’ve already taken incredible measures to get to safety. Stripping children of vital protections because they are immigrants is not just discriminatory—it’s dangerous. As a community, as a nation, we are responsible for the safety and well-being of all the children in our country. All children are our children. All children are first and foremost children.
For all the reasons given above, I urge you to withdraw the proposed rule. DCF should restore its previous rules on care for unaccompanied children and focus its efforts on making Florida a place of welcome to immigrant children and their families.
Sincerely,
[Add name and zip code]
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