Every child deserves to grow up with family whenever it is safe and possible. Yet, in Florida, families continue to face unnecessary barriers from the Department of Children and Families (DCF) when trying to care for their relatives.

A recent case in Miami-Dade County highlights a troubling pattern: a young child has spent more than a year in non-relative foster care, despite multiple available, approved relatives. Internal review panels have confirmed DCF’s procedural errors and voted in favor of family placement, yet the agency has chosen to ignore those findings.

Florida law is clear:

§ 39.5085, Florida Statutes requires that DCF give preference to relatives for placement.
§ 39.810, Florida Statutes lists the preservation of family ties and cultural identity as primary best-interest factors.

When DCF mishandles paperwork, delays approvals, or disregards oversight recommendations, children pay the price, losing connection to their families, culture, and identity.

Studies show that children who remain with their extended families fare better emotionally and socially than those placed into foster systems with strangers. According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, children in kinship care experience greater stability and have fewer behavioral problems.

Yet, despite these proven benefits, Florida's DCF continues to make it difficult for families to keep their children within their familial circle. Familial caregivers are often required to undergo arduous vetting processes, and at times, are not even considered as a viable option for guardianship without clear reasons.

Research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation indicates that reliance on kinship care is cost-effective and provides better outcomes for children. Removing unnecessary barriers not only helps children and families but also reduces the strain on the state’s foster care system.

We, the undersigned, call upon:

The Florida Department of Children and Families to immediately review and correct all active cases where relatives have been bypassed for placement.

The Florida Legislature to strengthen enforcement of kinship-placement statutes and require accountability when agencies ignore the law.

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Office of Adoption and Child Protection to ensure that family placement is truly prioritized in practice, not just policy.

Children belong with their families. Bureaucratic errors and agency bias should never determine a child’s future.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, transparency, and family-first reform within Florida’s DCF system.

Please join us in advocating for change. Every voice in support of keeping families together counts. Help us make a difference in the lives of countless children and families across the state by signing this petition.

(This petition is submitted anonymously to protect the child’s privacy. Supporting documentation has been reviewed by oversight advocates.)