by Tablet Staff

 PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Adoptive parents in New York and those seeking to adopt children are criticizing a restriction by New York’s Office of Children and Family Services that limits the financial support adoptive families can give birth mothers in New York and out of state.

The agency said these women can only receive financial help from the state 60 days before the baby is born and 30 days after birth which opponents have said is one of the most restrictive measures for adoption.

“New York is encouraging women from other states to get abortions here but discouraging pregnant women from other states to provide loving homes for their babies right here in New York,” said Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, in a statement to The Tablet.

 “It’s frustrating when you have barriers to adoption,” he said but he also noted that the New York Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops, has recently praised New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for increasing funding for adoption services and prioritizing prenatal, postpartum and maternal health in her upcoming state budget proposal.

He told The Tablet that he doesn’t believe Hochul is to blame for the agency’s decision but hopes that she will step in and find a solution.

“We hope she will look at this situation and propose remedies where needed,” he said, adding that “families who want to adopt and pregnant women who want to give the gift of love should have all the help they deserve from New York State.”

A memo explaining the state agency’s financial support for birth mothers, which caught the attention of adoptive parents, was sent Jan. 5 by Shelly Fiebich, director of the Office of Children and Family Services, the New York Post reported.

The memo advised agency members to recognize adoptive placement fees and said the state agency that oversees adoption services “will not accept an out-of-state court order that addresses the subject of fees.”

The agency has defended the memo stressing that it was simply clarifying the state law. But former Congressman Max Rose, the father of an adopted 3-year-old boy, said the state action was anti-adoption and anti-family.

“I sincerely hope Gov. Hochul fixes this rule,” he told the New York Post. “I know in her heart of hearts she wants New York families who choose to adopt to be supported and make New York a place to raise a family,” he said, adding that the rule “does the opposite and puts New Yorkers through a lot of pain.”