99-003441 Debby Sclafani vs. Department Of Children And Family Services
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, November 9, 1999.


View Dockets  
Summary: Petitioner had a restraining order against her to keep her from seeing a child that she wanted to adopt. The child wanted to be adopted by her current foster parents.

1STATE OF FLORIDA

4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

8DEBBY SCLAFANI, )

11)

12Petitioner, )

14)

15vs. ) Case No. 99-3441

20)

21DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND )

26FAMILY SERVICES, )

29)

30Respondent. )

32__________________________________)

33RECOMMENDED ORDER

35Pursuant to notice, a formal hearing was held in this case

46on October 12, 1999, at West Palm Beach, Florida, before Susan B.

58Kirkland, a designated Administrative Law Judge of the Division

67of Administrative Hearings.

70APPEARANCES

71For Petitioner: Mary Jane Fitzgerald, Esquire

77Harvey Building, Suite 1300

81224 Datura Street

84West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

89For Respondent: Colleen Farnsworth, Esquire

94Department of Children and

98Family Services

100111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 201

106West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

111STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

115Whether Petitioner's application to adopt L. H. should be

124granted.

125PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

127By letter dated June 30, 1999, Respondent, Department of

136Children and Family Services (Department), notified Petitioner,

143Debby Sclafani (Sclafani), that her application to adopt had been

153denied. By letter dated July 23, 1999, Sclafani requested an

163administrative hearing. The case was forwarded to the Division

172of Administrative Hearings on August 11, 1999, for assignment to

182an Administrative Law Judge. The case was originally assigned to

192Administrative Law Judge William J. Kendrick and was transferred

201to Administrative Law Judge Susan B. Kirkland to conduct the

211final hearing.

213At the final hearing Petitioner's Exhibits 2, 3, and 5 were

224admitted in evidence. Respondent's Exhibits 1-7 were admitted in

233evidence.

234No transcript was ordered. The parties filed proposed

242recommended orders which have been considered in rendering this

251Recommended Order.

253FINDINGS OF FACT

2561. Petitioner, Debby Sclafani (Sclafani), is a former

264foster parent for Respondent, Department of Children and Family

273Services (Department). On March 4, 1998, L. H., a foster child

284born on December 18, 1993, was placed in Sclafani's home.

2942. L. H. had been sexually abused when she lived with her

306biological mother. When she came to live with Sclafani, L. H.

317acted out sexually, including masturbating. L. H. also engaged

326in self-mutilating behavior and had nightmares. L. H. was being

336seen by Marion Koch, a therapist at the Center for Children in

348Crisis. In midsummer of 1998, Sclafani also began seeing a

358therapist, Gloria Watt, at the Center for Children in Crisis.

3683. During the therapy sessions with Sclafani, Ms. Watt

377became concerned with Sclafani's preoccupation with L. H.'s

385sexual behavior. Ms. Watt told the therapist that she had asked

396L. H. which finger she used when masturbating and to demonstrate

407what she did. The child complied with Sclafani's request. If

417Sclafani caught L. H. masturbating, she would take the child's

427stuffed toys away as punishment.

4324. Ms. Koch and Ms. Watt attempted to educate Sclafani

442about parenting and child development, including ways to redirect

451L. H.'s sexual behavior. The therapists told Sclafani to stop

461focusing on L. H.'s masturbation, but Sclafani was unable to deal

472with the child's sexual behavior and could not follow the

482suggestions of the therapists.

4865. In September 1998, the Center for Children in Crisis

496shut down, and the therapy sessions with L. H. and Sclafani

507stopped.

5086. Sometime during the fall of 1998, the parental rights of

519L. H.'s mother were terminated. It was the Department's policy

529that once a parent's rights are terminated, the foster parent

539should not talk to the child again about the parent. However,

550after L. H.'s mother's rights were terminated, Sclafani continued

559to pray with L. H. for L. H.'s mother's sins.

5697. Sometime after L. H.'s mother's parental rights were

578terminated, L. H.'s father's parental rights were also

586terminated. L. H. became a candidate for adoption, and her case

597was transferred to the adoption section of the Department.

606Sclafani applied to the Department to adopt L. H.

6158. L. H. was given a pre-adoptive psychological evaluation

624by Dr. Shelia King. L. H. told Dr. King that Sclafani spanked

636her and slapped her face. L. H. had been told by Sclafani not to

650tell the doctor that she had been spanked. When L. H. was

662returned home after the evaluation with Dr. King, L. H. told

673Sclafani, "The doctor knows that you whoop me."

6819. When Sclafani became L. H.'s foster parent, she signed

691an "Agreement to Provide Substitute Care for Dependent Children"

700and agreed to abide by the following provisions of the agreement:

7111. This child is placed in our home on a

721temporary basis and is at all times under the

730supervision of the Department.

7342. We are fully and directly responsible to

742the Department for the care of the child.

7503. We will take no action to acquire legal

759custody or guardianship of the child.

7654. We will hold confidential all information

772about the child and his family and will

780discuss such information only with a

786representative of the Department or with

792appropriate specialists at the request of the

799Department.

800* * *

8038. We will participate with the Department

810in planning for the child, which may include

818adoption placement, transfer to another

823foster home, or return to parent(s) or

830relative(s).

831* * *

83415. We will comply will all requirements for

842a licensed substitute care home as prescribed

849by the Department.

85216. We will immediately report any injuries

859or illnesses of a child in our care to the

869Department.

870* * *

87319. We will abide by the Department's

880discipline policy which we received during

886MAPP training.

88810. Sclafani agreed to and executed the Department's

896discipline policy which states, "The substitute care parents must

905not use corporal punishment of any kind."

91211. Sclafani admitted to spanking L. H. on several

921occasions.

92212. The Department referred Sclafani to Dr. Shelia King for

932a psychological evaluation on January 5, 1999. In her evaluation

942report, Dr. King stated:

946. . . [Sclafani] would come to expect a child

956to fill her needs as opposed to her filling

965the child's. Should a conflict arise,

971Ms. Sclafani would put her own needs first.

979As an aside, she would not accept or believe

988this was occurring. Due to her inability to

996take care of herself emotionally, she will

1003become depressed and withdrawn from time to

1010time.

1011* * *

1014It must be noted that no small measure of

1023concern results from the fact that

1029Ms. Sclafani attempted to prep this child

1036prior to her (the child's) evaluation by

1043admonishing her not to advise this

1049psychologist of the fact that Ms. Sclafani

1056spanks her upon occasion. This indicates

1062that while aware that this is not a behavior

1071which would be acceptable to the Department

1078of Children and Families, she nevertheless

1084will engage in it as a method of discipline.

1093More distressing is that she then not only

1101will lie about it herself but also encourage

1109the child to do something which is clearly

1117wrong and tell a lie by omission in order to

1127protect herself. A more appropriate response

1133would be to merely admit that she believes

1141spanking is an appropriate form of punishment

1148and seek advice on how to handle misbehavior

1156in a more acceptable fashion.

1161* * *

1164The area of concern most prominent in this

1172evaluation is Ms. Sclafani's relationships.

1177Testing indicates someone who is narcissistic

1183and dependent upon others, including her

1189child, for validation and self-esteem. Her

1195history suggests a lack of boundaries between

1202her own parent and herself. Some of

1209Ms. Sclafani's comments suggest this same

1215lack of awareness and boundaries with her

1222foster child. While she does seem open to

1230listening to interpretations and looking at

1236her own behavior, testing also indicates that

1243while she may appear to do so, anger and

1252resentment build, eventually causing her to

1258deny any problems or to reach out for help,

1267and inhibit what appears to be genuine

1274insight.

127513. Dr. King recommended that the adoption proceedings be

1284delayed and that Sclafani enter individual psychotherapy.

1291Sclafani had begun working at a child care center, and her

1302medical benefits did not begin until April 1999. Due to the lack

1314of insurance, Sclafani postponed seeing a therapist until April.

1323She attended therapy sessions two times.

132914. In May 1999, Sclafani engaged in a verbal altercation

1339with her supervisor at the day care center where she worked. She

1351told her supervisor that she was giving her thirty-day notice and

1362quitting her job. The supervisor informed her that was not

1372necessary because she was fired. The bottom line was that

1382Sclafani was without a job and medical benefits. She had

1392inherited some money from her father's estate and decided to take

1403a vacation.

140515. When the Department learned that Sclafani was without a

1415job, a decision was made to remove L. H. from Sclafani's foster

1427home. On May 21, 1999, L. H. was removed from her day care

1440center and placed in another foster home with a couple who have

1452applied to adopt her.

145616. Sclafani was asked to pack a suitcase for L. H. with

1468her clothes and other belongings. Sclafani did pack the

1477suitcase, but she also hid notes to the child among the clothes

1489in the suitcase.

149217. A few days after L. H. was removed from Sclafani's

1503care, Sclafani met with L. H., her guardian ad litem , and

1514representatives from the Department to bring closure to the

1523placement. Sclafani became very emotional during the meeting,

1531which upset the child.

153518. On July 1, 1999, Sclafani went to the day care center

1547where L. H. had been placed by her new foster parents to see

1560L. H. Sclafani told the assistant director of the day care

1571center that she was inquiring about the pre-kindergarten class

1580for a neighbor's child. The assistant director took her to the

1591classroom where L. H. was in class. Sclafani immediately walked

1601over to L. H. and asked her if she were happy. Sclafani told

1614L. H. that if L. H. was not happy that she would fight for her.

1629L. H. began to cry hysterically. The assistant director realized

1639who Sclafani was and asked her to leave the building.

164919. On the same day as the day care incident, L. H. and her

1663foster father were eating ice cream outside an ice cream shop

1674located in a shopping plaza. L. H. told her foster father that

1686she saw Sclafani, who was in her car turning up a lane in the

1700parking lot. A few minutes later, Sclafani drove by again in the

1712opposite direction, waved at L. H., and left the shopping plaza.

172320. Prior to the incidents at the day care center and the

1735shopping plaza, L. H. had been transitioning to her new home very

1747well. Following the incident at the day care center, L. H.'s

1758play in therapy became aggressive, and L. H. told her therapist

1769that she was afraid Sclafani would take her and expressed anxiety

1780about the likelihood of this happening.

178621. Because of Sclafani's actions, the Department sought a

1795restraining order against Sclafani. On July 29, 1999, Judge

1804Ronald V. Alvarez entered an Order Granting Emergency Petition

1813for Injunction, ordering that Sclafani refrain from contacting

1821L. H. wherever the child may be found while the court had

1833jurisdiction over the child. In the order, the court stated:

1843. . . Contact with Ms. Sclafani will hinder

1852the child's future attachment with another

1858family and create more, further damaging

1864confusion in the child's life. The child's

1871permanency is undermined by Ms. Sclafani's

1877contact or attempted contact with her. The

1884granting of a protective order is necessary

1891to prevent such acts from happening.

1897Permanency with her new family cannot be

1904attained until [L. H.] is free to live

1912without the fear of interruption by

1918Ms. Sclafani. This order is necessary to

1925protect the child's emotional and mental

1931health from being at risk of grave and

1939lasting harm and to support her permanency.

194621. Since L. H. has been removed from Sclafani's home, she

1957has ceased masturbating and no longer self-mutilates. She is

1966happy and well adjusted in her new home. According to her

1977guardian ad litem , L. H. has blossomed and is now being a child

1990in contrast to her actions when she was with Sclafani, where

2001L. H. appeared to be "cowed" by Sclafani.

200922. L. H. has always wanted a daddy, and now she has a

2022foster father in her new home. Sclafani had chosen a friend to

2034be L. H.'s father figure. Unfortunately, her choice had an

2044active, non-expiring domestic violence restraining order against

2051him.

205223. L. H. loves her new foster parents and wants to be

2064adopted by them. The new foster parents love L. H. and want to

2077adopt her. Since L. H. has been with her new foster parents, she

2090has not asked to see Sclafani.

209624. Sclafani had listed her pastor and his wife as a

2107reference on her application for adoption. The pastor and his

2117wife indicated on the reference that they did not know Sclafani

2128well enough to make a recommendation that she was qualified to

2139adopt a child.

214225. In order to process the adoption application, the

2151Department looks at the applicant's medical history. Sclafani's

2159medical records reflect a high frequency of doctor visits and

2169current, on-going prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications.

217526. The evidence was unclear if Sclafani had found gainful

2185employment since the termination of her employment in May 1999.

2195The evidence did show that while she was a foster parent for

2207L. H. that she worked for three different employers and was

2218unemployed when L. H. was removed from her care.

2227CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

223027. The Division of Administrative Hearings has

2237jurisdiction over the parties to and the subject matter of this

2248proceeding. Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

225328. Petitioner, as the applicant, has the burden to

2262establish entitlement to the relief sought. Balino v. Department

2271of Health and Rehabilitative Services , 348 So. 2d 349 (Fla. 1st

2282DCA 1977) and Florida Department of Transportation v. J.W.C.,

2291Co. , 396 So. 2d 778, 788 (Fla. 2d DCA 1981).

230129. Section 409.145, Florida Statutes, provides that the

2309Department is to conduct, supervise, and administer a program for

2319dependent children. Among the goals to which the Department's

2328services are to be directed is the permanent placement of

2338children for which reunification with their families would not be

2348in the best interests of the child.

235530. Rule 65C-16.001(17), Florida Statutes, defines the

2362suitability of intended placement of a child for adoption as

2372including:

2373[T]he fitness of the intended placement with

2380primary consideration given to the welfare of

2387the child and the fitness and capabilities of

2395the adoptive parents to function as parents

2402for a particular child.

240630. Rule 65C-16.005(6), Florida Administrative Code,

2412provides guidelines for the evaluation of applicants wishing to

2421adopt a child and states:

2426(6) The best interest of the child is

2434the paramount concern in making an adoptive

2441placement decision. Factors to be considered

2447in making adoptive placement decisions

2452include:

2453(a) The child's choice;

2457* * *

2460(f) Marital Status.

24631. Families in which there is a mother

2471and a father are considered important for the

2479well-rounded growth and development of a

2485child. The department will give primary

2491consideration to the applications of couples

2497who have been married a sufficient length of

2505time to establish stability. . .

25112. The department will accept the

2517application of single persons seeking to

2523adopt a child. Single parent placements will

2530be considered when a suitable two-parent home

2537is unavailable and the alternative for the

2544child is extended foster home care, when

2551there is an already existing relationship

2557which is meaningful and healthful for the

2564child or when the particular needs of a

2572specific child can best be met by a single

2581parent.

2582* * *

2585(h) Income. The family must have

2591income and resources to assure the financial

2598stability and security to meet expenses

2604incurred in adequate care of the family.. . .

2613Management of current income and the ability

2620to plan for future changes in income so that

2629the child's social, physical and financial

2635needs will be met, are as important as the

2644amount of income.

2647* * *

2650(j) Health. The physical, mental and

2656emotional health of the prospective adoptive

2662household must not jeopardize the safety and

2669permanency of the child's placement and will

2676be considered in determining the best

2682interest of the child.

2686* * *

2689(1) Working parents. It is desirable

2695that one parent be free to devote full time

2704to the care of the child for a period of time

2715after placement. The exact length of time is

2723determined by the needs and age of the child

2732and the needs of the child must be given

2741priority over the work situation of the

2748parent.

274931. Considering the factors used to evaluate an applicant

2758who wishes to adopt, it is not in the best interests of L. H. to

2773approve Sclafani's application to adopt. The child wishes to be

2783adopted by her new foster parents, and she has adjusted well and

2795is happy with them. Sclafani is a single woman while the new

2807foster parents include a mother and a father. L. H. has always

2819wanted a daddy. It is not clear from the evidence whether

2830Sclafani is gainfully employed at the present. The evidence did

2840show that she held at least three different jobs while she was

2852caring for L. H., and at the time that L. H. was removed from her

2867custody Sclafani did not have a job or medical benefits.

2877Sclafani's emotional problems do not make her a good candidate to

2888adopt a child. There is a restraining order against Sclafani

2898from having any contact with L. H., resulting from Sclafani's

2908actions regarding L. H. after L. H. was placed with new foster

2920parents. Additionally, numerous concerns were raised by Dr. King

2929in her psychological evaluation report.

2934RECOMMENDATION

2935Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

2945Law, it is RECOMMENDED that a final order be entered denying

2956Debby Sclafani's application to adopt.

2961DONE AND ENTERED this 9th day of November, 1999, in

2971Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

2975___________________________________

2976SUSAN B. KIRKLAND

2979Administrative Law Judge

2982Division of Administrative Hearings

2986The DeSoto Building

29891230 Apalachee Parkway

2992Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060

2995(850) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675

2999Fax Filing (850) 921-6847

3003www.doah.state.fl.us

3004Filed with the Clerk of the

3010Division of Administrative Hearings

3014this 9th day of November, 1999.

3020COPIES FURNISHED:

3022Mary Jane Fitzgerald, Esquire

3026Harvey Building, Suite 1300

3030224 Datura Street

3033West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

3038Colleen Farnsworth, Esquire

3041Department of Children and

3045Family Services

3047111 South Sapodilla Avenue, Suite 201

3053West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

3058Debby Sclafani

30607581 West Lantana Road

3064Lake Worth, Florida 33467

3068Samuel C. Chavers, Acting Agency Clerk

3074Department of Children and

3078Family Services

3080Building 2, Room 204B

30841317 Winewood Boulevard

3087Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

3090John S. Slye, General Counsel

3095Department of Children and

3099Family Services

3101Building 2, Room 204

31051317 Winewood Boulevard

3108Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

3111NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

3117All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within 15

3128days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to

3139this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that will

3150issue the Final Order in this case.

Select the PDF icon to view the document.
PDF
Date
Proceedings
Date: 12/17/1999
Proceedings: Final Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 12/16/1999
Proceedings: Agency Final Order
PDF:
Date: 12/16/1999
Proceedings: Recommended Order
Date: 11/29/1999
Proceedings: (Petitioner) Exceptions to Recommended Order w/cover letter filed.
Date: 11/22/1999
Proceedings: Letter to SBK from D. Sclafani Re: Summary on the DOAH Case Information page filed.
PDF:
Date: 11/09/1999
Proceedings: Recommended Order sent out. CASE CLOSED. Hearing held 10/12/99.
Date: 10/25/1999
Proceedings: Respondent`s Proposed Recommended Order (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/22/1999
Proceedings: Proposed Final Judgment (for Judge Signature) (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/12/1999
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
Date: 10/11/1999
Proceedings: Respondent`s Amended Exhibit List with Exhibit 1 & 7 Attached (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/11/1999
Proceedings: Respondent`s Witness List (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/07/1999
Proceedings: Petitioner`s Exhibit List (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/07/1999
Proceedings: Petitioner`s Witness List (filed via facsimile).
Date: 10/04/1999
Proceedings: Respondent`s Exhibit List; Exhibits filed.
Date: 09/29/1999
Proceedings: Order sent out. (Respondent`s Motion for videotaped testimony is deemed withdrawn)
Date: 09/28/1999
Proceedings: (M. Fitzgerald) Notice of Appearance (filed via facsimile).
Date: 09/27/1999
Proceedings: Objection to Motion for Videotaped Testimony (Petitioner) (filed via facsimile).
Date: 09/23/1999
Proceedings: (Respondent) Motion for Videotaped Testimony (filed via facsimile).
Date: 09/07/1999
Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing sent out. (hearing set for October 12, 1999; 10:00 a.m.; West Palm Beach, FL)
Date: 09/02/1999
Proceedings: Letter to WJK from C. Farnsworth Re: Hearing date (filed via facsimile).
Date: 08/30/1999
Proceedings: Notice of Video Hearing sent out. (hearing set for October 15, 1999; 12:30 p.m.; West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, FL)
Date: 08/25/1999
Proceedings: (Petitioner) Addendum to Initial Hearing Request filed.
Date: 08/18/1999
Proceedings: Agreed Response to Initial Order (filed via facsimile).
Date: 08/13/1999
Proceedings: Initial Order issued.
Date: 08/11/1999
Proceedings: Notice; Agency Action Letter; Request for Hearing (letter) filed.

Case Information

Judge:
SUSAN BELYEU KIRKLAND
Date Filed:
08/11/1999
Date Assignment:
10/08/1999
Last Docket Entry:
12/17/1999
Location:
West Palm Beach, Florida
District:
Southern
Agency:
ADOPTED IN TOTO
 

Related DOAH Cases(s) (1):

Related Florida Statute(s) (2):

Related Florida Rule(s) (2):