How Some Christian Group Homes Avoid Florida's Standards

In place of the state, a nonprofit association has regulatory authority over about two dozen of the facilities.

As religious groups across the country open more maternity homes for pregnant women and teenagers, the nonprofit that oversees some of those homes in Florida is facing renewed criticism from state lawmakers over its practices.

The nonprofit, the Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies, has regulatory authority over about two dozen maternity homes, ranches for troubled youth, and group homes for children whose parents cannot take care of them.

Facilities it oversees have faced allegations of abuse, misconduct and restrictive practices for decades. In September, The New York Times and the investigative podcast Reveal reported that some of the maternity homes had imposed strict limits on residents’ communications and movements. One required residents to download a tracking app and lock their phones in a safe overnight.

Unlike homes that are licensed by the state, the association’s members are exempt from visits by state inspectors. Instead, the association performs its own inspections, holding its members to standards for hiring staff that government records show to be less rigorous than those used by the state.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/us/christian-group-homes-florida.html

"The Lord compels us Christians to follow those Old Testament beliefs like "Spare the rod and spoil the child" to transform those in our care into God-fearing worshipers. None of that New Testament love and compassion stuff for us, and the government can respectfully keep its nose out of our business. Amen."