State Decides What To Do with Unlicensed Adoption Agency

By Jackelyn Barnard First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Department of Children and Families has a file full of letters going back and forth between Tedi Bear Adoptions.

In the last two letters, sent in just the last couple of months, DCF asked Tedi Bear Adoptions to provide a list of adoptions that it is processing right now.

The state gave TBA a deadline of February 15, 2005, to get the list to DCF.

First Coast News has learned, DCF didn't get that list instead, the state got a two page letter from TBA's executive director, Tedi Hedstrom.

Basically, TBA wants to know why the state won't let the agency work in Florida.

"We will be reviewing the letter with the attorney and determining the appropriate action," says DCF's Diane Seymore.

DCF confirms it is investigating complaints that Tedi Bear Adoptions is operating in the state without a license. When First Coast News asked TBA's executive director, Tedi Hestrom, last week if she was operating in Florida, Hedstrom said, "We have been placing children in Florida."

Hedstrom she can because her agency has a license in another state, Georgia, and according to Florida law, if you have a license in another state you can place children in Florida.

"Yes, if you have a license in another state you can place children for adoption in the state of Florida. However, if you have ever been sanctioned by the state of Florida, which TBA had been previously, you can't operate as a child placement agency in the state of Florida," says DCF's Seymore.

In 1997, Tedi Bear opened its office in the Jacksonville area. Two years later, Tedi Bear got a license to also operate in Georgia.

In 2003, the Florida office came under fire. DCF says it found problems with "bookeeping and falsification of information."

According to the February 15, 2005 letter from Tedi Bear, Tedi Bear Adoptions of Georgia is not "one and the same" as the agency once located in Florida. And therefore, "TBA of Georgia is in good standing and has no disciplinary action against it."

Hedstrom declined to talk with First Coast News about the letter.

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