- Kate Miggs takes a child development class at Westgate High School in New Iberia and talks about adoption and family planning.
- Miguez's presentation came less than two years after Law 456 was signed into law.
Broadcast transcript:
“Okay, next. Birth parents can make adoption plans at any time during the pregnancy.”
Kate Meags is an adoptive mother of two and knows firsthand how adoption can help build a family.
“As children enter adolescence, it's important that they know what to expect if they are faced with an unplanned pregnancy,” Miggs says. But it's also important to know what it's like to expand your family through adoption. ”
What is her goal? Start normalizing “more nuanced conversations about adoption and family planning.”
Back in November, Miggs talked about a nonprofit she was starting, called PLACED Adoption Education Foundation.
“My goal is to get into as many schools as possible and give them the adoption education they need.”
“The state Legislature passed Act 456 in the 2022 legislative session,” Iberia Parish School District Superintendent Heath Hulin explained. “It mandates the inclusion of adoption awareness education in high school curricula.”
Hulin said Migs' foundation was the perfect fit for the country's requirements.
“Just this year, we had some teachers in our district who teach family science, consumer science, and child development, and they partnered with PACED and Mr. Migs.”
Now, Miguez is watching the nonprofit revitalize.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I just said that 80 percent of pregnancies in America are unplanned,” Miggs said in her Westgate classroom.
“You know, [Child Development teacher] Mr. Gonsoulin did a really great job of accommodating the children's intense conversations and questions,” Migs said.
The language surrounding adoption, the choices faced by birth parents, and abortion statistics were all addressed in Migs' presentation on Tuesday, February 19th.
“I'm an adoption expert, not an abortion expert, but this is what the country is saying we have to cover…When I release these numbers, I I tell them, “I'm going to give you some statistics from the Internet.'' “I'm not saying it's right or wrong, good or bad.'' It's just information.
Miguez hopes to expand from the Iberian Diocese and bring PLACED to high schools across Acadiana.
“We all don't know what we don't know, so the more opportunities we have for meaningful conversations, the better our children will grow up in. We'd love to hear about this amazing gift. We want everyone to know about adoption. That will be my final goal. ”
Click here to learn more about the PLACED Adoption Education Foundation.