11 Pa. Stat. § 272
The courts, county commissioners, poor directors, or any other authority, before making orders for the commitment of children to said "Children's Home," shall place them first, as far as possible, in care and custody of persons having the same religious belief as the parents of the child, or with some association which is controlled by persons of such religious belief, and shall, as far as possible, provide in making orders of commitment that the care, custody, and discipline of the child shall be as nearly as possible that which should be given by its parents. In all cases where it can be properly done, the child shall be placed in an approved family home, and become a member of the family by legal adoption or otherwise. The court, before making a final order for the commitment of any child to said "Children's Home," shall cause said child to be examined by a competent physician, and shall obtain a full report as to the physical and mental condition of said child, together with a certificate of the examining physician that said child is not suffering from any physical or mental condition which will interfere with its proper care, treatment, or training in said "Children's Home" or with the proper care, treatment, or training of the other children in said home.
11 P.S. § 272