Hot off the presses: The good news keeps rolling in this week:
The Arkansas Blog (from the Arkansas Times) reports that the state Department of Human Services will drop its rule that prohibits placement of foster children in homes with unmarried couples (and by definition, same-sex couples). “Instead, it will decide placement on a case by case basis according to the best interests of the child.” (My emphasis.)
This is essentially a recommendation by the state and state child care professionals to vote NO on Initiated Act 1, which would make the “married only” rule into law, says the Arkansas Blog. “The unmarried-couples rule has been in effect for several years, though never officially promulgated.” Instead, the DHS is proposing a new policy:
Households will be assessed based on the caretaker(s) ability to parent a child in foster care. Other children and adults who are a part of the household will be evaluated on the basis of how they will affect the successful development of a child in foster care. Individual placement decisions will be made on a case by case basis in the best interest of the child.
The right-wing Family Council has already issued a press release against the change, and in support of Act 1.
They lost this round, though. Let’s hope that bodes well for all of the various state initiatives this November.
7:14 pm
Family Creation, Politics and Law
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Angela
on Oct 10th, 2008
@ 12:21 am:
As a foster parent to five teenagers in Florida, I understand, to some degree, what those gay and lesbian wannabe foster parents in arkansas are going through. In Florida, my partner of five years and myself are allowed to foster however, we cannot adopt these five kids (four of which are siblings) due to a ridiculous, discriminatory law put in place over thirty years ago. The children are the ones that suffer…truly.
Our kids have been with us for four years, and will be with us, and members of our family, for the rest of our days, but they will never know the security of that court order. They will always be “foster children” – even though we don’t refer to them as such…it’s always there…lingering. I can’t tell you how difficult it was to have to explain to our youngest boy (10 at the time) why it was that we couldn’t adopt him when he wanted it so badly. Talk about second class citizens.
I’m glad that Arkansas has at least come to the point where fostering will be determined on a case by case basis…we are desperately hoping for that same consideration in regard to adoption in our state.
Amy
on Oct 10th, 2008
@ 10:48 am:
This has been exciting news here in Arkansas, which has a foster care system that is plagued by problems, including a dearth of available foster homes. This will give our judges more options for placing children in desperate need of stable, loving homes. Initiated Act 1 would not only create an across-the-board bar against foster placement with unmarried couples (both same-sex and heterosexual), but would prohibit all unmarried couples from adopting. There is simply no rational basis for this terrible piece of legislation. Its blatant attempt to discriminate against the gay and lesbian community is just flat out bad policy, and is most decidedly NOT in the best interests of our children.
I’ve attached a link to Arkansas Families First, a coalition of individuals and organizations that are working to defeat this measure. Here’s hoping for victory!