Adoption in Child Time, Inc.

Arkansas Ban Reduces Chance for Foster Kids to Find Permanent Homes

While most of the news about social issues following the recent election focused on gay marriage amendments, the state of Arkansas quietly endorsed a measure which will reduce the number of people eligible to become foster or adoptive parents. According to a New York Times opinion columnist, nearly 57 percent of Arkansas voters approved an initiative which bans people who are “cohabitating outside a valid marriage” from serving as foster parents or adopting children. The measure applies to all fostering or adoption, kinship as well as non-kinship. For example, a grandmother, who is cohabitating with an opposite sex partner but not married to him because marriage would reduce their pension benefits, cannot foster or adopt her own grandchild. No gay person, male or female, cohabitating with a partner, can foster or adopt anyone, not even a niece or nephew.

According to the Times, Arkansas has 3,700 children in care, 1,000 of whom are available for adoption. Billed as a “pro-family” measure, one wonders how reducing the number of potential foster and adoptive homes can improve “family” for the 3,700 Arkansas children in care. No reputable research supports the position that cohabitating or gay couples make bad foster/adopt parents. Many children who were removed from their biological home due to abuse or neglect are growing up secure and healthy in such homes. Among the many organizations in support of adoption or foster parenting by gay couples are: American Psychological Association, Child Welfare League of America, American Bar Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, North American Council on Adoptable Children, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychoanalytic Association American Academy of Family Physicians.and Psychologists for Social Responsibility.

Be aware that the ban imposed in Arkansas may be coming to other states, maybe your own.