The Virginia Board of Social Services made a decision this week that setback efforts to allow communities throughout the state to create families through adoption. In addition, the board showed signs of disregard for interests of children within the foster care system of Virginia.
The board decided against new proposed regulations that would end discrimination based on sexual orientation by licensed child adoption agencies. Opponents argued that these new regulations conflicted with Virgina state policy and faith-based child welfare agencies.
These state officials and agencies neglected to take into consideration that Virginia’s foster care system is in desperate need of waiting adoptive families. Currently, there are over 6,000 children in the state's foster care system and over 1,500 children waiting for adoption. Additionally, more than 45% of the youth in the system are transferred through three or more placements and currently 32% are forced out of the system at age 18 without ever finding a home.
In addition, adoption agencies, even those with religious affiliations like the Grand Rapids adoption agency Adoption Associates Inc., have one overriding obligation. That is to act in the best interests of each individual child. All domestic adoption agencies must judge the quality of prospective parents based solely on their character, their capabilities as a parent, and their capacity to provide a loving home.
Virtually every established and professional child welfare organization supports the rights of qualified gay and lesbian married couples as well as individuals to foster and adopt. Over 30 years of scientific research confirms that children raised by gay and lesbian parents have the same advantages and same expectations for health, social and psychological adjustment, and development as children whose parents are heterosexual.
