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Friday, March 6, 2009
New Children Services policy gives preference to traditional families
A pair of stories in today’s paper talks about a new Butler County Children Services policy that gives preference in foster parenting and adopting to traditional married families.
Gay men criticize new adoption, foster care policy (read more here)
Grace calls Michael “Daddy,” and calls his partner Andrew “Dada.”
And as the 2-year-old pedaled around Michael’s feet on her red tricycle, Michael said he was “incensed” by a new Butler County Children Services policy that he takes to mean he’ll only be used as a last resort foster or adoptive parent because he’s gay.
The agency quietly created the policy Dec. 8 after Andrew — who asked to not use their last names over safety concerns involving the biological family — adopted Grace after caring for her as a foster father since birth.
The agency’s policy gives traditional married couples preference over single parents or same-sex couples in fostering and adopting children.
Children Services Director Michael Fox said the policy — possibly the only one of its kind in the state — is not meant to discriminate, and the agency didn’t oppose Grace’s adoption.
“The right thing to do was to let the child continue to live with them,” he said.
But he defended the policy.
“Data-wise, and there’s tons of it, kids do better in families when there is a traditional married couple,” he said.
The new policy doesn’t mean the agency won’t use single parents or same-sex couples, Fox said. In fact, he said, the agency usually gives preference to unmarried Butler County foster parents over out-of-county residents, and gives preference to whoever has been taking care of a child in adoption proceedings.
“Without exception, the best interest of the child trumps,” Fox said.
But Michael said he takes it personally, and says it is discrimination. “We will not be contacted until every other avenue has been exhausted,” he said.
Michael said he and his partner became foster and adoptive parents two years ago and have had one foster child in addition to their adopted daughter. But despite complaining about children needing foster parents, the agency hasn’t placed a child there since September 2007, he said.
“We see the ads in the newspaper, we’ve seen the ads on TV … we have called. We’ve made tons and tons of phone calls asking (about foster placement),” Michael said. “They always say, ‘Yes, we will keep you in mind.’ “
Agency’s tilt toward married couples riles some (read more here)
As Butler County Children Services complains about a lack of foster and adoptive parents, civil rights advocates and foster moms question a new policy that gives preference in foster placements and adoptions to traditional married couples.
The policy states: “The purpose of adoption is not to provide children for adults who want them, but to provide for children families that give them the experience of intact married family life as much as possible.”
“I’ve done a good job as a foster parent,” said Meg Melampy, single mother of a 4-year-old adopted boy and foster mother of a 3-week-old.
“I feel like I’m being punished by not feeling I will be one of the top choices when it comes to adopting,” Melampy said.
Melampy said she works from home most of the year. And sure, it’s hard work taking care of the 10 children that have passed through her home in six years, she said, but, “If I was married, I would be doing the exact same thing.”
Statewide, such a policy appears rare, said Ohio Department of Job and Family Services spokesman Dennis Evans.
“Establishing preference for placement is not something that’s addressed in either rule or law and we are not aware of any other county who has established such a preference,” Evans said.
Scott Greenwood, a Cincinnati civil rights attorney and general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said there is no evidence traditional married couples make better foster parents, and no provision in state law that allows the county to use sexual orientation in its decision.
“This policy violates the rights of prospective foster parents and it violates the rights of the kids to be placed,” he said.
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