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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > April > 16 > Entry
Children Services policy now in state lawmakers’ hands
HAMILTON — The question over whether married couples should get preference in adoption placement appears to be settled on the local level, Butler County commissioners said this morning, April 16.
Now it’s up to state lawmakers to decide whether to take up the issue.
As far as commissioners are concerned, the policy — which gives preference in adoption placement to married couples over single parents or same-sex couples — has never been implemented and now won’t be.
The policy was created by former Children Services director Michael Fox and put on hold pending legal review. The county prosecutor’s office issued an opinion last week that state law allows only the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to alter the state-mandated preference for adoption, which makes no mention of marital status.
Commission President Donald Dixon has voiced support of the proposed policy, and still believes that children do better in homes with married parents.
But he said today that children can thrive in a number of environments, and “no group should be discriminated against or be made to feel they don’t’ have the same opportunities as everyone else.”
He and Commissioner Gregory Jolivette, who also supported the policy, said they won’t be pushing a change in state laws. His only message to legislators: “Let’s not do anything that will limit finding suitable parents for children in Butler County.”
Dixon and Commissioner Charles Furmon, who had opposed the policy, signed a petition from Liberty Twp. resident Carla Brittain, who has collected 655 signatures opposing the policy.
Brittain gave a half-hour presentation to commissioners this morning, outlining research that says children do just as well when raised by same-sex couples.
She also read a letter from Amy Keller, who with her same-sex partner has two adopted children, one foster child and two other children in her home. All of which are thriving, she said.
“The only difference between our family and yours is that both parents are women,” Keller wrote. “We are women who devoted our lives to loving and caring for the children that God and Children Services has entrusted to us. Please take this into consideration when reviewing policies.”
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Children Services
Comments
By Phil
April 16, 2009 7:03 PM | Link to this
The Fox Policy considers Marital Status, but does not rule out adoption singles or same sex couples. I reviewed the Ohio Revised Code. I find no prohibition to considering Marital status. The ORC emphasizes doing what is best for the child. Much of the “data” is biased. Until the data is skillfully sorted to a new conclusion; the long success history of the Mother & Father role model, should be an important factor in placement.
By granny
April 24, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this
Excuse me, but weren’t the foster parents of little Fiesel married? That didn’t help, did it?