---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Bill Bettencourt <cssp@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, Jan 25, 2019 at 11:47 AM
Subject: getREAL Messenger: Updates on the Fight for LGBTQ Youth in Foster
Care
To: <vkhavar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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SPECIAL EDITION | December 2018 | getREAL Home Page
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South Carolina Ruling Prioritizes Funding Agencies over Supporting Children
in Foster Care
Dear Network Partners,
You may have heard the recent news out of South Carolina. Using the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), the US Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) put the beliefs of adults and agencies ahead of the
needs of children and youth whom they’re charged to serve.
HHS used the RFRA to allow South Carolina to disregard a federal
nondiscrimination policy
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i5yu10NOu9-Ij0K9Lj2VIdiaoR45p_yR7N_9RlujpsZhfhMI4FXbUon6XZR_ulrSc-Aq49AxTJVHiAZy2t1xVdYsgtLRyxy4fpK_2bRHS-08H7HxqVaH4Jr59K7KlYIqoooj9gSkeXqkBFagphGX52xM_Yyu96s1knbfsQou32_OzSm3ZZSzs0HsGtDoC3OP_S1GKVdPKkTwU83g0EFGxe0KKfQB2LRFD-dUvtMrmL_NLjZEb7sFhIHPo5IKjK-VA2n1robCstNf-awo1x79gg==&c=G8cCkZWUyuz0OqjfzWvdRqZ4AheJxTkFv8PAMuuFDU2paOUnnlud3w==&ch=p5lzK9KDJWOxALEYHRjPWokzA9EvnxZtJv-3hUeIS2UCm4jPlC1Wyg==>—issuing
the state a waiver to allow the use of federal dollars to discriminate
against foster and adoptive parents who do not share an agency’s stated
Christian values. Specifically, the waiver allows for faith-based foster
care agencies to turn away qualified prospective foster parents who do not
pass their religious litmus test. HHS directed these agencies to refer
prospective foster parents that do not share the agency’s religious beliefs
to other agencies or the state—assuming the faith-based agency “does not
object on religious grounds to making such referrals.”
Children and youth who are removed from their families and come into foster
care need loving and nurturing homes. They need agencies that ensure they
are cared for and treated fairly by everyone who works with them—and whose
goal is to work toward returning them home or finding permanent families
that will love and support them. Foster and adoptive parents of all
religions, backgrounds, races, ethnicities, abilities, genders, and sexual
orientations have a critical role in providing loving, supportive, and
affirming homes.
The waiver is a stunning attack on equal opportunities, established
religious liberties, and civil rights and sets a very dangerous precedent.
It will directly harm children, youth, and families by creating—rather than
dismantling—barriers for public systems to ensure that all children and
youth are safe, survive, and thrive. It also disproportionality impacts
LGBTQ+ youth of color who are overrepresented in public systems.
Children in child welfare systems need unconditionally loving homes and
they deserve to be served by agencies that are completely devoted to
finding these homes. This marks a dangerous move in the opposite direction.
The administration’s decision to grant this waiver directly undermines
child welfare reform, it harms children, and it promotes discrimination.
We encourage you as a getREAL partner to help us share the news of this
decision and elevate this and other organization's statements. It is our
responsibility to do what we can to protect all children in this country
and to loudly voice our disagreement with this decision.
Articles and Statements from Other Organizations:
- Child Welfare League of America
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i5yu10NOu9-Ij0K9Lj2VIdiaoR45p_yR7N_9RlujpsZhfhMI4FXbUon6XZR_ulrSxImqNnoMRSmRL4IfoSgDL2m3pH3Y_FGQuWEuiZboFnFzT6iSStR9t5EVGOzJdmGsRR4H4mnV0Sfg-lMxOEz62adG7Uid0PvdXGUZzykAANiBVg1ICFrrehAzFUHEFhCLT1IXKiGyljsK14gK_58hLdMZ-8huDWyn0DJ6_pKFDcFsN1Xn-akBtxdgm6-OksBphFqzvPrBbuM=&c=G8cCkZWUyuz0OqjfzWvdRqZ4AheJxTkFv8PAMuuFDU2paOUnnlud3w==&ch=p5lzK9KDJWOxALEYHRjPWokzA9EvnxZtJv-3hUeIS2UCm4jPlC1Wyg==>
- Chronicle of Social Change
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i5yu10NOu9-Ij0K9Lj2VIdiaoR45p_yR7N_9RlujpsZhfhMI4FXbUon6XZR_ulrSG-OFH5MO00tbwQUervqmb0gV0zrcY9nM9phMy-GA0iZ3Fj8_Fo-1l36Xp3TaQWYPzypluWSuXJQqL6fbO_ogzFsNMJzGAseUiaNaBopCcSlAh4329piR5g0hSLUaLoVypSGXxygXpNuXkZA2fdPH6wYIeV4NlJ7IB8530lJrgZ4BGTNI0wBW30lTuC_KoLNJLkhOI5pbWnlwp5_6Qfg35WKBX_BBhVYk&c=G8cCkZWUyuz0OqjfzWvdRqZ4AheJxTkFv8PAMuuFDU2paOUnnlud3w==&ch=p5lzK9KDJWOxALEYHRjPWokzA9EvnxZtJv-3hUeIS2UCm4jPlC1Wyg==>
- Human Rights Campaign
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i5yu10NOu9-Ij0K9Lj2VIdiaoR45p_yR7N_9RlujpsZhfhMI4FXbUon6XZR_ulrS8-qsooaMKArTRVjAl60Bwi3HxGI94LK5FCW6DCCnAi-CaJ7at9g6MazdsK11ADC27oTs8gy1lWpUrDA2JiiDGw5BiqOdw4dvpxwqGxjQkXPkp9YCKefWXn_TX026qjxVIRq4Bnx5f0gIHHExYM5uTFUBFTMYk1PI3BQy9yn-CC27MTZYRosKqw==&c=G8cCkZWUyuz0OqjfzWvdRqZ4AheJxTkFv8PAMuuFDU2paOUnnlud3w==&ch=p5lzK9KDJWOxALEYHRjPWokzA9EvnxZtJv-3hUeIS2UCm4jPlC1Wyg==>
- Lambda Legal
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001i5yu10NOu9-Ij0K9Lj2VIdiaoR45p_yR7N_9RlujpsZhfhMI4FXbUon6XZR_ulrShD24TQCzSn7rmDRcpyVxlCkMGhXAB3RS67RoBBAR9jhFL7LM3zhRTyfgLsgZi_-itV4HgeNTJMiJesS_LfxbHfLR9o2CENmwGXplpeiQZ-YptDqSTsexLmiE5YTTjoyzH_Or9W_kssbJ4o3aF9UrYx7NQimeBIsHzjdf31H3jVb-c0lCoRpmzRtXtu_SpNUCxjOe4dpqqrUgwZ2WB9bpCCeFymSEJBGfDJiC7ntFbQShT_pqTb1ekvYd9j1Rl7PR&c=G8cCkZWUyuz0OqjfzWvdRqZ4AheJxTkFv8PAMuuFDU2paOUnnlud3w==&ch=p5lzK9KDJWOxALEYHRjPWokzA9EvnxZtJv-3hUeIS2UCm4jPlC1Wyg==>
Bill Bettencourt
Senior Fellow and co-lead of getREAL
For more information, please email us at communications@xxxxxxxx.
About getREAL
The getREAL (Recognize. Engage. Affirm. Love) initiative of the Center for
the Study of Social Policy is designed to help transform child welfare
policy and practice to promote the healthy development of all children and
youth.
Learn more about our work here.
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*Vida K. Khavar, MA, LMFT | Get REAL Project Director*
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