Adoption, Foster Care, and Conscience Protection

[Valin]

Heritage Foundation:

Sarah Torre and Ryan T. Anderson

1/15/14

 

 

 

Key Points

 

1 Foster care and adoption policy should put the best interests of children first.

2 Putting children first requires public policy that seeks to increase the likelihood of adoption by removing barriers to families seeking to adopt and providers seeking to place children in need of a home.

3 Protecting a diversity of private providers and their ability to operate according to their values—and with families that share those values—makes it more likely that the greatest possible number of children will be connected with permanent, loving families.

4 Provided agencies meet basic requirements protecting the welfare of children, they should be free to operate according to their values, especially their religiously informed beliefs about marriage.

5 Protecting religious liberty and the freedom of private and faith-based organizations to work in accordance with their values takes nothing away from anyone.