Arkansas to allow foster parenting for unmarried, same-sex couples

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Comments 6
Published: October 10, 2008

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas plans to reverse course and allow unmarried or same-sex couples to take on foster children on a case-by-case basis, even as voters prepare to decide the issue in November, the state Department of Human Services said Thursday.

The agency said it would end its plan to formalize the prohibition, which has been in place since an executive directive was signed in 2005. The department said it will instead propose allowing state workers to place foster children case by case.

"Recognizing that this is a sensitive societal issue, it’s important to expand our recruitment base so that we can to find a family that best meets the needs of every child,” agency director John Selig said.

Vote set in November

The change comes as a conservative group campaigns in favor of a November ballot initiative that would ban unmarried couples from adopting or fostering children. The Arkansas Family Council says its measure specifically targets gay couples, though it would affect heterosexual couples, too.

Several children’s advocacy groups last week asked the state to drop the policy because it was restricting the number of good homes available for foster children.

Gov. Mike Beebe, who previously supported the prohibition, last week backed off and said a change might be needed because of a shortage of foster homes in the state.

A circuit judge earlier decided that a state ban on gay and lesbian foster parents was unconstitutional.

To get around the ruling, the state broadened the ban to include all unmarried cohabitating couples, not just same-sex couples. The Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the county ruling in 2006.

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Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, Relationships, Special Interest Groups, Judiciary, U.S. Courts, Family, GLBT Issues, Foster Care, Gay and Lesbian Relationships

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A loving, nurturing home is what these children need. While I understand your concerns Burt, if I died tomorrow and there were no family members to take my children in, I would rest in peace knowing that they were placed in a home where they would be the recpients of parental love and pride. Only someone who truly has the desire to be a parent can nurture children in that way. I'm sure that most foster parents assume that role for noble reasons, but there are too many kids that have already lived through the trauma of abuse or neglect only to find themselves placed in a group home where they are just another mouth to feed, or in foster setting with "parents" that are only interested in a check from the state and free child labor. Imagine the first time a child, who has known only the he@@ of abuse and neglect, gets a base hit in his first little league game or brings home her first A on a report card. Does it really matter if the couple cheering on that success is unmarried or same-sex? Shouldn't the important thing be that child's thrill at seeing pride and approval in a parent's eyes for the first time?

Julie, Mustang - Oct 10, 2008 at 10:59 am

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Cool...sounds like compassion and common sense reign in Arkansas. Whooda thunk it? Arkansas is more progressive than OKLAHOMA!?!? Oh my!!

Chris, Jones - Oct 10, 2008 at 9:30 am

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Well said Deann! My sentiments exactly.

No Name, Oklahoma City - Oct 10, 2008 at 9:30 am

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Time to get in the 21st Century folks. My children needed a good male role model, and it certainly wasn't their dad. Its time to think outside the box and realize these couples have as much love and stability to offer as traditionally married couples.

Deann, Crescent - Oct 10, 2008 at 9:09 am

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Burt, who says that a child who is placed in the care of a same sex couple doesn't get healthy interaction with both male and females. Do you think that gay males only associate with men? Or lesbians only associate with lesbians? Or that homosexuals only associate with homosexuals. While I respect your views on this issue, your comment indicates that you stereotype people based on the fact that they are not like you.

No Name, Oklahoma City - Oct 10, 2008 at 8:26 am

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Regardless of political correctness, political activism, rights issues, and all that general bad crap, a person needs healthy interaction with a male and female role model through their developmental years. Sure the mom usually raises the daughter and the dad takes care of the son, there are critical relationships formed early in life with the opposite sex. People learn respect, valuing the opposite sex, and social interaction when both a male and female leadership is present in adolescence. When you subtract a mom or dad there is a void that exists. Voids tend to get filled and sometimes its not beneficial to the child. One thing is for sure, we are already finding out about the bad things that happen when we start to modify and change nature and the order of things. We really have just scratched the surface but we are headed toward biblical scale calamities from genetic modification of food and nature. If we continue to do the same with our society, we are all doomed.

burt, edmond - Oct 10, 2008 at 6:58 am

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