Page 5 - ARUBA TODAY

A5
U.S. NEWS Friday 18 May 2018

$ 10

Connecticut recruiting LGBT families to adopt, foster kids

said it's unusual for a large The Kansas Legislature He said that's why it's im-
statewide system to take a this year passed legisla- portant for Connecticut to
proactive approach. tion that prevents barring reach out to families.
Connecticut's department faith-based agencies from "I think it's nice DCF is pull-
plans to work with gay providing adoption or fos- ing out the stops to really
and lesbian organizations, ter care services for the let people know, 'Hey, your
such as the Connecticut state because the agen- love is just as good as any-
Gay and Lesbian Chamber cies won't place children body else's. Don't listen to
of Commerce and LGBT in homes that violate their that other garbage that
Shannon Smith, left, poses with his husband, Ross Stencil, and community centers, to en- "sincerely held" religious be- everyone is saying. If you're
the Morris, Connecticut couple's two adopted sons, Giovanny, courage people to apply liefs. Republican Gov. Jeff a great parent, we're going
9, front left, and Louis in West Hartford, Conn., Thursday, May 17, to become parents. DCF Colyer is expected to sign to get you a kid," he said.
2018. Commissioner Joette Katz it into law. Derided by LGBT John Pica-Sneeden, exec-
By SUSAN HAIGH word out," Malloy said. "We said there are roughly 100 rights advocates, the bill utive director of the Con-
Associated Press have to get more of our LGBT adoptive families al- was backed by the state's necticut Gay and Lesbian
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) children placed with our ready in the state's system. Catholic bishops and con- Chamber of Commerce,
— Connecticut's child wel- families in our state." She said she wants to in- servative groups. and an adoptive father,
fare agency has launched The Connecticut Depart- crease that number to at The Oklahoma Legislature said he plans to invite DCF
an initiative to actively re- ment of Children and Fami- least 250 by January, when overwhelming approved representatives to talk with
cruit members of the state's lies' new outreach cam- Malloy's term expires. a similar bill, granting le- gay and lesbian business
LGBT community to be- paign is one of a handful "There are hundreds, if not gal protections to faith- people at meetings across
come foster and adoptive of efforts by state and city thousands of families, that based adoption agencies the state about becoming
parents, bucking recent ef- governments across the have a lot of love to give," that won't place children a foster or adoptive parent.
forts in some states to cur- U.S. to encourage gays she said, noting a 2013 study in LGBT homes. Other bills He said many in the LGBT
tail gay adoptions. and lesbians to consider by the Williams Institute at aimed at curtailing LGBT community can relate to
Democratic Gov. Dan- becoming adoptive or fos- UCLA School of Law that rights in Oklahoma were what these children are
nel P. Malloy said Thursday ter parents. There are simi- found same-sex couples derailed. going through, especially
that Connecticut wants to lar initiatives in New York are four times more likely Efforts to place restrictions those who may have been
be known as a state that City and San Francisco. than different-sex couples on gay adoptions has dis- shunned by their families
welcomes and embraces Alison Delpercio, the Hu- to raise an adopted child suaded some in the LGBT years ago.
the LGBT community, espe- man Rights Foundation's and six times more likely to community from trying to "Those are the ones who
cially considering there are deputy director of chil- raise foster children. become foster or adop- become the best parents,"
4,300 children in state care dren, youth and families While there's no official, up- tive parents, said Shan- he said. "They're the ones
and about half of them program, said she has seen to-date count of gay and non Smith, who adopted that look at this child and
likely won't return to their such recruitment efforts lesbian adoptive parents, two young brothers in DCF say, 'I will never throw you
biological families. mostly at a county level or advocates say the number care with his husband Ross away.' And that says every-
"We just have to get this from private agencies. She is on the rise. Stencil about six years ago. thing to a child."q