Catholic Social Services, which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, says its religious views keep it from certifying same-sex couples as foster parents. Philadelphia says it requires all the foster care agencies it works with not to discriminate as part of their contract. With the addition of three appointees of President Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, the court would seem poised to extend protections for religious objections to anti-discrimination laws. Kavanaugh, for his part, suggested Wednesday there should be a way for Catholic Social Services to continue to work with foster families.

These protections prohibit discrimination against youth in the child welfare system based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This map also includes the states in which there are laws or regulations that require current and prospective foster parents and child welfare staff to receive training about LGBTQ youth in areas like cultural competency and legal requirements, as well as the states with laws requiring that transgender youth be placed in accordance with their gender identity. Only states with explicit legal requirements for transgender youth placement are included to the exclusion of those with recommendations and those that consider housing placements on a case-by-case basis. These laws and regulations are designed to improve the safety and outcomes for LGBTQ youth in the child welfare system.

Since then, the number of children adopted by lesbian, gay, bi or trans parents has grown year on year. CoramBAAF research showed that while most heterosexual couples expected to become parents as a matter of course, this was less frequently the case for same-sex couples. This was particularly true of gay dads, many of whom thought their sexual identity was incompatible with parenthood — despite having always felt paternal. Fears that children adopted by same-sex couples would face bullying or that their own gender identities might be affected are largely unfounded. In fact, studies suggest that same-sex families are thriving — they score particularly well in assessments of family relationships, parental wellbeing and child adjustment.

Discussion and debate about adoption and foster care by gay, lesbian, and bisexual GLB parents occurs frequently among child welfare policymakers, social service agencies, and social workers. They all need better information about GLB adoptive and foster parents and their children as they make individual and policy-level decisions about placement of children with GLB parents. This report provides new information on GLB adoption and foster care from the U. Currently half a million children live in foster care in the United States and more than , foster children await adoption. States must recruit parents who are interested and able to foster and adopt children.