American Family Association Action (AFA Action), is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. AFA Action is also the Governmental Affairs Affiliate of American Family Association (AFA).
TUPELO, Miss. — Inspired by the release of the new movie, Sound of Hope, Christians are being challenged to think more deeply about reforming state foster care systems.
“Even as the Biden administration has issued a new rule that will put Christian foster care parents and providers at the back of the line, churches, pastors and parents must renew their commitment to long-term reform,” said AFA Action Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, Dr. Jameson Taylor. “This means doing more than filling backpacks with stuffed animals and pencils. Kids need champions in the political arena.”
Effective July 1, 2024, the new rule is called: “Designated Placement Requirements Under Titles IV–E and IV–B of the Social Security Act for LGBTQI+ Children.”
The rule requires child welfare agencies to ensure LGBT+ children have access to “specially designated placements.” It also prohibits agencies from disclosing information about a child’s LGBT+ identity, including sharing such information with biological parents, custodial parents, other family members and foster parents.
“No matter what the official statistics say, state foster care systems are losing kids,” continued Taylor. “Some children are literally walking away from a system that does not protect or serve them. Others are being branded with convenient diagnoses and shuffled off to mental health centers to be forgotten about until they turn 18.
“Many policymakers are not seeking real solutions to foster care. The goal is to avoid negative press, not to enact substantial reforms that put kids first. What kids need are advocates committed to fighting for them. This means professionalizing the foster care system, which will require a significant investment.”
Taylor added, “Private donors also need to step up. One innovative program is Mississippi’s Children’s Promise Act. This law provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for businesses and individuals to donate to foster care organizations.
“No single government program can address the diverse challenges faced by kids in foster care. We need more eyes, ears, hands and minds thinking and working on how to help these children. That’s the beauty of the Mississippi program. It’s crowd-sourcing a solution to foster care and getting people personally involved in helping kids. More states need to follow Mississippi’s lead in passing the Children’s Promise Act.”
AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America by persuading individuals with the truth of the Gospel, challenging the lost to repent, promoting societal values that are consistent with Scripture, restraining evil and exposing the works of darkness, motivating people to take a stand on cultural and moral issues, and encouraging Christians to bear witness to the world the love of Jesus Christ. Find AFA Action Alerts here.
For more information on the American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.
For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or Twitter.
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To interview an AFA or AFA Action spokesperson, contact [email protected] or Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. AFA Action is also the Governmental Affairs Affiliate of American Family Association.