Texas adoption agencies could ban Jews, gays, Muslims

[Greyy]

I'm happy that we agree.

Drug addicts are able to raise kid.

 

[Hank77]

So to clarify, as long as their are good, two parent homes for children, they should get priority over single parent households.

I agree.

To my knowledge, the number of children without special needs and behavior issues, whose parents have permanently lost custody of them, is less than the number of families seeking those types of children.

Then you didn't read the article that I included.

 

[Greyy]

I agree.


Then you didn't read the article that I included.

Apparently you didn't read or understand the article you cited.

 

[Nithavela]

The level of discourse is riveting.

"You didn't read it!"

"No, you didn't read it!"

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Drug addicts can raise kids -so can two smokers, or two morbidly obese individuals. Capability does not mean that it is in the best interest of the children.

Children need to be raised by the parents. If that is not possible, by someone in their family, or someone in their community that can maintain some links. However, when a child finds himself or herself in need of an adoption by total strangers, they deserve nothing less than two healthy heterosexual parents who can provide the complimentary attributes parents naturally offer their children.

Even if that's your stance, you're making "better" the enemy of "perfect".

You and I disagree on the "needs to have 2 heterosexual parents" aspect, however, even if I was inclined to feel that way, I'd still say that being adopted and moving to a regular full-time home environment is "better" than being shuffled around from foster home to foster home crammed in a house with 12+ other kids even if it didn't fit a "perfect" ideal of what a family should look like.

It's also better from a taxpayers perspective too...if you have a parent (or 2 parents) who want to voluntarily take the child in and be responsible for them, that's less of a burden on the state.

 

[Hank77]

Apparently you didn't read or understand the article you cited.

Of the 400,000 children in foster care, more than 100,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.
.........
The term “special needs” simply refers to children who qualify for adoption assistance—ongoing governmental medical and/or financial support after adoption occurs—due to specific factors or conditions such as:

• Being an older child
• Having a particular racial or ethnic background
• Being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together as one unit
• Medical conditions
• Physical, mental, or emotional disabilities

A child with special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special education. [added emphasis mine]
About the children

Really? Just what didn't I understand?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I'd still say that being adopted and moving to a regular full-time home environment is "better" than being shuffled around from foster home to foster home crammed in a house with 12+ other kids even if it didn't fit a "perfect" ideal of what a family should look like.

Unnecessarily loaded language.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Unnecessarily loaded language.

How so?

 

[jimmyjimmy]

How so?

Do you know what, "loaded" means?

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Do you know what, "loaded" means?

Yes, I'm well aware of what it means, but I fail to see how what I said falls into that category...as someone who has an immediately family member who was adopted, and was in state foster care system prior to adoption, my statement wasn't an exaggeration to appeal to emotion, it was an accurate portrayal of what goes on.

12+ kids living in a 2,200 sq ft 3 bedroom home...before he was adopted, he has vivid memories of sharing a bedroom with 3 other kids and often going hungry because the people running the foster home weren't making enough food to feed that many mouths.

I suspect he wouldn't have cared if the people who adopted him were straight, gay, muslim, christian, etc... or even 1 person instead of 2 for that matter. Having his own bedroom and a decent meal 3 times a day was a step up from the situation he was in regardless...

If you have a gay couple who can provide a nice home, loving environment, and adequate food and shelter...for judgmental people to sit back and say "no, you can't adopt them, your lifestyle doesn't jive with my beliefs" is vastly selfish and is giving absolutely no regard to the child in question who's in a very uncomfortable situation.

"Sorry kid, I realize that couple over there could give you your own bedroom so you won't have to share it with 4 other people, and you could actually start getting new clothes and birthday presents for a change....but I don't approve of their lifestyle...so you'll have to stay her in the foster home packed in like a sardine until a couple comes along that my religion approves of"

...that's the opposite of compassion.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Yes, I'm well aware of what it means, but I fail to see how what I said falls into that category...as someone who has an immediately family member who was adopted, and was in state foster care system prior to adoption, my statement wasn't an exaggeration to appeal to emotion, it was an accurate portrayal of what goes on.

12+ kids living in a 2,200 sq ft 3 bedroom home...before he was adopted, he has vivid memories of sharing a bedroom with 3 other kids and often going hungry because the people running the foster home weren't making enough food to feed that many mouths.

I suspect he wouldn't have cared if the people who adopted him were straight, gay, muslim, christian, etc... or even 1 person instead of 2 for that matter. Having his own bedroom and a decent meal 3 times a day was a step up from the situation he was in regardless...

If you have a gay couple who can provide a nice home, loving environment, and adequate food and shelter...for judgmental people to sit back and say "no, you can't adopt them, your lifestyle doesn't jive with my beliefs" is vastly selfish and is giving absolutely no regard to the child in question who's in a very uncomfortable situation.

"Sorry kid, I realize that couple over there could give you your own bedroom so you won't have to share it with 4 other people, and you could actually start getting new clothes and birthday presents for a change....but I don't approve of their lifestyle...so you'll have to stay her in the foster home packed in like a sardine until a couple comes along that my religion approves of"

...that's the opposite of compassion.

I grew up in a family of 5 in 900 sq ft. It was great, and I'm still alive.

 

[Landon Caeli]

The level of discourse is riveting.

"You didn't read it!"

"No, you didn't read it!"

No, I did NOT. You did!

 

[Cute Tink]

I grew up in a family of 5 in 900 sq ft. It was great.

I feel like this single, bolded word distinguishes your situation from living in a foster or group home. You are free to disagree.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

I'm guessing from the responses that no-one's read the bill. It was posted earlier HERE
Rhetoric over facts. God bless America

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

I grew up in a family of 5 in 900 sq ft. It was great, and I'm still alive.

Yes, but foster homes and group homes aren't really a family. Some are horrible in that area. Some foster kids are so damaged. They sexually or physically abuse children. Some foster kids cant handle men or women. Depending what person abused them. So they are better off with a single parent or two parents, that are female or males. Also I'm sure there are foster parents. That are single or gay. That have foster kids. That they in up adopt kids.

 

[Greyy]

Even if that's your stance, you're making "better" the enemy of "perfect".

You and I disagree on the "needs to have 2 heterosexual parents" aspect, however, even if I was inclined to feel that way, I'd still say that being adopted and moving to a regular full-time home environment is "better" than being shuffled around from foster home to foster home crammed in a house with 12+ other kids even if it didn't fit a "perfect" ideal of what a family should look like.

It's also better from a taxpayers perspective too...if you have a parent (or 2 parents) who want to voluntarily take the child in and be responsible for them, that's less of a burden on the state.

No one has argued that children would be better off in serial foster care or groups homes as opposed to adoption into single parent homes.

The only point I have raised is that in instances where children have access to two parent homes, they would be preferable, all qualities of the individuals being equal, then single parent homes. That single parent homes of strangers are by nature, inferior adoption situations where and when two parent homes are available.

No one has argued that a single parent home is by itself immediate grounds for rejection in all circumstances. For example, a single parent home involving a relative or family friend is clearly a better choice over dual parent homes of complete strangers. This is why states seek to place children in these situations.

I think arguments are now being made that have nothing to do with the points others are trying to make.

 

[Greyy]

Of the 400,000 children in foster care, more than 100,000 of them are waiting to be adopted.
.........
The term “special needs” simply refers to children who qualify for adoption assistance—ongoing governmental medical and/or financial support after adoption occurs—due to specific factors or conditions such as:

• Being an older child
• Having a particular racial or ethnic background
• Being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together as one unit
• Medical conditions
• Physical, mental, or emotional disabilities

A child with special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special education. [added emphasis mine]
About the children

Really? Just what didn't I understand?

Apparently the issues pertaining to adoption. Children are not like dogs and cats at the pound just waiting to be picked up and adopted, if only someone would come.

First of all, children in foster care involved in adoption services may or may not have had their parents' rights terminated. These involve long court battles with unknown outcomes. Second, families also get involved either by pursuing the establishment of rights to a child in court or by being pursued by state agents. Efforts are made to place the children with family members and this too is a long process. Family members may go back and forth in their desire to adopt the child due to personal circumstances or the needs of the child.

These issues in and of themselves, involving people that want the children, can last years to resolve. Meaning, children involved with adoption services may not be available to adopt and there will always be many of them due to the nature of the process.

Next, I am not sure what you argument is by point out some of the attributes of children with special needs. I was not implying or even thinking about special needs inferring special education. Completely ignoring the lengthy legal issues I mentioned and that adoptable children are not necessarily "adoptable" and certainly not right away, some of the great challenges with adoption deal with the needs and status of children. Children have siblings and one of the greatest issues of concern are keeping the kids together.

Children have medical needs and behavioral issues. If there is anything I want to make clear, children are not like pets at the pound waiting around to be picked up individually.

 

[Hank77]

Apparently the issues pertaining to adoption. Children are not like dogs and cats at the pound just waiting to be picked up and adopted, if only someone would come.

First of all, children in foster care involved in adoption services may or may not have had their parents' rights terminated. These involve long court battles with unknown outcomes. Second, families also get involved either by pursuing the establishment of rights to a child in court or by being pursued by state agents. Efforts are made to place the children with family members and this too is a long process. Family members may go back and forth in their desire to adopt the child due to personal circumstances or the needs of the child.

These issues in and of themselves, involving people that want the children, can last years to resolve. Meaning, children involved with adoption services may not be available to adopt and there will always be many of them due to the nature of the process.

Next, I am not sure what you argument is by point out some of the attributes of children with special needs. I was not implying or even thinking about special needs inferring special education. Completely ignoring the lengthy legal issues I mentioned and that adoptable children are not necessarily "adoptable" and certainly not right away, some of the great challenges with adoption deal with the needs and status of children. Children have siblings and one of the greatest issues of concern are keeping the kids together.

Children have medical needs and behavioral issues. If there is anything I want to make clear, children are not like pets at the pound waiting around to be picked up individually.