Reps. Lewis and Gonzalez-Colon: Every Child Deserves a Family

Statement

In the United States, there are more than 400,000 children in the child welfare system. Of these foster youth, over 100,000 children eagerly await a permanent family. Unfortunately, LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system. An estimated 30 percent of foster youth identify as LGBTQ, and they are more likely to experience poor treatment, discrimination, or violence while in care.

Eliminating discrimination in child welfare systems based on sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status would increase the number and diversity of foster and adoptive homes able to meet the individual needs of children and youth who need to be paired with capable families who want to adopt them.

"Too many children dream of a stable, loving family," said Rep. Lewis. "Many adults want to open their homes and their hearts, but they also are facing more and more barriers, because some officials can say they practice the wrong religion, love the wrong person, or are not married. The Every Child Deserves a Family Act puts the happiness and well-being of our children front and center, engaging every possible match between solid families and children searching for a home. We must each do our part to ensure that every young person and capable, aspiring parents are able to enjoy the dream of a loving, stable family together."

"Unfortunately, the foster care system faces an overpopulation and many of these children reach 18 years of age and never get assigned to a home and end up in the streets without a safe roof. We are failing a full generation in the early stages of their lives, since we are unable to provide them with the necessary tools that will set the base for their future actions or decisions by denying them the love of a family by mere prejudices and lack of understanding of that love that has no barriers imposed by society. Eliminating interpretations of the law that can lead to discrimination is the right thing to do; taking responsibility as government to provide a roof and a home for our children is the right thing to do, "said Congresswoman González-Colón.

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act, reintroduced today by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) prohibits discrimination against children, youth, families, and individuals on the basis of religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and marital status in the administration and provision of child welfare services receiving Federal funds. It also improves safety, well-being, and permanency for LGBTQ children and youth in child welfare. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is the Senate sponsor.

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act was first introduced by former Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) in 2009. Rep. Lewis has been the primary sponsor of the bill since 2013.

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