RaiseAChild.US Celebrates Study Confirming the Positive Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes of LGBT Parenting
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 11, 2013 -- The Williams Institute, a national think tank at UCLA School of Law, has found that the emotional and behavioral outcomes of children adopted and raised by same-sex couples do not differ from those of children adopted and raised by different-sex couples.
“At a time when some people are questioning the fitness of LGBT parents, this is cause for celebration,” says Rich Valenza, CEO and Founder of RaiseAChild.US, a national nonprofit organization that encourages the LGBT community to build families through fostering and adoption.
“We welcome this good news for the 400,000 children in our nation’s foster care system,” continues Valenza. “Their need for safe and permanent homes can be answered by expanding the pool of LGBT prospective parents.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children & Families, over 104,000 children in the foster care system are available and waiting to be adopted. Families certified for either foster or adoptive placements are in short supply.
Williams Institute Visiting Scholar and study co-author Abbie E. Goldberg says, “This study adds to the consistent body of evidence that LGBT and heterosexual parents are equally successful in raising healthy, well-adjusted children. Parents’ adoption preparedness, positive well-being, and strong relationships—not their sexual orientation—are the most important factors that influence emotional and behavioral outcomes for adopted children.”
Scholars studied 40 female same-sex, 35 male same-sex, and 45 different-sex couples who adopted their children. All 120 couples participating were adopting their first child, who was under the age of 1.5 years.
“Our study examined aspects of the pre- and post-adoptive circumstances,” explains Goldberg. “We found the strongest indicators for positive child adjustment were the parent’s pre-adoption preparedness, depressive symptoms, and relationship conflicts.”
More information about the Williams Institute study can be found at http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/press-releases/9-july-2013/.
RaiseAChild.US puts images of LGBT families into public spaces through PSAs, print media, and outdoor advertising. Since 2011, RaiseAChild.US has engaged more than 1,200 prospective parents nationally and become a leader in public education and advocacy on behalf of children awaiting foster and adoptive homes. For more information, visit RaiseAChild.US
John Ireland, Raise A Child Inc., http://www.RaiseAChild.US, (213) 840-3593, [email protected]
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