American Adoptions Will Continue Supporting All Families Regardless of Proposed Texas Adoption Bill
Overland Park, KS (PRWEB) May 10, 2017 -- As the Texas Legislature considers a proposed bill that would allow adoption organizations to reject hopeful parents on religious grounds, Texas-licensed national agency American Adoptions is reiterating its commitment to building all types of families.
The agency, which provides services to expectant mothers and adoptive parents in Texas and across the country, will continue to promote all types of families, regardless of any potential changes in state laws, said Executive Director Shawn Kane.
“Our job is to place children in safe, loving homes,” Kane said. “Even as new laws and regulations are established, we remain committed to protecting adoptive parents’ rights and supporting all types of families, regardless of their religious affiliation, sexual orientation or other factors.”
Among other things, the Texas bill, HB 3859, would allow faith-based adoption agencies to restrict certain types of people from adopting, including Jewish, Muslim, LGBT and interfaith couples. Of the five other states that have passed similar laws, Texas is one of the most sweeping because it extends to state-funded agencies as well as private ones.
Sponsors of the bill insist it is meant to protect faith-based adoption organizations and foster care providers. Opponents argue it is unconstitutional and, if it passes, will prevent qualified parents from providing homes to children in need. The bill is expected to be heard in the House this week.
Whatever the outcome of the vote, Kane said American Adoptions will continue to extend its services to hopeful parents of all faiths and backgrounds.
“While we have seen this movement to allow professionals the right to restrict who they are willing to work with, we often feel like the forgotten part of these proposed laws is the birth parents’ right to choose the type of adoptive family they want,” Kane said. “This is extremely important and how we plan on guiding our agency’s policies. Without these courageous birth parents, adoption is not possible, and there has been a shift in the 26 years American Adoptions has been in business where potential birth mothers want more options and input on who the family is, especially if they agree to an open adoption.”
As a full-service domestic infant adoption agency, the organization provides all of the services Texas parents need to complete the adoption process, including adoption home study services, education and support, help finding a prospective birth mother and more.
The agency’s website offers adoption information and resources for hopeful adoptive parents of all backgrounds, including several articles that may be of particular interest to adoptive families that could be impacted by the pending legislation:
• Become an Adoptive Family in Texas
• Information About Adoption You Need to Know
• Adoption for Same-Sex Couples
About American Adoptions
American Adoptions is a national adoption agency with regional offices in Southlake, Texas. It specializes in domestic infant adoptions and works with adoptive families and birth parents across the United States. American Adoptions is committed to providing adoption support and education to thousands of families every year. For more information, please visit AmericanAdoptions.com.
Shawn Kane, American Adoptions, http://www.americanadoptions.com/, +1 800.236.7846, [email protected]
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