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Who Supports CARE?
The mission of CARE, Inc. is supported by thousands of individuals and families in the State of Michigan and across the country.
Additionally, national organizations from the field of child welfare, medicine, law and others have publicly endorsed adoption and parenting by same-sex couples. A detailed list of organizations and their policy statements is below.
Michigan
Organizations
American Academy of Pediatrics - Michigan Chapter (June 2006)
Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health (Fall 2006)
Spaulding for Children (Feb 2007)
Good Will Farm Association, Inc. - Serving Youth and Families (Jan 2007)
Jewish Family Services (January 2007)
Child and Family Services, Capital Area (2006)
Michigan Conference National Organization of Women (March 2006)
NASW-MI chapter (October 2003)
Michigan Women's Commission (March 2006)
State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section (Dec 2005)
Michigan Federation of Business and Professional Women (March 2006)
Washtenaw Area Council for Children (March 2004)
Adoption Options Worldwide, Inc. (April 2004)
Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan, Bishop Leidel (Sept 2005)
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan (Oct 2005)
Jewish Council of Women (Sept 2005)
Michigan Psychiatric Society (Nov 2005)
Detroit Free Press Editorial Board (March 2005)
JS Psychological Services, Judith Snow Ph.D - Grand Rapids, MI (Sept 2005)
Liberty Pediatrics, Ann Arbor, MI (Sept 2005)
American Camp Association, Michigan (Sept 2005)
Jackson City Human Relations Commission (Oct 2005)
PFLAG Detroit/Downriver, PFLAG Jackson, PFLAG St. Joseph (Oct 2005)
National
Organizations
American Academy of Family Physicians (2002)
American Academy of Pediatrics (2002)
American Anthropological Association (2004)
American Bar Association (1995, 1999 and 2003)
American Medical Association (2004)
American Psychiatric Association (1997, 2000 and 2002)
American Psychoanalytic Association (1997 and 2002)
American Psychological Association (1976 and 1998)
Child Welfare League of America (1988)
National Association of Social Workers (2002)
North American Council on Adoptable Children (1998)
National Policy Statements supporting adoption
by same-sex couples
American Academy of Pediatrics
(2002)
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following statement in support
of gay and lesbian parenting and called for equal access to co-parenting
and second-parent adoption rights for gay and lesbian parents in February
2002:
"Children deserve to know that their relationships with both of their
parents are stable and legally recognized. This applies to all children,
whether their parents are of the same or opposite sex. The American Academy
of Pediatrics recognizes that a considerable body of professional literature
provides evidence that children with parents who are homosexual can have
the same advantages and the same expectations for health, adjustment,
and development as can children whose parents are heterosexual.1-9 When
2 adults participate in parenting a child, they and the child deserve
the serenity that comes with legal recognition.
From: American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Psychosocial Aspects
of Child and Family Health, "Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by
Same-Sex Parents," as published in Pediatrics, Vol. 109 No. 2, February
2002, pp 339-340.
American Academy of Family
Physicians (2002)
The American Academy of Family Physicians adopted the following position
statement at its October 2002 meeting:
"RESOLVED, That the AAFP establish policy and be supportive of legislation
which promotes a safe and nurturing environment, including psychological
and legal security, for all children, including those of adoptive parents,
regardless of the parents' sexual orientation."
American Bar Association
(2003, 1999 and 1995)
"RESOLVED, That the American Bar Association supports state and territorial
laws and court decisions that permit the establishment of legal parent-child
relationships through joint adoptions and second-parent adoptions by unmarried
persons who are functioning as a child's parents when such adoptions are
in the best interests of the child."
The American Bar Association adopted the following position statement
in Feb. 1999:
"RESOLVED, that the American Bar Association supports the enactment
of laws and implementation of public policy that provide that sexual orientation
shall not be a bar to adoption when the adoption is determined to be in
the best interest of the child."
American Psychiatric Association
(2002/1997/2000)
The American Psychiatric Association supports initiatives that allow same-sex
couples to adopt and co-parent children and supports all the associated
legal rights, benefits, and responsibilities which arise from such initiatives.
American Psychoanalytic
Association (1997 and 2002)
The American Psychoanalytic Association supports the position that the
salient consideration in decisions about parenting, including conception,
child rearing, adoption, visitation and custody is the best interest of
the child. Accumulated evidence suggests the best interest of the child
requires attachment to committed, nurturing and competent parents. Evaluation
of an individual or couple for these parental qualities should be determined
without prejudice regarding sexual orientation. Gay and lesbian individuals
and couples are capable of meeting the best interest of the child and
should be afforded the same rights and should accept the same responsibilities
as heterosexual parents. With the adoption of this position statement,
we support research studies that further our understanding of the impact
of both traditional and gay/lesbian parenting on a child's development."
American Psychological Association
(1976 and 1998)
"The sex, gender identity or sexual orientation of natural or prospective
adoptive or foster parents should not be the sole or primary variable
considered in custody or placement cases."
Reference: Conger, J.J. (1977). Proceedings of the American Psychological
Association, Incorporated, for the year discussion in this area and assist
state psychological associations and divisions in offering such information
as needed
Child Welfare League of
America (1988)
The Child Welfare League of America's Standards of Excellence for Adoption
Services states:
"Applicants should be assessed on the basis of their abilities to
successfully parent a child needing family membership and not on their
race, ethnicity or culture, income, age, marital status, religion, appearance,
differing lifestyles, or sexual orientation." Further, applicants
for adoption should be accepted "on the basis of an individual assessment
of their capacity to understand and meet the needs of a particular available
child at the point of adoption and in the future."
National Association of
Social Workers (2002) - National chapter
"Legislation legitimizing second-parent adoptions in same-sex households
should be supported. Legislation seeking to restrict foster care and adoption
by gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people should be vigorously opposed."
North American Council on
Adoptable Children (1998)
"Children should not be denied a permanent family because of the
sexual orientation of potential parents. Everyone with the potential to
successfully parent a child in foster care or adoption is entitled to
fair and equal consideration."