1. United States
2. N.J.
3. Letter

The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act would help protect children, families of origin, kin caregivers, foster and adoptive parents, and prospective foster and adoptive parents from discrimination in federally funded child welfare services. The Act was reintroduced in the 119th Congress as H.R. 6181 and S. 3279. It would: Prohibit discrimination based on religion, sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, and marital status in the administration and provision of federally funded child welfare services. Require culturally competent, language-appropriate, and identity-affirming care for children, youth, and families with intersecting identities, including LGBTQ+ youth and families, youth and families of color, disabled youth and families, and religious minorities. Bar conversion therapy in foster care. Require responsible data collection on LGBTQ+ youth and families, with safeguards to protect privacy and safety. Establish a National Resource Center focused on safety, well-being, placement stability, and permanency for LGBTQ+ children and youth involved in child welfare services. To advocate for this bill and broader child welfare protections, Family Equality leads the Every Child Deserves a Family campaign — a national coalition of child welfare, civil rights, faith, and business organizations working to ensure that child welfare decisions put children’s needs first. House bill: H.R. 6181, introduced by Rep. Danny K. Davis. Senate bill: S. 3279, introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. The House bill has been referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce. The Senate bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Discrimination in child welfare keeps children from safe, loving, and permanent families. In some states, laws still allow child welfare agencies to turn away qualified prospective parents or refuse services because of who a family is, who they love, or what they believe. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of children and youth spend time in foster care, and thousands age out each year without the permanency and support they deserve. This discrimination harms children and families. It limits the pool of qualified foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers. It also puts LGBTQI+ youth in care at greater risk of rejection, mistreatment, and instability. The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act would help ensure that taxpayer-funded child welfare services are focused on the best interests of children, not bias against the families who can care for them.