As someone who spent time in foster care as a child, the plight of our nation’s children who find themselves detached and unsettled outside their biological families is of great concern to me.
In fact, according to the most recent statistics, over 443,000 kids in America today find themselves somewhere in the foster care system. There are names behind that huge number, and every one of them represents a little world that hangs in the balance. Like you, I’m deeply grieved to know that many of them feel as though their future is bleak and hope is in short supply.
Over the years, government resources have been used to help serve children who find themselves in this precarious situation, almost always through no fault of their own. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, there’s historically been bipartisan support for using government dollars to assist these kids.
At least until the Obama Administration.
During President Obama’s second term, liberal bureaucrats blocked government dollars from going to faith-based foster care agencies. We’re talking about great organizations who serve children out of their deeply held biblical convictions.
As a result, some child placement agencies were forced to close or curtail their services – thus hurting the very kids they’re called to help.
Thankfully, President Trump’s appointees within the Health and Human Services (HHS) agency are now considering removing that discriminatory language from their official regulations. As a matter of process, they’re inviting the public to weigh in on the proposed change – and this is where your voice is very much needed now.
As you can imagine, opponents of religious freedom are already descending on Capitol Hill and demanding the Obama-era regulations remain in place.
People of faith must speak up and speak out.
As the British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke once remarked, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Please do something – please reach out via their website and remind them:
- How faith is important in how religiously based foster care and adoption agencies do their work.
- How faith is important in your consideration to become a foster or adoptive family or serve families who are fostering or adopting.
- How your faith-based beliefs and values motivate you to serve children and families involved in the foster care system.
- Share your story about becoming a foster or adoptive parent and how your faith played a role in your decision.
- Share about the services you received via working with a faith-based foster care or adoption agency.
Comments must be submitted electronically by Thursday, December 19. To submit a comment for RIN: 0991-AC16, select “Comment Now.”
Please let your voice be heard – and share this request with your friends. Now is the time to act!
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