Topeka — The chairwoman of a committee charged by legislative leaders to review gay adoption said she was in no hurry to do so.
"At this point, I'm not planning any public hearings," Rep. Willa DeCastro, R-Wichita, and chairwoman of the House-Senate Committee on Children's Issues, said this week.
DeCastro said her committee had enough work to do reviewing a broad range of issues affecting children before the January start of the 2006 legislative session.
DeCastro said state policies that permit gay people to adopt foster children may be discussed during a broader review of adoption.
"Do we even have a problem? In the general overview, can we figure that out?" she asked.
House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, said legislative leaders didn't want to micromanage committees but added that DeCastro's plan at this point may not fulfill what he and others had in mind.
"I'm not sure that is going to satisfy some of our members, and it won't put the subject to rest," Mays said.
He said a briefing on the subject before the committee was "a start. I would hope it would be a thorough briefing."
Mays said he doesn't know whether he opposes or supports allowing gays to adopt.
"I don't know enough about the subject," he said.
Under Kansas law, homosexual adults are neither restricted nor prohibited from adopting children. However, because gay couples cannot be legally married or have legal recognition of their relationship, only one of the partners is technically the adoptive parent.
Last month, legislative leaders approved a review of "existing policies and procedures for eligible individuals to adopt children."
The study will "make sure that the best interests of the child are protected when establishing the criteria of who may adopt a child."
While the wording of the study was broad, the subject was requested by Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center. He said he requested it on behalf of a constituent who was concerned that a lesbian couple might be allowed to adopt her granddaughter, who was in foster care.
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KSGrandma (anonymous) says…
It would be good to know if the system gave the grandma the option to adopt her grandchild. They (SRS) always says they give preference to relatives - but the truth is - they make it harder for relatives to get and keep the children.
Relatives are in a Catch-22 situation, because they are related to the biological parents and - SRS and the private contractors are reluctant to let the children be adopted by relatives because they are afraid that they will still have contact with the bio parents.
If a child has no relatives that step forward then I don't see why a same sex couple, who have a bond with the child thru a foster care arrangement, should not be allowed to adopt. I think the child should have a voice in the decision - but rarely are children asked what they want.
Baille (anonymous) says…
I don't know what your experiences are, KSGrandma, but that is certainly not the situation in DG county. First of all, SRS does not make placement decisions anywhere in the state. That changed with privatization in 1997. It is the private contractors that place children. Those contractors look to relatives first, and they look hard. Sometimes a hard look is why they continue on to the next alternative. Lot sof times abuse/neglect are intergenerational. In any event, Judge Shepher here in DG county makes sure the kids that come before her have a voice. I think it is a truism that kids don't always know what is in their best interest. This is particularly true when the ability to form bonds and the understanding of what is a healthy relationship has been warped beyind recognition by cycles af abuse and neglect. Therefore, what a kid desires may not always be what is in that kid's best interest, but Judge Shepherd certainly does ask and she certainly does listen.
The tragedy of this whole issue is that Mays and Hubert are just playing partisan politics. They are creating a wedge issue and raising a stick without the least bit of investigation. They could have made a phone call, driven down to SRS and the local contractors office, spoken with their own state-sponsored MAPP trainers for which they paid around $100k to get certified. Instead they call the press, tap dance through resulting spotlight, and turn their back on the misery and uncertainty they leave in their wake. It is shameful.
craigers (anonymous) says…
Usually when the child is young, like from birth to 3, they shouldn't be making that decision. However, I hope the adoption subject goes right along with the marriage ammendment. We are not doing children any favors by placing them in that environment.
trueninetiesgirl (anonymous) says…
why should a grandparent or aunt or uncle have to go threw mapp classes? come on they have kids or maybe they now more then srs does about kids. i have been threw the mapp trainning and it is very boring and i really didnt learn anything i didnt already now. most of they families have been with these kids their whole lives. they now these kids better and yet they have to go to classes. be glad they want them and arent putting it on the taxs payers.and with all that is going on now days with foster parents ,it shows me that the state isnt really doing a good job choosing foster parents for these child a risk.just look at the news just the other day a foster parent molestd about 6 foster kids in tha states care. were was the state then??? maybe in there own mapp classes you think/????
trueninetiesgirl (anonymous) says…
oh yes if some one with a same sex family wants to love a child why not let them its better then letting them be hit and not feed , or even killed.
craigers (anonymous) says…
I have nine nieces and nephews and when you actually think about adoption, they will never be able to get to know the people that are thinking about adopting them long enough to really make a good connection and make that decision. My nieces and nephews always want to come over to, but that is because I have been around them enough for them to know I care about them and won't hurt them or let anybody else hurt them. After only two or three interactions, a three year old isn't capable and shouldn't be making a life changing decision.
Baille (anonymous) says…
"We are not doing children any favors by placing them in that environment."
Back it up, Craigers, with something more than your own opinion.
As for letting a child make the decision, that doesn't happen. Children have input, they have a voice, but the judge makes the decision.
MAPP class, if done right, is integral for meeting the needs of foster/adoptive children. Aunts and uncles, and anyone who wants to foster or adopt, need to take the course and work the program. Kids that come from abusive and/or neglectful homes almost invariably have difficulty forming healthy bonds. The bond they can form with their surrogate parents is essential to the child's well-being, and it is statistically beyond argument that attending a well-run MAPP class leads to more successful placements.
Furthermore, there are many issues that are unique to the foster/adoptive child. It is not like you are picking out a puppy at the pound. Many of these kids have been severely traumatized and they won't get better, and may even start causing harm themselves, if they are placed in an ill-prepared. Families who think that they can handle it - that all the child needs is a safe home and a little love - are almost without fail the placement that falls apart. I used to teach a course on fostering and adopting the sexually abused child. Let me tell you something, those kids have problems and issues most of us - thank God - can not fully understand or appreciate. You can't just bake 'em cookies and tuck 'em in at night. They require committment and hard work. Fully participating in specialized MAPP classes can you help a candidate determine if they have what it takes and give them tools for doing the job well.
MAPP also provides the licensing agency a chance to conduct a very thorough, full-scale evaluation of the home to determine what sort of child would do well, or to even determine wheter the home should get children at all. I know I have refused to pass potential foster parents on occassion.
This is not to say that every MAPP leader provides a quality experience, and that is unfortunate, but when done right it can be the key between being a good foster/adoptive placement or just another bump on a foster child's road journey through the system
merrill (anonymous) says…
I am questioning whether or not Rep Steve Huebert has this grandmother in his imagination. The question is that lesbians MIGHT have an opportunity to adopt her granddaughter? The situation is not even real as yet and this elected official wants to review the matter over one not heard from grandmother. Where are the relatives of this adopted daughter? Keeping children incarcerated in a foster program is neither good use of our tax dollars nor a healthy environmnet for young people. A loving family will help them get their feet on the ground of stability.
Rep. Mays is pretending to be neutral on the matter. He should mind his own business. Thus far Rep. Mays has displayed the ability to waste taxpayer time and money. through his leadership NOT. The matters he wishes to pursue have indications that he takes his orders from the Rove/Bush/ Right Wing Club for UNGrowth(PAC).
Republican Rep. Willa DeCastro seems to have a grip on the matter.
We need to take a hard look at our system. The very idea that a House Speaker can control the agenda of our entire legislator is absurd.