I learned with some distress that Virginia is considering to require foster care and adoption agencies to adopt policies that contradict their statement of purpose.  

In this era of inclusion, language as suggested in the proposed Virginia Administrative Code (section 22 VAC 40-131-170) actually results in the opposite: excluding private agencies facilitating foster care and adoption services for those who so desparately need it.

If the state wants to adopt a policy that precludes "discrimination based on . . . sexual orientation, disability or family status", that's one thing, but to force that on private organizations, many faith-based, is wrong.  These private organizations should be allowed to continue providing quality placement services to healthy foster families, which will in turn benefit the children.

Kind regards,

Frank Bulk