Dear Board of Social Services,

I am writing to commend the Board for its approval on April 20 of regulations that respect the conscience and beliefs of faith-based adoption agencies and birth parents with regard to marriage and the family as it affects child placement decisions.   

I am asking the Board to reject any proposed changes that would discriminate against such agencies as well as many birth parents and force them to either violate their beliefs or, in the case of the agencies, to close their doors. 

Any change in present regulations that would force state-licensed adoption agencies to include the option of placing children out for adoption to homosexual couples would violate the deeply held beliefs of many adoption agencies as well as birth mothers about the nature of marriage, the family, and what is best for their children.

Please serious consider the welfare and rights of vulnerable children.

Sincerely,

Lorraine Hartsock