Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>HB2169 is on the House floor on April 1. <strong>Please, vote NO on this bill</strong>.</p> <p>Adoption and foster care policy should be based on the best interest of the child. This bill focuses on the wishes of a few adults. It increases the likelihood that children will be mismatched with homes where they are not accepted as they are. The sponsor is incorrect that it will result in better placements. Please, consider the research and listen to the experts such as the ones who testified in House committees. The placement of children should not be politicized, but pursued thoughtfully.</p> <p>According to the federal government's Youth.gov website, "LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in child welfare systems, even though they are likely to be underreported because they risk harassment and abuse if their LGBTQ+ identity is disclosed. Studies have found that about 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+ and 5 percent as transgender, in comparison to 11 percent and 1 percent of youth not in foster care." We need to get their placements right, not place them with unaccepting homes from which they might run away.</p> <p>In addition, DCS had a policy that affirms the value of accepting homes for LGBTQ children and youth. We need to get to the bottom of what happened to the document, its current status, and how this bill affects such policies. The policy disappeared from their website.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>