Adoption, Foster Care Agencies & State Law

Produced by the HRC Foundation

State parenting laws on adoption and foster care have a large affect on the experiences of LGBTQ clients. Before looking at specific policies and practices, adoption and foster care organizations should review their state’s relevant laws and understand how they will affect their LGBTQ clients.

Review the Parenting Laws map (PDF), with these questions in mind:

  • Are there state or local laws that protect and support LGBTQ foster or adoptive parents who are served by your agency?
  • Are there laws that permit joint adoption by same-sex couples in states/jurisdictions that you serve?
  • Are there laws that permit same-sex second-parent adoption in the state/jurisdictions that you serve?
The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Related Resources

View AllRelated Resources