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 LGBT 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?