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Statement on the Administration’s Executive Order on Child Welfare

Yesterday, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at strengthening the child welfare system, directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to adopt the following strategies:

Sandy Santana, Executive Director of Children’s Rights issued a response to the Executive Order, stating:

“Although we await actual regulations and policy changes, we were encouraged by the executive order’s focus on preventing children from being unnecessarily separated from their families and placed in the foster care system, expanding services to support youth at risk of aging out and increasing access to high-quality legal representation for children and families.

“However, although the order encourages measures to increase the number of foster homes available for children, these words ring hollow.  At the same time that it purports to encourage foster home recruitment and support, the Trump Administration is in court supporting religious-based discriminatory practices that turn away loving families. We urge the Administration to reconsider this type of religious litmus test as it proceeds to strengthen relationships with faith-based organizations in the child welfare system.”