Do Foster Care Agencies Discriminate Against Gay Couples? Evidence from a Correspondence Study

Abstract

There has been considerable recent debate regarding proposed policies that would allow foster care administrators to discriminate on the basis of the sexual orientation of the foster parent. To date, however, we know very little about the level of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the foster care system. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical investigation to ask whether foster care agencies, the public and nonprofit firms that facilitate foster care placements, respond similarly to emails sent by fictitious same-sex and heterosexual couples who inquire about becoming foster parents. Our results suggest that while foster care agencies respond at somewhat similar rates to gay male couples, gay female couples and heterosexual couples, responses sent to gay males are of lower quality. Gay males receive much shorter responses that take longer to receive. Responses to gay male couples are also less likely to include key pieces of information about the process of becoming a foster parent, such as information about informational sessions or being given an application. We do not find any evidence of differential treatment towards same-sex female couples.

What is known about the LGBTQ perspective in child welfare services: A scoping review

“…Four studies were based on quantitative data from surveys of employees in the CWS (Greeno et al, 2021; Jayaratne et al, 2008; Rosenwald, 2009) and with foster care public health nurses (Carabez & Kim, 2020). One correspondence study (Mackenzie‐Liu et al, 2020) analysed e‐mails ( n = 2294) from agencies that provide placement services. Two of the articles (Salazar et al, 2018; Weeks et al, 2018) focused on developing interventions to strengthen foster parents (Salazar et al, 2018) and the CWS (Weeks et al, 2018) in their meetings with queer children and young people.…”

“…Both studies had as a starting point that there is a need to improve child welfare practice in how to meet queer children and young people and emphasize that the CWS lacks the necessary competence and methods for accommodating queer children and young people in a good way. Last, one study was a case study and document study design (Mackenzie‐Liu et al, 2020).…”

“…Some of the most recent published studies, all from the USA, (Alvarez, 2020; Carabez & Kim, 2020; Greeno et al, 2021; Mackenzie‐Liu et al, 2020; Salazar et al, 2020) encompass different aspects related to the foster care system. On the basis of the results of their survey, Carabez and Kim (2020) suggest that public health nurses working with LBGTQ youth are in a unique position to advocate by promoting gender inclusive forms in child welfare agencies and addressing disparities in access to care.…”

“…On the basis of the results of their survey, Carabez and Kim (2020) suggest that public health nurses working with LBGTQ youth are in a unique position to advocate by promoting gender inclusive forms in child welfare agencies and addressing disparities in access to care. Mackenzie‐Liu et al (2020) conducted a correspondence study where they investigated e‐mails to foster care agencies. The results indicate that, although foster care agencies respond at somewhat similar rates to gay male couples, gay female couples and heterosexual couples, responses sent to gay males are of lower quality.…”

“…Some of the most recent published studies, all from the USA, (Alvarez, 2020;Carabez & Kim, 2020;Greeno et al, 2021;Mackenzie-Liu et al, 2020;Salazar et al, 2020) encompass different aspects related to the foster care system. On the basis of the results of their survey, Carabez and Kim (2020)…”