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1 Social Change Project: Final Project, Part I Andrea J. Musick, LBSW Master of Social Work, Walden University SOCW 6361A: Social Policy: Analysis and Advocacy Dr. Linda F. Samuel November 6, 2022

2 Where We Are The Freedom to Serve Families Act of 2017, formally House Bill 3859 is a Texas bill that allows placement agencies that receive federal funds to discriminate against LGBTQ+ foster and adoptive parents if the organization has a religious objection (Freedom to Serve Families, 2017). These organizations are being funded by tax dollars to refuse LGBTQ persons the right to foster and adopt children. There are over 100 placement agencies listed on the DFPS website and a significant portion of them participate in this oppressive practice (DFPS, 2022). An Alternative to Legal Discrimination The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDFA) is a 2017 Act not yet enacted that prohibits federal funds from being used by organizations who discriminate against prospective LGBTQ persons as adoptive/foster placements. The ultimate purpose of this act is to reflect the diversity of our nation’s children and society by creating a universal principle ending this oppression and discrimination. The policy as written considers the possible repercussions of lawsuits by faith-based organizations for an infringement of their protected speech by not forcing them to have an express policy accepting or agreeing with LGBTQ persons but removes their ability to have federal funds if they have a policy which discriminates (Sidoruk, 2022). As an aside, the act also addresses discrimination against LGBTQ youth seeking placement. Advocacy is a prominent piece of the social work Code of Ethics and the responsibility to advocate is clear (McNutt, 2011). Also clear is the standard of the inherent dignity and worth of all people and the importance of human relationships (NASW, 2022). The ECDF Act creates the possibility of being able to advocate for not just a single case, but a cause and ensure both tenets. The feasibility of this act is sound because the authors and supporters have addressed concerns about the constitutionality of the funding process and the concern on constitutionally protected speech.

3 Both are a non-issue as position statements are not requested, the funds are earmarked for children’s welfare and it doesn’t take away non-participators’ funding from other sources (Sidoruk, 2022). This policy alternative addresses the goal of strengthening children’s welfare and providing for homes while also addressing social work values and ethics as stated above. Additionally, the alternative provides for a redirection of funds in that the funds not going to the discriminatory agencies will then go to agencies who are working diligently to provide for equitability in this circumstance. This policy is championed by national advocacy organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the National Adoption Center, the Child Welfare League of America, and the American Bar Association, leaders in advocacy in our nation on many fronts, lending some credence and backbone to the act (Human Rights Campaign, 2022). Opposition to this policy is going to stem from Republican states and lawmakers whose constituents benefit financially from not reversing the current policy. Clinical practice when dealing with oppressed people means trying to help overcome. Equitability and equality for society mean that all people are closer to self-actualization and services to help them live self-direct lives. Part of that means not just case advocacy, but cause advocacy to work towards a change in oppressive and harmful structures (McNutt, 2011). Otherwise, this doesn’t seem to strongly impact clinical social work. However, to address clinical mental health from within the policy, changes could be made to offer incentives that help create funding sources for clinical mental health for the adoptive/placement adults as well as the children in care.

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