(from l-r) Jill Jacobs from Human Rights Campaign, parents Neil Balthaser, Marcus Davis, daughter Hana Balthaser-Marcus, and Ann Wrixon, IAC Executive Director. Photo by: Michael Micael of David Perry and Associates.
“This National Adoption Month we are delighted to recognize the Independent Adoption Center for their commitment to fairness and inclusion in adoption, and for their excellent track record with the LGBT community,” said Ellen Kahn, director of HRC’s Family Project. “We celebrate with IAC and with the hundreds of LGBT families whose lives have been touched by their work.”
“We are honored to receive the All Children – All Families seal, especially during National Adoption Month,” said IAC Executive Director Ann Wrixon. “We were eager to participate in this process and we urge other adoption agencies to engage in this initiative, to review their policies and practices, and to insure that prospective LGBT parents are valued and supported.”
The “All Children – All Families” initiative, launched in 2007 by the HRC Family Project, aims to promote agencies and policies that welcome LGBT foster and adoptive parents. The program seeks to enhance LGBT competence among child welfare professionals and educate LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents to waiting children. Thirty-four agencies from across the U.S are currently participating, and more than a dozen agencies are close to earning the seal of recognition. More information about the initiative can be found at www.hrc.org/acaf.
