Isn't it a violation of a foster child's rights to be placed in a religious zealot's home?

Question

I would think that since foster parents are recieving state money there should be some separation of "church and state."

Answer 1

So are you suggesting that all foster parents be atheists?

Answer 2

I'm a former CPS social worker. Please, to define, what is a "religious zealot"?

When prospective foster parents come forward and state their wish to become foster parents, religion is discussed. As long as the foster parents agree to respect the biological family's wishes regarding religious training, the foster family is free to take their foster children to their church or house of worship.

When a foster family sticks with the long, grueling, time-intensive process of becoming licensed as foster parents, they have been deemed suitable to take care of children whose lives are in severe (if not life-endangering) crisis. They take these children in, often in the dead of night, when the children are screaming and crying bloody murder, have no clothing of any description, no toiletries, and many times DO have skin conditions, lice or illnesses to which the foster parents have to work to keep from their biological children, as well as any other foster children in their home.

I think we can give them that leeway to take the foster children in their home to their church and try to instill some kind of positive value system in the children; in addition, many of these foster parents come to love their foster children, and lose a large piece of their heart when the children go back home or to their "forever home".

Answer 3

I have seen cases where religion is used as an excuse to abuse a child, and abuse is absolutely a violation of a child's rights.  People who are religious zealots (there's a huge difference between devotion and fanaticism) should be weeded out during the homestudy process, and it should be fairly easy to tell.  However, if the caseworkers are desperate, then they'll approve them anyway, unfortunately.  Besides, there's no line in the sand that defines, specifically, the point where religion crosses the line into brainwashing and abuse.  So, who is approved to provide foster care depends mainly on personal opinion.

Answer 4

No.  You can teach your kids religion in your home if you want to do so.

Answer 5

religion doesnt even come into it.................loving home does though.

Answer 6

as foster parents you have to  help the child in their family religion at least that is what we were told in my foster care class  Also if  they bio  parents don't agree with you taking them to your place of worship you have to find someone to watch them while you go or don't go

They do try to do matching though when they place foster children

There is also such a shortage of foster parents that they can't turn people away based on how religous their are.

Answer 7

Please define "zealot".  I've been called a religious zealot more times than I can count.  My beliefs are raising our children in a 'christian' manner, meaning that my husband and I instill strong morals, a solid sense of right and wrong, teach respect for ourselves and others, to lend someone a helping hand when they need it and basically raise our girls to be good people who do others no harm.

Granted we are not foster parents, but if we were we would not force foster children to attend church or prayers at home.  We don't force our daughters to participate in any religious activities.  It's encouraged, but they don't have to.

I feel it comes down to a matter of perspctive.  Should foster children stay with their parents where they could be beaten or raped?  Would that be more acceptable than prayer?

Answer 8

Sadly - so many just don't give a rats about the child's rights.

Too many are more interested in their own wants and desires - and the child is just expected to fall into line.

Selfish really.

Answer 9

The government cannot tell people how to worship.  If you wish to live somewhere they can I suggest you move to China!

Answer 10

When I went through foster parent training I was asked about fostering a child of a different religious belief than mine. We were asked if we could make consessions in our beliefs to ensure a child was able to attend a church in which they have been raised. Most people said no they could not make concessions but if there was some one who was approved by DSS to escort the child to a church of the childs faith most said it would be fine. Many of us thought that if it were our child we would be infuriated if DSS sent our child to a foster family whose religious beifs were extremely different from ours. Also birth parents are given a copy of a letter the foster parents provide to Child Protective Services that explains their back ground, home and religious beliefs. DSS will do everything possible to keep a foster child in a foster home with the same of very similar back ground (placing a child from a Luthern home into a Baptist home and vice versa). When it is possible they do what they can. However, some times it is not possible and the child is placed in a home that has different beliefs.

Separating church and state would never make anyone happy. A christian family whose children were placed in an Athiest home would be just as angry.

For the record, child have no rights at all in our court system. They are property of their parents and nothing more. If they did have rights, abusive parents would find themselves in jail when they abused their children. If some one punched me I could file charges of assault and the person hitting me would be in jail. However, a parent can hit their own child and all that happens is the child is placed in a foster home until they complete a case plan and then the child is returned to them to do it again. I find this revolting. Abusive parents should serve jail time and should NOT get their children back.  When it comes to kids you have one shot at getting it right. There is too much at stake and too many children die at the hands of their own parents.

Answer 11

No.  I would think that any child in foster care would probably prefer to be in a loving home - regardless of religious preference of the family.

Answer 12

Foster families are encouraged to include all their children (including foster children) into their family routine. That includes going to church. How can it violate their rights simply by having a faith based foster family? A foster child/ and any child has the right to be safe, have proper sleeping arrangements, proper clothes, hygiene, etc. All these things are monitored by the state The ONLY time religion of any form actually plays into the foster care system is for example if a birth parent gives their child a Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other kind if gift the foster parent(s) are required to give those gifts to the child ( weather or not they choose to celebrate that particular Holiday). I think your confused on the term " separation of church and state" Foster families are REIMBURSED monthly by the state for caring for a child but they are not a state institution.

Answer 13

Being placed in a zealot's home is not necessarily a violation of a foster child's rights.  Being forced to participate or being punished for refusing to participate in a zealot's religion with whom he/she had been placed would definitley be a violation.  If the money intended for the care of a foster child is used for anything other than care of the child, then yes, I think that is a problem.

Answer 14

Actually, no, it wouldn't violate that at all.  You cannot control people's religion, and forcing a child to grow up in a religion free environment is also a religious choice.  

I'm sure children would much rather choose sterile institutions to foster families, right??/

Answer 15

No, it is not a violation, just like it is not a violation of anything for a child to be placed in the home of a g*y couple or an atheist couple.  The state pays the salary of a lot of people who are Christian.  The point is that the child gets a good, safe home until reunification can safely occur or an adoption plan is put into place.

Answer 16

No I don't think it would be a violation

It would be like placing a white child with a black parent or a black child with a white parent, Or a child  of different nationality / race / creed / colour with different parents to that child.

The only time I think its a violation of a foster childs rights is when that said child is abused in any shape or manner, ie something like being made to sit on cold hard wood floors and made to pray for 10 hrs straight or made to read the bible from front to back every day etc etc...

Then and only then is it a violation.

I think the USA needs to look at cleaning up the placement of foster children with abusive parents before looking at whether a child was placed with a religions zealot

:)

Answer 17

Separation of church and state suggests that a person cannot be forced to belong to a certain religion or suffer discrimination because of his or her religious beliefs.  If a foster child is placed in a home and the child is made to participate in religious activities that are not of his or her own religion, this is a violation of rights.  For example, let's say I have a foster child living in my home.  The family goes out to eat.  If my family doesn't eat pork due to a religious observance, I cannot tell the child s/he cannot order pork without violating the child's rights.   If I take the child to a church, temple or other place of worship that is not part of the child's religion, it is a violation.  The child should not be made to participate in any religious observance that is not part of his or her own religion.  

On the flip-side, the child should not be denied the opportunity to participate in religious observances.  For example, if the foster child in my home is Catholic and normally attends Catholic mass, it is my responsibility to make certain the child can continue to attend these services.

Answer 18

Interesting question.  I never thought about it as a separation of church and state issue before.  I do think it's not healthy for ANY child to be in a religous zealot's home.

Answer 19

Interesting question. My child's birth father is upset that his other child is in a home that recently converted to Jehovah's Witnesses. He did not know their religion he heard that they did not have a Christmas tree and asked me why they didn't have one and if they were required to have on as foster parents. I told him it was against their religious beliefs and they could do as they wish. He is concerned and the state doesn't care.

I'm all about freedom of religion or lack of it but sometimes, as silly as it seem, I am up set that my daughters sister is going to grow up never celebrating a birthday or holiday. They are also forbidden to vote, salute the flag, join the military, or accept blood transfusions.

Edit:Kim I agree with much of what you said. In NH the birth parents do not get any direct info on the foster parents.

Answer 20

Hmmm, a very good point.  The problem is that how could you qualify a zealot as opposed to someone who is just strongly religious.  Since most people have some sort of religious beliefs, it could be very difficult to monitor how overboard they go with their religion.  I think it might cause problems with people claiming discrimination if this were used against them as a reason for not allowing them to foster.  I agree, though, that this does seem a conflict between church and state when they're receiving government funding.  An interesting question.

Answer 21

You have to separate a "zealot" from a regular church going familly (of any religion)

Taking foster children to church is okay, exposing them to different faiths is okay, and respecting their faith coming in is okay.  When you are foster parents you also have to live, and if that involves going to church on sunday, then so be it.

Foster care is an effort to give a child a home like situation while the parents are getting the help they need, so they do what the family does.  

Oh, and the money the foster parents receive is to care for the child, you get at most about 500 per child for food, clothing, toys, activities etc. etc. etc.  We spent every penny on the kids, heck even more than that.

Answer 22

So how would they be able to fully take care of the child if they had to seperate their religion from the child? What would they do with the children when they went to church? Leave them home alone?

This is just an absolute ridiculous question that provides no solution to anything. So, should religious people not be allowed to provide foster care since in your world they would have to find a way to keep their religious beliefs seperate from the child?

That would be really beneficial to children by cutting out probably over 75% of the people who do participate in the foster care program. Seriously, did you really think this would be a productive question?

Answer 23

When children enter foster care, the bio parents fill out paper work and indicate the religious choice that they have for their children...including no relgion practicing while in care.

Foster parents....at least in my state including myself are licensed and given rules to abide by.  If the parents do not want the children to participate...they don't.  

State money for caring for these children has absolutely nothing to do with "church and state" or church and government".

It's about giving them as much as a normal home life as possible until their parentsdo what is necessary for the children to be placed back in the care or be placed for adoption if they are unable to meet the requirements to be reunified with their children.