When:  March 27, 2007 from 9 am to 10:30 am

Where: Urban Institute, 2100 M Street NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC

Note: Breakfast will be provided at 8:45 am.  The forum begins promptly at 9 am.

Panelists:

• Naomi R. Cahn, professor of law, George Washington University
  Ajay Chaudry, director, Center on Labor, Human Services, and
  Population, Urban Institute (moderator)
• Gary J. Gates, senior research fellow, Williams Institute, UCLA
  School of Law
• Jennifer Ehrle Macomber, director, Child Welfare Research Program,
  Urban Institute
• Karey Scheyd, deputy director of parent recruitment, New York City
  Administration for Children's Services
  

State law determines whether gay, lesbian, and bisexual people can be adoptive or foster parents through the state's child welfare system.  Laws and regulations that address the subject vary from outright bans to explicit endorsements.

A new study by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law and the Urban Institute uses census data and other government surveys to explore the characteristics of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals who are adoptive or foster parents and those who would like to adopt children. The research team estimates the economic and social costs of banning such adoptions and foster care, a prospect under debate in legislatures and courts in several states.

Panelists will address such key questions as:

• What is the current legal landscape for adoption and fostering?
• How many adopted and foster children live with a lesbian, gay, or bisexual parent?
• How do gay and lesbian parents and their adopted and foster children compare demographically to parents and children in other family arrangements?
• What are the costs and implications of allowing or restricting adoption and fostering by lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals?

Seating is limited. Register online today.  

Questions can be directed to paffairs@ui.urban.org or call  202 261-5709.