The more than 400 children waiting for adoption in Arkansas today now have a better chance at being adopted by loving homes more quickly thanks to Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's decision to overturn Act 1.

The law prevented unmarried cohabitating couples from adopting or fostering children. We were opposed to the law because:

• Arkansans should not deny loving homes to the children who need them most. We do not have enough foster or adoptive homes in this state, and arbitrary bans further limit the number of potential homes.
• Experienced child health and child welfare services experts such as juvenile judges should make the decision of where a child should be placed. These professionals are trained and have the experience in what is in the best interest of the child and should be making the decision.
• Children should be placed in loving permanent homes where they can be nurtured and raised in an encouraging environment. We ought to be making that easier, not harder, to do.
• The ban also applied to private adoptions. If a parent died, a child could not be adopted by his or her uncle or aunt or another relative, if the uncle was part of an unmarried couple.

For more information, go to www.arkansasfamiliesfirst.org.