This story is coming out of the UK, and I’m praying it doesn’t make it to the states.

The Fostering Network in the UK is looking to ban foster parents who smoke from taking in any child under the age of 5, and set no age limit if the child is unable to go outside due to a physical disability, or suffers from a respiratory illness.

OK, I get this to an extent. Children should not be exposed to second hand smoke, we all get that. But to NEVER place a child with a foster parent because of this issue alone is just plain ridiculous.

According to the article in the Daily Record,the UK is already short on foster homes by about 10,000 homes.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to prohibit the foster parent from smoking in the house, or from smoking with in a certain distance from the child? Do we really need fewer placements than we do now?

Since apparently both the US and the UK have shortages in foster homes, wouldn’t we try to find more ways to recruit families, than to put even more restrictions on the homes that we already have?

A friend of mine surrendered her foster care license a few years ago. She had fostered for 33 years, and had adopted 13 of the children that she fostered. She surrendered her license because of the red tape and the hoops she had to jump through. Wouldn’t you think that they’d bend over backwards to try to keep her as a foster parent?

This woman has become an incredible advocate for parents and kids, and we are working together to get Wisconsin to enact a state specific foster parent bill of rights. She also lobbied to get the state to clarify some things on adoption subsidies. Trust me, this is a lady you want in your corner.

What will happen if parents like her end up dropping out of foster care because social services tightens down on restrictions even more? I’m not saying to let all rules and regulations go out the window, but where does common sense come in?

If you trust me enough to put a child in my custody and take care of their well being, wouldn’t you trust that I have enough common sense not to do things that will endanger that same child? If not, there is something wrong with your licensing process.

As I said, I pray this ban will only apply in the UK, or even better, that the UK officials will realize what a nightmare they are going to create and repeal this.

In case you’re wondering, I’m not a smoker and never have been.

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