CDANY has sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to sign the Parental Equity Act, which has passed both houses of the legislature. The Parental Equity Act (S06389/A07347) is a straightforward fix to the unintended consequences of an antiquated statute that was written primarily to facilitate private adoptions at a time when unmarried fathers were assumed to be uninvolved in their children’s lives. It is time to modify the statute to recognize the important role that fathers play in the lives of children who enter the foster system, and to provide children and families the greatest opportunity to preserve their family bonds.

Read the full letter here. (PDF)