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U.K.Council Bans Smokers from Being Foster Parents
November 6, 2008

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News Summary

London's Redbridge Council is the first local government in the country to bar smokers from becoming foster parents, Reuters reported Nov. 5.
 
The Council's cabinet said children would only be placed with individuals who smoke in exceptional circumstances, in order to protect children from the "damaging effects of passive and second-hand smoke."

The new foster-child rules are slated to go into effect in 2010. "We know this is a difficult issue because some people will feel it is an intrusion on personal freedoms," said council member Michael Stark. "But we also know that smoking increases the risk of serious illness in childhood. On balance, we have decided children in our care shouldn't grow up breathing second-hand smoke."

The Fostering Network, a nonprofit advocacy group, said no child under five should be placed with foster parents who smoked.

Pro-tobacco groups feel the ban will stigmatize smokers. "It's going to exclude people who could be outstanding foster parents," said a spokesman for tobacco lobbying group Forest. "It sends out an insidious message that smokers in general are unfit parents and I don't think any politician has the right to do that."

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by foconative on 10 Nov 08 02:54 PM EST
Why not a policy that requires foster homes to be smoke-free at all times? This would in effect accomplish the goal of protecting children from secondhand smoke. The point of tobacco control work is to positively encourage tobacco users to quit (and to prevent non-users from even beginning), not negatively punish them for an addiction.

Posted by maxwood on 07 Nov 08 04:55 PM EST
1. Ironic that a tobacco lobbying group would be named Forest-- directly or indirectly cigarettes kill more trees than any other industrial disaster in the history of the planet. 2. This is an opportunity to nudge smokers "who could be outstanding foster parents" to check out the rich selection of stop-smoking and smoking-reduction modalities (if one switches to a vaporizer is one still a "smoker"?).

Posted by Lulu on 07 Nov 08 11:54 AM EST
Congratulations UK Council--you're the world's role model!!Yes, in fact, all parents who smoke under normal circumstances, are unfit--healthwise! If someone is serious about being "outstanding parents"--and love unconditionally,then their child's welfare" should be of utmost importance. I grew up in a smoking home--my father & brother died of cancer, 2 of my older brothers cannot even enjoy their retirement now because of health reasons. How soon do you think will I suffer the consequence? PS. Doctors say my respiratory system is weak , even as I write. God bless our children's health--after all, they're the "now" and the "future"! And Help for those who want to give up smoking & other drugs---for their own sake, their families, & the environment!

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