WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, announced today that the Village Family Services earned the All Children—All Families seal of recognition.   The Los Angeles family wellness  agency earned the honor by meeting the required criteria for fully inclusive policies and practices in working with the LGBT community.  The Human Rights Campaign’s All Children—All Families initiative provides a comprehensive framework for agencies to establish policies and practices that welcome, support and affirm LGBT foster and adoptive parents

“We’re honored to be recognized as a leader serving LGBTQ youth and families,” stated Hugo Villa, CEO of The Village Family Services.  “From the start, we’ve envisioned a different kind of agency – one that unites expertise with compassion and cultural competence to focus on the unique needs of children, youth and families whom we feel are being inadequately served. LGBTQ youth need affirming and supportive services and they can count on The Village Family Services to be there for them.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the Village Family Services into the community of child welfare organizations that are truly committed to creating more loving families by removing barriers to qualified LGBT adoptive parents.  The child welfare professionals at the Village have shown us shining examples of putting the best interests of the children first in the adoption and foster care process,” added Ellen Kahn, HRC’s Family Project Director.

The seal of recognition will be presented at the Skirball Cultural Center during the Village Family Services Cultural Competency Series workshop Working With LGBTQ Youth: What You Really Need to Know. All Children—All Families certified trainer Toni Cooke will present the seal to Village Family Services Founders Hugo Villa, CEO, and Irma Seilicovich, COO.  More information on the Village Family Services and the Working With LGBTQ Youth workshop, can be found at www.thevillagefs.org.

The “All Children – All Families” initiative, launched in 2007, promotes policies and practices that welcome LGBT foster and adoptive parents.  The program seeks to enhance LGBT cultural competence among child welfare professionals and educate LGBT people about opportunities to become foster or adoptive parents to waiting children.  To date, ACAF has over 50 participating agencies across the country, and has awarded 18 seals of recognition. Last year HRC launched a “50 state strategy,” with the goal of securing at least one ACAF-recognized adoption agency dedicated to working with LGBT families in every state.   More information about the initiative can be found at www.hrc.org/acaf.

WHAT:  HRC to honor the Village Family Services with All Children – All Families seal of recognition

WHEN:  Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. local time.

WHERE:  Skirball Cultural Center 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

The Village Family Services is Southern California’s specialist in providing permanency and safety for neglected and abused children and youth. Our unique research-based approach centers on family wellness amid client-centered, strength-focused, trauma-informed and culturally competent care delivered by a compassionate, bilingual staff. The Village Family Services envisions a day when all children and youth are free of social, emotional, verbal and physical harm.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.