Vermont Agrees to Restore Foster Parents’ License and Adopt Statewide Guidance Protecting Free Speech and Religious Liberty
MONTPELIER, VT — The Center for American Liberty (CAL) announced today that it has reached a final settlement with the Vermont Department for Children and Families in Antonucci v. Vermont Department for Children and Families, a landmark federal civil-rights case challenging Vermont’s attempt to impose ideological conditions on foster care licensing. The agreement restores the foster care license of Vermont parents Melinda Antonucci and Casey Mathieu and requires Vermont to adopt and implement statewide practice guidance governing licensing conversations involving LGBTQ issues and minors.
As part of the settlement, the parties have moved to dismiss the pending appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and sought vacatur of the district court’s prior order denying preliminary relief.
“Vermont tried to turn foster licensing into an ideological screening process—conditioning the ability to serve vulnerable children on compelled speech and mandatory adherence to the government’s preferred views,” said Josh Dixon, lead attorney for the Center for American Liberty. “This settlement is a major win for constitutional rights and for kids who need safe, loving homes. Vermont is restoring our clients’ license and adopting statewide guidance that puts the focus back where it belongs: on real-world caregiving and child safety—not political orthodoxy.”
Melinda Antonucci, one of the plaintiffs, emphasized the importance of the result for families across Vermont: “We became foster parents because we love children and wanted to help kids in need. The state tried to disqualify us because of our protected beliefs and because we wouldn’t say what the government wanted us to say. This settlement means our family can continue serving foster youth, and it helps ensure other foster parents won’t be punished for speaking honestly or living out their faith.”
Under the settlement, Vermont will reinstate Antonucci and Mathieu’s foster care license and will implement statewide practice guidance addressing how licensing officials conduct conversations with applicants about caring for LGBTQ youth. The parties also agreed to propose a final judgment that will resolve the case and provide enforceable protections consistent with the settlement terms.
“This case was never about denying care to anyone,” Dixon added. “It was about stopping the government from using its licensing power to coerce speech, penalize dissenting viewpoints, and drive good families out of foster care at a time when children desperately need placement options.”