The Baltimore City Community Relations Commission will initiate an independent investigation into a Muslim woman's claim that she was denied an opportunity to become a foster mother by a state-hired licensing company because she does not allow pork in her home.
Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and representatives from Contemporary Family Services were scheduled to present cases before the commission Friday, but the fact-finding conference was canceled. The commission instead will look into claims that Contemporary Family Services denied Tashima Crudup, a mother of five who wanted to serve as a foster parent, a license and will request documents from both sides, according to Ajmel Quereshi, an attorney for the ACLU.
Alvin Gillard, head of the commission, said he cannot talk about an individual case until after a public hearing, which will be held after the investigation.
Quereshi said the ACLU and the licensing agency were to address the commission Friday morning, but a representative for Contemporary Family Services showed up late and the meeting was canceled.
Calls to Contemporary Family Services were not returned.
The commission's investigation — which will determine whether probable cause exists and whether to move forward with the claim — is expected to last a month, Quereshi said. The commission is charged with enforcing the city's anti-discrimination law.
Hyattsville-based Contemporary Family Services, which is authorized by the state to place foster children with families, has said that Crudup's application was denied because her inability to yield in her stance could make her intractable in other issues involving children. A representative from Contemporary Family Services has previously said the agency has screened and granted licenses to Muslims, Seventh-day Adventists and members of other religions with dietary restrictions.
Crudup initially had cleared a screening process and completed hours of training before her application was denied after a home visit from a CFS worker in August 2009.
The food she serves her children was among dozens of topics that came up during a daylong interview. Even though she doesn't allow pork in her house, Crudup said she told the caseworker she would have no problem with children in her care eating it at school outings or in restaurants.