So, it's National Adoption Month. And I am just giddy
reading so many adoption stories, seeing faces full of joy over having found
each other, remembering our own adoption days.
But also. I think about the 100,000+ kids waiting in foster
care for a home to call theirs forever. And the 25,000+ kids a year who leave
the system, alone. No adoption proceedings. No party.
The most unsettling statistic of all: 20% will find
themselves homeless. 20%. That means that the emancipated teens of 2012
will result in over 4,600 homeless young adults.
That is staggering. Truly.
Imagine what help with college applications and SAT prep
would mean to one of the teenagers in care. Imagine what it would mean for a
parent to step in and say “I think you need help and we’re going to find it
together.” Just think of what could happen if someone sat down with them and
helped fill out job applications and practiced for interviews.
The difference a dedicated parent can make in the life of a
child is no less significant if that child is 17 days old or 17 years old. And
to a child who has endured the trauma of being permanently removed from the
care of his or her biological family, who was placed into state care with the
expectation that they would be given a more secure, safer situation, the need
for that protection is all the more urgent.
Adopting a 17-year-old isn’t about giving them the childhood
they never had crammed into one year; it’s about giving them a family to turn
to for the rest of their life.
Read the rest here,
and if you have thought on the topic, leave a comment. If you've considered
adopting but haven't tried it, what is holding you back? I see so
many messages saying things like "if only I could afford it" or
"I can't be home full time so I can't get licensed." Did you know
that the legal fees of adoption from foster care are usually covered by the
state? And that not only can you be a working parent, but many places have
programs that provide daycare and after school care for working foster parents.
It is hard, but it is doable.
Also, if you're in need of some good, honest, real adoption stories in your life, check out
the #knittogetherbyadoption photo challenge for November. I am doing it over at
my instagram and
I've successfully completed 5 days. 5 DAYS, YOU GUYS. That's a
record.
We've adopted 5 children, all through foster care. We also have two of our former foster kids who are older now that still consider us mom and dad as their returns to biological homes didn't go so well. Our daughter Ruth came to us when she was almost 16. As usual unification was the goal but she wanted no part of that. Her parents gave us legal guardianship and when she turned 18 she consented to the adoption for herself. I filled out and filled the paperwork myself and it only cost $150. I would love to adopt more as soon as we have room again. Older kids need a place to call home. People who will help them(Ruth recently moved home with her three kids), who will go through the good and the bad with them. A place to come home for the holidays or just because they need their mom.
ReplyDeleteWe've adopted 5 children, all through foster care. We also have two of our former foster kids who are older now that still consider us mom and dad as their returns to biological homes didn't go so well. Our daughter Ruth came to us when she was almost 16. As usual unification was the goal but she wanted no part of that. Her parents gave us legal guardianship and when she turned 18 she consented to the adoption for herself. I filled out and filled the paperwork myself and it only cost $150. I would love to adopt more as soon as we have room again. Older kids need a place to call home. People who will help them(Ruth recently moved home with her three kids), who will go through the good and the bad with them. A place to come home for the holidays or just because they need their mom.
ReplyDeleteamazing article..thank you..
ReplyDeleteHi! My name is Pat O'Brien and I would like to interview Jess Good on my radio program about this wonderful post. I work for an organization called You Gotta Believe that produces its own live radio broadcast in the New York City area called "The Adopting Teens & Tweens Radio Forum" every Sunday evening from 6:30pm to 7pm Eastern time. I was wondering if Ms. Good would write to me (ygbpat@msn.com) or call me (718-570-5134)to let me know if you might be available for an interview on Sunday evening February 28th or any other Sunday evening in March.
ReplyDeletePatrick, what station broadcasts your show? My husband and I considered adopting from foster care a few years ago, but our lives became chaotic when my parents both went on a rapid decline at the same time. Mom is in Hospice care now, so we're looking ahead and are considering adoption again. Just like those 17 year olds, we older folks need family, too. Loved this blog post that Ms. Good wrote... so true and oh, so inspiring!
ReplyDelete