National Adoption Month: Foster Teens in Virginia

Support Teens and Youth in Foster Care

"Only 5 percent of youth adopted in 2018 were teens."

In the United States, November is recognized as National Adoption Month. This year's theme is "Engage Youth: Listen and Learn," which focuses on the need for adoptive homes that want to change the lives of older youth in foster care.

There is a huge need for adoptive families in Virginia and the nation! Over ​100,000​ youth in foster care are waiting to be adopted by a loving family in the country. According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, more than 6000 children are waiting to be adopted in Virginia.

Sometimes, children wait​ more than three years​ for an adoptive home. Teens in foster care do not have the luxury of that time to find a permanent connection!

According to childwelfare.gov, one in five youth in need of adoption is a teenager. Unfortunately, only 5 percent of youth adopted in 2018 were teens.

Think about when you were a young adult between 18 and 23. Were you able to exist independently with no assistance except for your efforts?

Youth who turn 18 in foster care in Virginia have some support through the Fostering Futures program. Still, they often lack the safety net of a loving, supportive family that can support them after they turn 21 and their independent living resources end.

There are many misconceptions surrounding adopting teens from foster care. This includes believing that teens will not change their firmly rooted behaviors. There's also an assumption that teens are in foster care due to their actions or behaviors.

These beliefs are incorrect and do not consider these children's experiences upon entering foster care.

Teens in foster care have the capacity to change, as do adults. When successful adults from the foster care system are asked about their ability to overcome past obstacles, they often point to one or two people who influenced them, especially during their teen years, and helped them build a bright future.

These youth have experienced the trauma of being removed from their families, who were unable to care for them. Most children who enter foster care are removed due to parental abuse or neglect.

They likely have experienced other traumatic experiences, sometimes resulting in them acting out. This can be due to their not knowing how to adequately express themselves or to behaviors related to survival instincts. These statements apply to the youth of ALL ages who are placed in foster care.

"Teens in foster care are strong, resilient, and smart, and, given a chance, they can overcome their past and influence the world for the better."

-Aria Williams. 

We cannot stress how resilient youth can be despite their previous experiences! These children often learn positive coping strategies with love and patience. They can blossom in safe, stable environments with adoptive parents, permanent families, or foster homes.

Unlike younger children, teens in foster care are often much more able to function independently and may require less direct supervision.

There might also be some general questions that one interested in fostering or adopting might have. Suppose you were wondering about what kind of support one can receive when adopting from foster care. In that case, this process can be more affordable and tends to have a shorter waiting period than when working with a private adoption agency.

Different financial resources, such as grants, are available to assist with these adoptions and access therapeutic support. Resources are also available to assist with medical needs or services for the child post-adoption.

Many individuals are wary of adopting from foster care, fearing that the biological family may take the child back.

The federal government mandates that a biological family, including parents, relatives, and fictive kin, have eighteen months to work towards the goal of reunification before the courts move towards terminating the parents' rights. Once rights are terminated, the parents have a short window to contest the ruling. After this time, the child becomes available for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting a teen in foster care, adopting a child of any age, or serving as a foster parent, don't hesitate to get in touch with us and consider attending one of the training sessions listed on our calendar. At times, the road can be rocky, as with any child. Still, the reward of helping youth change the trajectory of their lives despite previous adverse experiences is tremendous.

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"Parenting is a crucible, filled with tears, anxiety, and laughter. It will pierce your soul. And it will heal you. It is all those things. And more. That's love." 

― Josh Shipp 

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