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Adopting Teenagers

Reasons Why Families May Wish to Adopt a Teenager

When people think about adoption, they often think about bringing home a baby. Infant adoptions are a wonderful way to begin or expand a family, but there are children of every age who are available for adoption from all around the world. If you are thinking about adoption, why not think about whether a teenager might be the child that your family welcomes home.

Parenting teens, whether they are biological or adopted, can be an amazing adventure. There will be plenty of challenges, just as there are at any age, but there will also be plenty of moments when you are just so amazed at this person who is now a part of your life that your heart just soars. As children develop, they are increasingly able to articulate how they feel and what their life experience is like. Because of this, perhaps the most convincing reason why you may want to consider adopting a teenager is what the teens who are seeking families are saying about who they are and what their dreams of adoption mean to them.

For example, a girl named Genesis who lives in Michigan loves school and thrives in the classroom, bring home numerous academic accolades. She is passionate about cooking and fashion, and she dreams of putting those passions into practice as a chef or a fashion designer. Genesis has many interests and talents, and those who know her say that her caring heart is one of her most outstanding attributes. All of these things describe a young lady with a bright future, but what she writes about her dream for adoption is certain to tug at your heart. Genesis believes that it is important for families to adopt teenagers because teenagers are approaching adulthood and they need a family who can set an example for their adult life. I’m not sure that I thought about parents that way when I was a teenager. Perhaps you did, and maybe you didn’t. Now that I am a parent, knowing that there is a child out there who seeks the love and guidance that I could provide makes my heart fill with joy.

When you adopt any child, you change the course of their life for the better. This is especially so for teenagers. Research indicates that older children and teens who get adopted from foster care have a greater chance at emotional security, high school graduation, and a college education than their peers who remain in and eventually age out of foster care do. Children age out of the support that the foster care system provides, but they do not age out of their need for a permanent family who can love and support them as they explore the process of becoming a young adult, navigating increasing amounts of personal responsibility, and moving towards their goals. Your love and encouragement could have a profound impact on the life of a teenager who is currently in foster care.

If you decide to explore adopting a teenager, know that there are resources that are available to you and them that can help with the financial aspects of becoming an adult. For example, they may be able to apply for financial aid for college without including information about your income. Resources may also be available for health care and other things that your child will need. To learn more about adopting a teenager, please call McDowell Chartered today, at (316) 633-4322.