This guest post was written by Elle Hogan of AdoptionWorks, a program within Adoptions Together.
AdoptionWorks, a program of Adoptions Together, facilitates the adoption of school-aged children who are growing up in public foster care in the United States. The program focuses on providing education, training, support, and counseling to ensure that parents are prepared to meet the challenges of older child adoption.
Most children enter foster care because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned. These children often wait more than two years before they can be considered for adoption. After one year in the system, a child’s probability of being adopted drops by 50% and continues to steadily drop the longer a child waits. In 2009, over 29,000 children aged out of foster care without an identified support system.
Of the children who are not adopted by the age of 18:
· 32% will rely on public assistance
· 27% of males and 10% of females will become incarcerated
Parenting this population of children can be challenging, primarily due to the tremendous loss and trauma these children have experienced in such a short span of time. These experiences impact each child deeply and in unique ways, posing the most significant challenge to parents interested in older child adoption.
This is where AdoptionWorks comes in. Through the training and support that we provide, every family is given the tools to parent effectively, with confidence, when they adopt an older child. We help you determine if older child adoption is indeed the right path for your family. Every step of the way, the AdoptionWorks team will be by your side to support you in your adoption journey. Take the story of Lizzie, Tim, and Aimee and the couple, Frank and Carol, who took them in…
Siblings Lizzie, Tim and Aimee suffered neglect, abuse, separation and heartbreak. They were removed from their birth mother’s home when police were notified of unsanitary conditions. The children told Child Protective Services that their mother had run out of their ADHD medication, so she would blow marijuana into their faces to help them to “calm down” and go to sleep. They were not properly clothed, cleaned, or fed. Placed in separate foster homes, the two sisters and one brother only saw each other once a week. After several months, it was discovered that they had been physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. All three children were aggressive and had significant behavioral issues.
Frank and Carol felt they were prepared to handle the tough times with these children, so that they would have the opportunity to grow up together. This couple provided the kids with the love, stability, and structure they so desperately needed. They tailored their discipline and behavioral techniques to have the most positive impact on the children. The entire family participated in attachment therapy from the beginning of their placement. Frank and Carol helped the children with homework, played games with them, created a schedule and read books together each night.
Tim was soon playing the violin and singing in the choir at school, and Lizzie was doing very well academically. Aimee has also made significant strides at school with her new mom’s extra help at home. These siblings are thriving in their adoptive home, and are so happy to be together. Carol and Frank have opened their hearts and home to these three beautiful, very deserving children.
AdoptionWorks will be hosting an information meeting on Tuesday, March 13, at 7pm in their Silver Spring office located at 10230 New Hampshire, Suite 200. If you would like to learn more, please visit our website at www.adoptionstogether.org or call 301-439-2100.
Thank you for posting this.