This content was originally published by Creating a Family, the national infertility education and support nonprofit. We talk a lot about adopting an older child or teen from foster care, but what is the experience really like? We asked a mom who adopted a 16-year-old from foster care to share her real experience—both the good
Young Couple Enthusiastically Adopts Five Siblings
Miranda and Brian planned to adopt internationally through Children’s Home Society. Then they found out they were too young to fulfill the age requirement for the international program and decided to become foster parents until they turned 25. Just after becoming licensed, they provided weekend respite care for a sibling group of four. The children
Meet an Entertaining 16 Year Old Waiting for Adoption
“I’m looking for my ‘warm spot,’ a home and family where I am safe, valued and loved.” This is the simple hope of Sherakey, a 16 year old waiting in Minnesota foster care. With a combination of goofiness and sarcasm, Sherakey loves to make people laugh and entertain. At recruitment events, she will throw out
Adopting Siblings as a Single Mom
Courtney’s skills as an attorney came in handy as she explored becoming an adoptive parent. She did her research, keeping in mind her situation as a single woman with a high-pressure job. She interviewed friends who had adopted children. She scoped out agencies that could help navigate the adoption process. And, then, she decided: yes,
Preparing Your Finances for Adoption
Money is never the primary reason people decide to adopt, nor should it be. Actually, for many it isn’t even in the equation until you sign on the dotted line with an agency or professional. Hopefully, before you make that commitment, your adoption professional has given some idea of the costs associated with your adoption.
Meet Jahnia | A music-loving teen waiting for a family
To say that 15-year-old Jahnia loves music is an understatement. Attending choir class is the highlight of her school day, and she loves to sing some car karaoke when she’s not in school. “I’ve never listened to music so loudly in my car before,” explains her Child-Specific Recruiter, Brittany. During their visits, Jahnia and Brittany
Five Reasons to Consider an Adoption Medicine Clinic Assessment for Your Adopted or Fostered Child
The Adoption Medicine Clinic at the University of Minnesota offers a comprehensive child wellness assessment for children who have experienced early adversity. With a team consisting of a pediatrician or nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, and child psychologist, the assessment includes a medical, developmental, and mental health screening. 1. Children in foster care and those adopted
Meet C | A Caring Boy Who Loves to Stay Active
Kelli, a Child Specific Recruiter for one of our waiting youth, quickly realized two things would make her visits with C exciting: Culver’s and something active. “He likes to go on a bike ride on every visit,” she shares, “and eat a cheeseburger with all the fixings and a concrete mixer with M&Ms.” In reality,
Best Practices for Connecting with Birth Family via DNA Search
Many people have reunited with children, siblings and biological parents with the help of DNA technology. You may have heard their stories and decided that now is the time to do your own search. Because DNA search is connecting humans, and possibly initiating human relationships, each person’s experience will be different. Your search may be
Is it really my birthday today?
It’s after midnight, which means today is my 57th birthday. Growing up as an adoptee, I always celebrated my birthday without questioning it. But today, I thought… is today really my real birthday? If so, what time was I born? where was I born? who gave birth to me? who is my birth father? do
