Posted: 1/20/2014

Every Child Deserves a Place to Call Home

Take a moment and think back to what life was like when you were a teen.  What do you think would have happened to you if you had no place to call home, nobody to help you fill out job applications, nobody to be there to plan a high school graduation party, help you get ready for prom, practice driving, etc.?   Even as adults, many of you probably turned to your parents for something whether it was for advice, tips on how to do something, somewhere to go for the holidays, or a good home cooked meal. 

There are hundreds of children of all ages available for adoption.  When people think of adoption, they commonly think of infants.  Yet, in reality, the majority of children available for public adoption is children ages 8 and up.  Take a minute and look at the hundreds of teens available for adoption on the various adoption websites such as heartgalleryofheartland.org, adoptflorida.org or adoptuskids.org.  There are hundreds of fantastic children and teens full of potential that need a place that will accept them, love them unconditionally, and be there for them even when they are old enough to be on their own. 

One local family came into classes knowing that they would be open to teen adoptions.  They already had two younger biological kids and they are a younger couple.  They described that as soon as they met their son they knew he was meant to be a part of their life.  Justin was already 14 years old at the time he met this family, yet they knew from the moment they met Justin that he was, indeed, a part of their family.  Justin is now a big brother and the oldest of six cousins and loved by his entire family — immediate and extended.  The family said that, “Sometimes families just click,  and that’s exactly how it was for Justin and us!”   

Take a look at a heartwarming video about teen adoptions that may open your eyes to adopting a teen and to never think of any child, regardless of age or special needs, as unadoptable.