Adopting teenagers

Photo: David Joles for the Star Tribune

The article “A Minnesota success: Adoption of teens is rising” was written by Jeremy Olson in the Star Tribune on December 23, 2012.  This topic was related to a personal story of a 15 year old girl (Brianna) that was adopted into a family that consisted of a widowed mother (Tia) and her biological daughter (Mia).  Although the reading was a personal story it also discussed some strategies to promote and support teen adoptions.

One of the strengths in this article was that it introduced each participant within the family and what they wanted from the adoption process. Tia and her husband had a dream to adopt but due to his sudden death in 2006 they were not able to fulfill that dream together.  Due to changes in international adoption making it more difficult for a single person to adopt, Tia chose to adopt a foster child here in Minnesota.   Mia had always been the only child and wanted an older sister.  Brianna had been through multiple foster homes and failed placements and just wanted a loving family.  A second strength of the article was that it discussed barriers and struggles in the adoption of teens but provided ways to overcome them.  With the adoption of teens, there are behavioral issues to deal with.  By providing support for the families and teens by maintaining counseling and services to help manage these behaviors was cited as helpful.  Another approach is now the social worker is asking the teen of any positive adults in their lives and reaching out to them as possible options in the adoption process.  Another argument supported by the state is raising adoption payments so they are of equal to that of a foster parent.  The final strength of the article was the writer was able to articulate and support the successes of adoptions here in Minnesota, cutting the numbers of those waiting from around 1200 to 428 in 2012 (Olson).  This may be the result of better preparing the perspective families by providing them pre adoptive classes.   Another change in Minnesota is the adoption process now takes 16 months rather than 24 months to complete the process (Olson).

One of the limitations of the article was that it focused solely on the 1 case with a happy ending and failed to discuss the other cases that ended with a failed adoption.  Another limitation was that it did not note any benefits staying in foster care but solely focused on the benefits of adoption.  Those that have remained in foster care are able to further their college education with possible assistance from the state.  Those in foster care are also able to access programs for independent living and gain valuable life skills as well as resources.

There is this myth out there that teenagers do not reap the benefits of being adopted due to the trauma and experiences in the foster care system they have endured.  In Brianna’s case her grades rose to all A’s and B’s and she became actively involved in her high school volleyball team.  It was quoted in the article “What kids will tell you are that their sense of belonging and security is so much greater after having been adopted” (Olson).