A Central New York family can change a person’s life, especially teenagers in the adoption system. National Adoption Month is focusing on youth between age 15 and 18 this year.
Former foster child Mary Lee knows everything has been different since the moment when she was adopted.
“I still remember that day vividly,” says Lee. “ Just the difference in the feeling of walking into a foster home that I knew was going to be temporary, and could change at any moment, and then the feeling of walking into my family’s house and knowing that I would always have a place to come to. Just that sense of security and stability was life changing for me”
According to national and state adoption statistics, people are less willing to adopt older children between the ages of 15-18. Lee’s adoption got finalized one week before her 18 birthday. She thinks adopting older children is mutually beneficial for the children and the family.
“Perspective parents are going to benefit so much from adding to their family. Teenagers are young, they’re fun, they can help you with technology and most importantly you can have that instant gratification from seeing the way you mold and change that person and how you contribute to them becoming a successful adult.”
Adopt-U-S-Kids National Project Director Kathy Ledesma says in New York State, there are 54-hundred children available for adoption now, and last year, about 22-hundred were adopted from foster care.
“I think a common misperception is that teenagers who are in foster care, it’s because they did something that got them there,” says Ledesma. “ Well they didn’t. Something happened to their families, abuse, neglect or something bad that made it an unsafe place for that young person to remain.”
This year during National Adoption Month, Ledesma is encouraging more families to adopt older youth. She says those children suffered from trauma of the family and need more love and care and a family that would commit to them for a lifetime.
OnondagaCounty Adoption Services requires families that want to adopt a child to complete a three part certification process — intake, training and home study. People who are interested can call 315-435-3827 for initial information and register for an informational meeting. As part of National Adoption Month there's an information session November 19th, 10:00 to 11:30 am at the Solvay Public Library.
