Older foster children are being abandoned by society and the foster care system. Their parental rights are being terminated and then being left orphans to age out of foster care. There are some very damaged foster teens that are facing severe struggles in their daily lives which can be difficult to parent. Then there are foster teens and older children that do not have major issues and could quite easily fit into a family if given a chance at adoption. We have to remember not all foster children have major behaviors, disorders, and need the seasoned parents.

I have also seen foster children struggling with major issues (behaviors, violence, anger, hospitalized, etc.) with no real happiness in their futures, but when they find the right parent for them this can change. No, the parent was not a cure all and did not happen overnight but you saw change. In time the children learned to function in a family and society. One foster I know received a stable place to call home and a forever adoptive parent that was committed to her that would not walk away from the child. She finally found love and acceptance which allowed her a chance at a real family.

The foster care system is not committed to the older foster children in finding them adoptive homes and preparing them for a future of independence. Yes, it is harder for older children to be adopted, but I believe it is doable. The system relies on people knocking on their doors. The picture websites of waiting children to be adopted is not updated in a timely manner. When people do inquire about a child or children it takes a long time to hear back if at all. I really wonder how many people just give up waiting and move on to a different avenue of adoption? Trying to work with the foster system will require some patience.

Continued.........

More reading:

Foster Children Ending Up Homeless

A Teenager Trying to Get Help from the Foster Care System

Foster Children Are In Desperate Need Of Help Learning Skills To Transition Out of The System