Adoptable Children - Why Some Children Are More Easily Placed in Foster Care or Adopted

Adoptable Children

Nicole S. Jackson

BSHS/408

June 12, 2018

S'Canda Giles

Adoptable Children

                   Why Some Children Are More Easily Placed in Foster Care or Adopted

         Concerning children being placed in foster care or adoptable homes, it is far easier to get a younger child placed with a family than it is a teenaged child. Most foster parents (or people who wish to adopt) prefer babies or young children because it is less hassle and they can still be molded. With a teen, there is a great possibility the foster (or adoptive) parents will be faced with having to deal with anger issues, bad attitudes, rebelliousness, rude and disrespectful behavior.  Families usually already have it in their minds that an older child will be a problem. They believe they will not be able to control them, they might not “fit in’ with the family, and they are afraid they will challenge them when it comes to following the rules that have been set forth.

            According to ("Children Adopted from Foster Care: Child and Family Characteristics,

Adoption Motivation, and Well-Being", 2018) Children placed in their adoptive (or foster) home

at age 6 and up are half as likely than those placed at younger ages to have a very loving and

close knit bond with their parent (41 percent compared with 84 percent). In fact, they are twice

as likely to have a situation with their parent that is more unfavorable than their parent

anticipated (33 percent compared with 16 percent). Children placed at age 6 and up are also less

likely to have a positive impact on the family than children placed at younger ages (59 percent

compared with 89 percent). The affiliation between older age at placement and issues with the

parent-child bond or adoption satisfaction is vital for program managers and those who oversee

making the rules to evaluate, given the renewed importance and value on finding adoptive

placements for older children.

                               How Could Parents Prepare to Adopt or Foster A Teen

          If a family is thinking about becoming a foster parent or adopting they should learn more

about the adoption process altogether. They should familiarize themselves with the resources that

are available, how to go about obtaining resources, network with another adoptive/foster families

etc. They should also make it a point to learn how to understand the emotional and

developmental needs of an adolescent. These are all important things to think about when

entertaining the thought of adopting a teen or becoming their foster parent.