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  • 22 people are interested
 

Adopt a teen in foster care!

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ORGANIZATION: Family & Youth Initiative

  • 22 people are interested

Why adopt a teen?

Because they need love and belonging just like all of us. Teens are not too old to bond or for you to mold. In fact, teens in foster care are some of the most loving young people you’ll ever meet.

Teens who age out of foster care often have no place to call home. Nowhere to go for Thanksgiving dinner, no one to walk them down the aisle, pick them up when they stumble, or help them learn what it means to be an adult. They need parents to teach them what a loving relationship looks like, how to file their taxes, and how to disagree without fighting.

Who can adopt?

Any adult (21 or older) who has space in his or her home, the time and energy to parent (yes, adopting a teen demands lots of time and energy), stable finances, can pass background clearances, and is willing to understand the needs of children who have experienced trauma.

Adoptive parents can be:

  • Married or single
  • Straight or gay
  • Own their own home or rent
  • Live in a house or a unit in a larger building

What are the steps to adopting?

  • Find an adoption agency
  • Complete pre-service training and home study
  • Be matched with a child
  • Have that child live with you for at least six months before you can file an adoption petition

Adopting a child from foster care is not expensive. You won’t have to pay agency fees or incur lots of other expenses and Family & Youth Initiative will help you navigate the process.

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About Family & Youth Initiative

Location:

853 New Jersey Avenue,SE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20003, US

Mission Statement

Family & Youth Initiative (DCFYI) creates enriching lifetime relationships for youth at risk of aging out of foster care. We make a difference in the lives of older children by forging pathways to adoption while building bridges between youth and a community of adults willing to open their hearts and homes.

Description

Family & Youth Initiative (DCFYI) helps older children (12 to 21) in foster care find adoptive families and make lifelong connections with caring

DCFYI focuses solely on helping teens at riskof aging out of fostercare find adoptive families and develop lasting relationships with other caring adults. We are unique in that we offer opportunities for adults who are not yet approved to adopt or mentor to meet and get to know teens so that relationships can grow naturally, which is a much more effective way for adults and teens to get to know each other and get comfortable before any formal mentor or adoption match is made.

We are one of very few organizations that create low barrier ways for adults to get to know and help teens in foster care. We encourage creative responses to the needs of individual teens and abilities and availability of interested adults.

CAUSE AREAS

Children & Youth
Community
LGBTQ+
Children & Youth, Community, LGBTQ+

WHEN

We'll work with your schedule.

WHERE

853 New Jersey Avenue SoutheastSuite 200Washington, DC 20003

(38.88051,-77.00619)
 

SKILLS

  • Youth Services
  • Mentoring
  • Child Welfare

GOOD FOR

N/A

REQUIREMENTS

  • Background Check
  • Must be at least 21
  • Orientation or Training

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