VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — November is National Adoption Month, aimed at raising awareness about the thousands of children in foster care who are waiting to find permanent homes. While there are adoption needs across all age groups, there's a particular focus on teenagers who often face additional challenges while waiting for a stable home.
In Virginia, data shows that more than 5,300 children are in foster care, and nearly 1,700 of them are still waiting for adoption. Virginia Beach nonprofit United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) is working to ensure that these children, especially older youth, in foster care don't get left behind.
"Approximately ten percent of our kiddos that we service are in foster care," said Ashley Buhr, a kinship specialist with UMFS.
The nonprofit provides foster care and adoption services, and Buhr noted that teens make up a significant portion of youth in foster care statewide. Many of them, she said, wait years for adoption and often face difficulties transitioning into adulthood.
"A lot of the barriers that our older kids [face as] they age out of foster care [include not] really [having] a sense of their cultural identity and their community," Buhr said. "A lot of the kids who don't receive those supports or the permanency options, unfortunately, become incarcerated, [experience] early pregnancy, [have] mental health concerns. So, I think that is what we are really trying to focus on, is making sure that these kiddos who are aging out of foster care have permanency and lifelong ties."
UMFS doesn't just focus on finding homes for children-- it also supports families through the adoption process and beyond.
"They do still receive financial assistance throughout the duration-- so, even after adoption-- to help offset the cost of adding another family member," Buhr said. "We understand that things are expensive."
In addition to financial assistance, families benefit from ongoing support from UMFS staff and state workers, aiming to ensure they have the resources they need to navigate the challenges of adoption.
While the process can be complex for both children and families, Buhr said that having access to the right resources and support systems can make all the difference in helping families thrive.
"We want them to be successful. We want them to be productive members of society," Buhr said. "Looking down... the road, we hope that these kiddos can come back and mentor the kiddos that are coming back into care as well."
The need for adoptive families, especially for teens, is urgent. If you are interested in adoption, fostering, or fostering-to-adopt, UMFS provides resources and guidance to help navigate the process. The nonprofit also needs volunteers to assist with events and services that support both children and families.