Its a quiet crisis that most Americans rarely think about: Thousands of teenagers are living without parents.
Their future chances arent bright.
But there is hope for a growing number of foster-care teenagers.
They fostered some children together and then began adopting children from foster care primarily teenagers.
Teenage years can be a challenging stage, but we enjoy it, Gill says.
We have a knack for it.
Kids no longer raised by their biological parents or family members are placed by the state in foster care.
Some of those kids get adopted into a new family.
But the older they get, the less likely that will happen.
Thats why parents like the Gills are so critical to solving the crisis.
Whos better suited to raising older kids from difficult backgrounds than older parents whove already raised kids?
asks Ryan Hanlon with the National Council for Adoption.
There is a need for experienced parents with a home, time and other resources.
The Crenshaw family of Danville, Ill., had all that and a preference for older kids.
She was prepared for the challenges that come with teenagers.
These kids do not act out by choice, she says.
Get to know their stories so you dont accidentally trigger troubling behavior.
Its when prospective parents expect its not going to be hard or challenging that its risky.
Harvey Schweitzer, an adoption attorney near Washington, D.C., advises prospective parents to do thorough research.
I want to look at court reports.
Physical and psych exams, school records, grades, he says.
If those things arent readily provided, dont take the step of meeting the child.
