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  • Working With Older Children and Youth

Working With Older Children and Youth

The average age of children waiting to be adopted from foster care is just over 8 years old, according to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. Trends indicate that when children waiting to be adopted reach between 8 and 9 years old, they are more likely to continue to wait for a family than be adopted. Many State child welfare agencies offer services and strategies to help older children and youth find permanent families.

This section has resources on emerging practices for working with these children and youth.

Belonging Matters—Helping Youth Explore Permanency

Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway (U.S.);AdoptUSKids (Program)
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 260KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2019
Explores how professionals can help youth in foster care consider the full range of legal and relational permanency options available to them as well as understand the feelings that may underlie a young person’s reluctance to pursue permanency.

Success Beyond 18: Quality Case Planning With Young Adults in Extended Foster Care
Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2014)
Highlights strategies for working with young adults in foster care and adoption case planning.

Talking With Older Youth About Adoption

Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway; AdoptUSKids
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 1,070KB)
Order (Free)
Disponibilidad
Ver
Versión para imprimir (PDF - 495KB)
Ordene (Gratis)
Year Published
2016
Provides child welfare professionals with a framework for how to talk with older youth about permanency, including key considerations and suggestions for starting a conversation as well as ways to make these discussions more effective and meaningful.

Teens Need Families
AdoptUSKids (2017)
Answers commonly asked questions about the importance and process of adopting older teens. 

We Never Outgrow the Need for Family–Just Ask Us: Talking With Older Youth About Adoption [Webinar]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau, AdoptUSKids (2016)
Presents how to have more effective and meaningful conversations with teenagers about permanency. This webinar featured a panel discussion with two young adults formerly in foster care, an adoptive parent, and an adoption professional.

Youth Engagement Project
American Bar Association
Promotes youth involvement in court cases, permanency, and transition planning for older youth.

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Spotlight On

Creating Effective Narratives for Children Waiting to Be Adopted (PDF - 1,044 KB)

AdoptUSKids (2017)

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