Success Stories › John & Lydia
Teenage siblings, John and Lydia, were living in foster care after their parents' rights had been permanently terminated. Their foster mother was a single woman, employed full-time in a local factory. This woman loved these two teenagers and feared for what would happen to them once they turned 18, which was not far off. Although she would have dearly loved to adopt the two of them, there was no way that she could afford to house, feed, clothe, etc. these teenagers without the assistance of her foster care stipend which would end once the kids turned 18. At the same time, she was aware that teenagers had a tough time finding adoptive homes, especially when one of them is low functioning and will require continued care and supervision beyond age 18. Still, she recognized that adopting them was a financial impossibility for her.

The CASA volunteer, who was only appointed to the case at the time of termination of parental rights, recognized how bonded these teenagers were to their foster mother and how much the foster mother had done for them and could do for them in the future if only she had the financial means. The Advocates for Children staff were aware that there were local, state, and federal funds (Adoption Assistance) available for just such cases. The CASA volunteer informed the foster mother of this and she inquired about these funds with the Office of Family and Children family case manager. The family case manager informed her that her county had no funds available for this.

The Advocates for Children staff knew that adoption assistance was a prospective adoptive parent's right by law, and therefore made further inquiries on behalf of these teenagers, who did not want to have to leave this home at age 18 and who wanted to have their foster parent as their legal mother. Sure enough, it was established that the Office of Family and Children could not deny prospective adoptive parents this financial assistance. The CASA volunteer connected the foster mother with an attorney with expertise in the area of adoption law and this was effective in encouraging the Office of Family and Children to offer an adoption subsidy to this foster mother, which enabled her to adopt both of these teenagers.

As a result of the CASA volunteer's intervention, the adoption was finalized just this week and these two teenagers now have the security of knowing that they have a home forever and a "mom" whom they love dearly.

More Success Stories: Laura, Sam, Rebecca & Jonathan and Susan & Samantha.

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If you or someone you know is considering becoming foster parents or can provide safe, permanent homes to children, please contact your local county Office of Family and Children for more information.