Adopting teens through foster care seems unlikely. Fostering to adopt is a long and uncertain road in general. Nevertheless, Brooke Coffman and her husband knew they wanted to begin their family through adoption. So in 2017, they began their journey of becoming certified for adoption. After a few months, they completed their certification and prepared to begin their family.
Adoption and Fostering can be Complicated
When becoming a foster parent one of the things you must prepare for is the possibility of an uphill battle. The Coffman’s learned that lesson once they began researching adoption policies. Some states don’t allow out of state adoptions. Other states couldn’t terminate parental rights until the children had officially moved in with their foster parents. Adoption is different in every single county so the couple had to familiarize themselves with the rules of their local counties.
A False Start
After all the work they put into becoming foster parents the day finally came when they received their first potential placement. They began visits with siblings, a 10-year-old girl, and an 8-year-old boy. The couple began building a relationship with them over the course of 6 months. Unfortunately, the visits had to stop because they could no longer adopt them. The loss of that relationship took a toll on the couple.
Special Firsts
In March of 2019, the couple began trying to adopt again. Not too long after they received the placement of two teen brothers. Brooke remembers their first day in their home as such a special day. Neither of the teen brothers could believe that they finally had their own beds and bedrooms.
On March 24, 2020, just two days after officially adopting the boys, the Coffman’s friends and family threw a porch parade to celebrate the adoption. Their loved ones drove by to congratulate the family on finalizing the process.
The Long Journey is Worth It
Through everything that the family experienced Brooke recognizes that having a healthy support system had to be one of the most important things throughout the process. The journey is long and sometimes difficult but you have to remember to be patient. Don’t be afraid to rely on others because at the end of the day you want to be surrounded by family and friends that you trust.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we want to thank Brooke Coffman for sharing her experience with adopting teens through foster care. For those who are in the process of fostering to adopt, Foster Love – Together We Rise offers free adoption day photography through our Framing Forever program. Click here for more information!
