Adoption from Foster Care Campaign Background

This year's Adoption from Foster Care campaign specifically focuses on the adoption of teens, who generally wait longer to be adopted and have lower overall adoption rates. Of the 428,000 youths under the age of 18 in the U.S. foster care system, 112,000 are currently waiting for adoptive families. 43% of all children available for adoption on AdoptUSKids.org are 15 to 18 years old, but only 5% of all children adopted in 2015 were between the ages of 15 to 18 years old.

This campaign employs humor to reassure parents that they are perfect for the seemingly challenging task of adopting a teen from foster care. The latest PSAs parody the iconic pregnancy guide, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, to feature scenarios of well-intentioned parents attempting to offer step-by-step parenting tutorials for new parents of teens (teen-proofing a home, waking up a teen, etc.). These relatable bonding moments reassure potential parents that teens in foster care don't need perfection; they need the support, security, and love that a permanent family can provide.