“I want other kids to know the things I learned over time”
Catherine Monet was adopted by her foster parents when she was 21. We talked with Catherine about her experience and her advice for parents, social workers, and other youth in care.
Lived experience
Finding normal
A young woman reflects on her adoption after eight foster placements: “I realized that they really loved me, that they weren’t going to give up on me.”
From foster youth to foster care advocate
“Having a permanent home laid the foundation for my success. It also inspired me to pay it forward, because it’s up to each of us to share the opportunities we’ve had with the next generation.”
What I learned from my mother about adopting a teen
“Use humor!” and other parenting tips from a young woman who was adopted when she was 15.
Stepping through our fears—for Steven
When Helen Cotton and her husband decided to adopt a teen, she never imagined that it would be the “sweet, smart, caring little troublemaker” who had been a student in her third grade class.
“Adoption will open your heart to new adventures”
Shannon Pinkerton adopted children with Down syndrome and other special needs. She says: “I never saw people with disabilities as being different.”