Many teens in foster care have been disappointed by adults throughout their lives. Their birth parents were unable to provide for them adequately. Their foster parents couldn't give them the permanent family they needed. Caseworkers may have moved them from home to home, causing painful changes each time. In the end, these teens may feel they've been let down by every adult they've encountered.
How can we help these young people? Pat O'Brien has an answer: "Teens in foster care need at least one adult who makes an unconditional commitment to them. They need that commitment before anything constructive can follow."
I truly think this is the key to the healing of maltreated children and youth... at least one adult who makes an unconditional commitment to them.
The article continues...
O'Brien is the founder of You Gotta Believe, a New York child welfare agency that specializes in placing teens with adoptive families. "At our agency, we recognize that all teenagers need a parent. We define a parent as ‘at least one adult who makes a unilateral decision to unconditionally commit to a child for a lifetime.' For teens who need a permanent home, anything less is an artificial relationship."
Our teenagers need families, they need homes, they need a caring, loving adult who is there for them!
To read the entire article, click: Teenagers Need Unconditional Commitment
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