Approximately one in five youth in the US foster care system waiting to be adopted are teens, and since 2013 the number of teens in foster care continues to increase each year. Teenagers in foster care face a particularly challenging time getting adopted, with 15- to 17-year-olds waiting on average twice as long for an adoptive home as children 14 years old and younger. No matter their age, all kids need a supportive, loving home, and the teenage years are an especially critical period for parental help and guidance.

“Meeting with young people regularly who have left the foster care system, some with permanent families and some without, we are reminded routinely and emphatically how important a sense of belonging and connection through being a part of a family is to these young people and others like them,” stated Jerry Milner, the Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau. “When we allow children and youth for whom we have responsibility to leave our foster care system without one of the most important ingredients for their long-term success and well-being – a permanent family – we are doing them an injustice and perpetuating trauma in their lives.  Ensuring that they have permanency and stability in their lives must be a primal responsibility for all of us in child welfare.”

Oftentimes, prospective parents look forward to the milestones associated with raising a child from birth—such as teaching a child how to walk or speak, but don’t think about the rewards that come with raising a teen. This new creative serves as an extension of the campaign’s previous rounds of work and reminds viewers that adopting a teen from foster care also comes with its own benefits and life-changing moments. Ultimately, the work illustrates that teens can have as much of an impact on their family’s life as parents have in theirs.

Inspired by true stories and anecdotes from real families, the PSAs are filled with heartfelt memories that actual adoptive families have experienced after adopting a teen. Each PSA ends with “Learn about adopting a teen from foster care. You can’t imagine the reward,” reminding prospective parents that teens in foster care can also help them grow in new ways. In a new approach for the campaign this year, there will also be poignant docu-style videos featuring three real families talking about the rewards and experiences of adopting their teen.

“We spent hours talking with adoptive families during the creative process,” said Leo Leone, Executive Creative Director at Barbarian. “In those conversations, we found their stories to be genuinely compelling—often ending conversations with both smiles on our faces and tears in our eyes. That was the center of our creative idea—real, emotional, life-changing moments built on these special family relationships.”

The Ad Council will distribute the new TV, radio, print, out-of-home and digital PSA materials to media outlets nationwide this week. Per the Ad Council’s model, the PSAs will run in time and space donated by the media. Since the initial launch of the campaign in 2004, the campaign has received more than $608 million in donated media support across television, radio, print, out-of-home and digital media. At launch, AdoptUSKids will be supporting the campaign by hosting a Facebook Live event, featuring engaging discussions with adopted youth and premiering the new PSAs.

The work directs audiences to visit AdoptUSKids.org or to call 1-888-200-4005 to receive information about the foster care system and the adoption process. Potential foster and adoptive families can also call 1-877-236-7831 for information in Spanish.

For more information about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child or teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org or visit the AdoptUSKids social communities on Facebook and Twitter.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families
Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) administers national programs for children and youth; works with states, tribes, and local communities to develop services that support and strengthen family life; seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance the lives of children and their families; and provides information and other assistance to parents. Many of the programs administered by ACYF focus on children from low-income families; abused and neglected children; children and youth in need of foster care, independent living, adoption or other child welfare services; preschool children; children with disabilities; runaway and homeless youth; and children from Native American and migrant families. For more information on ACYF’s adoption programs, please visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/focus-areas/adoption.

AdoptUSKids
AdoptUSKids is a multi-faceted, federally funded project whose mission is to raise public awareness about the need for families for children in foster care, and assist states, territories and tribes to recruit and retain foster and adoptive families and connect them with children. The project is managed through a cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau at ACF. To learn more visit adoptuskids.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter, and view our inspiring videos on YouTube.

The Ad Council
The Ad Council brings together the most creative minds in advertising and media to address the most worthy causes. Its innovative, pro bono social good campaigns raise awareness. They inspire action. They save lives. To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org, follow the Ad Council's communities on Facebook and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

Barbarian
Barbarian is a creative digital agency dedicated to accelerating the brand to customer experience. Using creativity and technology, we consider brand ecosystems to create work that delivers long-term impact.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ad Council
Ben Dorf
[email protected]
212-984-1991

AdoptUSKids
Melissa Otero
[email protected]
410-636-7034

Barbarian
Peter Loftus
[email protected]
703-283-1306