FACTSHEETS FOR FAMILIES | NOVEMBER 2020

Parenting Your Adopted Teenager

The teenage years bridge the transition WHAT'S INSIDE from childhood to young adulthood. It is a time of enormous change and development, Adoption and adolescent development when youth forge an identity and embrace new interests. Adoption adds complexity to the normal development of teenagers, Behavioral and mental health concerns regardless of whether they were adopted as infants or when they were older. This factsheet is designed to help adoptive parents Effective discipline understand the needs and experiences of their teen and use practical strategies to foster healthy development. These strategies Talking openly about adoption include approaches that acknowledge potential trauma and loss, support effective Additional resources communication, promote independence, and address possible behavioral and mental health concerns. Conclusion

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 1 ADOPTION AND ADOLESCENT The North American Council on Adoptable DEVELOPMENT Children published an issue of Adoptalk called "The Teen Years: Brain Development Adolescents experience rapid physical and and Trauma Recovery." For additional hormonal growth. As a result, they may begin resources, see Child Welfare Information to look like young adults in their teenage Gateway's web sections Understanding years. Although some youth may begin to Adolescent Development and Trauma and embody adult physical features, their brains Adolescent Development and the publications are still developing and they need emotional Understanding the Effects of Maltreatment on support and nurturance from caring adults and Brain Development and Parenting a Child Who continued parental guidance—whether they Has Experienced Trauma. seek it or not.

BRAIN DEVELOPMENT What You Can Do: The chemical changes that occur in the teenage brain during adolescence spur youth to take ƒ Expose your teenager to healthy risks and engage in new challenges. At the same activities (physical, social, and cultural). time, teenagers are less able to control impulses Set reasonable limits on isolating or and think through the consequences of their passive activities (e.g., screen time). actions. As a result, it is especially important ƒ Help your teenager take healthy risks they receive guidance from caring adults and (e.g., encourage them to try a new have opportunities to take healthy risks they sport, musical instrument, or dating; or can learn from. apply for a job, vocational school, or According to the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities college). Initiative on Adolescent Brain Development, the ƒ Allow your teenager to assume some teenage brain experiences significant cognitive control by helping them to set personal and social-emotional development that may goals and make plans and decisions. be vulnerable to the impact of early childhood Help your teenager understand the trauma and/or adoption. Sometimes the effects consequences of actions and decisions. of trauma do not show up until adolescence. ƒ If you suspect a developmental delay, While adoption itself may not significantly seek a professional assessment and affect brain development, early life experiences advocate for your teenager. If the do. For example, the brain of a teenager who assessment reveals a disability, talk has experienced trauma may become "wired" with school officials about creating to be hyperalert for ongoing safety threats and an individual educational plan to anticipate a chaotic environment and a lack of help meet your teenager's needs. support. Unaddressed, this can thwart a youth's Teenagers who do not qualify for ability to thrive physically and emotionally and special educational services can still hamper their capacity to learn new skills. benefit from simple adjustments in the classroom.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 2 INDEPENDENCE ƒ Allow for a gradual increase in your teenager's independence as he or she Teens often go back and forth between shows signs of readiness. Ask your wanting more freedom and wanting the safety child if he or she feels ready for specific and protection offered by their family. As they responsibilities or privileges. Remember prepare to transition to more independence— that teens who have experienced trauma living on their own, getting a job, or attending and/or who have attachment issues may community or a residential college—they may not be ready for responsibilities at the same question their permanence in the family. The time as other teens their age. If your teen impending separation may trigger emotions is not yet ready for certain responsibilities, associated with the loss of significant others, make it a goal to work toward them. including birth parents, siblings and other relatives, or foster families. Some teens may ƒ Give your teen a voice in decisions. adapt by acting more mature or independent Teenagers who feel heard and respected are than they feel to cope with fears. Others may more likely to cooperate with family rules. become more anxious and fearful of "losing" This is particularly important for teens who yet another parent and find ways to avoid or may have come from situations where they even undermine these transitions. felt powerless. ƒ Support your teen’s exploration of their Children who were adopted and experienced identity and culture. Teen years are an previous neglect or abuse often need extra important time for youth to explore their time and practice to adapt to independence racial, ethnic, religious, and gender identity and learn life skills. Adolescents who are and sexual orientation. Provide an open, newly adopted have the added challenge of supportive environment and access to peer trying to develop attachment to a family at and adult mentors and roles models they the very time that normal development would can turn to for information and guidance as have them pushing away. These teens may they wrestle with these important issues. need to spend more quality time with parents to build their attachment and security in the ƒ Clearly state your values regarding family. Slowing the transitions described alcohol, drugs, and other risky behaviors, above may be in their best interests. and emphasize healthy lifestyle choices. If your teen came from a birth family where What You Can Do: substance use was a problem, be aware ƒ Set consistent, clear limits and boundaries that he or she may be at greater risk for while allowing some independence. Let experiencing a variety of negative outcomes your teenager work through his or her (see Information Gateway's Parental normal adolescent developmental stages Substance Use and the Child Welfare and assert some independence within a System). nurturing and guiding environment. For example, look for opportunities to affirm your teen's choices in fashion and music.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 3 ƒ Reaffirm your teen's place in your family. acceptance and disclosure of being lesbian, As your teenager gets ready to leave for gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning college or move to independent living, offer (LGBTQ). reassurance that he or she is an important Teens who were adopted may question part of your family and that you hope and who they are more deeply than their expect he or she will be part of holiday and nonadopted peers. Forming an identity is family gatherings even when no longer more complicated for them. Not only must living at home. Stay in touch through they think about how they are similar to and texts, phone calls, or email so your son or different from their adoptive parents, they daughter feels like a central part of your must also wonder how they are similar to and family even while living apart. Model this different from their birth parents. behavior by demonstrating how you stay connected to extended family members When birth family information is missing, who live elsewhere. it further complicates the task of identity ƒ If your teen is anxious about separating, formation. Unknown or missing information encourage options that allow for may prevent youth who were adopted from smaller steps toward independence, like knowing the source of certain characteristics community college or job-training classes or abilities. This often drives the need to while he or she is still home. know more about the birth family. They may worry that they will take on certain "negative" IDENTITY FORMATION characteristics or repeat challenging behaviors of a birth parent. Teens whose Many teenagers may struggle with the race or ethnic background is unknown, or questions, "Who am I?," "Where did I come whose race or ethnicity is different from from?," and "Where do I belong?." Ultimately, their adoptive parents, may struggle with it becomes a question of defining their beliefs their racial identity and how they fit within and values, their educational and career their family and community. They may have paths, and their expectations for themselves. a particularly strong interest in meeting or Younger teens may start to define their spending time with birth family members or sense of self by expressing their individuality others of a similar race or ethnic background. through clothing, hair, music, and body décor (piercings, tattoos, etc.). Exploring how they What you can do: are different from their parents can be a ƒ Talk to your teenager about his or her healthy part of growing up. birth parents and extended family. Be open Teens may also start to identify more with and willing to explain what you know, no peers and less with family, often deepening matter how challenging the information their friendships with peers and starting to (see the Talking Openly About Adoption explore romantic relationships. Some teens section later in this factsheet). Encourage may be struggling with questions of sexual your teen to communicate openly about orientation and gender identity and may his or her thoughts and feelings. If there is experience additional stressors related to

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 4 limited information, make a commitment to ƒ Point out similarities between you and help find the answers. Provide information your teen. If your teen can see similarities about the birth family’s cultural, racial, and between the both of you, it may help religious backgrounds. Share photos, if strengthen his or her attachment to your available. family. A strong attachment can help your ƒ Develop a lifebook. If your teenager does teen feel safer as he or she enters the adult not already have a lifebook or similar tool world. Find activities and interests to share that records personal history, key events, and bond over to reinforce the ways in and important people in his or her life, which you're alike. now is the time to help create one. Some ƒ Talk openly about intimacy and sexuality adopted teens make creative photo-essays, with your teenager. Communicate your videos, or blogs to tell their story. For more values on dating, sex, and relationships. Talk information, see the Lifebooks section about what it takes to develop and maintain of the Information Gateway website for healthy relationships. This is equally resources, tips, and samples. important for teens with developmental ƒ Support youth in building a deeper delays or other physical, cognitive, or understanding of their heritage. The mental health challenges. Educate youth teenage years are an important time for about abstinence, safe sex, and birth youth to explore their racial, ethnic, and control. The U.S. Department of Health and religious identity and background. Connect Human Services offers a Talk to Your Kids youth to cultural, ethnic, and spiritual About Sex webpage. activities. Help your teenager learn about ƒ Support and affirm LGBTQ youth in his or her cultural background and race (see expressing who they are. Provide teens Information Gateway's Parenting in Racially with an open, supportive environment and and Culturally Diverse Adoptive Families access to peer and adult mentors and role factsheet and web section on Adoption by models they can turn to for information Family Type: Racially and Culturally Diverse and guidance as they explore issues of Families). gender identity and sexual orientation. ƒ Provide opportunities to interact with Promote healthy development and self- other teens and young adults who have esteem. Information Gateway's Resources experienced foster care and/or who were for Families of LGBTQ Youth web section adopted. This can help normalize your provides related material. teenager's experience and ease the feelings APPROACHING ADULTHOOD of differentness and isolation. Look for an adoption support group or mentorship An important part of parenting teenagers is program that includes members with creating the conditions in which they can the same racial, cultural, or national master adult tasks as they take on greater background as your teen. Check with your independence. Teenagers need time to adoption agency or search Information gradually learn and practice adult life skills Gateway's National Foster Care & Adoption and will need ongoing support systems to Directory. negotiate the adult world.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 5 Developmentally, teenagers who were ƒ Be clear about how you will help your adopted at an older age may need extra time teenager move into adult life. Young adults and encouragement to learn adult tasks. They need to know how long they can live at may not be ready for adult responsibilities home and whether they can expect their at the same age as their peers. Additionally, parents to help them with college tuition, teens who have experienced unstable living rent, health insurance, and other expenses. situations may not be emotionally ready to Base your support and expectations on your live away from their families, even if they are youth’s abilities, level of emotional security, developmentally able. Some may choose to and history—and not on his or her age. If live at home and attend a local community you feel it is time for your son or daughter college. Teens with learning delays or to move out, be sure to help him or her find disabilities will require extra time and effort suitable housing, employment, or schooling, to learn adult life skills. They may need to find as this can be overwhelming for young alternatives and adjustments for certain life adults. skills, such as driving. ƒ Advocate for services for youth with What You Can Do: disabilities. Under Federal law (the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act), ƒ Teach essential life skills. Provide varied by the time a special-education student opportunities to learn about and practice reaches age 16, the school must provide daily-living activities, such as managing a plan that may include help in obtaining their finances, cooking, doing laundry, further education, getting a job, or living making medical appointments, filling independently. Talk with the school’s prescriptions, or maintaining a car. Help "transition coordinator" about your teen's your teen identify other adults who can transition plan and available services. help them with specific skills, such as an uncle who knows a lot about cars or a BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL mentor who is a whiz at creating a budget. HEALTH CONCERNS ƒ Promote ongoing, supportive The teenage years can be a time of intense relationships. Few young adults are ready emotions and when behavioral or mental for fully "independent" living. Your teenager health issues surface, including some with will need continued assistance and genetic links, making this a difficult time for guidance from you, other relatives, friends, some adopted youth. Adoption-related issues, mentors, and others. Even after your young such as feelings of loss and grief, ambivalence adult moves out of your home, you can over identity, and complexities surrounding help him or her feel less overwhelmed their relinquishment and related insecurities, by providing emotional and tangible can add to those feelings. Your teenager needs support—perhaps by helping to paint a new your love and understanding more than ever apartment, showing up with a care package during these transitional years. of groceries, or giving tips on filling out tax forms.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 6 In addition to your unwavering support, your and any special needs your teen might son or daughter might benefit from talking have, such as attachment issues, medical with a counselor or therapist who is skilled conditions, or learning disabilities (see with adolescents and knowledgeable about Information Gateway's Finding and Working adoption issues. Having a teen adoption With Adoption-Competent Therapists). support group or a peer who was also adopted and who is a good role model or mentor can also be valuable. Signs a Teen May Need Professional For some youth, inner turmoil may lead to Help risky behaviors. Teens who were adopted may ƒ Your teen exhibits extreme moods or be at increased risk for a variety of negative emotions, such as the following: outcomes due to previous abuse or neglect. – Anger, sadness, or depression for Depression, anxiety, or relationship problems much of the time might indicate a response to trauma and loss. Childhood trauma does not resolve itself; – Extreme fearfulness or anxiety it often needs to be treated by a qualified, – Seeming withdrawn or completely trauma-informed behavioral/mental health lacking energy provider. ƒ Your teen engages in risky or out- Information Gateway's The Impact of Adoption of-control behaviors, including the addresses some of the key emotional issues following: that can trigger behavioral or mental health – Self-injury concerns in persons who were adopted. The Mental Health webpage on Youth.gov – Harmful sexual activity provides detailed information and resources – Eating disorders on teenage mental health. – Drug and/or alcohol use

What you can do: ƒ Your teen has anger management or ƒ Be aware of signs that can indicate your relationship problems and exhibits the teen needs help. (See the box below for following behaviors: more information.) Seek a professional – Shows extreme anger or aggression opinion from your doctor or a mental health with peers professional. – Finds family interactions stressful ƒ Find the right person to help. Adoption – Avoids family members and friends support groups, postadoption programs, – Has unsafe peer relationships and other adoptive parents can provide referrals for mental health professionals – Has no friends (is a "loner") who are knowledgeable about adoption and trauma. It is important that the professional understands the complexities of adoption

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 7 Harmony Family Center, a Tennessee-based ƒ Identify trauma triggers. Try to notice agency offering evidence-based therapeutic what might trigger past traumas and the services to children and families, provides accompanying behaviors or emotions. resources to help parents and caregivers, Certain noises, actions, and/or smells including a developmental timeline with may trigger memories of traumatic events. suggested sensory interventions for children Help your teen learn how to recognize and from birth through early adulthood. Sensory manage these set points. interventions are various mind-body exercises ƒ Create a safe space for your teen to or activities that can help your teen self- express emotions without being judged. regulate, focus, and calm down, such as Emotional outbursts may be a natural practicing yoga, listening to or playing music, response to reminders of past threats. or engaging in deep-breathing exercises. Try to remain calm and reassuring. ƒ Get professional help, if needed. THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA An adoption and trauma-competent Children and youth who were adopted may therapist may be needed to help your teen have been exposed to trauma early in life. and your family overcome trauma-related According to the National Child Traumatic behaviors (see Information Gateway's Stress Network, untreated trauma can Finding and Working With Adoption- interfere with physical, cognitive, and Competent Therapists). social-emotional development and result in behavioral and mental health problems. Depending on your teenager's prior Child Welfare Information Gateway offers experiences, he or she may overreact in several resources to help you understand certain situations, have a hard time with your teenager's behavioral and mental trusting, shut down emotionally, or act aggressively. The effects of trauma may be health needs: retriggered and/or reprocessed through the ƒ Understanding the Emotional Impact of developmental lens of adolescence. Trauma- Adoption (web section) related effects that previously seemed to have ƒ Behavioral Health and Wellness gone away may suddenly reappear. Resources for Children and Families What You Can Do: (web section) ƒ ƒ Be available, predictable, and Behavioral Health Consequences of understanding. Build trust by being Child Abuse and Neglect (web section) emotionally and physically available, even if ƒ Emotional/Behavioral Health Needs of your teen tries to keep you at a distance. Children and Youth (web section)

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 8 EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE What You Can Do: Teenagers will frequently test the boundaries ƒ Focus on attachment and relationship of family rules as they increasingly assert their building. Create avenues of open independence. They may experiment with risky communication and support that build trust or forbidden activities while navigating peer and a strong relationship. pressures. It is important that you be clear and ƒ Encourage and reinforce good behavior. consistent about your expectations for youth Point out things that your son or daughter and set reasonable limits (e.g., curfews). Talk does right as often as possible, and more openly about safety concerns. At the same time, often than the things you find wrong. Say yes allow your son or daughter to make choices as often as possible. and see that you trust him or her to make ƒ Be specific. Instead of telling your teenager to good decisions. Look for positive discipline be home "at a reasonable hour," let them know approaches that emphasize strengthening your the exact time you expect them in the door. relationship and support independence while providing guidance and structure. ƒ Give your teen a voice. Engage your son or daughter in setting reasonable rules and Teens who were adopted, particularly those who resolving issues. For example, ask, “What can were recently adopted or who were previously we do to help you remember to clean up the abused or neglected, require discipline practices kitchen after you’ve used it?" Being invited that emphasize relationship building and into the problem-solving process shows your support attachment and trust. It is important teen respect and motivates him or her to to reinforce positive behaviors as often as be part of the solution. If you find out that possible and be clear about which behaviors are your teenager has broken a family rule (e.g., unacceptable. Some punishment can trigger attended a party with no adult supervision), trauma memories, create anxiety, lessen trust, listen to his or her explanation yet be clear and cause further harm. In addition, discipline about limits and your concerns for his or her should take the teen’s prior experiences and safety. developmental level into account. For example, ƒ Make sure discipline matches your teen’s an adopted teenager who has experienced abilities. Match your expectations to your severe neglect may not respond well to the teen’s developmental stage. While using removal of his or her valued belongings. logical consequences can sometimes Requiring a youth who has attachment issues to discourage undesirable behaviors (e.g., go to his or her room may not be as helpful as limiting video game time in response to having that teen work alongside you to complete inappropriate behavior), it may not be a household chore. If your child struggles with practical for a teen who has difficulties peer relationships or low self-esteem, it is not seeing the connection between actions and wise to remove an activity (such as a youth consequences. In addition, tying incentives group or sport) that provides an opportunity for to short-term rewards (e.g., allowing use of growth in these areas. the car if good grades are maintained) may be

more powerful than longer-term goals such as studying for college.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 9 ƒ Stay calm. A teenager’s emotions can be imagine something worse than what actually overwhelming and result in challenging happened and withholding information can behaviors. Be a role model in how you deal get in the way of a trusting relationship with with frustration. When emotions "heat up," your child. The teenage years are an ideal time stay composed and resist the urge to raise to help your son or daughter understand his your voice. Take a few moments to calm or her birth family story and make sense of down, if needed. Reassure your teen that personal history. he or she is safe and cared for and discuss What You Can Do: the situation calmly when you regain composure. ƒ Be direct about your willingness to talk about adoption and your teenager's Information Gateway's Parenting Children and feelings. Your son or daughter may fear Youth Who Have Experienced Abuse or Neglect they are being disloyal to you if they want offers recommendations for how to handle to talk about their birth family and/or want discipline issues with youth who have been to have a connection with them. Let them maltreated. know that you love them and will support TALKING OPENLY ABOUT these emotional and physical connections. ADOPTION ƒ Be honest about your child's past. Parents who are positive about adoption, Teens who were adopted can handle comfortable talking about it, and acknowledge more sensitive and potentially difficult their teenager's feelings are best able to help information than younger children. their youth do the same. If you tense up when Let your teenager know what you know the topic of adoption is raised, you may create or can find out about their birth and a negative impression for your teen. Don't adoption circumstances. Share information wait until your teenager raises the topic or that may be upsetting or difficult and help asks questions about his or her birth family. him or her to manage the painful aspects of Some children never raise the topic for fear their past. of offending their adoptive parents. Others ƒ Help your teenager frame a full picture may act disinterested when they might really of his or her birth parents. Hearing one like to talk about it. Bringing up adoption in side of the story (for example, the birth a matter-of-fact way and inviting your child mother was not able to parent) provides to explore questions will encourage healthy an incomplete picture. Help your discussion and show your child you are not teenager consider the full extent of his threatened by their curiosity. or her birth parents' experiences and characteristics. Talk about them as You may struggle with sharing potentially individuals with strengths and challenges. upsetting information about your teenager's It is important to let your teen express past (for example, if your teenager was anger, disappointment, or frustration abandoned early in life or if one of the about his or her experience while also birth parents was incarcerated). Remember offering a more balanced perspective of that not being straightforward about your the circumstances. teenager's past might cause him or her to

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 10 ƒ Look for "teachable moments" to open What You Can Do: conversations. A television program, current ƒ Build healthy relationships with birth event, or a new family in the neighborhood family members if connections exist. might provide the perfect opening to ask Show respect for the family and maintain about your teenager's thoughts and feelings. a genuine commitment to supporting your ƒ Be patient. Communication may be a teen's relationships. struggle. Teenagers may shun conversation to ƒ If your teenager has not established assert independence. Talking while engaging connections with the birth family and wants in an activity, such as going some place to find his or her birth parents or additional together in the car, may come more easily. family members, explore options for learning Your teenager is more likely to share his or more. Ask your son or daughter about his her thoughts if you are calm, relaxed, and or her feelings about potential contact with open. birth relatives. This can be a very emotional ƒ Create opportunities for your teenager to process. Emphasize the importance of being talk with others. Meeting with other teens prepared and having supports in place before who were adopted or someone who serves in starting a search. a mentor role can create a safe haven for your ƒ Be familiar with your teenager's social teenager to discuss what's on his or her mind. media use. Establish internet rules and How to Talk With Tweens & Teens About provide guidance for safe use (e.g., don't Adoption on the Creating a Family website give out identifying information and location). offers additional tips. Let your teen know that you want to join him or her in searching and that you CONNECTING WITH BIRTH RELATIVES prefer your teen not to do this alone. Helping your teenager maintain or explore Discuss the possibility that a birth relative a relationship with birth family members— could try to make contact through social assuming this is in his or her best interests— media, the importance of you knowing can help develop your teen's sense of identity. about any attempts at contact, and the Talk with your adoption professional and see various ways you might respond—together Information Gateway's factsheets on Searching (see Information Gateway's Social Media in for Birth Relatives and Helping Your Adopted Adoption web section). Children Maintain Important Relationships ƒ Find support. You and your teenager may With Family and the webpage on Maintaining benefit from learning about other people's Connections With Birth Families in Adoption experiences, for example through support for more information. The internet and social groups for persons who were adopted and media have made it easier for youth to have adoptive parent support groups. To find contact with their birth families. While new groups in your State, search Child Welfare connections may be made, this may happen Information Gateway's National Foster Care & without your son or daughter being emotionally Adoption Directory. prepared and without your knowledge.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 11 ƒ Postadoption Services and Support is an Information Gateway webpage that provides Postadoption Contact With Birth information and examples of postadoption Relatives services. Child Welfare Information Gateway offers ƒ Support for Parents Who Adopt From Foster several resources to help adoptive families Care is an AdoptUSKids webpage that focuses maintain or develop relationships with on understanding the emotional needs of birth relatives: children who have experienced foster care.

ƒ Helping Your Adopted Children CONCLUSION Maintain Important Relationships With Parenting your adopted teenager can be greatly Family (factsheet) rewarding as you help your son or daughter ƒ Facilitating Postadoption Contact and navigate the need for greater independence Ongoing Relationships (web section) while offering continued guidance, supervision, ƒ Maintaining Connections With Birth and support. It is exciting to watch a young Families in Adoption (web section) person strengthen his or her identity and develop new capabilities.

Parents who show respect for their teens' background and histories will help create ADDITIONAL RESOURCES long-lasting, positive relationships with their ƒ The Center for Adoption Support and sons and daughters. With clear communication, Education provides resources for adoptive trust, and support, parents can help their parents. teenagers prepare for healthy, happy, and ƒ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and productive adulthoods. Prevention provides a webpage, Information Suggested citation: Child Welfare Information for Parents With Teens (Ages 12–19), that Gateway. (2020). Parenting your adopted includes health, safety, and parenting tips. teenager. U.S. Department of Health and ƒ The National Council for Adoption provides Human Services, Administration for resources for adoptive parents. Children and Families, Children’s Bureau.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/parent-teenager/.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 12