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