PHOENIX — An Arizona woman is challenging the norm after being adopted when she was 20 years old.
"It was a long time coming," Autumn Wise said.
Wise was in the foster care system from 3 years old until she aged out at 18.
"After my 18th birthday, I was like, 'I'm not getting adopted.' I don't care what people say. I've already, you know, come to terms with not being adopted and not having a family, I'm good with it," Wise said.
In the first six months of 2024, the Arizona Department of Child Safety reported nearly 330 kids aged out of foster care. Nearly half of them had more than five placements during their time in care.
"We're not bad kids," Wise said. "Kids are in the system not by their own doing or their fault."
Wise said there's some support in group homes or foster placements, but it's not like a family.
"It's kind of hard growing up not having that connection," Wise said.
The connection with her now parents started growing five years ago when they asked Wise if she wanted to be adopted. She said she was open to it, despite having already had three failed adoptions.
"I have been standing on my own two feet for as long as I can remember. Granted, I'm still very stubborn and still very independent, and I do have problems with asking for help still. However, my parents have given me a foundation where if I fall, they're there to help pick me up. I didn't have that growing up," Wise said.
A year later she'd be officially adopted. Now, she's feeling the impact of being part of a family.
"When it comes to foster kids, just because we age out doesn't mean that we don't need that support or that love or that familiarity with someone," Wise said. "Everybody needs a family, it doesn't matter how old you are."
Now, she wants others to know adoption isn't the only way to help.
"You don't have to adopt to be a part of their lives, all you have to do is care enough to either be a mentor or give gifts when needed," Wise said.
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