It is National Adoption Month and one Arizona woman has given a teen who was shuffled between foster care providers an opportunity to grow up in a family, free from worrying about where he will go next.

It is part of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's effort to help foster kids grow up to be secure, productive citizens.

Jessica Frink, a sixth grade teacher in the Phoenix area, is not new to the foster care system. She adopted her son Henry, who then met a boy named CJ, whom he wanted his mother to adopt. After getting to know him, Frink became CJ's legal guardian, took him in and gave him a permanent home, which she admitted has its ups and downs.

"I continue pushing back and going, 'You're not leaving, so whatever you're doing, we can get through it,' and we continue pushing through," Frink recounted.

Instead of outright adoption, Frink chose to be CJ's legal guardian, which gives her all the rights of the parent without terminating his biological mother's rights. Instead, those rights were suspended and given to Frink.

There are currently between 6,500 and 10,000 children in Arizona's foster care system, according to the state's Department of Child Safety.

RJ Nunziata, recruitment supervisor of the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said once kids are adopted, the group continues to provide ongoing services for the kids and their new families.

"That allows us to provide a deeper support level to those adoptive families, where they can call us pretty much any time of the day," Nunziata explained. "They have an opportunity to meet with us throughout the month in support groups."

The Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation said while there are as many as 10,000 kids in foster care, there are between 2,500 and 3,000 foster care families in Arizona, which creates a notable gap in opportunities for kids who need a stable home life.

Source: Public News Service