Two dads in Houston, Texas are making it their mission to encourage other couples, especially same-sex couples, to adopt. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more children are expected to enter the foster care system. But these two dads are hoping to change that narrative by sharing their own story of adoption.
Mike Johnston and his husband turned to surrogacy a few years ago to make their dreams of having a child come true. But when they had a conversation about their rescue dog, Bella, their dreams went down a different path. Johnston thought if they were willing to bring rescued pets into their home, why would it not be the same idea when it comes to having a family? According to FOX 7, at just 10 days old, the Johnston’s started fostering baby Ethan. It was only last year that Ethan’s adoption into the Johnston family became official.
However, the road to adopting Ethan was not easy. They faced challenges due to being a gay couple. A single parent adoption was the only adoption a local judge would grant. So, they went to another county to file for the second parent. The couple got help from Depelchin Children’s Center, which was there to support them on their adoption journey. According to Atasha Kelley-Harris with the Depelchin Children’s Center, the eligibility requirements to foster or adopt are simple. She says you have to be at least 21 years old or older, be single or married, and you don’t even have to own a home. You have to be able to show that you can provide for both you and the child.
iFoster reports that in 2019, there were approximately 440,000 children in foster care across the United States. Sadly, the demand for foster parents is at an all-time higher. For many children, they age out of the foster care system. Depending on where the child lives, 30,000 age out of the system between the ages of 18 and 21 every year. This means those children are forced to leave the foster care system without having found a forever family. They are then left to fend for themselves. 6.5 years old is the median age of children in foster care. The Johnston’s created an Instagram account called “2houstondads” with hopes of educating those in the gay community that it is possible to become parents.
Johnston says as a gay man, he never thought that becoming a dad would be an option. But thanks to the help of Depelchin, that dream became a reality.