Case worker adopts former foster girl after six years of waiting.

Leah Paskalides, a caseworker, legally adopted her former foster client, 19-year-old Monyay, on April 27, 2021 after waiting because adopting while on the case would have been a conflict of interest.

Leah Paskalides, a caseworker and mentor with the Safe Children Coalition, formally adopted her former client, Monyay, when a judge signed the paperwork on April 27, 2021. Paskalides had long wanted to adopt but said workplace rules created a conflict of interest that prevented her from doing so earlier. The two had known each other for years and built a close bond despite a rocky start. Their story has been shared publicly as an example of an adult adoption and of the challenges young people face when they age out of foster care. Key details: - Paskalides and Monyay first met when Monyay entered foster care and was placed in a group home at about age 11. - Monyay finished high school a year early and spent time volunteering with other foster children. - Paskalides said she could not adopt earlier because it would have been a conflict of interest with her work as a caseworker. - The adoption was finalized on April 27, 2021, when Monyay was 19 and legally became Paskalides's daughter. - The article notes that roughly 23,000 young people age out of foster care each year and often face limited supports. Summary: The adoption gave Monyay a permanent family after years in the foster system and highlighted how adult adoptions can occur when earlier barriers exist. Undetermined at this time.