The Coalition's First Adult Adoption: Cheyana's Story

Cheyana’s life hasn’t been easy. Until recently, she’s lacked consistent parental relationships. Despite the hurt stemming from that, she’s still managed to find slivers of joy along the way. She expresses herself through creation, primarily through painting and drawing. To her, it serves both as a source of joy and self-expression. And while there have been plenty of times when she’s been in need herself, she has a passion for helping others. Her job at an art studio is one way she does so, but it’s also just something she tries to do in general in an effort to help those who may be struggling to find relief.

At age 12, Cheyana entered foster care in October 2014. She bounced between homes for years until the Coalition took on her case in January 2020. Cheyana was 17 years old and a senior in high school when she entered the Coalition’s Extreme Recruitment? program.

With Cheyana’s 18th birthday fast approaching, Maddie—the Extreme Recruiter assigned to her case—quickly realized it would be the first-ever adult adoption case in the Coalition’s 30-year history. Despite her age, Cheyana was unfettered in her determination to find a forever family.

Through family finding, Maddie was able to locate a relative, Cheyana’s maternal grandmother, who was willing to take her in. The team agreed to work with Cheyana’s grandmother toward adoption. Throughout the investigation, they found that Cheyana’s mother, whom she did not have a good relationship with, lived with her grandmother. That information rendered this placement void.

The Coalition later received word from Cheyana’s mother that she would be moving to California, so she was allowed to move in with her maternal grandmother following her mother’s departure. However, a few weeks after move-in, her mother returned from California, so Cheyana was forced to leave. She was again faced with the uncertainty she knew all too well. There was no one in Cheyana’s family both willing and able to adopt, so she agreed to move forward with the general recruitment process.

Cheyana lost her father at age 4, so living with him wasn’t an option. The void his death created — paired with her poor relationship with her mother — has proved especially challenging throughout her life.

After several families inquired about adopting Cheyana, Maddie sat down with her to discuss their options. Cheyana expressed interest in two families, including Jake and Lauren’s.

Maddie set up a Zoom meeting for Cheyana to meet Jake and Lauren in November 2020. The meeting was a success. Jake and Lauren’s bubbly personalities complemented Cheyana’s shy demeanor. They did all the talking. The group instantly hit it off. Their excitement at meeting Cheyana was undeniable; they gave her a virtual tour of their home and showed her the bedroom that would one day be hers if she chose to join their family. Maddie facilitated a few more Zoom meetings between the three, all of which went extremely well. Cheyana was confident Jake and Lauren were going to be her forever family.

They have built a strong bond over the past two years. Jake and Lauren have been there for Cheyana through the good times and bad times. They even took her on a family vacation with them last year.

Jake and Lauren have three biological children: a three-year-old and twin babies born in January of this year. Cheyana already views herself as their big sister, taking that role very seriously.

When Jake and Lauren first expressed interest in adopting Cheyana, they were very intrigued to learn what she wanted in a family. They centered Cheyana’s wants and needs throughout the entire process. In an email to Maddie, Lauren stated, “What Cheyana is doing is extremely brave. She is legally an adult, but she is still putting herself out there, hoping to find a forever family. I have what she wants: a family, and I would love to grow it and share it.”

On September 28th, at the age of 20, Cheyana will officially become a part of the Harris family. After years of navigating a tumultuous upbringing, Cheyana is poised to move forward into adulthood with the support system she never had.