Teen's documentary will focus on foster care benefits

LANCASTER - Alysia Wilson is living proof that teenagers can be adopted.

Wilson shared her story of her time in foster care and recent adoption at the Fairfield County Job and Family Services' child abuse prevention month kickoff Wednesday.

She was adopted March 30, a week before her 18th birthday. Now, the Pickerington Central senior is working on a documentary about the system.

Wilson began to speak out about the abuse she faced when she was 15. She was soon removed from her family and placed in foster care. She hated it, initially, and wanted to go back home. She said all she knew was life with her parents. She didn't know what support and care meant.

But now Wilson realizes that foster care and adoption has changed her life for the better.

"I can talk about my story, and I'm not ashamed," Wilson said."There's nothing wrong with being a foster kid."

She was afraid of making friends and being labeled a problem child because she was in the system. Kids aren't the reason they're in foster care, though.

"It's the people that take care of them. It's the things that happen to them," Wilson said.

After graduation, she plans to attend Xavier University. She's been amazed at what a supportive home and unconditional love can do for her confidence.

"I lived with child abuse for at least 15 years," she said. "I wish people saw what I was going through."

She's a firm believer in talking about the issue to remove the stigma, and that people can't ignore the warning signs of children in abuse homes.

Wilson thought teenagers didn't get adopted. She thought she'd be able to age out of the system and make it, but now Wilson sees that she'd be worse off without support.

"I am living proof that you can get adopted when you're almost 18," she said.

Mark and Kelly Brick, foster to adoptive parents, also talked about their journey.

They started their foster care training in 2006.

Along the way, they've met about 25 kids, whether through a foster family or brief respite visits. But their story focuses on their three adopted children.

"This is the story of three little Bricks and their iceberg," Mark said. "Kelly and I are not the story. We're just the ones that get to share it."

With many doctor's visits and challenges, Mark mentioned and thanked all the "heroes" that got the Brick family to today, including caseworkers from Fairfield County Job and Family Services. They've had help from many government and private agencies, friends, and family along the way.

"We know we didn't do this alone," Kelly said.

With the three little Bricks, just the right set of heroes were always there when needed. Funding is critical, too. They wouldn't be able to care for children with developmental disabilities or behavior issues without it.

"They are beautiful and what you cannot see when you look at them is what is holding them up is you," Mark said.

Kelly said that the primary reason she hears people are apprehensive to be foster parents is that they "couldn't let them go back."

"It doesn't take away a piece of your heart. It makes your heart stronger. Go ahead and try it," she said, adding that with eight years of fostering, she still prays for all of those children.

Job and Family Services will host a family fun festival Thursday starting at 5 p.m. at 239 W. Main St. A candlelight walk from the Government Services building to the bandstand will follow at 6:30 p.m.

tthurston@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4345

Twitter: @tristathurston