Arkansas teen adopted after record-breaking 15 years in foster care

An Arkansas teenager who spent 15 years in foster care — the longest of any child in the state — has now been adopted by his guardians, whom he met through the organization Project Zero.

Key Takeaways:

• 19-year-old Cozy, who is nonverbal, has been adopted after spending 15 years in foster care in Arkansas.

• His adoptive parents were acting as his legal guardians when they felt the call to formally adopt him.

• Cozy's adoptive mother hopes that other foster children eligible for adoption will find loving homes.

The Details:

Cozy, a 19-year-old from Arkansas, has spent nearly 15 years in foster care, making him the longest waiting child in the state's program. His legal guardians, Tim and Anna Dietrich, are now his parents.

"Every single one of our waiting kids deserves a family," Anna Dietrich told 11 Alive. "They deserve a community like [the one] gathered today, and we are so grateful for each one of you."

She added, "The Lord made it very clear that we were supposed to, all out, adopt him. We're supposed to give him our name, give him our family, give him our whole hearts."

According to Fox 8, Anna Dietrich met Cozy through her job at Project Zero, a nonprofit that helps children in foster care find forever families. Cozy, who is nonverbal, is the couple's only child.

Arkansas teen adopted after nearly 15 years in foster care system

"First time we met with his team, they were telling us about the things that he really likes and toys that he likes, and they really focused on the star. And so... that's kind of become our banner for him [...] a star — which is why he's wearing stars, and he's got a star necklace and star toys," Tim Dietrich said.

The Bottom Line:

Anna shared that every child in the foster care system deserves a loving home. As of January 2024, there were 3,698 children in foster care in Arkansas. While not all are eligible for adoption, all are in need of a safe place to call home.

Tiffany Wright, director of the Division of Children and Family Services, was there to support the family, and explained, "Even as we celebrate this beautiful day, we must stay focused on the goal of finding homes for other children who need them, and the critical work of Project Zero. This adoption gets us closer to our goal of zero."