Many teen-age girls have lived in Dot Jackson’s foster home in Piqua, about 80 miles north of Cincinnati, during the past dozen years. Jackson cares for teens with attention-deficit, hyperactive activity disorder, bipolar disorder and similar issues. She works for a private network which contracts with public agencies such as the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services. 

“There’s lots of drama – a crisis moment every day,” Jackson said with a laugh. “Some of the kids they get kicked out of school on a regular basis.” 

In December, Jackson became an adoptive parent for the first time. She adopted Kimberly, a 17-year-old developmentally delayed teenager. Hamilton County Children’s Services, a division of the county JFS, placed Kimberly in the Jackson home as a foster child in September 2007. Kimberly had been in foster homes most of her life. Her birth mom is unable to care for her and her father is unknown.

“By spring, I knew that I wanted to adopt,” Jackson said. “She stole my heart. She seemed like mine, even before she was adopted.” 

Jackson saw an obvious need for stability in Kimberly’s life. A failed adoption had fueled her insecurities. 

“She didn’t trust,” Jackson said. “She felt beaten down.” 

The adoption was finalized in Hamiton County on Dec. 12, 2008. 

“It was an emotional day,” Jackson said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Jackson already has noticed positive changes in Kimberly. She has gained the confidence to study to become a day care worker. (“She’s very good with little ones – very gentle, very kind,” Jackson said.) Kimberly may work for Goodwill Industries this summer. She has excelled in a lab at vocational school. She’s on an Individualized Education Plan and receives special education. 

“Now, she’s got backbone,” Jackson said. “She’s blossoming to be a fine young lady.” 

Jackson describes her adoptive daughter as “very low maintenance.” 

“She’s content to be at home watching a movie or walking around at the mall and shopping,” she said. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys swimming and gardening. She’s a Cincinnati Bengals fan. “We went to a football game – the first one they won,” Jackson said. 

Jackson, 58, only takes in girls ages 10 or older, mostly teens, because she gets too emotionally attached to younger children – and would have trouble seeing them return to birth families.   

She decided to become a foster parent during a full-time internship as a caseworker with juveniles. It had become apparent that the job would not allow her much time with her own children.

Jackson lives down the street from her biological daughters, ages 30 and 18. The single mom has been divorced for 12 years. 

“They just love Kimberly to death,” she said. “They will be here for her.” 

Kimberly probably will have plenty of foster sisters to keep her company. Jackson is caring for three foster teens now. 

“I’ll probably be a foster parent until the day I die,” Jackson said. “She said she’s not moving out until she’s 35. That’s fine with me.”