At 52, he became a first-time single dad by adopting his teen son through foster care |
Stacy Barr and his son Dakota’s story of love and family is changing the face of teen adoption through foster care. The duo (who are now 57 and 22) were brought into each other’s lives at exactly the right time in 2018.
Barr had a desire to be a father. A seed had been planted about fostering and adopting 10 years prior after plans fell through to take in his friend’s kids during his time of need. One day in 2018, with that want still in his heart, Barr Googled how to become a foster parent.
“What I knew about the foster system was to do what I could to make their life better for whatever period they were in my home. Dakota was the first child placed with me [on April 6, 2018],” Barr tells Upworthy. “He had just turned 14, had been in one home before, and came to my house without us knowing each other at all.”
Single parent fostering
From the start, the two quickly bonded.
“[Dakota] didn’t even know he was coming to a single-parent home. From day one, we started navigating life together,” Barr says.........