PENSACOLA - Florida ranks first in the nation in increasing Foster child adoptions...

But one group of foster children outnumbers others by as much as 3 to 1.
It's the number of teenagers available for adoption.

Most adoptive families don't initially consider teens, but as Jim Carmack explains, that's exactly what one local family got.

Debra and Chris Banks knew they wanted to adopt from the Foster Care system.

Debra & Chris Banks/Adoptive Parents
"We have biological sons who are 5 and 4, and we had heard a lot of people say a lot of things about birth order. 'You don't want to adopt out of the birth order. You don't want to confuse children. Always adopt younger than your youngest child.' So we were looking at younger children."

They went to a Gallery Night event in Pensacola, which showcased photos of kids in Foster Care.

(CHRIS)
"Everybody was flocked to the little children. And you have all these photos that just don't have anybody around them looking at them. // And that's where we found Megan's picture."

Megan Banks/Adopted at 16
"I got put in Foster Care a couple of weeks before my 13th birthday. And I was in Foster Care until I was 16.

Something about Megan's picture really struck a chord. The Banks' found themselves wanting to adopt a child who was older than the length of time they had been married.

(Megan)
"I was counting on my biological family adopting me because, I just always thought 'well, they'll eventually adopt me, or when I turn 18 I can make it on my own. I can do everything all by myself.'

The state provides for children in Foster Care until they are 18 years old. At that time, they 'age out' of the system, which means they are on their own.

(Megan)
"And finally my case worker talked me into adoption. She was like, 'Look, this woman is beating down our door, OK? You'd better at least meet her! At least meet their family!'"

(Debra)
"Of course I didn't know how to have a teenage daughter. It hasn't been that many years ago since I was a teenager, I don't think! She thinks it has, but I don't think it has. You take it a step at a time."

Peggy Custred/Families First Network
"Many people call me and say they want a younger child because they want to be able to 'mold that child'. My belief is that those children already have a set personality. And our older children are as anxious to have a family and fit into a family as a younger child is. And just because a child turns 18 doesn't mean their not still going to be a part of that family because we're looking for a family for a lifetime for a child."

Now the Banks' realize adoption isn't about age, it's about family.

(Megan)
"When you're looking at it as a teenager's point of view, you'd just be thankful just for somebody to give you a home, food to eat, a bed to sleep in and clothes on your back. But once you kind of get adopted, it's like you don't only get that, you get parents that as soon as you wake up 'Hi! Good morning! Love you!' ya know?"

(Chris)
"We're not the perfect family. There are no perfect families, but family's perfect."

(Peggy) (Cover with b-roll of banks family)
Our children really need you. They want to be adopted. They want to be a part of a family. They're not fussy about the kind of families that come forward. They just want someone who's going to be there for them, who's going to love them, and teach them, and enjoy them."

There are about 1,000 children in Florida who are waiting for adoption. There is no cost to adopt through the Foster Care system, and if you are interested in finding out more, there is a free, no commitment information class provided by families first network. You can contact Peggy Custred at Families First, or access adoptflorida.org. And FYI, the next Gallery Night to feature kids available will be held tonight in downtown Pensacola.Adoption Part II