Ad Council Documents Firsts with the Arntson Family to Encourage Adoption

After launching its “Firsts” campaign last month, Ad Council is back with a docu-style film that tells the true story of how an adoptive family celebrates real milestones with their child – no matter what age they are. Parents who adopt kids from foster care feel a calling to do it, but it often takes years to act upon. Prospective parents may feel like they need to be all-star parents in order to handle the demands of raising a teenager from foster care. Fear, doubt, pessimism, and apprehension all deter folks from feeling that they are ready to take on the task of raising a teen “from scratch”. This film aims to break down the considerable emotional barriers that prevent families from adopting teens and spark a fire in prospective parents’ hearts to make a difference in someone’s life.

Animated by Andrew D. Zimbelman and directed and edited by Forsman & Bodenfors in-house studio, “Firsts with the Arntson’s” tells the story of the Arnston family, who added to their family of four by adopting Isaiah as a teen. Their story debunks the myth that the only way to enjoy milestones is to raise a child from infancy. Prospective parents may fear that not being a part of a child's life from the very beginning would mean that they would not witness a child’s special moments such as first walk, first word, etc. This film seeks to highlight all of the amazing and rewarding “firsts” a family can experience with a child in those teenage years.

The truth is – when you adopt a teen – you may miss out on first steps, first words or the first day of school, but there are still plenty of milestones to be enjoyed. You still have the opportunity to create lasting impact and unique memories and this film illustrates that with vignettes about Isaiah’s first time driving a car, his first Thanksgiving, and the first time he felt truly comfortable in his new home.