|
Sierra
Age
9
Sierra
is a sweet child who loves attention and loves to
interact with others. She has an easy going smile
and laughs often. At times, Sierra seems much
older than her 8 years. She enjoys spending time
with adults and loves to be the center of
attention. Although Sierra has some academic
delays, she has an air about her that radiates
intelligence and thoughtfulness.
Sierra is
a happy child with brown hair and a petite 4' 3
tall frame. She has an engaging smile with a
pleasant and friendly personality. Sierra does
enjoy playing with children her age and loves
pets.
Sierra's adoptive family should be
skilled and have the ability to advocate for her
treatment needs. The skills necessary for Sierra
to be successful are for her adoptive parent(s) to
be able to provide the love and nurturing that she
needs, coupled with an ability to set appropriate
boundaries. Her adoptive parent(s) should also be
able to advocate strongly for her service and
educational needs as well as being part of her
treatment services.
Sierra is a child who
needs a permanent home. She so much wants
her forever family and her treatment team
believes that a permanent home is the key to
helping Sierra be successful. Sierra has a lot of
love to give to her family, and is anxiously
awaiting her one and only adoptive home.
It
has been determined that Sierra should be placed
in a home with no other children or
men.
Bulletin
#12929 |
|
James,
Levi and Hannah
Ages
5, 4, 2
James,
Levi, and Hannah are a beautiful sibling group who
present a combination of both strengths and
challenges. While Levi currently lives in a
separate foster home, James and Hannah are placed
together. These are very lovable children who are
all looking for a very special family to call
their own.
James is an especially handsome,
sweet little boy with light blonde hair and a
light complexion. He has bright blue eyes with a
smile that sparkles. His smile shows a very
innocent and sweet nature about him. He likes to
laugh and play with his sister, Hannah. He enjoys
playing with toy cars and trucks as well as
playing on the foster mother's swing
set.
James
can be described as inquisitive, sweet, and
energetic. At times, James likes to help out
around the house with Hannah. While James has some
challenges, he has made tremendous gains since
being in care.
Levi is a bubbly, cute boy
with a light complexion and very light blonde hair
as well. He resembles James and they have even
been mistaken for twins. He has blue eyes and a
warm smile that lights up his face. He likes to
play on the computer and can even type words, such
as macaroni and cheese. He enjoys listening to
music and likes when the foster father plays
musical instruments for him. Levi can be described
as a quirky, energetic, and determined boy. Levi
is very skilled in some areas yet has some
hindrances in others. He can be very detail
oriented and much of the time becomes
distracted.
Hannah is a very strong
spirited, inquisitive little girl with blonde
hair, blue eyes with a light complexion. She
has a very sweet laugh that makes one laugh upon
hearing it. She likes to dance to music and
follows her older brother, James, around to try
and keep up with him. She likes to play on the
swing set at her foster mother's
home.
James, Levi, and Hannah, are in need
of a loving home that is able to provide
consistency, routine, and affection. The adoptive
family should know how to access necessary
resources, have the time to take them to their
numerous medical appointments, and advocate for
their educational needs. The adoptive family needs
to provide a home with structure and
predictability. They should have educated
themselves regarding the special needs of the
children and agree to use behavior management
techniques. The family should provide many
opportunities for education, socialization, and
pursuing individual interests. The children do
have a bond to their biological parents and should
be open to maintaining contact with the birth
family after placement.
Bulletin
#13014 |
Breanna
is an energetic and healthy 12 year-old girl.
She has long brown hair and green eyes. She
is talkative and thoughtful. Breanna loves to ride
her bike and swim. She is an avid reader and
especially enjoys comic books. Breanna loves
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and
chocolate! She is also extremely creative and
artistic in all areas of her life. She is really
good at drawing. Breanna is inquisitive and
well-spoken. She enjoys being with other people
but can also entertain herself.
Breanna has
two siblings. She has an older brother who is
placed in long term foster care and a younger
sister that was adopted. Breanna longs for contact
with her siblings. However, due to
each
child's
needs that has not been possible for the past few
years. Eventually when Breanna is in her adoptive
placement she would like to see her brother and
sister occasionally. Breanna would like to
maintain some contact with her siblings. DHS is
constantly assessing each child's needs to see
when visitation could be
possible.
Breanna
needs a patient and understanding family who can
support and encourage her as she continues to grow
and develop. Breanna would like a family that has
time to listen to her and spend time with her
daily. Breanna would benefit from being a part of
a family with a large extended family that she can
be connected to. She needs a family that has
energy to play and interact with her. She needs to
have clear boundaries and predictable routines.
Breanna needs a family who is willing to commit to
her long term. She also needs a family that can
provide stability and enduring caring even when
she feels unstable. Breanna also needs parents who
can advocate for her in her school setting if
needed. Breanna would love to have a family that
attends church and has animals. She also would
like to have a family who enjoys bike riding and
being outdoors.
Bulletin
#13058 |
|
Kailub
Meet
Kailub, a friendly and charming 10 year-old boy
with startling brown eyes accented with long
eyelashes. Kailub is of medium build and is very
healthy. He can crack a joke and make someone
laugh at any time. Kailub's wit can light up a
room and spark conversations with others well
beyond his years. Kailub is very smart and witty
but has the innocence of a boy who wants to know
about the world and is open to new experiences.
Kailub spends his free time playing his
Nintendo DS, taking care of his pet lizard
Spencer, building amazing Lego creations and
participating in gymnastics. In addition to
gymnastics his other favorite physical activities
include riding his bike and swimming. He has also
played baseball in the past. Most recently Kailub
has expressed a strong interest in learning to
play the violin and having opportunities for
growth through other artistic endeavors. Those
around Kailub feel he has particular strengths in
building and an engineering career awaits him in
the future; however Kailub currently has his eyes
set on a career as a pet store owner. Either way,
opening the doors of possibility and exploration
towards whatever he chooses to do or be in life
will go a long way in ensuring success with this
young man.
Kailub's greatest joy in life is
taking care of his pet lizard Spencer. Kailub has
developed a strong sense of responsibility in his
care for Spencer. As of late Kailub has been
particularly interested in learning how to breed
lizards and would like to learn how to build an
incubator at home for this purpose. Kailub has
been reading vigorously on this topic and projects
such as this would be a fantastic opportunity for
Kailub to not only build on his knowledge of
animals but to strengthen his relationship with
his adoptive parents.
Kailub can be
affectionate and caring with the people he knows
and loves. His face lights up when he sees someone
he cares about and he will offer hugs. He enjoys
communicating with adults. Kailub is very
inquisitive and likes to know all about the world
around him.
Kailub is a hearty eater with
favorite foods being spinach orange chicken,
chicken legs, candy (of course) cheeseburgers, and
especially corn bread. But beware, as asparagus,
celery (not even with peanut butter he adds) and
raw tomatoes are likely to elicit the ''eww!''
face from Kailub.
Kailub has been let down
by many adults over the years and it may take time
for him to feel completely safe and attached to an
adoptive family. Kailub needs parents who are
willing to take the time to work with him and
advocate for him. Kailub will enjoy an active
family to play games and go places with. He will
need creative interventions for his behaviors
especially in the area of pro-social communication
skills.
Bulletin
#13072 |
|
Family
Finding Training
Saturday
May 15th,
9am-12pm
Location:
A Family for Every Child | 880 Beltline |
Springfield, OR 97402
Please
note our new location:
In the Strip Mall behind Shari's. Go straight to
the end and we're in the corner office on the left
(across from the Register Guard Federal
Credit Union).
This
3 hour training is required to participate in the
Family
Finding project.
Improve
outcomes and have an impact on the future of
children in foster care by helping
reconnect "safe" family members and friends; by
building a family tree; by researching and calling
potential resources.
Please
RSVP to:
helen@afamilyforeverychild.com or
541-729-1458 |
|
DHS
requires prospective adoptive and foster parents
to complete a series of classes known as
Foundations Training for Caregiversand provides
this training through DHS offices, private
agencies and partnerships. Class topics
include:
Classes
begin with an orientation that provides an
overview of the adoption process in Oregon.
Free
DHS FoundationsTraining by County can be found at:
http://www.afamilyforeverychild.org
- then click on rainings'
A
Family For Every Child & Christian Family
Adoptions:
Foundations
Training For
Caregivers
Cost:
Free, Materials provided for each attendee
To
register contact: 503.232.1211 or www.christianfamilyadoptions.org
Orientation
Date: May 18 | Training Date: May
21-23
Boys
& Girls Aid Present:
Special
Needs Pre-Adoption Orientation and Training
Cost:
Orientation is free | $50/person for training
Training
fees will be credited towards Boys and Girls Aid
application fees
Location:
Boys and Girls Aid, 018 SW Boundary Court,
Portland, Or. 97239
Phone:
503.222.9661 | Toll Free 1.877.932.2734 |
adoption@boysandgirlsaid.org
Training:
April 17-18, 2010 | July 17-18,
2010 |
|
|
|
|
Four-year-old
Marvin is a sweet and loving little boy, who
will capture your heart with his smile and
spirit. He has spent most of his life in medical
foster care, where he had successfully recovered
from open heart surgery and other serious health
issues. Though he recently moved to another
foster home, Marvin is not yet out of the woods,
medically, and will continue to need ongoing
care from his treatment team. However, his
upbeat, happy demeanor demonstrates this little
boy's resiliency.
Due
to physically injuries to his head, prior to
entering foster care, Marvin is developmentally
delayed, but since his move, he began to walk
and now runs up to his foster Mom for a hug. He
speaks a few words and is learning sign
language, but his love of play is clearly
communicated with laughter. He is captivated by
toys that make noise, and he particularly loves
playing catch with his foster Mom, who says
Marvin is just beginning to blossom.
Marvin
needs a loving and committed family who can put
his needs above their own. He needs a family
with some knowledge of medically fragile
children, and who are willing to work with
Marvin's treatment team to help him thrive. With
a family that can focus on his strengths
and appreciate his capacity to love, Marvin will
be a joy to
raise.
Bulletin
#12773 |
Nitiai
(pronounced knee-tie) is an adorable boy in need
of a loving, stable home. He loves to be bundled
up and cuddled by his caretakers. He also likes
to be tickled behind his ears which makes him
smile. He does make a few cooing sounds at
times. His nickname is ''Ty.''
Nitiai
has blue eyes, wispy blonde hair and a fair
complexion. He is beginning to try solid food
and likes rice cereal and sweet potatoes!
Medical tests indicate he is able to hear
clearly but is unable to see.
Nitiai
is easily over stimulated but can be calmed by
his caretakers. He absolutely loves to be held
and cuddled and likes his pacifier. He has
learned how to take his pacifier out of his
mouth by himself. He has also learned to turn
over from back to front and front to back. He
can lift up his torso a little bit in
preparation for crawling. He has dis-covered his
thumbs and often will suck on his thumb for
comfort. He smiles at the sound of familiar
voices. Although Nitiai does not nap much during
the day, he regularly sleeps through the night.
Nitiai
is the youngest of five children in his birth
family. All of his older siblings are in foster
care or are adopted. Nitiai's adoptive family
should be open to contact with the families of
his older siblings, even if it is just to
exchange e-mails and pictures of the kids.
Nitiai
needs an adoptive home that can provide an
environment with low to moderate stimulation.
His bedroom should be in a quiet area where he
can retreat when he feels over stimulated.
Bulletin
#12915 |
Kelsey,
age 7, is tall and thin with medium length
brown hair and huge brown eyes. She has an
engaging personality. She can be warm,
affectionate and very bubbly. Kelsey has been
described as "the helper". She loves to clean
and help with household chores, such as folding
laundry. Kelsey enjoys drawing and telling
stories about the pictures she
draws.
Jacob is thin like his sister and
has the same engaging brown eyes. His hair is
short and dark brown. Jacob proceeds with
caution when meeting new people. Building
Jacob's trust takes time, consistency and
commitment.
Kelsey and Jacob need parents
who are going to be patient, consistent and
willing to earn the children's trust. The
children will flourish in a home using positive
reinforcement, such as tick charts or scenarios
where they can earn something of
value.
Both children will need time to
begin to trust their new family. These children
will need a family that is willing to understand
their special needs, the trauma they have
suffered and their behavioral issues. These
children need to know that their new family will
keep them safe, protect them and be there for
them no matter what.
|
Helping
Children Explain Their
Placement
Kay
Donley is well known for having sensitivity to
the child's point of view. This article reminds
us all to help children answer some very
difficult questions.
When
children must live apart from their family of
origin, whether in foster or adoption, they need
to master the telling of who they are and
how they came to be living apart from
their families. Placement workers, beset by the
complexities of locating willing substitute
families, grappling with the logistics of moving
child and belongings intact to a new family,
faced with a veritable blizzard of paperwork to
approve and finance the plan, may overlook this
problem.
Before
the dust has barely settled, the child will be
called to explain his person, his presence, and
his history to a long list of inquiries. New
neighbors, teachers, playmates, and
acquaintances will ask questions about him and
his status. Sometimes the questions will be
casually asked; sometimes he will be grilled
like a suspect. The child left to fend for
himself in these circumstances is usually forced
to say too much or too little. Sometimes he
embroiders the truth and gains a reputation as a
liar. Sometimes he volunteers lurid detail and
becomes an instant, exotic attraction.
An
experienced placement worker knows this in
advance and equips the child with a cover story.
(Please note - a cover story, not a cover-up
story! In the business world the cover letter is
a generally phrased, all-purpose letter used to
summarize more elaborate information provided
elsewhere). In placement, the child can easily
learn that his cover story, his short version of
who he is, is an appropriate response when
people ask him leading questions like: .....just
where did you come from?.... but who are you?
Without help in preparing the answers, the child
flounders. With help, he can respond
confidently, truthfully, and yet avoid trapping
himself into betraying private matters.
The
easiest way to prepare a cover story with a
child is to imagine the potential questions,
review what is appropriate information to share,
and role play questions and answers. This
technique works with children of all ages, as
long as they have basic language skills and can
learn appropriate social responses.
Pre-schoolers, teenagers, retarded children,
even disturbed children, can all benefit from
such help, as can the families caring for them.
To
provide the new family with background or
current functioning information on a child to be
placed and then leave the question of
appropriate handling of that information
entirely to their good judgment is foolish.
Excitement, surprise, or sheer foolhardiness can
lead families into sharing intimate information
about a child with people who have no business
knowing these things. Placement families must
always be warned about that impulsive phone call
to a best friend or close family member. The
simple trigger of a question like Well? Tell me
what the worker told you about him! can result
in confidences shared which can never be
retracted. The child is stripped and betrayed
even before placement.
It
becomes the job of the placement worker to help
the child and his new family anticipate the
difficulties and organize a three step defense:
1.
Imagine the potential questions.
Actually
make a list of the various possibilities and the
persons who may ask the questions. This helps
the child and family see the relevance of the
abbreviated version of the story. In the
excitement and fantasy surrounding the placement
scenario, the everyday facts of living and
forming new relationships may not loom large
until it is too late, and the child or family
may be caught unaware and without defenses.
·
Imagine
introducing the child to your neighbor.
·
Envision
the first day of school and questions asked by
classmates and teachers.
·
Picture
the first family gathering and the remarks made
by new grandparents, cousins,
uncles...
·
Consider
the first day in the new neighborhood, playing
with children who are understandably curious
about the new child.
2.
Review the appropriate information to be shared.
Children
often have trouble understanding the right to
privacy. They need help from adults to
distinguish between what is known and
what is shared. This is a good
opportunity to help children learn how to be
truthful but appropriate in giving answers to
personal questions. It also protects them from
disclosing information which might later be
embarrassing to them or used against them in
destructive or hostile ways.
Simple
declaratory sentences are best: My name is Tony
Johnson. I used to live in Cleveland. I'm gonna
live here because my folks have problems... I
have to live here until things get better
at home...I'm being adopted...I got adopted
because I couldn't live with my other family
anymore...
Three
basic responses are those most often needed.:
The
child's name (be consistent; use his legal name
so he can make the same response at all times;
using one name at home and another in school can
be very difficult for the child.)
The
child's origin (offer the basics only; most
people who ask where the child comes from are
satisfied with the name of the state or town,
more detail is not necessary; children can be
taught to deflect more probing by responding
with a question of their own: ...and where are
you from?
The
whereabouts or general circumstances of the
child's biological family (the implication is
usually clear, the questioner wants to know why
the child is not with them; children can answer
briefly and truthfully without providing
details; if the questioner is persistent, the
child should be comfortable in ending the
conversation: ...hat's family business...I have
to go now...my family would have to answer
that...
3.
Role play the questions and
answers.
Be
sure the child knows the three most common
concerns (as above) and can comfortably respond
to questions about them. The family should be
able to respond in accord with the child.
A
placement worker has a good opportunity to show
the child and family they can cope with a new
situation with confidence. Everyone feels more
competent. They can share an essential social
task in anticipating m analyzing and solving a
real life problem. By acting out the possible
questions and answers together, they come to
grips with a current problem and learn more
about each other. They develop a sense of unity.
They put a little more money in the bank
account, meaning they accumulate some shared
feelings to draw on later when difficulties
arise between them. They may even see this as
one good way to solve other
problems.
Every
child entering a new living situation needs this
preparation. When it is a simple matter of a
family moving to a new home, the an-swers to
direct questions come easily. When the child
moves because of family distress, the answers
become more troublesome. Most children are not
prepared to deal with the natural curiosity of
children and adults they will meet. It becomes
the responsibility of the placement worker to
help the child and his new family respond to the
situation.
The
methods used can promote stronger ties between
child and family and point the way toward
resolving yet other problems.
The
child should also understand that he will not
have to cut the ties he has now in order to have
a permanent family. His friends will be able to
write to him, and the foster parents will want
to send birthday and Christmas cards. If there
are siblings, he will be able to keep in touch.
The child needs to meet adopted children,
especially older ones who remember their
placements. A potluck supper or family activity
with an adoptive parents' group would be ideal.
There
is always the fear in the worker's mind that the
child will suffer more if he is prepared for
adoption and no family is found, than if the
whole topic of adoption is avoided. We are not
being responsible if we deny the children
families bebcause of our fears. The risk is
worth taking.
Publicity
can be explained as a method to recruit lots of
families interested in adoption. The family for
the child may or may not be among them. The
worker should be careful not to let the child
feel that his forever family may not exist. Of
course, they exist! Our job is to find them.
Childdren who are unsure about adoption are the
ones who most need an all-out effort to find
them permanent families.
Publicity
can be explained as a method to recruit lots of
families interested in adoption. The family for
the child may or may not be among them. The
worker should be careful not to let the child
feel that his forever family may not exist. Of
course, they exist! Our job is to find them.
Children who are unsure about adoption are the
ones who most need an all-out effort to find
them permanent families.
With a
35 year career in Child Welfare, Kay Donley is a
nationally recognized and honored adoption
professional and educator. She has been on the
staff at several agencies, including Michigan's
Spaulding, the nation's first special needs
adoption agency. As a Training Consultant for
the National Resource Center for Special Needs
Adoptions, she developed educational curricula
and materials for adoptive parents. Ms. Donley
is now enjoying
retirement. |
Sparkling
eyes, charming smiles and beautiful singing
voices! These adorable siblings need an adoptive
placement that can capitalize on their strengths
and interests as well as meet their unique and
varied needs.
Amara is a beautiful girl
who is tall and thin for her age. She is
Caucasian and African-American. Amara is
outgoing and chatty. She loves arts and crafts,
coloring, puzzles, and anything where she can
work with her hands. She has fallen in love with
working in the garden. Her favorite animals are
horses, pits, and worms. She is involved in Girl
Scouts, church, Sunday school and her church
choir. She and her siblings have beautiful
singing voices and Amara has sung both a duet
and a solo at church. Amara likes playing with
dolls, basketball, running, and climbing. She is
very social and likes to be around others. She
enjoys spending time with the neighbors' horses.
Her favorite colors are white, red, pink, blue,
purple, and black. Amara likes to put together
funky and fashionable outfits and beams when she
is praised on her fashion choices.
Ethan
is a handsome and sturdy preschooler who appears
older than his age. Ethan has Hispanic,
African-American, Caucasian, and Native American
ancestry. He is noted for his bright smile and
hearty laugh. Ethan likes to play out in the big
backyard of his foster home on nice days. He
rides scooters, little bikes, plays with sticks
and rocks, swings, and climbs the play
structure. Inside he can now sit through a movie
and enjoys cartoons. He loves his farm set,
dinosaurs, fire trucks and ambulances. At school
he enjoys tactile toys like the rice table,
puzzles, playdough, and flubber. He has started
to engage in pretend play and likes to dress up
like a cowboy or a ladybug. He enjoys physical
attention and being cuddled by adults he trusts.
Ethan, like his sister, has a beautiful singing
voice and responds well to
music.
Jomie'lei (pronounced Jaw-mee-lay)
is an adorable little girl noted for her pretty
smile, soft cheeks and great curls. She goes by
the nickname Tuca. Jomie'lei is Ethan's full
biological sibling and they share the same
multi-racial ancestry. Jomie'lei is very
fun-loving and gregarious. She has a happy
temperament. She likes to climb and is very
active. Like most toddlers, she loves to explore
her environment. She LOVES shoes. Her foster
parents have to put shoes out of her reach
because she will find them and eventually put
them on (often tracking mud on the carpets). She
will say ''Dis my shoe-y, dat my shoe-y.'' She
loves food and if someone has something to eat,
she becomes their best friend and
will say ''my bite?'' hoping they will
share. She loves to color and will color longer
than Amara. She can be distractible. She has a
pretty singing voice like her siblings. She
loves her foster father and is very much a
daddy's girl.
The children have a good
bond with their biological mother and enjoy
spending time with her. They do not have
relationships with their biological fathers.
Their birth mother is currently working to have
the children returned to her care but would
likely be interested in mediation for some
amount of openness with an adoptive
family.
|
Meet
Kimberly and Breanna, two energetic and fun
girls who enjoy being silly. Kimberly, who goes
by Kimmi or Kim, has short brown hair and
beautiful dark brown eyes. She loves playing
games, reading, and playing sports (soccer and
basketball in particular). Breanna has large
blue eyes and short brown hair with bangs.
Breanna's interests include playing board and
card games. She also enjoys being active and
playing outside. Both girls love to eat sweets.
Kimberly would select sugar cookies as her
favorite food and Breanna specifically chose
''sugar on candy'' as her favorite
food.
Kimberly and Breanna have a strong
bond with their biological father, and were
visiting with him on a regular basis both in the
foster home and community prior to October of
2009. The girls also have a very good
relationship with their paternal grandparents,
who were visiting the girls on a weekly basis
prior to October of 2009. Since the disruption,
their biological father has sent them gifts for
Christmas and their paternal grandparents have
been writing to them on a regular basis as well
as sending various holiday gifts. In person
contact has not occurred yet due to the girls
needing to stabilize but will be looked at in
the near future. Ongoing contact of some form is
recommended for the girls.
Kimberly is a
very sweet child and tries hard to please
people. She is usually happy and tries to be
helpful to those around her. Kimberly is a
social child and has numerous friends at school.
She easily attaches to her caregivers and enjoys
giving and receiving hugs.
Breanna is an
energetic slender child who enjoys smiling. She
has been noted to be affectionate and enjoys
giving and receiving hugs.
Kimberly and
Breanna will need to continue in therapy after
they have transitioned to an adoptive home. They
need an experienced family with a large amount
of patience that is open to utilizing resources
and following treatment provider suggestions. A
family that is open to ongoing contact with the
biological family will also benefit the girls.
Kimberly and Breanna are two sweet and wonderful
girls eager to be adopted by a family that is
willing to commit to caring for the girls on a
long term basis.
Bulletin
#13062 |
Another
Place At The
Table
Another Place At
The Table is
emotionally draining and fulfilling at the same
time. While the subject matter is not
lighthearted, the writing is excellent and the
reading is fast-paced. Harrison has presented an
open, honest view of her life --- faults
included. Perhaps that is what makes the book
exceptional.
Reviewed
by Melissa Brown
*Kathy
Harrison has been a foster parent to nearly one
hundred children. In 1996, she and her husband
were named Massachusetts Foster Parents of the
Year, and in 2002, they received the prestigious
Goldie Foster Award. |
Family
Support Meetings
Daytime
Meeting Adults Only (no childcare) at:
AFFEC
880 Beltline Rd. Springfield, OR
97477
Evening
Meetings at:
AFFEC 880 Beltline Rd. Springfiield, OR
97477:
May
13th: 6-8pm
May
27th: 6-8pm
We
are currently looking for a space that both
adults and children can meet in the same
building. If you know of a location, please
contact
lisa@afamilyforeverychild.org
We
Also ask that you RSVP so we can plan
appropriately. We do have speakers lined up for
some of these meetings, if you have a topic you
would like more information on, please contact
Lisa. |
"People
should know that I like long sleeve shirts,
cheeseburgers, and chocolate chip mint ice
cream. I want a family that is nice to me, a mom
or a dad that is kind, kids I can play with and
a puppy."
Christopher's
exuberance about being adopted is hard to beat!
Whether extolling the merits of esteemed Pokémon
characters or of basketball superstar Kobe
Bryant, Christopher's crisp, 10-year-old boy
energy is a breath of fresh air. With
extraordinary resilience, this plucky,
hard-working child has transformed rough
circumstances into a hopeful opportunity.
Christopher's sweetness, his concern for others,
his inquisitive spirit, and his lion-hearted
courage have grabbed all of our hearts. He will
grab yours as well. Please consider adopting
Christopher.
*Photos
compliments of Oregon Heart Gallery
Please
contact Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiter, Kendra
Morris-Jacobson at 503-542-2330
or
kjacobson@boysandgirlsaid.org to
learn more about Christopher |
At
the tender age of 19, I married my high school
sweetheart. He was also 19. Four years later, we
had our first child, a son. Four years after
that, we had our daughter. Here is where we had
a difference of opinion. I wanted to have more
children, my husband was done. He had a boy and
a girl, his family was complete or so he
thought.
Approximately
three years ago, while at work (my husband is an
office manager for an auto repair shop), a
gentleman came in for an oil change. They struck
up a conversation that went something like this:
(My husband) What do you do for a living? Brian
(customer), I am an advocate for children in the
Pennsylvania foster system. Did you know there
are over 500,000 children in the foster system
in the United States?
We
are active members in our church. Our senior
pastor has an adopted son, our pastor of
biblical counseling has four adopted children,
and even my brother and his wife have an adopted
daughter. Adoption is not foreign to us we
just didn't think we would be called.
Brian
came to speak at our church and from that
point we were on a quest. Not just for one
child, but siblings. My husband thought it would
be a comfort for a child to have a common bond
with someone coming into a strange home. In
December 2008, I found Ben, Marrissa and Luis on
the Lane County Heart Gallery website. We went
to committee in April 2009 and were selected as
a match for these three kids. It was a LONG road
from the Summer 2008 to April 2009, but we were
finally able to speak to them on the phone. We
flew out to meet them and brought them home at
the end of May. They have been with us ever
since.
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How
can you contact A Family For Every
Child?
Call,
email, or visit us online or in
person!
 880
Beltline Rd.
Springfield Oregon
97477
office - 541-343-2856
toll free
- 877-343-2856
fax - 541-343-2866
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