c6077

Child's name: Matthew
Number: C6077
Birthdate: 12/94
State: Washington
Listed: 11/05, Updated 5/08

If you have completed an adoption homestudy and would like to have your information forwarded to this child's worker, contact us.

Legally free, MATTHEW (12/94) is an incredible pre-teen who is blossoming. He is inquisitive, sociable and has a keen interest in science. He is very savvy with electronic equipment, i.e. digital cameras, PlayStation games, etc. While he is agile and coordinated and enjoys playing “street basketball (he tells us he very good),” he is not particularly athletic. He does, though, enjoy swimming at the neighborhood pool and riding his bike. He also likes cartoons, video games, his after school program, and going to summer camp. He continues to read well beyond his grade level.

Since coming into foster care in October 2003, Matthew has grown by leaps and bounds. He has made such good progress that he no longer qualifies for speech, occupational, or physical therapies. His foster mom describes him as a sweet boy who likes to be independent. He is cooperative, helpful, follows the rules in his foster home, sleeps well and has a good appetite. His foster mom describes him as a sweet boy who likes to be independent. Matthew prefers a neat and clean appearance. He responds well to counseling and will likely benefit from future therapy. The medication he takes to help ease his feelings of loss and sadness also makes a big difference in his behavior and ability to function.

Next fall, Matthew will be in a mainstream seventh grade program for the 2008-2009 school year. His transfer to middle school this past year went quite well, as he continued to receive support until he has adjusted to his new environment.

While Matthew does well living with other kids (and family pets!), being an only child could be helpful if he had lots of social opportunities to develop his social skills. He could also do well with one or two much older siblings who could help him grow socially and emotionally.

Matthew has experienced rejection and will need to know that an adoptive family will make a permanent commitment to him. It will be important for his adoptive folks to have a good grasp of how early neglect, abuse, and failure to protect impact on a child’s sense of well being and safety, as well as his development. Because Matthew is not usually comfortable with physical displays of affection, he needs a family that is able to respect his need for personal space. Matthew needs parents who can keep him focused and involved in the present with healthy activities, who will see that his daily life is predictable and consistent, and who can provide lots reassurance and support. Matthew needs to be able to maintain contact with his siblings as he is growing up.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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