c6328

Child's name: Justin
Number: C6328
Birthdate: 5/94
State: Idaho
Listed: 7/06

Idaho Wednesday's Child/SNAPS profile for Justin

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

A young preteen, Justin (5/94) benefits a lot when he has regular opportunities to focus his energy in physical activities that he really loves, such as football, rollerblading, and skateboarding. Justin has some nice strengths for adoptive parent(s) to encourage and support. He likes to read. He’s good at math. And he enjoys computers. Such interests pay off for him in the classroom. Justin enjoys school, particularly when he has the structure and emotional and behavioral supports that help him stay on task. Justin’s worker tells us that although his good sense of humor and sweet nature are not always readily apparent they are at the core of who this child is inside.

It is likely that Justin’s challenging emotional and behavioral issues are neuro-behavioral in origin, underscoring the likelihood that they evolved from multiple variables. In Justin’s case, it may be that genetic or biological issues were impacted by some level of fetal alcohol and drug exposure and were then exacerbated by the trauma of abuse, neglect, multiple placements, parental mental health issues, and domestic violence from birth through his later childhood.

Justin’s mental health therapy program has counseling and medication components. Both components are focused on helping him manage his attention difficulties and high energy, curb his impulsiveness and aggressiveness, increase his ability to handle frustration, and learn how to express his anger in appropriate ways. His adoptive family can contribute, too. They can help Justin learn problem solving tools and organizational skills by playing games with him that use logic and memory skills, such as 20 Questions, Concentration, or Dutch Blitz, etc. And they can teach new concepts by using a story format that links some familiar context or everyday activity to help him retain information.

At home and at school, Justin does best with consistent structure, clear rules, expectations, and limits, as well as consequences. He also benefits from having regular periods of strenuous physical activity. Participation in sports and other activities such as running, swinging, sliding, and climbing can be great expenders of energy.

Monitoring Justin for signs of low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, or increasing performance anxiety will be important in helping him head off problems. He is at risk for depression and unsatisfactory peer relationships.

Many children with issues such as Justin benefit a lot from having a positive relationship with a school-based mentor or “safe adult” so when they hit the teen years and need someone to talk with outside of family a relationship already exists.

Experienced couples or single dads and moms, if you genuinely like teenagers and are willing to learn about how to parent a child with Justin’s background, please call us. You may be the one to make a significance difference in this boy’s life. If you’re up for rewards and challenges, we look forward to talking with you. Justin is legally free for adoption.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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