c6529

Child's name: Christian
Number: C6529
Birthdate: 12/95
State: Oregon
Listed: 2/07

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

CHRISTIAN (12/95) is a handsome boy with dimples (when he smiles!), blond hair, and sparkling green eyes. A loving boy who likes affectionate hugs from his significant adults, his gestures of affection are genuine. A very active child, he is full of curiosity and wonderment at new things, he loves the outdoor. He also likes doing things with his hands and is a good helper who likes to clean up.

Due to prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs, Christian has significant neurological damage, which will bring challenges to him and to his adoptive family throughout his lifetime. When given time and space to develop feelings of trust, Christian has been able to attach to new folks. But because he can feel like he is the odd man out around peers, he often prefers hanging out with adults, especially his foster dad. He likes helping him fix things. Christian never holds a grudge. He is quick to say “okay” and wants to be helpful. He is at his best when he’s helping someone. He wakes up happy and goes to bed happy.

Because of his neurological issues, Christian’s adaptive behaviors are at about a five or six-year old level, so his care givers need to make most of his decisions for him. Christian needs a very consistent daily routine, with folk(s) who understand his issues and have the patience and kindness to direct and redirect him sometimes several times a day. Christian has good receptive language skills, but his expressive skills are delayed.

Parenting Christian requires that he have someone with him all of the time. He usually showers and dresses himself, but needs assistance selecting appropriate clothes. He has difficulty brushing his teeth, but is getting better. The foster parents recently taught him better toileting skills. He is afraid to be alone and still has fears of closed doors and dark windows. A nightlight is comforting for him. Christian has cycles where you need to do everything for him, but these are only about 25% of the time now.

In school, Christian has academic and behavioral supports. While in a fifth grade classroom, his level of academic work is pretty much at about a first grade level. Christian has a one-on-one behavioral aide throughout the day. His gross motor difficulties, which are primarily associated with balance, are being addressed regularly in occupational therapy. He is also being treated for sensory integration dysfunction and speech delays. Medication, which is part of his intervention program, helps to manage his symptoms of attention deficits, high energy, and impulsiveness. The only form of punishment the foster parents use is the immediate loss of a privilege, i.e. watching TV, swimming, etc.

Christian has been in foster care off and on since birth. He was returned to his mother’s care a year ago, but the placement did not work out. Change is always hard for children who have fetal alcohol effects, and since returning to foster care, Christian has had some difficulty with this latest change.

It will be very important for Christian to have adoptive parents who will take the time to gain a good understanding of his issues, who can provide the high level of structure that helps him maintain, and who will be strong advocates for his educational/vocational needs and other services he will need to reach his potential. There will be challenges, of course, in being committed parents to Christian, but there will be wonderful rewards, too, for the family who will open hearts to him. Christian will become legally free once a family has been identified for him.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

Return to Oregon's Waiting Children index or see next child in Oregon index.

View another state index: Alaska, Idaho, Washington.