Photograph by Jen Nance, Every Moment Photo

View: Wednesday's Child video for Austin

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

AUSTIN (8/94) is an avid collector of rocks, and was delighted recently when his foster parents got him a rock polishing machine. He likes to be helpful, and actually enjoys doing some chores. In school, he is experiencing much success as a teacher’s aid helping younger children. Recently, he was Student of the Month. Some of his favorite activities are playing video games, watching TV, and reading. He very interested in learning facts about different subjects, other than sports.

In school, Austin is in a regular classroom with resource room support. He has extra supports for reading and math. Recently, his IQ was tested at nine points higher than previously tested. Austin is a concrete thinker, so subtleties and abstract thought seem to go right by him.

According to his foster parents, Austin is making great progress in their home. There is a strong focus on education; and he has the support of a highly predictable routine, close supervision, clear, simple, firm boundaries and immediate consequences for misbehavior.

Austin, who is not yet legally free, came into foster care for permanency planning in mid-2005. Austin has been in counseling with the same therapist for a year who is working with him on improving his daily living skills and talking about his feelings instead of acting them out. There is a medication component to his treatment program, too, which helps him to sleep and to better manage his behavior, including attention difficulties and high energy.

While Austin has fairly good communication skills and a good vocabulary, he has some developmental delays and does not seem to learn from experience. His lack of ability to readily connect behavior to consequences and his impulsiveness are challenging. It is much like having to learn the same things each and every day. He doesn’t even remember that there can be consequences. Having close supervision helps him to stay on track. It also provides the support he needs in maintaining good personal boundaries.

Austin’s worker is looking for a couple or single mom or dad who can provide the structure and low-key home environment that helps him do well. Having a good understanding of the neurological issues associated with prenatal drug and alcohol exposure will be important. Austin, who is on SSI, has relationships with his sisters which will be important for him to maintain.


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