c6629-31

Child's name: Benjamin, Marissa and Luis
Number: C6629-31
Birthdate: 8/96, 1/00 and 3/01
State: Oregon
Listed: May 2007, Updated 6/08

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BENJAMIN (8/96), MARISSA (1/00), and LUIS (3/01), or ‘Lalo’ as he in fondly known, have made considerable progress in their foster home. Their foster mom says that Ben is very tolerant of younger children. The little things among his possessions that mean a lot to him are carefully hidden in a pillow or underneath a mattress. Like any child, Ben needs space to learn to trust, but when it all comes together he loves hugs, kisses, lots of praise and hearing “I love you.” In his spare time, Ben likes to work on the computer, play video games, spend time with friends, and make people laugh. Foster mom tells us that Marissa, who benefits from a more structured schedule than Ben, has lots of potential to be successful, despite having a bit of a struggle at school right now. Her favorite playthings are dolls and other girly kinds of things. While Lalo is the sweetest child, according to foster mom, he is a handful! This little guy needs parent(s) who are patient and kind (yet firm!) to be nearby consistently to redirect and supervise him. Some of his favorite pastimes are riding his bike, skate boarding, and playing with his toy cars and Legos. The children, who came into alternative care in 2004, are legally free.

A bilingual Spanish/English speaking family with affectionate, nurturing, and consistent parent(s) would be ideal for Benjamin, Marissa, and Luis. The siblings are counting on growing up together. They will also want to be able to maintain some contact with their current foster parents.

Sweet and fun-loving, Lalo is lean and soft-spoken with sparkly brown eyes and an appealing smile. This past year, Lalo attended Head Start and a day treatment program for young children. A high energy youngster who likes to run, jump, and play, Lalo needs lots of structure and consistency. Having an adult nearby who is willing to repeat information and instructions a few times helps Lalo focus on what is being said and to be better able to recall it when needed. Medication therapy, which helps to lessen his fears and help him sleep, also assists him to focus and to curb his energy. Lalo likes riding his bike, skateboarding, building with Legos and playing with toy cars. While he had fun recently playing soccer on a team for the first time, he needed extra help to learn the rules and to remember them in the midst of the game being played on the field. He also benefited from gentle reminders to play nicely.

Marissa is an affectionate and feminine little girl with long, wavy hair, beautiful brown eyes, and a lovely smile. In the fall of 2008, Marissa will be in third grade where she is expected to do satisfactorily academically. After several months of assistance with her speech, Marissa no longer qualifies for Early Intervention services. Marissa enjoys playing outside and was also on a soccer team this year. While she loves to play with other kids, she prefers kids who are a bit younger than she is.

Benjamin is athletic and loves sports, especially football, softball, and soccer. An engaging and caring young man, he is protective of his siblings. Next fall in fifth grade, he may need additional support for reading and math as he did this past year. Medication therapy it an important part of his helping him manage his attention difficulties and high energy. In his spare time, Ben likes to work on the computer, play video games, spend time with friends, and make people laugh.

The children have made considerable progress while in their current foster home. His foster mom says that Lalo is the ‘sweetest child,’ but requires a parent who has the patience, kindness, and stamina to provide the rather constant level of redirection and supervision he needs. Marissa has lots of potential to be successful. She benefits from a more structured schedule, and needs parental support to complete her counseling program. Ben is very tolerant of younger children and his personal stuff means a lot to him. Ben needs space to learn to trust, but when it all comes together, he loves hugs, lots of praise and hearing “I love you.” He will continue to need help talking about his feelings instead of acting them out.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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