Photographs by Jen Nance, Every Moment Photography

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

CHRISTIAN (3/94) is an attractive boy who enjoys playing video games and board games. He’s a big fan of playing Monopoly and family game night. Christian is an avid reader, too, whose reading skills continue to grow. He does well in activities that make him feel he can be successful. He has a strong desire to be included and to have a sense of belonging. Christian especially enjoys one-on-one attention from the significant adults in his life. He enjoys praise, and with positive reinforcement, he is willing to help with chores and other tasks.

Christian is legally free. Shortly after coming into care, he was placed in a residential program where the structure, therapeutic childcare, emotional safety, and mental health therapy have been very helpful to him. His behavior and interactions with others have improved markedly. Perhaps most importantly, Christian is now able to verbalize his needs and concerns and is learning new ways to express feelings rather than acting them out. Having regular positive adult attention and encouragement is very important. He tends to enjoys adult attention more than peer interactions, as adults are more tolerant of him and his need to talk. Because his propensity to chat can be irritating, especially to other kids, he is working on that issue.

Christian attends school through his residential program. He benefited this past year from being in a self-contained classroom with individual supports for his emotional and behavioral needs. During the 2007-2008 school year, he will be in eighth grade with the same level of supports in place.

It is very important for interested folk(s) to be aware that Christian has been able to form and maintain relationships with significant adults in his life. His former adoptive parents continue to visit him. And he has an on-going relationship with a former school teacher and her family, who also visit him.

While Christian’s worker is especially interested in hearing from couples, she does not want to miss out on hearing from those exceptional single moms or dads who are knowledgeable about mental health issues and have strong support systems. Christian will do best as an only child or the youngest of mid-teen siblings. It will be important for him to have adoptive folk(s) who will make his on-going therapy needs part of his routine support system. Being willing to participate with him in family counseling during the adoption transition could be a wonderful way to let Christian now that they want him to be part of their family.

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