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SHANIA (12/99) is a cutie, who enjoys lots of hugs and cuddles and thrives on attention from her significant adults. When you see this slender, energetic, healthy eight-year old, who is definitely an outdoorsy girls, it’s hard to believe that she was a medically fragile preemie at birth with a heart condition. While susceptible to respiratory problems these days, she needs no medication, and actively engages in normal outdoor and indoor play activities. A rough and tumble kind of kid, she loves the jungle gyms at parks where she can play on the monkey bars and hones her skills in gymnastics. When not hanging upside down or swinging from bar to bar, you may find her engaged in coloring, making puzzles, dressing up her dolls, skating, or riding her bike. Shania plays lovingly with her foster family’s dog, PeeWee, and she interacts well with her playmates. Shania loves having someone sit down with her to read stories.

While Shania is shy at first with folks she doesn’t know, she opens up quickly and is very playful and sweet. Her foster mom says that Shania has “grown a lot” with her vocabulary and her ability to verbally express herself. Her social skills are coming along nicely; she gets along well with others and is mostly a good listener.

It is considered critical for Shania’s future well being for her to have adoptive parents who have experience and training with children who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol. Shania has some emotional and processing behaviors due to fetal alcohol effects that need to be addressed daily within a structured/supportive home environment. While she does really well with a high level of consistency and clear expectations, she needs to have an attentive adult nearby to repeat directions and provide gentle prompts and redirection to help her stay on track. She also benefits from having a quiet place to take a break when things get too stimulating for her. Repetition is especially helpful to Shania at home and in the classroom.

Shania, who likes school and has made many friends in both kindergarten and first grade, is now in a regular first-grade program. While not on any special education services, she is being evaluated for an individual education plan to provide support in Reading and Speech development.

Shania is also benefiting from participating in weekly individual and group counseling, as well as medication therapy. This therapy program is focused on helping Shania to address any issues that emerge related to the significant past trauma she has experienced, as well as other issues. For example, Shania is described as being a “follower” and her counseling program can provide guidance to help her make good choices for herself.

Although Shania has adjusted to urban living, she also has the capacity to live in a remote village setting. A two-parent household with other children near her age would be ideal. It is essential for those interested in adopting Shania to have a good grasp of the culture and the Alaska Native identity and traditional values lifestyle.


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