Shauwen

Exceptionally bright, Shauwen will amaze you with his vast knowledge of facts that he learned from books such as the Guinness Book of World Records or his favorite television stations. Just like other kids, he does enjoy reading, drawing, watching cartoons and playing video games! Watching Shauwen grow up into a capable, talented young man will be a joy his adoptive parents won't want to miss.

His vocabulary is beyond that of his age - he's very gifted with language. This includes an interest in foreign languages. In the past, he has taught himself Japanese and Spanish because other cultures fascinate him, so he's quite an adventurous young man! In the future, Shauwen says he would like to serve his country by joining the military and going to college.

Currently, Shauwen has one foster brother who is about his age. Playing video games and talking about common interests are activities they enjoy doing together. Shauwen is excited at the idea of engaging in activities with other children, but sometimes needs a little help in effectively mingling as he is still working on building his social skills. Over the summer, Shauwen went to a camp for 5 nights/six days and said that he liked it so much he wished it would not have ended. His two favorite activities were swimming and kayaking.

If you have animals in your home, Shauwen would also love to play with them, especially if they're cats!

Taking Shauwen into your home will be a pleasure, as he can show his wit and affection to adoptive parents, making them both proud and amazed at having such a precocious son! It would be useful if adoptive parents were willing to help Shauwen work through problems, as he sometimes needs a little help.

Academically, Shauwen is doing excellent! While he struggles with social situations, which have held him back in the past at school, he's very capable of earning good grades. He will be in eighth grade in the fall of 2011, which will include four mainstream classes and two classes with the learning resource teacher. It is vital that adoptive parents ensure Shauwen's safety and advocate for him, as he has experienced bullying and reacted negatively.

Since both of Shauwen's siblings live outside Washington, he would like adoptive parents who will support written and telephonic contact with his brother and sister. Adoptive parents who encourage emotion regulation would be beneficial to Shauwen. He's so deserving of a happy, enriched life, and adoptive parents who are willing to give that to him are encouraged to take this young man in!

Calm, adoptive parents who are willing to help Shauwen work through his past trauma and current anxieties and are capable of dealing with issues related to neglect and sexual abuse are needed. It is also important that adoptive parents maintain boundaries and rules but do not assert strict authority over Shauwen, as he does better with parents who are patient and use humor and love in their discipline instead of control and commands.

Shauwen is waiting for a family who will appreciate his unique gifts, such as his intellect, his sense of humor, his courage, and his boundless energy and love. A life with Shauwen is sure to be an interesting, beautiful journey, and as you travel this unforgettable, amazing path with him, you won't regret for one moment that he's your son. 

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DeaQuan

With his wide, electric smile and expressive brown eyes, six-year-old DeaQuan will win your heart in an instant. He has a contagious zest for life and is an easy-going child with a perpetually cheery disposition. He is warm and affectionate and loves to be around people. He is bonded with his current foster family and loves to hold their hands and snuggle with them, but he is also comfortable with strangers and doesn't seem to have any anxiety with unfamiliar people or places.

DeaQuan is an on-the-move little guy. He hops from activity to activity all day and can always find something interesting to captivate his attention. He loves to be outside and is especially fond of kickball, soccer, and anything that keeps him running, jumping, and climbing. He frequently takes long walks with his foster parents which help him expend any extra energy and also seem to be soothing for him.

It is also important to note that a large part of DeaQuan's more recent success is due to the parenting style of his current foster parent. He has lived in this home for a relatively short period of time, but he has developed a genuinely trusting bond with his foster mom due to her patience, consistency, and warm demeanor. She is very physically affectionate with DeaQuan, which is hugely reassuring and grounding for him.

She frames almost everything she says to him in a calm, positive, encouraging light, but the rules and expectations in her home are very clear and firmly upheld. The routine in her home is predictable, rarely changing, and the rewards and consequences for behaviors are consistent every single day. She also strikes a perfect balance between challenging DeaQuan to learn and do more things for himself and accepting him exactly for who he is.

Additionally, DeaQuan is the youngest child in his current foster home. He has two adolescent foster sisters who dote on him and are just as patient and nurturing with him as his foster mom.

DeaQuan has six biological brothers and sisters. DeaQuan does not have a close relationship with any of his siblings. Visits with his siblings have historically been sporadic, and it is unclear to what degree he even understands that his siblings are any different than any other child with whom he has played. Regardless, DHS wants to provide these children with an opportunity to know each other and have an on-going relationship.

The agency will therefore be looking for adoptive families who understand the importance of maintaining some birth connections and are open to letters, phone calls, visits, etc. with his siblings. Additionally, DeaQuan's birth mother and birth father will likely ask for a certain degree of openness as well. DHS plans to refer his birth parents and his adoptive family to a mediator to draft an agreement that is safe and consistent with DeaQuan's best interest at heart. 

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Mason

Meet Mason, who waits for a loving, permanent home that he can call his own. Mason's big, beckoning eyes and his gorgeous grin are irresistible and endearing. When Mason laughs, the whole room laughs with him!

Mason smiles frequently, and laughs alot. He is an easy going child and just lights up when he is around other children and they love him right back.

He loves being around people in general. Mason does not talk, but attempts to make single sounds, as if trying to communicate. Very affectionate, he positively adores kisses and likes to snuggle. He is very responsive to caregivers he knows and recognizes, and has bonded well with them. Mason enjoys feeling and experiencing different textures, like hair or grass, and will attempt to put toys in his mouth.

Mason scoots all around the house on his back, using his feet to push off. Mason is going to school and is learning alot of different things.

An adoptive family will need to seek knowledge of medical issues and pursue ways to address those issues in the home, such as therapeutic interventions to assist in Mason's progress, feeding tube practices, and understanding aspiration. A family can learn these skills, if they are not already medically experienced, provided they are willing and committed.

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