Laura

Laura desires to be adopted where she can grow up and be secure and safe in a family. Laura is dedicated to her educational goals and wants to further her education once she completes high school. Laura has a strong love for animals and dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

Laura wants to be adopted and is supported by her siblings (her adult brother and sister who live in the community) with whom she continues to visit every other Friday.

Her social worker has discussed with Laura what characteristics she would like in a family and she has expressed a desire to be with a traditional (mom and dad) family. Her worker would like to talk to any interested family who wants to learn more about Laura and her hope for an adoptive family.

Laura has requested that potential adoptive parents be serious about providing the love and support she needs to feel a part of the family. Her potential adoptive family needs to be very loving, patient, compassionate, and committed to quality family time.

Laura's Wish List

* Mother and father

* Active family

* Likes camping

* Living in the country would be preferred

* Would allow her to get her driver's license

* Loves animals and if her adoptive family had horses, that would be amazing

* Will allow continued contact with her siblings in some form even mail and phone calls

* She does not want to move further away than Oregon or Idaho

* She would like to have her own dog (she would keep the dog when she becomes an adult)

* No spiders! 

* Only child 

Bulletin WA210

Jackson & Benjamin

Jackson and Benjamin are sweet young brothers who need a family who can keep them together, but also meet their individual needs. These boys have been through a lot in their short lives and deserve to spend the rest of their childhood in a stable, loving, nurturing, and committed family.
 

Jackson's foster mother describes him as very intelligent! He loves numbers and maps and is obsessed with knowing how many miles apart places are and how long it takes to get there. He loves to read and be read to. He enjoys playing with cars, coloring, and putting things together, like blocks and puzzles. However, he doesn't like it when younger brother Benjamin comes along and ruins his creations! 

Jackson is lovable and affectionate, and is comfortable and social with people he knows well. His teacher says that he is more withdrawn at school, however, and does not make friends easily. But when he does make a friend, he is very loyal and very social. Jackson is just finishing up his second year of kindergarten. He had to repeat kindergarten because he missed so much school during his first year, before he came into care. He has excelled in school this year and is more than ready for first grade. Jackson was able to play on a basketball team this winter and loved it! He wasn't the best player on the team, but he was the most enthusiastic! He needs a family who will get him involved in other confidence boosting, social activities that he enjoys. 

Jackson is very high functioning but does have some delays. He will need patient, consistent, skilled parents who can advocate for his needs and give him the strong foundation that he needs to make good choices. Jackson has made huge gains in this type of foster home over the last year, and his adoption team has every hope that he will continue to progress and blossom in the right family. 

Benjamin, who is affectionately called Ben or Benji by his foster family, is described as 'cute as a button'! He is also very lovable, smart, and teachable. Benjamin is autistic and currently non-verbal. He has come so far over the last year, though, that he is a different boy than when he first arrived to his current foster family. He communicates well by using some sign language, and in other non-verbal ways. He is very bright and can recognize colors, numbers, shapes, objects, and words.

Benjamin does best in a very structured, familiar environment, and when he is at home, he has very few behavioral problems. He responds to commands and requests, shows affection, and recognizes those close to him. He loves to play with small objects, counting and sorting them, and can play alone for extended periods of time. Benjamin has no fear and will run out into traffic or down the road, so he needs line of sight supervision at all times. He exhibits significant stemming behaviors and will spin, rock, and flap to self soothe.

Benjamin has many special needs, but he has also shown that he is capable of learning, communicating, and bonding. He attends kindergarten and has an IBI who works with him in school and outside of school. He will need to be in a community where services are readily available and with a family who will advocate for his needs and seek out services to help Benjamin reach his full potential.

Jackson and Benjamin need a family skilled at caring for children with autism, who will seek out educational and community resources, and who are familiar with the affects of neglect and abuse. A two-parent family with a very strong network of support is a must. An ideal family would have either no children, or one to two much older children. The adoption team will consider traditional and non-traditional families, in any geographical area, so that the best possible family can be identified.

If you are a family with strong advocating skills, who has a lot of patience, understanding, consistency, commitment, and love, you might be the family these boys need. And they do need you! Each new accomplishment and success the boys achieve will be well worth the investment. The payoffs may come slowly, but in meaningful and priceless ways; with smiles, giggles, hugs, and in the joy that can only come from helping a child reach their full potential. We hope you will give these boys a chance to reach theirs! 

Bulletin ID150

Christopher

Holding Christopher in your arms will be a precious joy as he engages you with a smile, and you gently cradle him, showing this adorable baby how much you love him. When he falls asleep on your lap, his soft cheek pressed into your arm, you'll wonder how your life could have been sweet before this dear little boy entered it.

The daily struggles will be forgotten as you lay him down in his bed, and the world stills as you foresee all the happy memories he is sure to give you as you watch him grow up as your son.

Christopher readily interacts with people and is very cheerful. Cute and funny, he enjoys copying others behaviors! Christopher has recently begun to sit up for longer amounts of time, which means he'll want to sit on the couch and watch you do things around the house, as long as you're nearby. With his beautiful smile, he'll turn your bad day into a terrific one instantly.

Christopher needs adoptive parents who are willing to care for him throughout the day, so it is vital that adoptive parents understand how important it is to be there for him and also how to manage scheduling his appointments for doctors and therapy. But this endearing baby will reward you constantly with smiles and an eternal parent-child bond.

His Jumperoo is Christopher's favorite toy, as he delights in bouncing up and down in it in the living room. Adoptive parents will want to take lots of pictures of this cute little guy to show off to relatives, which are going to be an important source of emotional support for adoptive parents as they care for Christopher.

Christopher loves other adults and kids, so he'll be excited to have some adoptive grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins around! Respite care is also suggested for adoptive parents to use. Recently, he's also become a much stronger boy and has grown more muscle and an ability to move around better.

Sharing a life with Christopher will be both wonderful and challenging, but this affectionate, precious child will be worth it. Many of Christopher's caregivers, including his nurses, staff members that care for him, and social workers all report that Christopher has become attached to them. He really does love to be around people! It is likely that Christopher will quickly bond with his adoptive parents, too.

Adoptive parents who are skilled at understanding how sensitive developmental issues, such as cerebral palsy, can be properly cared for are especially encouraged to apply. It is important for adoptive parents to have high levels of patience, motivation, and commitment. Having experience with or desire to learn how to properly feed a baby with a G-tube temporarily until the baby can eat by mouth would also be useful for adoptive parents.

Knowledge of spastic quadriplegia and hydrocephalus is valuable for adoptive parents to have, and it is required that adoptive parents have proper medical training or agree to receive proper medical training so that they can effectively care for this wonderful little boy.

Christopher would do well if his adoptive family lived in an area where he can readily receive medical care when needed. It would also be beneficial to Christopher if adoptive parents continued valuable therapies, as speech therapy can be important and vital for language development in children.

Christopher will be a gift to adoptive parents, despite the challenges they will endure. This charming baby will bring joy into his adoptive parents' hearts and make them look at the world again with a sense of innocence and wonder. This treasured little boy is ready for his adoptive parents!

Bulletin WA848

Vanessa

"Hi. My name is Vanessa. I like school. My favorite subject is math. I like to watch movies like Tangled and Dr. Doolittle, but I don't watch many TV shows. My favorite thing to do after school is listening to my mp3 player. Justin Bieber is my favorite. I also like to play outside, like jumping on the trampoline, and playing basketball.

In the summer I like to go to the water park and camp. I would like to ride a horse, too, because I like horses. Some people say I'm a good dancer, but I'm not. I like to dance, though, and sing."

Vanessa is a sweet girl with a beautiful smile. She likes to be silly and is a very good helper, especially around the house. She can also be very caring. However, Vanessa has been through a tremendous amount in her life and needs parents who can help her control her sometimes violent outbursts and bring out the sweet-natured girl who will follow a mother around the house looking to help.

A two-parent family will be ideal for Vanessa. Because of her attachment issues, this young girl will need parents who are completely committed to her for the long haul. Her parents will need to be patient and understand that Vanessa's transition into a permanent home may take a while. A family willing to start out as foster parents, with an eye toward adoption as Vanessa's settles into her new home, may be a good match.

While Vanessa enjoys school and is at grade level, she does struggle in certain areas. She needs parents who will advocate for her in the classroom and help her where she has difficulties. An IEP may be needed to get her the help in school she needs. Access to community resources, such as counseling and help with medication management, will also be needed. As such, a rural environment is not ideal for her. Vanessa has two siblings, as well as an aunt, uncle, and grandparents, with whom it would be beneficial for her to maintain contact.

Vanessa has been through much in her young life and needs parents who will commit unconditionally. Though it will take a while for her to bond completely, if her adoptive parents are willing to be patient and provide structure and security, Vanessa will enter her teen years with the support she needs. Her sweet smile and helpful nature will reward along the way. If you think you can be the parents Vanessa needs, call the Idaho CareLine today.

Bulletin ID151