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Lorraine
Maryland

Basic Info

Lorraine

Age: 65
Sex: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion: Agnostic

Child Preferences

Age: 13 to 20 years old
Sex: Female
Max Number of Children: 1
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian, African American, Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander

Special Needs the Family is Open To: Mild Physical/Medical Disability (Open to Discussion), Asthma, Drug Allergies, Environmental Allergies, Food Allergies, Difficulty Making Friends, Lying, Hoarding, Overeating, Academically behind due to poor attendance, Mild Learning Disabilities, One/Both Parents Diagnosed with Depression, One/Both Parents Have Alcohol Addiction, One/Both Parents Have Drug Addiction, Exposed to Domestic Violence, Child has had a disrupted adoption, ADHD, Requires Counseling/Therapy, Willing to Maintain Contact via Mail with Bio Family, Willing to Maintain Contact with Past Foster Parents, Willing to Maintain Contact with Bio Grandparents & Other Relatives, Willing to Maintain Contact with Bio Siblings, Child Identifies as LGBT, Sexually Abused in the Past

Environment

State: Maryland
Neighborhood: Suburban
Residency: Single Family Home
Children in the Home: 0
Pet(s): Dog(s)

Work

Lorraine

Occupation: Physical therapist

Adoption Agency

Agency: Washington County Dept of Social Services
Worker: Julie Kreit
Worker: julie.kreit@maryland.gov
City: Hagerstown
State: Maryland
Zip: 21740

Family Description

I am a 57 year old woman who is looking forward to parenting again. My 24 year old son lives near by and I miss parenting. I look forward to welcoming a healthy 13-20 year old girl into my home and my extended family is excited about having a new family member. I work part time so I have time to commit to parenting and I look forward to the challenges and joys of parenting. I adopted my son and I was a guardian for two teens after the death of their parents so I am aware of the challenges unique to children who have been adopted and/or come from less than ideal home circumstances. I have a variety of interests and I look forward to sharing them with a child and more importantly sharing the interests of my new child. I believe that children flourish in a home where they are valued, given love, boundaries, support and praise.

Preference Description

I am looking to adopt a 13 to 20 year old girl, any ethnicity. I am open to mild impairments in all areas. I am open to having continued contact with biological family and other people who are important to my child, such previous foster families.

The O'Neill- Family Profile

I would like to adopt a girl of any ethnicity between 13 and 20. I am open to healthy children who enjoy being active. I am open to mild impairments in physical health and mild emotional impairments such as a child who needs counseling to process past losses. I believe it is important for children to have continued contact with their biological family and other people who are important to them, like previous foster families.

Introduction

I work part time which allows me to have more time for parenting and hobbies. I have wide variety of interests including biking, kayaking, camping, travel, quilting and many types of crafts. When I have a child living in my home, my activities focus on the needs and interests of my child. I love learning new things and am willing to try almost anything. I have been hang gliding and scuba diving. I enjoy mentoring children and I am currently a volunteer tutor at a local after school program.

Home and Community

I own a single family home in a suburban area on the edge of Hagerstown. Hagerstown is a small city/large town. It is close enough to Washington DC and Baltimore to allow day trips but is still close to outdoor activities like the Appalachian Trail, Potomac River and a wide range of parks. Hagerstown offers a wide range of extracurricular activities from all types of sports to dance classes and 4-H. I believe that extracurricular activities are important. I will support a child to participate in after school activities like sports, drama club, student government, any type of lesson (music, art, dance, roller skating, ice skating, etc).

The local high school is within walking distance.

Parenting Experience

My son faced many challenges and I learned much about parenting from him. (I am grateful to say that he is currently functioning well.). In addition to IEPs and numerous parent-teacher meetings, we attended counseling, pyschiatric appointments and multiple hospitalizations. I was guardian for two teens after the deaths of their parents. They had been exposed to drug addiction and domestic violence. I helped them grieve and adjust to a different way of life. I understand that any child who has been separated from their biological family and been in foster care will have emotional challenges and grief issues and I feel well equipped to handle those challenges. I am not willing to repeat parenting a child with a serious illness.

One afternoon a week I volunteer at the community center that offers after school programs to children in the predominantly black neighborhood. I tutor and help children with homework. I have been a Big Sister in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, taught Sunday School and coached my son's soccer team.

Support

I have a large family and network of friends who have supported me and my son and who will support any child who joins my family. Hagerstown has resources for a child with special needs. My son needed many supports when he was in school so I have attended IEP meetings and know how to advocate for a child. The school system has a school for the performing arts and specialized programs for students who are interested in specific career goals and it offers advanced placement and college classes.

There is a counselor who specializes in working with adoptive and foster families. My case worker will remain available to me to help me locate any other needed services.

I own my own business and the office policy has always been that our families come first. Every employee has benefitted from that policy and has supported each other when needed. My staff is aware that I will be taking a maternity leave and that the length of that leave will depend on the needs of my child.

Motivation to Adopt

I always knew that I would create my family thru adoption. I remember that when I was 14 I told someone that I planned to adopt my children. When I decided to become a mom I considered all the ways of doing that. I looked into foster care but decided I wanted a forever child.

Having raised a child with a serious illness and having parented children who had been exposed to drugs and domestic violence I am well aware of the challenges that parenting can entail. I have stood by my son thru all of his challenges and I will do the same for all of my children.

Over the years I frequently considered adopting again or being a foster parent but the timing was never right. My son moved out when he was 18, his choice, not mine. At first I loved living alone. The house was quiet, I had lots of time to travel and was not limited to traveling during school vacations. About a year ago I began to miss being around children. I started volunteering at an after school program, but it is not enough. I want to be a full time mom again.