Newly Listed Children

Leena came into protective care at the age of 1 year after she and her older siblings (not being placed for adoption with Leena) were all hospitalized due to suspected maltreatment. Both parents had histories of drug usage and offenses. Now age 10, Leena has been diagnosed with Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She is in stable health.

Leena enjoys playing sports, including soccer, skating, cycling and track and field. Social workers and caregivers describe Leena as a cheerful, talkative, helpful, friendly, and playful child who actively participates in sports and games, willingly assists younger children, and contributes to household chores. She receives occupational therapy to assist with fine motor skills, handwriting, motor coordination and other related skills. She has made good progress on finger dexterity as evidenced by her enjoyment of handicrafts—especially making bracelets and necklaces for herself and her toy bunny. She also receives speech therapy for difficulties in oral expression, limited vocabulary, simple sentence structures and restrictive narrative and reporting skills. At the same time, her listening comprehension, language fluency, and speech intelligibility are satisfactory.

Leena is self-motivated to improve but is sensitive to criticism, responds best to simple and clear instructions from trusted adults, and tends to internalize emotions rather than express them directly. She displays notable rigidity, preferring fixed routines and patterns, strict adherence to rules, and often insisting on completing tasks exactly as started or shown. Caregivers recommend that future caregivers adopt gentle, firm, and clear disciplinary approaches to support her emotional regulation and behavioral development.

Myles is a sweet little boy born in July 2023. Despite facing significant medical and developmental challenges, Myles continues to make progress and has shown determination as he learns new skills.

Myles has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and severe developmental delays. He requires ongoing therapies and will need a family that is prepared to advocate for his medical, developmental, and educational needs throughout his life. His diagnoses include significant cognitive delays, speech impairment, and motor challenges that affect his mobility and communication.

Although Myles faces many obstacles, he has recently achieved milestones such as learning to sit independently and beginning to pull himself up while holding onto furniture. He enjoys exploring toys, especially those within his reach, and expresses himself through vocalizations and interactions with those caring for him.

Myles will benefit from a family committed to providing a structured, nurturing environment and access to specialized services, including physical therapy, speech therapy, and developmental support. He will need lifelong assistance and care, but with the love and dedication of a family, he can continue to reach his fullest potential.

Diagnoses: premature birth, mixed specific developmental disorders; accompanying diagnoses: problematic and impaired feeding, fetal alcohol syndrome (dysmorphic), secondary atrial septal defect, hyperopia (farsightedness), speech expression disorder, congenital foot deformity, unspecified, other disorder of normal physiological development, optic nerve hypoplasia, pectus carinatum (Pectus carinatum), and pituitary disorder.

Characteristics of the boy: The boy is lively, energetic, and sociable; he takes an active interest in his surroundings and willingly interacts with adults. The boy is communicative—he utters various sounds, enjoys being spoken to, actively seeks attention from those around him, smiles often, and expresses his emotions openly and sincerely. The boy recognizes people close to him, shows affection toward them, and enjoys interacting with them. Physical contact is important to him—he likes to be picked up, cuddled, and carried. He expresses irritation through sounds, intonations, and body language. The boy is interested in toys—he especially likes various balls, musical toys, and books. When listening to music, he reacts actively: he waves his hands, moves his body, and expresses joy. After rehabilitation, the boy has become physically stronger; although his physical development is delayed, he is making steady progress. He crawls quickly, creeps, and is beginning to take his first, still tentative steps. During rehabilitation sessions, the boy actively cooperates with specialists and easily establishes contact. With his smile, openness, and charm, he wins the specialists’ favor and attention. The child’s physical development is constantly monitored by specialists, and he receives the necessary services and assistance. The boy eats a varied diet tailored to his age and individual needs, eats frequently, and has a good appetite. Taking the child’s needs into account, he requires a patient, understanding, and consistent family capable of providing a safe and stable environment, ongoing professional support, and fostering his continued physical and emotional development. The boy is sociable, receptive to interaction, and capable of forming connections; therefore, with the right support, he has the potential to grow and thrive successfully.