Aging Out Children

As of June 2013: Bentley is mostly passive, his muscles are weak. He can not sit, stand or walk on his own. He does not like to have a close contact with a person, cries when is picked up. Bentley likes to sit in a special chair and rock. Sometimes the boy pronounces accidental sounds. Does not picks up yet toys in to his hands, when is talked to – does not react. Sometimes when he sits alone it was observed that he started to smile. He needs help while eating and drinking. Child’s motor development is delayed, compared to his age.

He lives at the orphanage since 2016. Normal weight and height parameters. Psychomotor development is normal. He is the victim of parental physical abuse and suffers from post-traumatic past. He is under the care of psychiatrist and take medication. No medical diagnoses in his chart, but trauma. You could tell that he is emotionally somewhat fragile.

He is communicative, talkative and charming boy. Positive relationship with peers and adults. His teachers describe him as very good, active and independent student. The computer class, math and English are his favorite subjects. He loves to play soccer, card games and chess. He has a lot of potentials and wants to be adopted. He is highly recommended by his caregivers. The family with an involved, hands-on father will be ideal for this boy. He would do really well as the youngest or only child (or in a family where the other children are grown). He needs an experienced adoptive family who can give him a lot of one-on-one attention and help build his trust in humanity back.

There is a grant of 7800 euros toward foreign fees (with the agency) and this specific adoption agency will assist with applying for more.

The brothers have been in foster care for many years now and they are such great kids. They want to have a family and to be together as brothers. Next year, because the older one will become 14 in the summer, they will have to move to another town because of his school. There are no options for foster families there and they will have to go to an institution. The social worker is very hopeful this won’t need to happen and that they will be adopted instead.

IRIO – He is social and communicative. He easily makes new friends. In most cases his relationships with the children and the adults are good. According to the foster parents, he communicates well with the children and the adults. They describe him as a well-mannered child, who can assess different situations and adjust his behavior with them. He is aware that there are many social roles in society, which warrant a certain behavior. He participates adequately in the games of his peers. He can follow the instructions and the rules. He prefers games with physical activity, but he can participate in some role plays, too, and symbolic games (he gets into the role of a policeman or a criminal). He seeks the attention of the other children. He enjoys drawing, riding his bicycle, and games with a ball and other sport games. He only likes to be alone if he is using the computer. He fits in well among his peers.

HAMILTON – The boy is calm, observant, and curious about the surrounding world. He is attached to his brother, who is placed in the same foster family. Together they take care of each other, communicate, and play. He talks about his biological family calmly and talks about how they used to live. He did not like the conditions in his home then. He is attached to the foster family, their children, and their grandchild. It is hard for him to accept the pain of others and is always ready to help. When in conflict situations he defends his opinion, he is stubborn. He follows the rules at home and at school. He sometimes presents himself with stubbornness, but he does not argue and is not aggressive. He has an idea of good and bad, and for punishment and justice. He shares his experiences with the foster family and respects them. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and dancing.

Sabrina is in good health and developing appropriately for her age. She was placed in the orphanage in 2022 due to her being neglected in her biological family. Her father passed away in 2023, and his loss made a significant impact on her, understandably. She has been receiving counseling to help her to deal with loss and support her mental health. She feels much better now, has more energy, and feels less sad. Her caregivers describe her as a very sensitive, emotional, and empathetic child. She makes new friends easily and she is very friendly. She often cares more about her peers’ problems and likes to help.

She is an average student in the 7th grade this year and her educational difficulties are the result of no motivations and lack of stable conditions in her life in the biological home.
Sabina is in contact with her mother, but it is her mother who initiates these contacts and Sabina provides support for her mother. She expresses her willingness to be adopted. Outside of school, her interests are swimming lessons and English lessons. Reading is her main passion and she spend a lot of times with the books. She likes animals, dogs are her favorite pets and she wishes to have one.

She needs a stable and safe environment based on acceptance, understanding, love and emotional support. She has a great potential for proper development in her education. She wanted to be adopted and according to her caregivers, it will be a great opportunity for her to build a strong emotional bond and develop harmonically. She is highly recommended for adoption.

Sibling group of 3 in Eastern Europe- Girl born March 2011, Boy born March 2013, and Girl born March 2015

The children live together and have a close relationship. They all want to be adopted together and live in a family.

The 14 year old girl is described as healthy and attends middle school. She is disciplined and attentive during lessons. Her educational results are satisfactory. She needs the help of a social worker for her homework. She willingly participates in various activities, education, summer camps and trips organized by the school. She has friends and does not have any communication difficulties. She attends a class in the choreography department of the art school. She participates in competitions with a dance group. In the family home, she is friendly with all the children living there. She has a particularly close emotional bond with her brother and sister who live together. She is independent, able to take care of her seasonal clothing, and can cook simple meals. She spends her pocket money purposefully; appreciates the personal items she has bought and knows how to save. She takes care of her personal hygiene, cleanliness of clothes and tidiness of her personal room. In her free time, she plays computer games and goes out with friends. She has no behavioral problems and keeps her agreements with the staff. She always expresses her wishes and thoughts to the staff and attends psychological counselling as needed.

The 12 year old boy also attends a middle school and he has good academic results. He has difficulty concentrating during lessons and is therefore receiving medication. He attends a football club and is in his third year of playing football. He is active and enjoys various sporting activities. He always wants to be a leader. He always makes friends easily, expresses his opinion freely and wants to be listened to. He is friendly, cunning, clever, capricious and stubborn. He tries to avoid or circumvent rules in a way that suits him. He always notices his sisters, shows them his attention and is helpful. He is not inclined to give in, he always tries to get his way, to get the rules that suit him. He is willing to communicate with the staff or other professionals working in the family home. In his free time he plays football and computer games.

Diagnoses: Mixed behavioral and emotional disorders, attention deficit disorder, other tic disorders. He sees a child psychiatrist as needed and is prescribed medication.

The 10 year old girl is described as healthy and is in primary school. Her educational results are very good. Her behavior at school is good. She is active in lessons, extracurricular activities and is friendly with her classmates. She has many friends at school and at the ballet studio. She has no difficulties in communication and does not need help. She does her homework responsibly and asks for help from the staff when needed. She attends a ballet studio after school. She enjoys it very much and her results are excellent. She has won 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. She regularly takes part in various competitions with the ballet dance group. In the summer she participates in camps organized by the ballet studio. In her foster family home, she is friendly with all the children there. She has a particularly close emotional bond with her brother and sister who live together. The girl is helpful, hard-working, able to carry out tasks on her own (in line with her age) and knows how to handle money responsibly. In her spare time, she enjoys going out with her friends, playing on the computer, but most of all she likes dancing and drawing. She has no behavioral problems and keeps her agreements with the staff. She speaks openly with the staff, can express herself freely and is always listened to and understood.

Violet, 15, and Daniel, 13, are wonderful siblings who share a close bond and bring out the best in each other. Violet is thoughtful, kind, and enjoys writing, dancing, and participating in games. Daniel is lively, sociable, and passionate about sports, with a big dream of becoming a professional wrestler.

Both children are independent, responsible, and emotionally aware, able to manage their behavior and maintain friendships. They enjoy hobbies that keep them active and engaged, from board games to competitive play.

Violet and Daniel are looking for a safe and loving family who will support their dreams, nurture their talents, and provide guidance as they grow. These amazing siblings are ready to bring love, laughter, and warmth to a forever home—together.

Yanna is a 13-year-old girl who has shown resilience and adaptability despite a history of neglect and various types of abuse in her early childhood. With the help of therapy, Yanna now demonstrates emotional stability, responsibility, and motivation to continue improving. When reading her full child profile, it is clear that this young lady has put a lot of thought into her past and into her future, including what she hopes for in an adoptive family. Yanna is a clinically healthy young lady, but will need to continue therapy to help her work through her past and to transition into a family.

Academically, Yanna is an excellent eight-grade student. Her teachers describe her as intelligent, punctual, and committed to her studies, showing solid performance and a genuine interest in learning. She enjoys school and maintains positive relationships with her classmates and teachers. Emotionally, Yanna can be reserved at first but gradually builds trust and close relationships with those around her. She can express affection and empathy, especially toward younger children. She is currently receiving psychological support to continue strengthening her emotional regulation and communication skills.

Yanna enjoys listening to music—particularly reggaeton, bachata, and rap, watching movies and tv series, making bracelets, and spending time with her friends. She dreams of completing her education and one day becoming an actress. She understands that her current stay in the institution is temporary and hopes to find a permanent family that will offer her affection, stability, and protection. Yanna has expressed her wish for a family that values communication, patience, and mutual respect, ideally without other children so she can receive focused attention and guidance. She was previously matched with a family for international adoption, but the family and Yanna were not a good fit for each other. She would prefer a family who is relatively young given her previous experience with a potential family. She does not have a preference for whether she has married parents or a single mother.

In summary, Yanna is a bright, affectionate, and reflective adolescent who would thrive in a loving, consistent family environment capable of supporting her emotional growth and providing a sense of belonging and security.

Court will turn 14 years old next week–still waiting for a family. Court came into care when he was a baby though his biological father initially was involved and sought custody of him. However, he eventually became untracable and Court’s birthmother relinquished him to the system for adoption in 2016. From the ages of 3-9, Court lived with a foster family where he had a good relationship with the foster family. Court then was placed for adoption with a local family in his country and while the post-placement at six months showed everything was going well and the domestic adoption was granted, two months later the adoptive parents dissolved the adoption citing difficulty in managing Court’s emotional outbursts and challenging behaviors in school after resumption of classes post-COVID.  Despite professional intervention, the family relinquished Court back to the system. He was later diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). 

After the relinquishment of the adoptive parents, Court settled in to an orphanage and its adjacent school. He became a “big brother” and role model among his co-residents at the orphanage and excelled academically and in sports at school.  His emotions were generally stable while staying there.    At the time of the report written in July 2025, he was preparing to be promoted to a mainstream school in September and had been moved to a small group home near the school after a successful interview with his social worker. 

Court impressed his social worker as a smart, polite, articulate, level-headed, sensible and frank teenager on the day of visit.     He was able to articulate his thoughts clearly and showed readiness to be adopted again.   He has demonstrated diligence, maturity, and incredible inner strength and motivation over difficult circumstances in life.   While he has developed many strengths and life skills throughout the journey, deep in his heart he still envisions a loving, stable and permanent home that he can call his own—a family where he can find rest, stability and peace through the highs and lows in life.   Court expresses his wish to be adopted by a nurturing and loving family who understands his tangible and psychological needs.   Surely, Court is in need of a strong, patient, well-informed, committed, and psychologically trained family who has the resources and knowledge for supporting his needs and dealing with his trauma. 

 

Alan is amazing 10 years old boy who had a rough start with an unstable and unhealthy environment. He is the victim of parental physical abuse and suffers from post-traumatic past

He connects well with both peers and adults. He is calm, helpful and kind. The boy eagerly learns about nature, sings songs, makes interesting art works, uses computer programs well.

He needs a forever home to support him as he continues to overcome negative experiences of his past and shower him with the love every child deserves.

He has a lot of potentials and wants to be adopted. He is highly recommended by his caregivers. The family with an involved, hands-on father will be ideal for this boy. He would do really well as the youngest or only child (or in a family where the other children are grown). He needs an experienced adoptive family who can give him a lot of one-on-one attention and help build his trust in humanity back.

Valeria is a very protective girl.  She loves drawing and doing art projects.  Valeria currently has a feeding tube.

Update in 2025 states that she no longer has a feeding tube, and is doing really well!

Valeria was previously listed on Reece’s Rainbow as Marisol.

Information in this report is from April 2024 (Fera was 13 at the time).

Fera did not attend school until 2021 but has already progressed to the fifth grade! Her academic development has been great. She gets anxious when she has tests at school or when she is asked about her Indigenous community. It bothers her when she is not able to complete homework on her own. Fera recognizes authority figures; she is respectful and obedient toward them, including her teachers. She can stay focused on one specific task and follow simple and complex instructions.

Fera is known to be very responsible. She is an independent girl, who does not require help to fulfill her daily routines; she is a great helper around her foster home. She has good sleep and eating habits. Fera manages her impulses and frustration in accordance with her chronological age. She is usually calm and collected. When situations bother her, she simply moves to a different place and abstains from any interaction. Fera takes good care of her personal belongings and is well organized. She has good hygiene habits.

There are no concerns regarding Fera’s motor, language, cognitive and social development. Fera is currently clinically healthy, she does not take any medication. Due to a tuberculosis episode, she goes from time to time to see the pneumologist. While she is clinically healthy, it is important to realize that all children available for adoption has a history of trauma and likely will need psychological/mental health services once they are home.

Fera is shy by nature—she is quiet and takes her time to feel comfortable and interact with others. She is very selective with her group of friends or people she trusts. She keeps a low profile and does not feel comfortable being the leader of group. She is able to give and receive affection, and she does not get jealous when her foster parents pay attention to the other children. She interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Seeing homeless children or stray animals wandering on the street makes Fera sad. She is also afraid of the dark and deep waters.

Fera enjoys spending time with her friends, especially when she gets to go to the pool or the river with them. She especially likes going to birthday parties she is invited to at times. She also enjoys simple things like going for a walk. Fera is talented at painting. She says would like to become a veterinarian and take a beauty course to learn how to do different hairstyles.

Lucia and Charles are a very bonded Afro-Latin brother and sister sibling set who live together in the same foster home. They came into care when they were 8 and 2 years old respectively. Before coming into care, one of her older brothers often fulfilled a parental role with them but was abusive in this role. When they first came into care and for a while after, Lucia took the position of maternal figure to Charles and was opposing to the foster mothers which led to changes in foster homes. Over time, however, she settled in and started allowing the foster mother to take over the maternal role. They are doing well at their current foster home.

Lucia

Lucia, 15, is currently in the 8^th grade where she participates in extracurricular activities, including soccer. She has improved in taking responsibility for her schoolwork over years past and has improved in family and interpersonal relationships. Though Lucia will complete her schoolwork, she is not overly interested in on academic subject over the other. However, she is interested in pursuing studies in beauty related fields such as cosmetology or being a beautician. She also likes to cook and is constantly trying to learn and perfect new skills.  Lucia is overall healthy, but will need to continue mental health services to help her work through her past trauma and to transition to a new family.

While Lucia tends to be an independent young lady, she seeks the approval of the adults she trusts to feel safe and confident. Her ability to control her emotions and anxiety has increased and she is learning ways of coping with her anxiety in productive ways. Due to past trauma, Lucia has exhibited a high need for control which contributed to her anxiety, but she has been learning to let go of some control and to allow herself to be in the role she should be in at her age and stage in life. Sadly, it is known that Lucia has been the victim of sexual abuse from at least two perpetrators—one prior to coming into care and one while in care. She self-reported these instances and has received psychological services to help her work through them. Lucia has come to realize that these instances were not her fault and is able to recognize that these instances do not define her. She has not sexually acted out toward others and has not participated in any self-harming behaviors.

As Lucia has continued to work through her past, she is evolving into a responsible and self-aware young lady. Lucia enjoys anything related to makeup and beauty as well as preparing special meals and desserts. When Lucia is happy, it is clearly seen in her face and continence—she literally often jumps for joy.

Charles

Charles, 9, is in the third grade at his new school after the siblings were moved to a new foster home. However, he is supposed to be in the second grade with an individual education plan that had not yet been implemented at the new school as of the time of the report. As a result, his academic performance has been poor this year, but they were supposed to re-implement his plan. Charles has a specialized plan due to a diagnosis of mild mental retardation (F708). Overall, Charles is a very collaborative child with a high sense of belonging who enjoys interactions with his peers. He is motivated by being included in activities and also by being recognized for acts of service. He is able to care for himself independently in an age-appropriate manner.

Charles’ motor skills are age-appropriate, but he does receive occupational therapy and speech therapy. On his IQ testing, he scored 68, but there is a high probability that the score actually falls in the 63-77 range due to some discrepancy between composite indices. More information is available in the child study and available documents. In addition to the diagnosis of mild mental retardation, he was diagnosed in January 2025 with conduct disorder not otherwise specified (F919) and disturbance of activity and attention (F900). He takes daily medication. Charles also wears glasses and had a diagnosis in April 2025 of blepharitis (H010) which is receiving care from the optometrist for.

The change of foster homes has been difficult for Charles, though it was necessary for the protection of the children. Coupled with the change in caregivers and environment is the expected changes in Lucia as she is now older and wants to live the more autonomous life of a teenager that is not filled with being his caregiver as was previously her role. These changes have left Charles feeling lonely and confused. These emotions have affected his behavior, and he sometimes has tantrums or becomes upset easily. It is important to note that Charles has no history of known sexual abuse but was subject as a toddler to the domestic abuse and control from his older brother when he and Lucia were in their birth family.

Charles enjoys going outside, playing football and soccer, going to the park and watching movies. He also enjoys building with blocks.

Clyde attends school three times a week and works with guides at home on the other two days. He has a cooperative attitude when it comes to his schooling. He has greatly improved in carrying out certain activities semi-independently, such as making his bed with supervision, choosing clothes, feeding himself, going to the bathroom, and picking up his room. In his free time, Clyde attends crochet classes 3 days a week for an hour, which consists of making dolls. Clyde loves to watch cartoons. He would thrive in a family that can maintain a structured and predictable routine to provide security and emotional stability. Contact the agency to learn more about Clyde and his listed needs!

The agency has several videos available, too!

Information in this report is from February 2024.

Sally and Ria live in a foster home.

Sally is in the fifth grade where she is an average student. She likes to go to school, and she is known for being helpful and kind. However, it is difficult for her to fully understand the different academic contents which often leads her to get easily frustrated and give up. It is important to mention that while living with her biological family, there were many times when she was not enrolled in school which likely contributes to her difficulties. While her favorite subject is language, her language and cognitive development are delayed. Sally has trouble reading and making complete thoughts. She also has trouble with math. She easily forgets new concepts. It has been observed that the child has difficulty following complex instructions. For the most part, Sally manages her frustrations and impulses, but there are moments where she gets overwhelmed with a task or homework. It is hard for her to stay quiet in one place as she is curious of her surroundings and active. She recognizes authority figures and is respectful towards them.

There are no concerns regarding her motor development. Socially, she interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. She is able to give and receive affection, and sometimes she gets jealous when her foster mother pays attention to the other children. Sally gets anxious when she finds herself in a new environment and with unknown people. She is shy when meeting new people and often needs a mediator to help her interact with others. However, once she knows a new child, she enjoys interacting with her peers. She is able to verbally express her feelings and emotions. It is upsetting to her when she is scolded for misbehaving. She also worries that she may be separated from her sister. Sally is still learning to take care of her belongings and requires supervision from her foster mother to keep all her things organized and in a good state. Sally also requires supervision with her hygiene. Sally goes to occupational therapy and has follow-up visits with the psychiatrist.

Sally enjoys playing pretend, especially with her teacher or her sister. She is interested in playing soccer but due to her nutritional state, she had limitations to do sports. Her favorite colors are pink and purple. Sally would like to become a doctor to help anybody in need. She has also stated her desire to have a mom, a dad and another sibling.

Ria is in the third grade. Her academic performance is lower than expected so she receives extra support after school. She loves anything art-related, and her least favorite subject is math. She recognizes authority figures, follows rules and is usually respectful toward adults. Ria gets easily distracted and requires supervision to fulfill her tasks. It is hard for her to stay quiet in one place, and she needs to be reminded of what is expected of her in different locations. Ria had an IQ test, and the results showed a delay in her chronological age. She has trouble memorizing things, is hyperactive and gets easily distracted.

There are no concerns regarding her motor development. Her expressive and comprehensive language development is delayed. Socially, Ria is shy when meeting people and will wait until somebody takes the initiative to start a conversation. Ria gets anxious whenever she is in an unfamiliar place and surrounded by unknown people, and it upsets her when she is approached by unfamiliar people. Ria interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. She seeks to have friends, but sometimes this seeking has caused behavioral problems at school. She does not get jealous when her foster mother pays attention to the other children. Ria used to lie to avoid the consequences of her actions, however this behavior only happens from time to time. Ria is able to verbally express her feelings and emotions, and she manages them at an age-appropriate level. The foster mother needs to constantly remind her to take care of her personal belongings and to improve her hygiene. She gets upset when peers take her belongings without her permission. It is also upsetting to her when her foster mother has to scold her.

Playing with her foster siblings and her sister makes Ria happy. She has great skills in drawing and painting. Ria has stated that she would love to have a mom, dad, and other siblings. She would like to become a doctor, veterinarian, nurse, or teacher.

Liam was born December 2011. He was found to have multiple health and development issues, including a history of Infantile Spasm, left temporal arachnoid cyst, severe low vision, and moderate to severe grade mental retardation. He received training from different therapists and maintained steady improvement all along. Although he has a history of Infantile Spasm, he has a stable health condition with no records of any epileptic attacks since his admission to the present school. Due to his parents’ inability to take care of him, he was placed in a orphanage at the age of 3.

Liam is observed to be a lovely, easygoing, and well-behaved child, who is well loved by his teachers and caregivers. He is described as a happy child with stable emotions, and expresses enjoyment through his lovely smile which is heart-melting. He enjoys one-on-one interaction with his main caregiver.

Everett resides in a center for children. He is a healthy, good-looking boy who has autism with severe delays in intellectual functioning. He makes sounds but has no speech skills. He shows stereotypical mannerisms of rocking, hand fluttering, and hyperactivity. He plays by himself and does not interact with others. He seldom reacts to his name. Sometimes he self-harms or shows frustration. He does not sustain attention for very long. He needs assistance in feeding, clothing and self-care. He needs close attention. He needs a loving family.

Videos are available.

Jasper loves the Avengers, Captain America, Spiderman, and Peppa Pig! He is very sweet and loving, affectionate, and loves to go to school.

Jasper has a $3000 agency grant, with a specific agency.  Additionally, A Child Waits Foundation is pleased to partner with the agency to provide grants to qualified families for the adoption of a child from Jasper’s country. They have committed to a $2,500 grant for this specific child, to help a family adopt him. These grants are to be used when the family is ready to travel to complete their adoption and can be paid directly to the family, if there is no outstanding balance with the agency. All families in process are welcome to visit achildwaits.org to apply for a grant.

Agency staff met Andy in October of 2022. Contact the agency to learn more about Andy and his listed medical needs!

There is a $2000 agency fee reduction for Andy’s adoption with a specific adoption agency; additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Nikki is very social, bright and intelligent girl. She is able to express verbally her emotions, interests, concerns and ideas and she is very well-spoken and has a rich vocabulary. She shared that her favorite subjects at school are physical education and English. She shared that she enjoys being around friends and she has many of them both at school and in her group home. She is not a conflict person and she starts every conversation and interaction with very positive intentions.

She shared that her passion is currently drama performances and classes and she has already some experience playing on stage at the local theaters. Nikki says that if she has to choose she would prefer the stage rather than playing in a movie because she likes to have interaction with the audience. However she has a favorite movie and it's a movie which she admits she watched like hundreds of time – Titanic. She shared that she likes Leonardo Di Caprio and Angelina Jolie as actors.

Nikki seems to be one very sensitive and romantic soul, she enjoys more peaceful activities, she likes the rain and she admits that some movies make her cry. However she does not spare any smiles and she loves to smile and have fun with her friends. Nikki likes the colors black, red and purple, she said that pink is definitely not a favorite color. She said that she is not a picky eater and she likes all kinds of food. She shared that she does not like lamb meat. Nikki enjoys the music of the singer Arianna Grande and she dreams to visit Paris one day.

Nikki's hope is that she will have a family. She was adopted years ago through the national adoption process but her parents seemed to be much older and at the end they saw that they feel much more comfortable without having a child at home, they had a hard time creating emotional bond with her and they disrupted the adoption after four years. Nikki seems to have processed the trauma from that separation and she now realizes that what happened maybe was in her interest as she felt undesired in their home.

Since 2021 she is in the current group home and she is now looking in the future and the possibility to have a new family. She said that it does not bother her if the family is from another country even though she admits she will feel sad for leaving her friends and the people who take care for her now.

When asked about how she is imagining her family, she said that she wants they to be good people and to treat her well. She is ok with both having other siblings or not. Nikki shared that she loves animals ( her favorite is a cat) and she would like her family to like animals too. Nikki believes that you can tell a lot about the people just watching them how they act and interact around animals and that it is always a good person the one who admits that likes animals.

Carrie  and Grace  are sisters who have been in state care since 2019. After their mother passed away, their grandmother cared for the girls for as long as she was able. Now they hope to find a forever family who will welcome them together. Both girls do well in school and enjoy group activities. Carrie says math is one of her favorite subjects, and she hopes to take gymnastics lessons again someday. Grace loves art and is described as a leader. Neither girl has any special needs. They just need a family.

 

Unedited pictures are available from the agency

Maci, Milan, and Marcel are a beautiful sibling group waiting for a loving forever family of their own! These siblings participated in a summer 2023 hosting program and still wait. The in-country team still talks to their host family regularly and knows these kids VERY well!

Additional information & pictures available from the listing agency.

Maci, born in March of 2009, is feminine and gets along very well with girls. She is described as smiley, friendly, a good friend, and empathetic. She is always ready and eager to help others. Maci needs to make everything suitable for everyone. She very much loves her siblings and has a great capacity to give love and care. She can search for help to resolve difficult situations. She loves to look good and likes using make-up and doing her hair. Sometimes learning is challenging for Maci, but her motivation allows her to overcome obstacles and persevere. She always wants to belong to something.

Milan, born in April of 2014, loves animals. She really likes taking care of them and pampering them. Milan is characterized by being playful, tender, empathetic, and loving. She is very close to her siblings and enjoys spending time with them. Her favorite activities are going to the farm, playing in the pool, and coloring. Sometimes it is difficult for her to make decisions. She must be motivated to learn to recognize those things that she likes and that make her feel good. You will always find her joking. To make her laugh, you need to tickle her a little.

Marcel, born in July of 2012, is a sweet, loving, disciplined child, eager to explore his environment and learn something new daily. One of the activities he most enjoys is building new objects and assembling Legos. He really likes learning new languages and about other cultures. Marcel is a very healthy boy. His favorite foods are fruits and salads. It is easy for him to relate and interact with others. He is expressive and friendly and knows how to recognize and express his needs.

There is a $2,000 agency fee reduction for Maci, Milan, and Marcel’s adoption with the listing adoption agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available with the agency based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Maci, Milan, and Marcel have an additional $5,500 grant through Children Need Families; The adoption agency will allocate this grant. Maci, Milan, and Marcel also qualify for a RODS Heroes grant (RODS Applications are based on financial need)

Gene’s information is from a report in June 2024 — the agency does have older reports as well.  Gene was 7 years old when he entered care due to neglect. He spent most of his days on the streets and there were behavioral issues within his family of origin. His father was in jail and his mother was involved in criminal activities as well as drug usage. While she said she was going to make changes in her life to regain her son’s custody, she did not follow through. Gene is now 12 years old.

Gene is in the 4th grade. He struggles academically. It is difficult for him to understand new concepts and therefore is unmotivated to do his best. He still has trouble pronouncing properly many words. In 2020 he was diagnosed with mild cognitive developmental delay, but this diagnosis was overruled though an IQ test is pending. He can get easily distracted if he does not like a specific activity. There are no concerns regarding his motor development. His language development is behind, it is difficult for him to comprehend a reading assignment; and he mispronounces some words. In the middle of the night, it is necessary to wake him up to go to the bathroom so that he will not have any accidents. Gene has been learning to manage his frustrations and impulses in a better way. Gene interacts in a positive way with his peers. Gene recognizes authority figures; he is respectful and obedient towards them. It has been observed that Gene interacts positively with adults, kids his age, younger children, and animals.

Currently, Gene goes to therapy, and he has been diagnosed with unspecified mixed behavioral issues for which he takes daily medication. He gets anxious whenever he is not permitted to do something he wants or whenever he does not fully understand a task. He gets upset when he feels he is being attacked, but he has not become aggressive. Gene is afraid of being alone, getting lost and being in the dark. Whenever he feels sad it is because he longs to have a family.

Gene loves to participate in any recreational activity, including sports. Some of Gene’s favorite activities are playing soccer, going to the park, playing cops and robbers, making bracelets and painting. When he grows up, he would like to be a professional soccer player or a chef.

Hailey is a 13 year old girl in Asia. She is reported to have good overall development with normal physical and motor development. While her vision has been listed as normal as of July 2022, she had some prior surgeries for visual issues and it is suggested she wear glasses due to myopia. 

Hailey is able to communicate easily and freely. She is described as outgoing, expressive and a frank teenager with a kind heart. She loves to share her thoughts and feelings to those around her. She seems to be a sensitive soul as her emotions are quite easy to read on her face and admonishing her in public, she becomes defensive or cries, but when spoken to in private she responds much more positively to constructive criticism. 

In December 2023, Hailey allegedly had a suicide attempt after breaking up with her boyfriend. She was hospitalized for a few days, but was not prescribed any medication. She also was reported to be smoking, which she admitted to as a way of calming her mood, but she has responded very positively to the staff’s positive reinforcement means of handling this situation. 

As with most teenagers these days, Hailey enjoys dancing, making dance videos with classmates, and watching videos on YouTube or  TikTok. She is on the basketball team at school and also enjoys playing volleyball. She expresses admiration of her geography, computer and Chinese history teachers.  Her social worker says “her smiles and laughter are contagious and powerful.” She enjoys the Korean Pop Culture music. 

Due to the process in her country and her age, a family wishing to adopt her will need to work quickly to complete paperwork if the foreign agency in charge of their adoption chooses the family for the child.

Channing is a talented boy, born in December of 2011, with many interests. He likes to play with Legos, create Origami, and play soccer. He is a waiting child hoping for the love and stability of a family of his own. Contact the agency to learn more about Channing and his listed needs!

NEWER VIDEOS:

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-channingupdate
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-channingupdate

The agency has several older videos available, too.
Password: Adoptmaa

There is a $2000 agency fee reduction for Channing’s adoption. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

She resides with a foster family. She has ataxic cerebral palsy. She walks with slight unsteadiness. She attends a regular school with special education support services. She needs monitoring by a child neurologist and psychiatrist, motor rehabilitation, sessions with a psychologist and speech therapist, as well as special care and supervision by an adult in all social situations. She is friendly and initiates communication and contact with peers and adults, but often misunderstands intent or meaning and takes offense. She can easily be distracted, becoming fixated on an idea or object. Her emotional and social immaturity can put her at risk in social settings. She needs a predictable, safe and secure environment.

Kinsley is a beautiful little girl who loves to look pretty. She likes to wear red, pink, and yellow dresses. She also loves accessories like hair clips, earrings, and bracelets. She loves to play with dolls and she also likes to play pretend teacher. Kinsley loves cats. She also loves to watch Princess Sofia. Kinsley is active and likes to swim, ride her bike, and play at the park. We hope this little sweet girl will find her forever family soon!

Additional photos available!

VIDEOS  (Password: Adoptmaa)
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley03

There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Kinsley’s adoption with a specific agency!

Kinsley is eligible for a $10,000 grant with the LPA, as long as the family joins LPA!

Kinsley needs a family with an approved home study to be able to lock her file or submit a letter of intent to adopt her. A family without a home study can look at her redacted file. If you are interested in reviewing Kinsley’s file or in adopting Kinsley, the agency would be happy to assist you.

This update and new photos were added in October 2022.

Leonard is one of the most clever boys you could ever meet. Although he’s non-verbal in conversations he often sings his favorite songs out loud for everyone to hear. His favorite toys include tennis shoes, books, and anything that spins! He also loves any sort of sensory experience, such as playing in the dirt looking at moving lights, and swinging. Leonard is not difficult to please. He finds joy in all the small moments in life. His favorite days are water days. He could truly sit in the kiddie pools for hours! He loves splashing and experimenting with how the water moves. Leonard is so much fun to play with and be around.

Leonard is gaining more independence everyday. He can eat, walk, and use the bathroom on his own. He has many ways of communicating what he wants using gestures, verbal sounds, and expressions or body language. Leonard is almost never sad or unhappy. His laugh can be heard even in another room, his joy is truly contagious. When he gets to know you Leonard can be very affectionate. He loves to hold hands or lay in your lap. He might also take your hand to show you he wants his head or back rubbed. He knows how to seek out his favorite people, forming clear attachments to those he loves. Leonard would absolutely thrive with the consistency of a forever family who can love him fully and keep him safe always.

Meet “A, N & R” – three siblings who are longing for a family where they can grow up loved and together. A is a 12-year-old boy who does well in school and gets along with others. He has vision loss in one eye, but that has not seemed to slow him down! His sister, N, just turned nine years old. She has diagnoses of a mild intellectual delay and minor behavioral issues. N is described as mobile and energetic. She enjoys playing with her classmates and while she may learn more slowly than her peers, she is making continual progress. Their brother, R, just turned ten years old. R likes to color, watch TV, and ride on scooters and bicycles. He has diagnoses of a mild intellectual delay and ADHD as well as a congenital foot deformity for which he has undergone some treatment.

Waylon is in 5th grade with average academic achievements. He excels in mathematics and is particularly diligent in art and technology. He is inquisitive during educational trips and is an active participant in physical play. Waylon’s reading skills are good, he is able to narrate and read a text, answer questions, observe, and analyze. He attends wrestling, science, drama and sports clubs. In his free time, he plays basketball, and football, cycles, draws, does needlework, plays computer games, and watches TikTok or films. He has several friends with whom he spends his free time.

Waylon tries to follow rules but has difficulty following rules during lessons and concentrating on tasks. He sometimes
struggles to control his behavior and emotions. When angry, he behaves impulsively and uses verbal aggression. Seeks
leadership positions sometimes overestimating his own strength. He can become angry when he loses an activity and then
refuses to continue.

At first contact, the impression is that he is shy and withdrawn. After familiarizing himself with his
surroundings in a group of other children, he becomes bold and eager to make an impression. Waylon is able to make friends with other children, but is not always able to maintain them for long periods of time. Relationships with staff are generally warm, friendly and respectful. He is willing to interact, spontaneously develops a conversation and initiates conversations on topics of interest to him. Can distinguish, understand and relate emotions (sadness, anger, happiness, joy) to personal experience, although more often suppresses them and then acts them out on impulse. He lacks emotional self-regulation skills and sometimes has complex emotional experiences (loneliness, insecurity, anger, hopes and dreams about family life). Waylon is helpful, inquisitive, polite, generous, loves animals and likes to joke. He has age-appropriate decision-making skills, problem-solving skills. He has some signs of inappropriate behavior (swearing, insulting other children, not always responding to comments, etc.) due to being around older children. Waylon has been receiving psychological counselling since 2019. His caregivers say that it is likely that his mental health will improve significantly if he is provided with a safe, affectionate family environment.

The girls described as healthy and developmentally on track, but with significant trauma history.

Lilly is a girl without any disabilities. She is healthy and does not take any medication. All she needs is kindness, love, support, and security. Lilly is very emotionally connected with her younger sisters. She is helpful around the orphanage and has established friendships with her peers.

Poppy is an 11 year old girl. Her intellectual development is average. Her IQ is estimated to be between 90 and 108. She is very attentive and observant. She is polite in her interactions with others. Her behavior is typically very good. When she misbehaves, she always apologizes. Her trauma has formed the ways that she responds to stress.

Violet is 7, she has high intelligence, with an estimated IQ between 118 and 130. Her motor development is good. She has high social-emotional competence. She does not have impulsive behaviors

Felicity, Kayla, and Yuki are two sisters and a brother in need of a family. They live in a group home for children without disabilities.

Felicity was born in December 2009. The dominant emotions are the positive ones. She demonstrates active social behavior. Sometimes she still demonstrates weaker control of emotions. When frustrated, she reacts with irritation. There is no data for anxiety, depression, or aggression. She is doing well with the maternal language. There are some minimal grammar mistakes. She is able to lead and maintain dialog. She can express sequentially and logically her thoughts and feelings. She is able to express emotions though non-verbal communication. She demonstrates positive self-evaluation. She has the typical characteristics of an extrovert. She enjoys watching TV, drawing, playing computer games as well as playing outside. She is oriented in the behavior of the children and the adults within society. She can attune her behavior towards the requirements of the situation. She participates in games and in the communication of her peers. She is mostly taking the central role. She does not step back from her goals easily. During the school year 2022/2023 she graduated from eighth grade, a class with professional profile. Considering the neglect in her birth family she has some gaps in the knowledge which are expected for her age. At school she works with a resource teacher. She has self-serving skills. She has habits for maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. She has skills to participate in collectively organized household tasks. She wants to be adopted.

Kayla was born in December 2012. She is an emotional child. She does not demonstrate aggression. She is empathic towards the problems of the other kids. She is eager to help her peers if they need it. She is doing well with the maternal language. There are some minimal grammar mistakes. She is able to lead and maintain dialog. She can express sequentially and logically her thoughts and feelings. She can express emotions though non-verbal communication. She is building a positive self-evaluation. She has the typical for her age curiosity and she demonstrates characteristics of an extrovert. She enjoys watching cartoons, drawing, playing board games and computer games as well as playing outside. She is oriented in the behavior of the children and the adults within society. She can attune her behavior towards the requirements of the situation. She is adjusting well in the group of her peers. She participates with big interest in all organized games and events. She can step back from her own goals and actions in line with those of her peers. She can wait for her turn to come. Considering the neglect in her birth family she has some gaps in the knowledge which are expected for her age. She is able to read and write under dictation. She makes minimal mistakes. She is well oriented into her school. During the school year 2022/2023 she graduated from fourth grade. She has self-serving skills. She has habits for maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. She wants to be adopted.

Yuki was born in February 2011. In December 2012, Yuki was a victim in a road accident and suffered a right lower leg fracture. Considering the changes that happened in his life, the adjustment process into the residential facility and in school went with some challenges. In November 2022 he was consulted with pediatric psychiatrist who put the diagnosis for “Other mixed behavior and emotional disorders”. His condition is being followed and therapy may be prescribed as well as work with psychologist. Now he is calm, he is acting with respect towards peers and adults. He observes the rules. With desire he performs all the given tasks in school and in the residential center. The speech and the language skills are well-developed. He was raised in a bilingual environment where d both Bulgarian and Turkish language. He can lead and maintain dialog and he provides enough verbal information. During conversation he communicates freely, he enters contact easily. He is able to express emotions though non-verbal communication. He demonstrates positive self-evaluation. He has the typical characteristics of an extrovert. He enjoys playing on the computer, playing soccer and going for walks outside. With desire he participates in the group activities. He performs the tasks according to his abilities. He likes being praised and to feel helpful, to be in the center of the attention. He is oriented in the behavior of the children and the adults within the society. He can adjust to new conditions. When disappointed he reacts emotionally. He participates in the games of his peers. Not always able to adjust his goals and actions around those of his partners in the game and he may react emotionally and enters into conflict. He finds challenges accepting the failures. During the school year 2022/2023 he graduated from sixth grade, a class with a profile in boxing. He works with a resource teacher there, After the incident he had he has been educating remotely. He is doing well and within the timeframe. He has self-serving skills. He has hygiene habits, but he needs to be reminded. He participates with desire in the activities related to maintaining environmental hygiene. He wants to be adopted.

Damian has Down syndrome, and is an affectionate and loving young boy. He feels close to his caretakers and loves sharing with them. He loves to give hugs.

There is a $1,500 agency fee reduction for Damian’s adoption with a specific adoption agency.

Ronnie

The girl does not cause any educational problems either at school or in the orphanage. She is very diligent and obligatory.  She is happy, independent and caring girl who likes to help with younger children. She is willing to cooperate, she likes meetings with a psychologist and needs time to adapt to a new environment.

She rides a bike, roller-skates, swims, participates in sports and dance activities. Physical activity gives her joy. She has a great artistic talent, but does not believe in herself.  She likes to travel and is very curious about life and surroundings, constantly asking questions.

Mary

SN – Moderate intellectual disability, speech disorder

Mary is a very cheerful child. Despite speech disorders, she easily communicates with caregivers or peers. She likes to play with younger children. She carries them in a cart or leads them by the hand. She started learning to roller-skates, likes swimming in the pool, sports and dance activities. She goes to a special school. She doesn’t make any behavior problems. She doesn’t read books on her own, but she likes to see the pictures.

The sisters wish to be adopted together and hope to find a forever family!

 

Picture of Ronnie coming soon!

Edmundo, born in June of 2011 with Down syndrome, is an active boy who is waiting for a loving family of his own. The agency has a video to see him in action.

There is a $3,000 agency fee reduction for Edmundo’s adoption via a specific adoption agency.

Ollie is now living in foster care. He is physically well developed. He has good coordination of his hands and feet. He walks without falling, and can run as well. Climbs up and goes down by the stairs when holding an adult or the railing. He can play with cubes by putting them and taking them out of a cup, but has some problems manipulating with smaller objects. He cannot eat and dress by himself yet, but does make attempts. He understood almost everything and fulfils small tasks. He likes playing hide and seek. He hides behind the door and when he is found, he laughs and stomps his feet. He is interested in musical cartoons and copies the movements of the actors.

*There is a younger child that is believed to be Ollie’s younger brother. However, they are NOT listed as needing to be adopted together. The other child is listed as Ozzie.

The girl has a congenital defect of the nervous system in the form of a meningeal hernia at the lumbosacral level, a bifurcation of the thoracic spine with hydrocephalus and paralysis of the lower limbs. The girl has a valve in her head that regulates the blood flow in the head and prevents the increase in intracranial pressure. She also has a neurogenic bladder – she needs to drink fluids regularly and change the catheter every 3 hours. She has a visual impairment, wears glasses: ER: +3.5, EL: +4. and uses a wheelchair.

Despite her disabilities, the girl is very active. She is very happy to work during rehabilitation, thanks to which she is willing to participate in social life and has accepted her disabilities. She is attending wheelchair dance classes. The girl functions very well on a daily basis and is independent.  She likes to play with younger children and often organizes games for them.

Rocky is a calm, pleasant  boy who lives in a group home in Eastern Europe. He is attached to his caregivers and responds well to them.

Although Rocky was born premature and with low birth weight; cerebral palsy; and speech, motor and cognitive delays, he is making good progress in his physical therapy and other supports. He can walk with minimal support, and his fine motor skills are also improving.

Severely impaired condition, polymalformative syndrome: Dandy-Walker syndrome, epilepsy, congenital hydrocephalus-ventriculoperitoneal shunt installed, dysfunction of the valve with a neuroinfection and a surgical treatment and revision of the valve system in the spring of 2015; anal atresia, sigmostoma and sagittal proctoplasty; mylticystic right kidney, kidney dysplasia, pyelectasis and hypertrophy of the left kidney, severe mental delay.

Connor is being raised in one of the biggest orphanages in Bulgaria where children often suffer from severe malnutrition, muscle hypotrophy and have severe delays in the neuropsychological development. He has a polymalformative syndrome, but one could see a dramatic change in his appearance in just two pictures- the first one taken in the end of November 2014 and the second one in June 2015.

He grabs a toy that is handed to him, holds it for a while and manipulates with it. He has started to more and more often reach with his hands and manipulate with hanging toys independently.

While involved in active interactions with adults, he would make his emotional responses known with his nonverbal behavior. He seeks contact with familiar adults by reaching out his hand, grabbing an adult’s hand and he would even sometimes direct an adult’s hand towards his face so as to be caressed.

He falls asleep easily and his sleep is calm. He is fed with a bottle. He gets anxious while his clothes are changed and while bathed.

Jonas is on several medications.  Jonas’s motor activity completely corresponds to the expected developmental level for his calendar age.  Although his fine motor skills need to improve further, Jonas is able to hold a pencil properly. He can inlay elements with some guidance. He puts cubes one on top of the other. He threads colored rings on a fixed stand, but not yet in accordance with their size.

There are some difficulties in attracting and keeping his attention focused. Jonas plays for a longer period of time whenever he is interested in the respective activity. Jonas orientates well in a familiar environment. He distinguishes between day and night based on his everyday routines – sleeping, meal times, rest. He recognizes the neighborhood around the foster family’s home.

Jonas is reported to have achieved noticeable progress in terms of expressing his emotions and feelings, which are becoming more diverse. He reacts appropriately to smiles and angry faces and also to the tone of voice one talks to him with. He demonstrates his love, attachment and attention for others. He greatly enjoys it when others play with him. Jonas has attached to all members of the foster family.

Clifton lives with a foster family.  He loves to listen to music and dance and is always looking for a dancing partner! His foster family is working on him walking longer distances independently.  He is learning how to play with toys and interact appropriately with other children.  He has few words and does not follow verbal directions.  Clifton is receiving therapy multiple times a week.

Clifton’s gross motor skills are well-developed – he moves around independently, even at long distances, and he has no difficulties walking on different surfaces. He can now run (since the beginning of January 2017). The deficits noted previously in Clifton’s fine motor skills have been compensated to a great extent. He can transfer small elements with a spoon from one bowl into another with an adult’s assistance, he plays with certain materials and toys, he clips and unclips clothes pegs, he looks for an object hidden in the sand and he takes it out with great interest. He holds a pencil and leaves pale traces with it on a sheet of paper. He does great eating with a spoon. Clifton accepts the toothbrush and allows for his teeth to be brushed.

It happens more and more rarely for Clifton to demonstrate anxiety in response to being introduced to unfamiliar places and people. The stereotypic movements he demonstrates when someone initiates interactions with him have decreased significantly. He imitates actions he has observed more often and more successfully than before. Clifton becomes lively and starts dancing whenever someone is singing or plays music.

Clifton is  calm in his new foster family, he often smiles and he laughs aloud while playing with an adult (or with the girls in the foster family). He is especially attached to the foster father and the younger daughter in the family. Clifton has become a lot more sociable in the last 6 months: he seeks children’s attention, initiates interactions, accepts unfamiliar people a lot easier, maintains a smaller distance between himself and others and makes eye contact.

Although Clifton has poor passive vocabulary, he follows simple instructions provided that those are accompanied by nonverbal means of communication. His speech development is at the level of producing chains of syllables. He uses “No” appropriately so as to express his disagreement, he sometimes uses “Yes” and “Give me”. Clifton initiates physical and emotional contact with his foster parents and their children as well as with the specialists working with him. He is especially attached to the foster father and the youngest daughter in the foster family. His interactions with other children have changed significantly – he plays with them for a long time and he is making attempts to cooperate with them.

More photos/file are available from his agency

Adeline is communicative with children and adults. She answers questions. Her expressive and impressive speech is developing. She follows verbal directions. She demonstrates a desire for emotional closeness. She willingly interacts with children and adults. She has established friendly relationships with her classmates. She loves listening music and dancing, as well as, drawing and coloring. She has delays in academics and receives support from a resource teacher at school.

He has been living with a foster family since 2013.

He has a systolic murmur along the precordium; hyperkinetic conduct disorder and a mild mental delay. The child started walking on time, but his speech is underdeveloped. The child cannot stay focused for a long time while playing. He understands and follows simple instructions.

The agency has current medical reports available for serious inquiries.

UPDATE March 2017:   previous Diagnosis of Atypical autism that was changed to hyperkinetic disorder, very interested in motor activities. Responds to positive interactions and praise from familiar adults, but can become anxious in new situations or if a familiar caregiver is not around. He seeks comfort from familiar adults and can become sad if one leaves.

*Abner’s social worker reported that according to the specialists, supervising Abner’s condition and development, the diagnosis of atypical autism is no longer valid and it will be deleted from Abner’s formal paperwork that is to be updated in the following months

Abner likes to keep himself busy exploring! His favorite activities are the ones that include movement, such as going for a walk. He very much likes to spend time looking through books. He also likes all musical instruments and toys that play melodies and sounds. His favorite toy is a children’s laptop that plays songs. When he hears a melody he tries to dance.

There has been a progress in Abner’s speech development as he has started using a lot of words. He now forms sentences containing 3-4 words, albeit dyslexia is observed.