Other Special Needs

Kaylyn is in severely impaired condition and her development is delayed in all areas. She is completely dependent on adults’ care. Her sleep is calm and rhythmical. She is fed with a spoon by an adult.

Meet Brothers Kole (12), Shay (11), and Vance (8)

These three kind and joyful brothers share a close bond and long to be adopted together. Despite living in separate foster homes, they see each other often and treasure every moment spent playing, celebrating, and growing side by side. Kole is responsible and sociable, Shay is caring and thoughtful, and Vance is curious and full of wonder.

All three are healthy, independent in their routines, and eager to join a loving forever family where they can be reunited and thrive together.

William, 10, is a calm, stable and cheerful child who can sometimes be a bit too straightforward in expressing his thoughts. Even though he can be blunt, he is willing to listen to advice from adults and make changes. He resides in a small group home in his Asian country and attends mainstream school. He is an outstanding student with excellent performance in both academics and conduct. He has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and weak social skills. 

William loves reading and many outdoor sport activities such as riding bicycle, scooter and playing soccer. He is a bright and adaptable child with a warm spirit, ready to thrive in a nurturing environment.

Due to his country’s matching process, families with a home study for any country can submit to be considered for William.

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. 

 

Hunter is a cheerful 10-year-old boy in need of a loving home capable of supporting him and his long-term needs. In 2018, Hunter was diagnosed with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome, a genetic disorder, with dysmorphic features including hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, thick lips, wide mouth, and broad tapering fingers. He also has developmental delay, profound sensorineural hearing loss, scoliosis, hyperopia and astigmatism, asthma, beta thalassemia trait, and short stature. He received a cochlear implant in his left ear in April 2020 and continues to use a hearing aid in his right ear. He is required to attend medical appointments at different specialties, including the Endocrine Clinic, Eye Clinic, Asthma Clinic, ENT, Prosthetic & Orthotic, Neurology Clinic, General Pediatrics, Hearing Aid Prescription and Spinal and Brace Clinic. His asthma has become stable in recent years and is prescribed medication if needed.  He also has history of seizure but has been stable as well.  Despite all of his long-term conditions, his health is generally stable and he does not take any regular medications.

Hunter is an active, pleasant, friendly and outgoing boy who always shows his smiles. He is an affectionate child who enjoys holding hands, cuddles and hugs from his familiar caregivers. Hunter currently does not have any speech; however, he can express himself by producing some vocal sounds, such as “er” or “ar” or through some simple gestures, such as pointing to things he is interested in or wants or through pictures and Quick Talker. He has received sign language training and learned to use body gestures to express himself. He can wave his hand to greet or to show refusal occasionally. Even with his limitations, Hunter shares a good relationship with the other children. He is generally calm, though he can get upset when he doesn’t get what he wants, but he is easily diverted and his frustration will resolve.

Though Hunter is slightly weaker in trunk control, shoulder stability, upper limb control, muscle tone, bilateral coordination, and motor planning, he can keep his balance while standing and walking. He can also walk up and down stairs by holding someone’s hand, run, and climb up and down as shared. In terms of fine motor skills, he has poor to fair finger strength, finger dexterity and bilateral coordination of both upper limbs. He has a fair to poor tripod and pincer grip in picking up small objects, and fair to poor performance in handwriting and manipulating scissors to cut a straight line. Being curious, Hunter likes exploring his environment and new things.  He likes playing with building blocks, coloring, and watching TV and YouTube videos. He enjoys participating in activities at the orphanage.

Hunter needs a family who can help him continue in his development and who will be dedicated to his life-long needs.

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.

Ashton is an adorable little boy who is described as a social child who loves to be around others who give him affection. He shares with the people around him. He loves to hear music and pleasant sounds. He likes painting and watching animated shows. Contact the agency to learn more about Ashton and his special needs!

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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 presented is from the October 2024 Child Study

6-year-old Chuck is described as an energetic and curious boy with a lively personality. He is attached to his caregivers and teachers, and tends to prefer adult relationships over playing with other children. Chuck was originally cared for by his parents, both in their 40s, as a baby. Sadly, his mother became terminally ill and she asked her friend to care for him before she died in May 2020. His mother knew his father would not be able to care for him, and ultimately, his father soon died as well in September 2020. After the father’s death, the friend brought him to authorities and said she could no longer care for him, and no other relatives accepted care of him.  It is known that his mother had two children previously—one that is an adult with an unknown disability, and another child who is a teenager and lives with the mother’s younger sister in Indonesia. Unfortunately, Chuck has had a few different placements, including being moved from one children’s residential home after it was determined that five different caregivers had physically abused him.

In May 2021 at the age of 27 months, Chuck had a cognitive functional age of 17 months. He has shown slow progress over time. During the October 2024 visit by the social worker, he was able to identify shapes, name colors and select certain colored pens from a group, but occasionally struggled with matching colors correctly though he has significantly improved since previous visits. A psychologist noted in October 2024 that he is able to learn basic concepts one at a time, but struggles to learn multiple things simultaneously and often forgets what has been learned the previous day. They will evaluate his developmental progress. Even though he has problems remembering what was learned, he has a strong memory in daily life matters. While at the age of 2 years old, Chuck was noted to have significant delay in both gross and fine motor skills, Chuck has shown improvement in both areas. As of August 2024, he could walk independently, jump with both feet, and throw balls/beanbags; however, he still needed help climbing stairs and balancing on one leg. While he used to loose his balance and fall when walking, he is now steady without assistance. With regard to fine motor skills, he can thread beads, unscrew bottle lids, hold a pen to connect dots, and is learning to draw vertical and horizontal lines. Tasks that involve hand coordination such as folding paper, fastening buttons and using scissors are areas he struggles in, but he is receiving therapy services. CHI is seeking updated information on his skills.

Chuck wears glasses due to astigmatism in both eyes as well as refractive errors. He has normal hearing. When he was 2, he was noted to have significant speech delay, but this too has progressed substantially. At the age of 4, he was mainly using single words or sometimes very short phrases, but by August 2024 he was able to express his needs and wants in simple sentences as well as being able to respond to questions. As stated above, CHI is seeking updated information.

While Chuck has learned to express his needs and wants with words and simple sentences, he still gets frustrated and cries or sometimes has a tantrum when he is upset over something. It has been found that he responds well to tangible rewards and consistent boundaries to help him learn to manage his desires and emotions when he can’t have something he wants and to know what to expect. Chuck is sensitive to loud noises which leads him to be hyperalert and scared. Chuck is also afraid of unknown males and of dogs. However, once he knows a man he is more at ease around them.

Currently, Chuck is scheduled for testing regarding suspected Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder due to observed behaviors and tendencies and also suspected Autistic Spectrum Disorder due to hypotonia in his legs, for which his also getting an MRI and genetic testing.

Other mixed disorders of behavior and emotions. Disorder in psychological development, unspecified. Moderate cognitive delay, without mention of behavioral disorder

Lexi is a bright-eyed 4-year-old girl with bilateral hearing loss and developmental delays, but these do not diminish her joyful spirit. Lexi communicates in her own unique ways and is curious about the world around her. Lexi will thrive in an environment where she receives consistent, patient attention and where her efforts to communicate are celebrated. She’s looking for a family who will provide a nurturing and stimulating home, eager to support her continued development and help her reach new milestones. With love and encouragement, Lexi has the potential to blossom and bring immense joy to her adoptive family.

Holly is a cheerful, lovely, friendly and cheeky 5-year-old girl who lights up her surroundings as a true superstar. She loves people and her medical staff adores her, often gifting her beautiful clothes. She treasures relationships as she can easily remember faces after just two meetings. Holly is learning to use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) with the help of a tablet, where she can tap to select people she wants to see (picture available). During the social worker’s child visit, she even used gestures to request adding the worker’s face to her tablet even though it was her first-time meeting her. Despite her many medical needs, this child has shown the ability to learn and engage with her with a variety of engagement types. She is a funny girl who makes people smile with her bright personality. A picture is available of her making funny faces when the social worker was taking her pictures for the child study.

Holly is diagnosed with incomplete DiGeorge syndrome, bilateral vocal cord palsy, oropharyngeal dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), scoliosis, global developmental delay and exotropia. She is on tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. She has remained hospitalized since birth for her medical needs even though she is medically stable now. To learn more about DiGeorge Syndrome, visit the Mayo Clinic’s syndrome page here: DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

As mentioned, despite Holly’s significant medical needs, she has made remarkable progress in her development over the past year. She can follow simple instructions, point to familiar objects, and use tools after observing her teacher’s demonstrations. Holly shows interest and joy while learning various play skills and can imitate appropriate play behaviors with prompting and encouragement. She consistently communicates her needs using gestures and she also has great eye contact. Additionally, she can sit independently, take a few steps without assistance, self-propel her wheelchair for short distances, and manage tasks like eating and dressing on her own. She enjoys watching cartoons and listening to music.

Despite having a tracheostomy, Holly does not require ventilator support. However, in the event of tracheostomy dislodgement, there is a risk of hypoxia and immediate tracheostomy reinsertion is necessary. She needs to be accompanied by a trained caregiver at all times. Holly has been assessed as medically fit for home care. The doctor has recommended that Holly requires a well-trained and attentive caregiver who can provide vigilant around-the-clock care, and the caregiver would need to be proficient in special care skills, including managing tracheostomy emergencies.

Holly has made great strides in the past half year and we strongly believe she will continue to make great progress in reaching her potential within a loving and fun family.

Due to the country’s matching process, families with an approved home study for any country are able to request consideration to be Holly’s parents. If matched, the family would then need to quickly update their home study and gather the dossier for the country.

Information in this report is from May 2025

Twins Nelson and Nellie are six years old. They were born to a teenaged mother who was in protective care herself. Given specific familial concerns that will need to be discussed with interested families, the children were placed into foster care together and eventually were deemed in need of an adoptive family. There is no history of abuse with these children.

Nelson is overall healthy and does not have any medical diagnoses nor does he take any medication. However, while his motor development is age-appropriate, he has a mild language delay. Nelson is able to pay attention and communicate with others, but he has an impairment in his ability to pronounce words and complete sentences with difficulty pronouncing “l” sounds especially. He is receiving speech therapy. His profile indicates a learning delay “considering the developmental scale he is currently in” and recommends stimulation, but there is not a specific diagnosis given. He does not show any difficulty processing sensory information. He is receiving occupational therapy and psychiatric follow-up for a “diagnostic impression of Unspecific Conduct Disorder” but he does not have an official diagnosis. He does not react well when given limits and sometimes throws tantrums when he is not able to do something he wants to do. He does not have any social development concerns, though there are time he prefers to play alone while other times he plays and interacts with his peers.

Nelson is an affectionate child who is able express his emotions to others. He is attached to his foster parents and appropriate seeks their attention and approval when completing tasks. He tends to allow his sister to lead him and to be the dominant sibling in the relationship. It saddens him when he cannot play with her or is separated from her (normal daily temporary reasons, not separated with regard to where they live).

Nelson enjoys playing with cars, dinosaurs and balls. He loves going to the park, playing sports—especially soccer—with his classmates, and he is noted to be a skilled painter.

While Nellie also does not currently have any physical/medical diagnoses, she is being evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder. A psychiatric evaluation appointment is pending due to testing showing sufficient criteria for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but a thorough evaluation is needed to determine a diagnosis. Symptoms noted including persistent language development delay, attention lability, motor restlessness, stereotyped behavior, limited eye contact, and difficulty in understanding directions. A pedagogy evaluation appointment is also scheduled. Nellie displays behavioral concerns, especially with regard to her schoolwork. She is resistant to doing schoolwork (though she is capable to do the work) and to obeying the rules and limits of the classroom. At home, she has resisted doing homework and even has scribbled on her notebooks and thrown them on the floor. At her previous early childhood educational program, she also showed behavioral difficulties and difficulties recognizing authority figures, trouble staying involved in activities and a preference for more open areas of the institution. She cries when she is not allowed to do something she wants to do. However, she is able to play alone or focus on tasks she wants to do such as playing with dolls or dancing.

Nellie’s motor development is age-appropriate. She does not have any difficulty processing sensory information. Like her brother, she is able to communicate but has difficulty with word pronunciation—especially in pronouncing the “l” sound. Socially, she is able to establish relationships with other children and plays with others. Despite her behavioral concerns, she is noted to usually have a good disposition, be cheerful and integrated with her foster family. Her foster family has been given instruction on how to help improve her behavior and there has been progress made.

Nellie is strongly attached to her foster parents and her brother. She is able to give and receive affection with them and sometimes exhibits jealousy when the foster mother shows affection toward other children in the home. She seeks approval from her foster parents and from others with whom she has an emotional bond. Nellie is the more dominant sibling and takes the initiative to ask for things for both herself and her brother.

Nellie finds joy in playing with her dolls and receiving affection from those she is close to. She is an expressive child who engages in caregiving role-play. She likes wearing dresses and having bows in her hair. She enjoys and is good at dancing and singing, and also likes playing with toys, going to the park and watching television.

Precious Owyn is looking for a special family.

He is diagnosed with hydrocephalus and has some other medical issues that require in-depth care. The adoption agency has a lot more photos and more information about his needs and video footage.  A specific adoption agency also has grant funding in the amount of $2500 available.

Emeric can sit up in a special chair with support. He has poor support for his legs. He can hold a rattle with his left hand and shake it. He turns his head in the direction of sound. He has recently started tracking objects with his eyes. He enjoys listening to music. When music plays, he will get very still and listen to it with interest. He laughs and smiles in the presence of familiar adults. He eats blended food from a bottle.

Ashford enjoys the presence of adults and emotionally expresses himself with laughter, crying and sounds. He laughs when tickled and smiles when he sees familiar faces. Ashford is unable to sit, stand, nor does he have head control. He prefers to be on his stomach. He does not have coordinated movement of his arms or legs and has little ability to hold a toy. Ashford’s diagnosis is Microcephaly. He was born prematurely and received intervention at the hospital at birth. Some history of convulsions, controlled with medication. Suspicion of left nasal atresia.

Meet smiling Melly.   She had surgical treatment for correction of a meningocele.  A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also implanted to treat hydrocephalus. Unfortunately after surgery Melly’s lower limbs are paralyzed.

Melly moves independently in a wheelchair. She can pull herself up with her hands She enjoys contact with children and adults.  She plays with toys, handles them, and can throw them.  Melly pronounces various sounds and syllables although she points to make her needs known. She can maintain interest in an activity for 15-20 minutes.

Millie, Aaron and Ayana came into care in 2020 due to their parents’ drug usage and failure to adequately care for them. At that time, the children had not been in school, which meant that Aaron and Ayana were academically behind and placed in a grade lower than is age appropriate. However, all three children have done well in school considering their situation.

While there is no plan to separate the children, Millie and Aaron have expressed not wanting to be with their older sister as she mistreats them. The child study for the oldest sister recognizes that she has mistreated then, but also notes that she has made some progress since being in therapy and also since the children have lived in a positive family environment. Continued therapy is needed and is being received. The children have expressed wanting a family with a mother and a father as this is what knew before coming into care, but this is not set in stone.

Anthony is an adorable, sweet boy! Anthony has a lack of development physically and neurologically. In late 2015, a ventriculoperiteneal shunt was placed and he has been free of seizures since then. He cannot sit upright by himself and does not talk, but responds to sound. Anthony is tube fed due to lack of suck reflex. He does not react well to teasing or tactile stimulation by smiling but by irritation and crying.

Paul can crawl, pull to a stand, walk holding the hand of an adult and has recently started taking steps independently. He knows where his toys are kept in the house (toy boxes) and will go to them to get his toys. His fine motor skills are well developed. He transfers small objects from hand to hand and has a pincer grasp. He shows an interest in toys and outdoor activities, such as swinging. He enjoys cause and effect toys. His speech is starting to develop. He “babbles”, saying syllables such as “da-da” and “ba-ba”. He is attached to familiar people and expresses his emotions in age appropriate ways. He was recently prescribed glasses to help with his vision issues.

Amelia is reported to be “just as sweet as she can be.” The agency has a new report from November 2024 as well as photos & videos that can be shared with inquiring families.

A specific agency also has grant funding available in the amount of $2500.

Josiah moves in space by turning from back to belly and vice versa. He has started forming some of the perceptions about objects from his constant surroundings and everyday life. He connects some objects from his surroundings with the actions performed with them.

When awake, Josiah is mostly calm. He would laugh out loud when jested. During active interactions with adults Josiah pronounces various sounds and random syllables. Josiah follows a specific dietary regime and has food individually prepared for him. He is fed with a spoon by an adult and has a picky appetite. He is calm during dressing and bathing. Josiah’s sleep is calm.

Meet Sebastian, a delightful and active four-year-old-boy from a Caribbean island who is eagerly awaiting his forever family. Sebastian is a vibrant little explorer who loves to move! He’s remarkably coordinated, climbing stairs, and showing great dexterity as he twists and unscrews things. Sebastian is also a curious learner who enjoys imitating actions and is already showing a keen eye for color, happily sorting objects. He’s growing by leaps and bounds, blossoming into a bright and engaging individual who will bring so much joy to a loving home. Sebastian possesses a wonderful range of emotions, openly expressing his happiness and other feelings, and he’s beginning to form connections with those around him. He is ready to flourish in a supportive and nurturing adoptive family where his unique strengths can shine even brighter. Sebastian has been diagnosed with mild autism.

Bailey accepts physical and verbal contact from others. Bailey likes toys that make noise, and she sometimes smiles at the stimulation of an adult. Bailey will need a family who is able to care for her special needs and provide for her daily care. Agency staff met Bailey in July of 2022. We hope her family sees her soon! Contact the agency to learn more about Bailey and her listed medical needs.

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Brian recognizes familiar adults and has formed an attachment to his favorite caregiver. He is uncomfortable around strangers. He is working with a physical therapist and a teacher on fine and gross motor skills. He can pick up toys and transfer them from hand to hand. His teacher reports that he understands what is being said to him and has recently begun responding to simple directions such as “give me”. He is able to sit unassisted and moves around in a baby walker.

Photos and videos are available through the agency.

Emma was recently transferred to a group home where she can receive more specialized care to help her continue to develop and receive appropriate medical care. She is receiving monthly blood transfusions at this time for her anemia. She had surgery to correct clubbed feet in 2020. She can sit unassisted, stand next to a stable support, walk around fixed supports and walk while holding the hand of an adult. Videos from May 2021 show Emma playing with an electronic toy. She is pushing the button to get the toy to make a sound. Her fine motor skills are not well-developed at this time, due to her spasticity. Emma responds positively to adults and other children. She smiles and laughs when adults interact with her.

 

The agency staff member who visited her during March of 2024, says the following:

Emma is a sweet little girl who needs a loving and supportive family environment. During my brief visit, the child was constantly on the move except for the brief moments when she played with a particular toy or during her brief moments of protest. At the present time, the child’s needs are met at a basic level, with particular attention paid to her medical needs. The lack of systematic and in-depth work of specialists (such as a rehabilitator, occupational therapist, special pedagogue, speech therapist and others) is felt, which the institution currently does not have the opportunity to provide. By falling into a suitable loving family, receiving more attention and adequate care and activities, Emma could show her potential to a greater extent.

Update 8/2024

Katrina’s physical development and gross motor skills are age appropriate. She talks, but has some difficulty with articulation. Her fine motor skills are developed, but slightly delayed. She is diagnosed with mental delays. She knows and names the colors. She knows the letters of the alphabet and she has started reading. She already counts up to 30 and she writes some numbers. She knows the days of the week, seasons, left vs right, body parts, and can follow directions using instructions such as over/under, front/back, etc. She plays well with other children and enjoys attention from adults. She likes to work on a magnetic board, kinetic sand and active cards. She already colors in a contour and she is very diligent when connecting lines. She can cut and glue ready elements. She can read and the fact that she is being praised for that makes her very happy.

 

She follows the directions of an adult in relation to the hygiene and household activities. She can dress and undress her. She washes her hands and feeds herself independently, she makes attempts for self-serving. She takes care her belongings. She keeps her materials from school in a certain place.

Joyce LOVES to sing and dance!  Her favorite sing along songs are “Baby Shark”, “Cagabrie Island” and “Jasmine”. Joyce also enjoys riding on a motor scooter because she enjoys looking around at the sights and feeling the wind in her hair!

Those who know Joyce say she has a gentle personality. She likes to act cute and will become lively around familiar people. Joyce has a good relationship with her foster parents and gets excited when their 7 year old grandson visits on the weekend. They get along well and play with each other for hours.

Joyce presents with global delays and has Epilepsy and Thalassemia.  It is suspected she has ADHD.  Joyce attends OT and PT sessions. Joyce attends special education classes at elementary school and an afterschool class. She is making progress with her language skills and can respond to questions with single words.

Are you a family that can support Joyce with growing her language skills? Enjoy singing along to nursery rhymes with her?

Walt  has been diagnosed with autism and developmental delays. He is nonverbal, does not engage with peers, and prefers to play with rotating, round objects. Walt does not show aggression and expresses warmth toward others on his own initiative. He likes to receive hugs from his foster parent.

Eric was previously listed as Freeman. His social worker reports that he has good behavior and plays well with other children. He attends preschool and does not currently have any developmental concerns.

Photos are available through the agency for qualified families.

Tiana and Tenaya are loving sisters who look forward to a permanent and loving home of their own, with parents who will support them. Tenaya, born October of 2010, is a lovely girl who enjoys spending time with her sister and friends. She is affectionate with those people she feels close to and loves. She tends to be more introverted. Tenaya shows respect to her caretakers and peers. Tiana’s favorite activities include jumping, dancing, singing, and playing with her sister and her friends. She also likes to go for walks and listen to music. She adheres to change without difficulty and accepts the home rules. Tiana, born October 2014, is described as a cheerful and quiet girl. She has good social skills, which allow her to interact with adults and her peers. She likes to participate in active games, especially those that include running. She also likes to play board, such as dominoes, at the local park.

VIDEOS:

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There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Tiana and Tenaya’s adoption, with a specific grant agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

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.

Bella is a sweet 8-year-old smiley girl who needs a family dedicated to helping her reach her optimal potential. Though she has multiple diagnoses including cerebral palsy, she has made great strides with therapy over time. For example, she has dyskinetic cerebral palsy with dystonia affecting her lower limbs. In 2021, she received Botox injections that gave her great improvement in the use of her legs. Bella receives physical therapy and is currently capable of taking 2-3 steps on her own, but can stand, walk, and go up/down stairs with support.

Bella receives occupational therapy which has helped her be able to scribble with crayons, feed herself, open food containers and snack packages, etc. While she does not speak, she is able to make her needs and wants known through gestures facial expressions, vocalizations, and also through picture cards. She knows a few signs as well such as “thank you.” Due to Bella’s multiple diagnoses, she requires assistance with her daily living activities though she is able to take part in her care.

Bella was born exposed to and addicted to drugs. Following her birth, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy characterized by dyskinesia and spastic quadriplegia, microcephaly, strabismus, global developmental delay, and severe intellectual disability. In 2017, she was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

It is clear that Bella has established a bond with her caregivers and she enjoys their presence. She greets her teachers and plays clapping games with them. She is able to pay attention during lessons and has demonstrated the ability to learn. While she will always need a caregiver, it is believed that being in a loving family will help Bella continue to develop and grow in her abilities.  She enjoys playing on a sit-n-spin, swinging or playing on a see-saw. She is drawn to mirrors and toys with lights and/or music.

Sammy has limited use of his hands but had a correctable surgery in July 2024. As of now, we know Samuel is able to do all things with his feet! He is an amazing little boy.

Meet Vance! This three-year-old boy needs a family who has easy access to the many specialists he will need to thrive, as, in addition to regular medical assessments, he will benefit from ongoing physical and occupational therapies. Vance is able to roll from back to front. He reacts to sounds, and is able to be calmed by familiar adults when he is upset. He can be coaxed to give a smile, and while he does not purposefully play with toys, he does have a favorite teddy bear. He is able to eat from a spoon, though this picky eater cannot feed himself. 

Vance was also previously listed as Vinnie.

Ian is a ton of fun! He loves music- always requesting his favorite songs on the speaker so he can sing along! He is a wheelchair user that is working on self propelling- he is such a hard worker. He does have some visual impairment in one eye, but his hearing has made up for this impairment…he can hear your voice from rooms away and call for you! He loves spending time with his friends, enjoying his favorite foods, and taking trips to the local market to get some yummy street food! He would greatly benefit from a loving family because he is such a relational boy!

Introducing an amazing sibling group of three from Eastern Europe: Dawson, Dahlia, & Addison. After an incident in the home of the family on 14 March 2022 the boy received a first degree burn on his face and arms. Six surgeries have been performed, with one of them using the child’s right thigh as a donor site. He was discharged on 04/05/2022 and he was placed together with his sisters, Dahlia and Addison, in an emergency unit. The parents desired for the children to be brought up in a foster family. After a matching period, Dawson, Dahlia, and Addison were placed in a foster family. Contacts between the parents and the children were being performed once a month.

Later, in a multidisciplinary meeting with the Director of Social Assistance on 11/07/2023, it was decided that the children are to be registered in the registry for Adoption and their contacts with the biological family have been discontinued. The children have experienced the trauma of having lived in an abusive home, but otherwise are healthy, beautiful children.

Bianca was recently transferred from a large orphanage to a small group home. She’s been making developmental progress in her new home. She can pull to a stand in her crib and cruise along the rail. She will take steps when holding the hands of a caregiver. She reaches for toys and will hold and explore them.

Marcy is a 4 year old girl with frontal craniostenosis and tuberous sclerosis. Marcy was diagnosed with conductive and sensorineural deafness. Non-orbidity of both eyes. The girl currently does not use corrective glasses, as recommended by ophthalmologists. She is generally cheerful, and is able to imitate gestures and independently eat meals. She struggles with dressing herself and identifying some shapes and colors. Marcy is able to respond to simple commands and messages. She enjoys playing with toys and demonstrates improvement in her coordination. She is very patient and kind. It is recommended for her to wear glasses. Her speech development is delayed, but she can still communicate, and she has demonstrated improvement. Above all she is a nice girl with very many good qualities.

The caregivers describe Jayne as a very sensitive child who needs a lot of attention and encouragement. There is a recent positive change in her development – she can plays with toys, willingly participates in the games and other activities, she can learn songs and can speak simple but logical sentences. Her speech is delayed and motor skills needs improvements. She walks independently. She can eat without help but still required assistance with self-care things.

Kaylee resides at the foster family. She is open, energetic and cheerful child who is curious about the world, eager to learn and makes friends easily. She attends preschool since September 2023. She is physically active girl; she can run and jump, can throw and kick a ball, she can climb. She can do many things without any help (eat, dress/undress).  She is very polite and there are no concerns with her behavior. Her vocabulary is growing, and she is catching up with her development.

Date of the report: 7/3/2024

Kalin came into care as a baby when his mother brought him to the hospital and it was discovered he was in poor condition. He had a high fever, was malnourished, had a diaper rash and was noted to have overall developmental delay as well as cataracts. His mother was an older teenager and she had not sought any care for the medical condition he had had at birth. Kalin was 5 years, 8 months old at the time of this report from July 2024. Kalin´s current diagnoses are autism, unspecified asthma, congenital cataracts, and overall developmental delay. He takes daily medication. Kalin still wears diapers during the day and night.

Kalin is not formally enrolled in school. He has been diagnosed with autism and unspecified overall developmental delay. He currently goes to physical, occupational, speech, and psychological therapy. The psychiatrist recommended the foster mother take the child to school gradually. He goes to pre-k two days a week and for just a couple of hours. At first, he did not want to stay there but over time, the foster mother states that he is used to going to school and enjoys his time there. He loves toys that make different sounds, and he can play alone for more than 15 minutes.

There are no major concerns regarding Kalin´s gross motor skills, and he is still improving his fine motor skills. Since he is now used to wearing his glasses, this has helped him with his sense of feeling safe to perform different physical activities. He is starting to talk with some difficulties; however, through sounds and facial gestures, it is easy to understand what he wants. He has begun to imitate the sounds of some animals. Kalin is able to identify people´s emotions by looking at their facial expressions. He is able to give and receive affection with those he is familiar with, and he does not get jealous when his caregiver pays attention to other children. He is not shy—whenever he arrives at a new place, he explores his surroundings interacting with adults or kids. At times, Kalin gets anxious when he wants to play with something but needs to wait. Sometimes he gets upset when he is hungry and his food is not ready or he needs to wait for it to cool down. He is afraid of sudden loud noises.

Kalin enjoys playing with toys that make music. The child´s favorite food is spaghetti with chicken or ground beef. He is interested in musical instruments.

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.

Winnie is described as a cheerful and friendly girl who enjoys interacting with people. Unfortunately, Winnie has had too many placements for her young age and it is believe this has affected her development in various areas. With therapy, Winnie now has age-appropriate gross and fine motor skills and has improved SIGNIFICANTLY in speech development. While her IQ was assessed to be 82, she is showing steady improvement in her academic studies.  She has had some behavioral struggles, but since starting a new primary school in September, she is exhibiting the ability to stay calm and control her emotions and behaviors with guidance. Winnie enjoys arts and crafts, and she is very excited at the prospect of finding a family.

Winnie has two sisters who are also available for adoption, but separately from Winnie. The agency is hoping to find two families, so the girls can stay in touch.

Nilo resides in a professional foster family. She has a congenital absence of her right forearm. Nilo is educated according to the Individual Study Plans of Students with a lower degree of complexity than the educational minimum for the calendar age, tailored to her individual needs. At a moderate pace, with individual help and guidance from the
teacher, she acquires knowledge, skills and competences foreseen in the individual curriculum for each subject of the individual curriculum. The girl distinguishes between the categories of good and bad, she knows generally accepted rules of behavior in social communication. She defines and expresses own desires and needs in words.

Nilo has diverse interests.

Nilo experiences attachment to children and therapists. She is sad when separated from someone. She seeks contact with adults, classmates and older students and engages in joint activities with them, she participates in role-playing games. She has mastered the social role of a student and classmate. Nilo helps her classmates when she sees that they are having a hard time. The comfort zone is the classroom and Montessori room.

The child communicates verbally, expresses wishes, and is often persistent about them, especially about things that spark her interest. When asked a question, she needs time to think about it and reproduce an answer; she constantly asks questions and seeks approval. The answer is not always adequate to the situation. She doesn’t always
understand the meaning of what was said and the execution of a relevant instruction.

Nilo likes a variety of toys, and she possesses different ones. She can play with other children and is cooperative, she shares her belongings. Nilo has developed self-service skills and readiness for academic work. She has established hygiene habits. She eats independently; dresses and undresses; unfastens and fastens; puts on and takes off shoes; she knows the parts of clothing. She can’t tie shoelaces.

She can say that she is in a foster family and that the foster mother raised her. The girl partially understands that foster care is temporary. She listens and accepts information related to the possibility of being adopted and meets potential adoptive parents, but still, she cannot imagine living in a different place.

Ariana is a young girl waiting for a loving family of her own.

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There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Ariana’s adoption. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.  If you are interested in reviewing Ariana’s file or in adopting Ariana, please contact the agency for additional information.

Information in this report is from November 2024

Hans was born to a young teenage girl who, tragically, had already given birth to a child at a very young age. Due to her chronological age and emotional immaturity the mother was not able to fully understand her responsibility, and despite the support of her family, the bond between Hans and his mother was not positive. After Protection Services became involved, it was evident that the biological mother and her family were not able to take care of the child due to his special needs, economic struggles and already caring for Hans’s older sibling. He, therefore, came into care at the age of 3 years old. There is no information about the biological father.

Hans is not enrolled in school due to his medical diagnoses. Hans loves to receive affection, and he responds through smiles. He is totally dependent on others to fulfill his daily routines. He communicates through guttural sounds, screams or by crying. Hans cries whenever his diaper is dirty. Hans´s gross and fine motor skills are not developed. The child cannot hold his head up, and he cannot crawl or walk. He has some body movements, and the foster mother has received training on how to stimulate his motor development. He does not like to be held and prefers when people change his body position without holding him for too long. Due to Hans’s medical diagnosis, he has a severe cognitive delay and is not able to interact with other children. Hans receives occupational, physical and speech therapy. Hans takes daily medication.

Hans likes to listen to soft music. He needs a family who can always take care of him due to the severity of his condition.

Someone who met Ivan recently said he is an “extremely active, agile and very cute boy who loves attention as well as cuddles.” Ivan seems very happy and smiles a lot. He is said to have age-appropriate physical development.

Ivan has a moderate mental delay with hearing loss in one ear. He also has scoliosis of the spine. He can walk, run, climb and descend stairs alone. Ivan does not speak however he enjoys watching children’s movies. He prefers to play alone. He can feed himself and drinks from a cup. The staff is working on potty training with him.

The agency has a video of Ivan, from Feb 2024.

Update 8/2024

Ivan was born in 2016 and resides in a family-type accommodation center for children. He is a child of Roma origin. The parents consented to full adoption, due to the
inability to care for him. Diagnoses include moderate mental retardation, behavioral disorder, expressive speech disorder with hearing impairment – unilateral conductive hearing loss in one ear. Normal hearing with the other. Scoliosis. He has normal physical development for his age and is in good health. He walks independently, with an unsteady gait, goes up and down stairs alone, runs. Fine motor skills are poorly developed – knows how to match elements, string figures on a rope with help. He feeds himself, holds a pencil with his whole palm and scribbles on the paper, does not know how to draw, does not know how to color, does not know colors, does not know how to cut with a knife, does not arrange a constructor and a puzzle.

He rarely responds to his name. Positive emotion is expressed through a smile. When he is cheerful, he laughs loudly. He shows stubbornness and impatience but does not show
aggression or auto-aggression. He has no developed speech. He understands what is being said to him, recognizes the tone. Feelings are expressed through whining, crying, laughing. No expression of interest in anything specific is observed. He watches children’s movies. He loves attention from an adult. Does not play with peers. Eye contact is not complete. He likes to be hugged. He likes strollers, tries to play with them, prefers to hold them in his hand. Chase and kick a ball. Loves light up toys. He likes to spend time outdoors. During the academic year 2024-2025, he will be in 1st grade with an independent form of education.

He has a peaceful sleep. He knows how to feed himself; he knows how to drink from a cup, he does not know how to dress and undress himself, put on and take off his shoes by himself, but he must be asked. He does his physiological needs in the toilet or potty after prompting, he does not use a diaper.