Other Special Needs

The child has severe lag in physical and neuropsychiatric development. Severe mental deficiency.  Needs systematic motor rehabilitation, classes with a speech therapist, psychologist and typhlopedagogue. Weak rehabilitation potential. Followed by a pediatric neurologist and ophthalmologist.

The child can turn from back to stomach and back. Does not crawl, does not sit independently, does not have a four-legged stand. Does not stand up, holding on to a support. Holds a toy placed in the hand for a short time. Lacks a pincer grip. The average mental age of the child corresponds to 3-5 months. The child is mostly calm with accompanying episodes of irritability, expressed through crying. Quickly calms down by the presence and attention of an adult. There are no indications of aggressive behavior or manifestations. Does not utter words, syllables and sound imitations. Does not turn when called by name. Does not initiate contact with other children. The child is completely dependent on the care of an adult. Takes food from an adult with a spoon (less often from a bottle). Falls asleep independently.

There is evidence of a brother with an autoimmune disease – Alopecia areata.

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.

Molly May has undergone multiple surgeries to repair her cleft lip & palate. She is under the continued care of the doctor who is performing these procedures. She is also under the regular care of a neurologist, who diagnosed her with CP in 2018. She had suffered from “constant shaking” resulting in uncontrollable movements up until a few months ago. The social worker reports that this has greatly improved and that Molly May’s movement are now more calm and she also sleeps calmly too. Videos taken in April 2019 show her interacting with toys.

Photos and videos are available through the agency.

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.

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 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.

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So excited we have permission to share Angelo’s pictures!

Angelo likes playing with bubbles and painting with tempera. He enjoys crafts and exploring the different materials and textures. Angelo also likes building towers and playing in water. He is described as social and showing great interest in everything that happens around him. He is a great observer.

Angelo is able to kick a ball forward with help, throw a ball over his shoulder and catch a ball with rebound most of the time. He is able to pedal a tricycle and climb the stairs with help. He is able to undress. His motor coordination is good, which makes it easier for him to string objects. Angelo has a good understanding of orders and knows and recognizes language. Contact the agency to learn more about Angelo and his medical needs!

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NEW VIDEOS: 10/2024

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Vance was also previously listed as Vinnie.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

When Mell was born, his biological parents tried to take care of him even with his special needs, but they lived in a small town far away from cities and hospitals. At his one month check-up, he was diagnosed with congenital malformation of the spinal cord, hydrocephalus, low weight, fetal growth delay, and respiratory syndrome. At one of his following check-ups, the doctor sent Mell to the hospital due to a high fever and inflammation of the brain. Sadly, though they had tried, his parents recognized that they did not have the means of caring for him in the ways he needed, both due to finances and distance from necessary medical care, and they asked Protective Services to care for him. No other family members were able to provide the care he needed as well. Mell was placed in a foster home and is doing well.

Mell has been receiving various types of therapies which have been valuable in his development. When meeting adults for the first time, he becomes shy, but he recognizes familiar people and loves to interact with them. Mell identifies the emotions on people´s faces and interacts accordingly. He is a very expressive child who shows affection in various ways, and sometimes gets jealous when his foster mother gives affection to the other children. According to the professionals who care for him, Mell has the language development of a 12-month toddler. He communicates through crying and screaming and can say some short words such as “mama” and “papa.” He also imitates animal sounds, such as those of a dog or cat. He responds to simple instructions such “Take this” and “Give me that.” Mell identifies different body parts, plays with Play-Dough, and performs other activities that strengthen his fine motor skills. His movements are spontaneous despite the limitations he has in his lower limbs.  Due to his chronological age, Mell requires support, supervision, and guidance to fulfill his daily routines. Mell takes two naps during the day and sleeps throughout the night. He wears diapers all day.

Mell likes to interact with peers or adults and loves to spend time outside. He gets excited when he hears a motorcycle engine as he immediately thinks he is going to go out and gets anxious. He gets upset when his diaper is dirty and when he is not allowed to go out. Mell gets happy with simple things, and he likes to laugh a lot. Mell loves to drink sweet juices. Due to his medical condition, he does not wear shoes but wears very soft socks. He enjoys it when adults help him to kick the ball to play soccer. Mell also likes to play with cars and airplanes.

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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.

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.

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.

Nate was born prematurely at 27 weeks gestation and was hospitalized for two months. After living with his mother for two months, he came into protective care at 4 months old after his mother abandoned him in the care of a neighbor. Initially she visited him occasionally, but the last visit was in 2022. Nate lives with a foster family.

Nate has unidentified cerebral palsy, but it doesn’t hold him down! While at 8- months-old he showed significant delays in neuro-psychomotor development, today he has shown significant development. He is being monitored a team of specialists including a neuro-pediatrician, orthopedist, physiotherapist, psychologist, speech therapist and nutritionist, in addition to receiving specialized educational care. Nate can now move around with some independence and is in the process of adapting to the use of an orthotic equipment, which may help his locomotion. According to the physiotherapist’s report, Natey crawls, sits in a W position with balance, stands with support and walks sideways. He has the potential to use a walker for home distances and a wheelchair for community distances.

Socially, Nate is an extroverted child who loves to participate in activities and communicate. He can focus on activities. He understands what is asked of him and responds coherently within his ability. He demonstrates caring and affection with other children and adults. He is observant to what is going on around him. Nate lives in a house where there are children younger than him and this fact limits his social interactions, which has significantly compromised his progress.

It is believed that Nate has great potential for development, as long as there is proper stimulation. The possibility of starting family life through adoption at this time is considered extremely important for the progress of the child’s physical, social and cognitive development.

Please meet this cute boy named Bowie.  He was diagnosed with congenital cataracts in both eyes.   However he underwent surgical treatment with implantation of intraocular lenses. There is suspected Glaucoma.  He is also diagnosed with Children’s cerebral palsy – Quadri pyramidal syndrome. Grand mal seizures with or without petit mal seizures.

Bowie can sit up independently from a lying position. He can stand up by holding on to various objects. He walks independently but it is uncoordinated. The child lags in neuropsychological development. He accepts bodily closeness with pleasure.  It is pleasant for him to be held by an adult. The presence of children in his immediate space does not bother him, but he does not show interest in them and does not initiate interaction. He is soothed by riding in a pram or listening to favorite children’s songs.  He prefers the environment to be quiet.  He becomes nervous and anxious around loud noise.  He is entirely dependent on the care of an adult.

SN:  Moderate intellectual disability, Asperger’s syndrome, sensory hypersensitivity

Maeve is a six year old girl with moderate intellectual disability and Asperger’s syndrome. She attends a kindergarten where she receives therapy for movement, speech, and autism. She had disorders in speech, balance, and coordination. She gets anxious when on unstable ground. She has been making tremendous improvement lately. Maeve struggles with sensory hypersensitivity. She is capable of building relationships with her peers and caregivers.

Despite being able to communicate verbally, her speech used to be unclear, but lately it has improved tremendously. Recently, she has become more and more independent. Maeve stands out from the rest of the children at the orphanage.

Mia is a cheerful and smiley girl. She has been diagnosed with spastic diplegia, severe mental grade intellectual disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with no current medication needed. She is currently taking sleeping and vitamin supplements. Mia has divergent squint, hypertropia and astigmatism. She is recommended to wear glasses but she shows resistance as she does not like anything to be put on her face or head. Nevertheless, her vision seems not to be affected significantly during classes. Mia was assessed to have severe gross motor delay with dystonia but her walking was commented to become more stable.

Mia is currently attending a special school children with severe intellectual disability and multiple disabilities. She has made steady progress in her development and shown an interest in interacting with adults and peers. She is well loved by her school teachers and caregivers and is one of the brightest students in her special school. She enjoys listening  to children’s songs, playing with spinning and musical toys, watching cartoons, playing with the swing during leisure time. Regarding her self-care skills, Mia needs assistance in teeth brushing and washing up and she does not like these tasks. She wears diapers all day long. She receives regular potty training and can urinate on the potty occasionally. She needs assistance in dressing but is able to take off her clothes, shoes and AFOs. She is also learning to put on her shirt when being prompted.  She sits in a chair with a safety belt when her caregiver helps her to take a shower.

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.

Hope is a bright, assertive, and courageous girl with many endearing qualities and undiscovered traits. She is highly active and enjoys a range of sports activities, including running, swimming, and hiking. In her spare time, she loves engaging in craft work like origami. Her recent obsession with Sudoku has highlighted her strong logical thinking skills.

Despite facing challenges such as eczema, ADHD, and ODD, Hope is managing with her prescribed care routine. She thrives better with individual attention and consistent, firm, yet gentle care. She has shown significant improvement since being moved from an orphanage to her current foster home where she is adhering to rules and routines, and slowly learning how to live in a family atmosphere.

Hope was previously approved for adoption overseas. However, due to concerns the family had regarding her psychological/mental health once in-country, they withdrew their petition to adopt. A further report about Hope’s emotional development and readiness for adoption after the previous withdrawal will be ready by September.

Now, Hope is seeking a loving family who can provide the consistent, gentle care she needs to flourish. Hope’s institutional upbringing has shaped her attachment and emotional needs, but with the right support, she has the potential to thrive in a family environment. Given that adoptions from her country take approximately two years to complete, while Hope is entering her pre-teen years now it is important to realize she will be a teenager when adopted.  Interested families need to be willing to learn and be well aware of the challenges of adopting an older child so her family will have the capacity to support her emotional and behavioral needs. It is also recommended that the family be well-equipped with trauma-informed care and understand issues related to delayed adolescence and the impact of long-term institutionalization. This includes understanding family roles, including those of a father and mother, and sibling relationships.

CHI has given this child the pseudo name Hope because we and her social service staff in HK believe that with the right family who understands her past and can provide her with and affection with proper rules and routines, Hope can overcome her difficult past and achieve great things. We look forward to finding a family that can offer her the stability and care she deserves. CHI has past child studies to provide to seriously interested families.

Pah is a lovely little 4-year-old boy in need of a permanent home. He has been with his foster family since he a little baby. He is bonded to his foster family as well as another foster child in the home who is 3 months younger than him.

Pah currently is in good normal health. However, when Pah was 22 days old he showed peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis, small patent foramen ovale (PFO), and secundum atrial septic defect 1.5 mm. On the follow-up echocardiogram in April 2022, the results showed normal heart anatomy and function. As of his August 2024 child checkup, his hearing and vision were reported to be normal. While Pah’s physical health remains good, he has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in August 2023, for which he attends Child and Adolescent Psychiatry therapy. During the same evaluation, he was assessed to have a mild delay in gross motor skills as well as a mild delay in oral language. He had been previously diagnosed in 2022 with Borderline Developmental Delay. As observed, he can speak clearly, except that he may mispronounce some words.  He is able to hold conversations with adults and express his needs and feelings in sentences.  He can also follow instructions. Pah receives speech therapy about 2 times per month, and physiotherapy and occupational therapy 3-4 times per year at school. Pah can walk and run confidently.  He can jump forward 12inches with both feet, stand on one leg, walk upstairs and downstairs with alternative feet by holding onto the handrail, throw and catch a ball, and kick a ball forward 5 feet away. He can also climb up the rope net.  In terms of fine motor skills, Pah can build a tower of 9 blocks, remove bottle caps, hold a pen to draw, turn pages one by one, and thread beads.

Pah is described as a happy, outgoing but also stubborn child who has shown improvements in his emotional expression. He has become more accepting of reasoning as he gets older. Due to his ASD features, Pah has a set way of doing things. He also tends to cry easily over trivial things such as when he cannot find a toy or complete a task on his own. Pah shares a normal relationship with the other foster child in the home. They have typical sibling-like rivalries and will sometimes fight over toys. He shares a close relationship with the foster mother and accepts her guidance and follows her instructions. Overall, Pah is generally an easy child to take care of. He is well-behaved and manageable most of the time except that he tends to cry easily and can also be quite stubborn at times.

Pah performs well in his self-care tasks. Being able to drink from a cup and a straw, he can feed himself with spoon and a fork. He can wash and dry his hands with a towel; put on and take off his clothes, shoes and socks; brush his teeth and wash his face. He has finished toilet training and does not need to wear diapers. He can go to the toilet by himself. He only needs assistance in bathing, washing his hair and cleaning after a bowel movement.

Pah is attending pre-kindergarten at a nursery school.  As described by the teacher, Pah has some close friends at school and enjoys a satisfactory relationship with his teachers. He can follow school rules and routines.  Being attentive in class, he enjoys participating indifferent activities.  As described, Pah is sometimes sensitive to the teacher’s reminders and sometimes is emotional about this. Pah knows lots of colors, shapes, fruits, animals, food and body parts. He also knows some concepts such as “big-small,” “up-down,” etc. He can recite the numbers from 1 to 50 and recognize some letters and numbers. He can tell others his name and age.

Families with a home study prepared for any international country can submit for consideration of Pah. The agency program specialist can explain the child/family matching process in his country.

Sophie loves people. She can be easily comforted by hugging, gentle stroke, and comforting words. Sophie expresses herself nonverbally. She nods or smiles when she likes something, and pouts or frowns when she does not. She joyously participates in the activities the caregivers and teachers give her such as sunbathing outside and sensory activities. Her caregivers and teachers report that she is easy to care for and manage because of her calm nature and generally stable health condition. She also adjusts to changes quickly and easily.

It is believed Sophie will continue to make progress in reaching her potential within a loving and caring family. Due to the unique child/family matching system in her country, a family with a current home study for any country can submit to be considered to become her family.

Adam has been diagnosed with an intellectual delay, but he continues to make progress in all aspects of his development and learn new skills. His gross motor skills are developmentally appropriate for his age. He can walk, run, climb, etc. His fine motor skills are slightly delayed. He nests nesting boards according to the principle trial and error. He can build a tower with 10 blocks. He can draw a circle but he can’t draw an emoticon. He can string and sort small figures. He cuts with scissors, forms worms out of playdoh and cuts them. He currently cannot copy shapes and letters according to a pattern. His attention span when working on tasks continues to increase. He has a well-developed visual memory. He will imitate gestures and movements. He can group objects by color and shape, but cannot currently identify colors and shapes by name. He understands what is said to him and can follow one step directions. He has pretend play skills. He can easily navigate in familiar environments. His speech is still developing. He can say some simple words and attempts to communicate using gestures. He is currently attending preschool, and has adjusted well to this environment. He participates in group activities and plays with the other children. He enjoys playing with playdough and participating in music and games. He helps clean up after activities. His self-help skills are developing. He is toilet trained. He is working with specialists to continue to develop his skills.

Vinny has been diagnosed with childhood Autism, but continues to make progress and learn new skills. He can walk, run, climb, throw and kick a ball. He can build a tower with 10 cubes, he strings and sorts small figures. He cuts with scissors and he tries to cut along a drawn line. He has difficulties doing puzzles. He has difficulty concentrating during certain tasks. He is more focused and attentive during activities related to language educational games and modelling with playdoh. He has a strongly pronounced mechanical memory. He has difficulties making the relation between a symbol and a word. He compares objects by color and shape but does not recognize or name them. He understands single-step commands. He participates in role games (he puts a doll to bed and tucks her in). When he sees pictures with objects from everyday life (a broom, glass, spoon) he shows the activities that he performs with them. His speech is delayed (he says very few words), but he attempts to communicate using gestures. He demonstrates attachment to his caregivers and gets along with other children at preschool. He enjoys playing with playdough and educational cards. His self-help skills are developing. He is toilet trained. He is working with specialists to continue to develop his skills.

Please consider bringing these boys into your family for the New Year.  The agency has a lot more photos and information and videos to see these great boys!  A specific adoption agency has grant funding in the amount of $2500 available.

Her caregiver described her as cheerful and happy girl. She has no issues with trust, open to new people and likes to cuddle. She is curious about her surrounding and asks a lot of questions.

She doesn’t always listen what is said to her and has some difficulties with rules and directions. She can be stubborn and needs help with her emotion’s regulation. She started pre-school in September 2024. She loses an interest quickly and has problems to finish her tasks. She enjoys looking at the books, stalking blocks, working with small objects and clay. She likes music and willingly participates in singing activities.  Her vocabulary increased and she learns how to ride a scooter. She likes walking and playing outside.  She still needs help with her physiological needs. She can dress without help and eats independently.

The agency staff met lovely Mina in August 2024. She was very talkative and outgoing. She doesn’t allow her special needs to limit her. Mina, born in November of 2016, knows how to start and maintain a conversation. She is very observant and knows how to ask questions and engage in it and the context. She uses very sophisticated words for a seven year old – it was impressive!! She knows how to count in English from one to ten, knows some colors in English, and knows the colors in Spanish. She has a great memory and can remember facts. Mina can easily express her thoughts and ideas.

Mina likes to paint and play “sleepovers” with her friends. Mina likes to go to the park, put together puzzles. She also loves to sing, listen to music of all genres, especially tango. Mina enjoys children’s stories and watching her favorite cartoons (Masha and the Bear, Puss in Boots, Blue Shortcuts).

VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina2
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina3
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina4
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina5
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina6
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina7
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina8
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mina9
Password: Adoptmaa

Mina also has a $500 agency fee reduction, with a specific adoption agency.

Dallas enjoys going to the park and eating ice cream. He lives with a foster family. Dallas likes to spend time with his foster family. He likes affection from people who are close to him.  Dallas has been part of the summer hosting program- don’t miss all his videos!

JULY 2023 Hosting Update: Dallas is a calm, lovely, and talkative boy. He loves to learn new things and talk about different topics. His favorite activities are talking, playing board games, and playing soccer. Although sometimes it is difficult to keep his attention, he perseveres to achieve his goals and learn. He has a leisurely soul and a more incredible spirit. He also is cautious about trying new things that involve risk. In him is a big desire to find a family forever. He is very respectful and helpful in the household chores. He cares about the well-being of the people he loves.  The adoption agency program director said he is AWESOME and she’d bring him home herself if she had the room! Contact us to learn more about Dallas and his listed non-medical need!

There is a $4500 agency fee reduction for Dallas’ adoption with the listing adoption agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Dallas now has an additional $2,500 grant through Children Need Families; the listing adoption agency will allocate this grant.

Older brother Rafael (born in 2014), likes being outside and jumping on the trampoline.  He loves chicken, rice, and cake.  Rafael has developmental delays and is currently attending a special education school.

Information in this report is from March 2024

Cheyenne, 12, came into care in 2020 when her mother left her with a woman and it became clear that she was not returning. In the child investigation, it was discovered that Cheyenne had been the victim of abuse by both a non-family member when she was young and a minor relative though there is not much information regarding the later situation. Due to being moved around so much and the chaotic environment of the biological family, Cheyenne was not consistently enrolled in school which has affected her cognitive development.  Cheyenne is now enrolled in school, and she is in 4th grade where she is respectful, responsible, and motivated at school. In 2023, she was given an IQ test and scored 63, which led to a diagnosis of mild cognitive delay.  At the age of 11 when the test was performed, it was estimated that she had the cognitive development and maturation of a 7-year-old.  She goes to cognitive therapy to overcome her diagnosis of mild cognitive delay due to the family environment she grew up in.

Cheyenne has adjusted well to her foster family and being in a positive family environment. For example, while she likely did not attend religious services in the past, she enthusiastically attends Catholic services with her foster family and participates in spiritual activities such as praying the rosary with the family. Her foster family has helped her work on her social development, interaction with others, taking responsibility for her actions in a positive way, etc. It is noted that Cheyenne had a habit of lying to avoid negative consequences; however, great improvements were made in this area. While she still gets anxious when confronted about any inappropriate behaviors, Cheyenne is no longer afraid to accept the consequences of her actions. It is upsetting to her when someone lies about her. She is cooperative and strives to be obedient, and she is getting better at managing her emotions, impulses, and frustrations. She gets sad when others positively talk about their biological families, and she just wants to find her forever family. She is afraid of feeling alone.

Cheyenne is very affectionate and sweet. She is friendly and has wonderful skills to be a leader inside and outside her foster home. Cheyenne interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Cheyenne is quiet and feels good when she finishes the tasks assigned to her. She is independent and fulfills her daily routines on her own.

Cheyenne enjoys participating in recreational or playful activities with her peers. She especially likes riding her bicycle and playing soccer. She also likes to draw and dance. Cheyenne loves to eat spaghetti, rice with chicken, and oatmeal, but she does not like to eat broccoli. Cheyenne has stated that she would love to become a Chef to express her love through food.