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WESLEY (9/98) and ANTHONY (3/95), who likes to be called AJ, are counting on being adopted together. The boys are legally free.

Wesley is a very smart boy with a good ear for music. He knows all the artists he hears on the radio, and when listening to music, he can tell you who the singer is. Of course, he has a DS Player, which is a constant companion. Wesley enjoys the outdoors where he feels free and unconfined. Camping is a favorite pastime. Wesley also enjoys watching pro football, and his favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts.

AJ is highly likeable. Since coming into foster care he has always had very good relationships with the adults in his life, including foster parents past and present, his therapist, and his teachers. AJ also gets along well with other kids and with classmates in school. He is playing on a local football team and is considered a very good player and valued team member. AJ is also planning on getting on the school wrestling team this year. Listening to music and going camping are just a few of his favorite pastimes.

Both Wesley and AJ have come a long way since coming into foster in November 2004. The boys had not had any experiences that help children develop socially and emotionally, and they had never been to school. The whole experience of being in a classroom where there were behavioral and academic expectations was pretty overwhelming, especially for Wesley.

In association with their therapeutic foster care, both Wesley and AJ are continuing to benefit from on-going weekly mental health counseling, which is helping them to deal with issues of past trauma, learn new ways of managing and coping with their feelings of anger, and build social skills. An important area where both boys are making gains (but continue to need very consistent support!) is being willing to accept responsibility for their choices and behavior.

In school, Wesley has an individual plan that provides academic, social, and emotional supports. While Wesley’s path can be a bit bumpy, he’s moving slowly but surely forward. Wesley’s social skills have improved sufficiently so that he now has some new friendships, which is a significant gain. Wesley has made so much progress that next semester he will be switching schools so he can be in mainstream classes!

Socially, AJ is making really nice gains. While he’s catching up academically in the classroom, he has really settled down behaviorally. Currently he has the supports he needs to help him move forward academically.

Both Wesley and AJ would gain tremendously from having an emotionally healthy mom and dad able to model healthy relationships, including accepting responsibility for one’s behavior and choices. The boys do best in a family setting where the rules, expectations, limits, and consequences are clear, and they are given the opportunity to make choices from two or three options instead of being “told” what to do.


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