c7208

Child's name: Joey
Number: C7208
Birthdate: 3/96
State: Washington
Listed: November 2008

If you have completed an adoption homestudy and would like to have your information forwarded to this child's worker, contact us.

JOEY (3/96) has a love of animals and would love to have a pet in his adoptive family. He has lots of interests for his adoptive folk(s) to encourage. He enjoys playing chess and computer games, and he likes to read. He also likes riding his bike and hanging out with his buddies doing outdoor activities. His recent participation on a basketball team seemed to be lots of fun for him. Joey, who made good academic gains past school year by attending summer school and participating in homework club after school, is now in the seventh grade. He benefits when he has parent(s) on the home front who encourage him to do his homework assignments. Legally free, Joey came into foster care in February 2005.

Joey is going to need a lot of support from his adoptive parent(s) in learning the basics of healthy social interactions with others and good citizenship skills. Joey could benefit from specialized individual therapy or group therapy to help him understand the need that healthy people have personal space and to help him strengthen his boundaries. Having clear rules, expectations, limits, and consistent and predictable consequences will be essential in helping Joey understand that the rules apply to everyone, including him. Allowing him limited choices may help avoid or sidestep power struggles. Using rewards as incentives may be another way to motivate him to comply with house rules and social norms. Being willing to participate with Joey in family counseling during the transition into his adoptive home would be a good way for his new parent(s) to demonstrate not only their commitment to him, but also their commitment to using mental health resources to help bring about change.

Because of Joey’s need to have a strong, emotionally healthy male in the home, his social worker is especially interested in hearing from couples or single dads. Folk(s) who have experience with helping children learn basic social skills will likely meet his needs best. Such experience may be through parenting, teaching, counseling, coaching, etc. While Joey will likely need to test a family’s commitment to him, he has the potential to be a very rewarding son. This is a boy who needs skilled adults to show him that his good potential can be reached only through making behavioral changes. Some of the parental traits that his social worker will be looking for are patience, kindness (yet firmness!), and a good sense of humor. The ability to interact with Joey in calm, matter-of-fact ways when he is acting out is another one.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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