c7489

Child's name: Kendra
Number: C7489
Birthdate: 2/97
State: Washington
Listed: July 2009

Photographs by Yuen Lui

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

KENDRA (2/97) enjoys being active and loves the outdoors. Sports are among her favorite pastimes, especially soccer. Among Kendra’s strengths are her intelligence and love of reading, artistic talents, fondness of family pets (cats and dogs particularly), and ability to be outgoing and social when things are going well. Several months ago, Kendra began embracing a vegetarian diet and seems to be committed to that food lifestyle. While Kendra says she has very firm Christian beliefs, she is not affiliated with any particular denomination as yet. Legally free, Kendra came into foster care in 2000.

Because Kendra’s strengths can easily get overshadowed amidst the challenges of her behavior, she essentially needs wrap-around services to assist her in dealing with her trust issues and past trauma. She is currently working on developing tools and strategies to help curb her impulsiveness and strengthen her boundaries. There are also therapeutic supports in place to lessen her anxiety, mood swings, and attention difficulties, and mange her sensory regulation issues.

Kendra is very verbal and assertive, and when her feelings of anger and frustration overwhelm her, she needs a safe space to retreat. Although her anger outbursts have lessened considerably, once or twice a month those feelings get the best of her – but not when she’s at school!

With its predictable structure and routine, school seems to be a place where Kendra can stay pretty much on track. Over the past year, she has made huge gains, and for the 2009-2010 school year she is expected to be in a mainstream classroom with behavioral supports. Academically bright, she has the capacity to do well.

Couples and single moms (particularly those with good support systems of family, friends, and community resources) are encouraged to call. Kendra’s worker is looking for an adoptive family where the parent(s) are familiar with behavioral tools and strategies, and who interact routinely with children in matter-of-fact, non-judgmental ways. Having a good grasp of attachment issues and being able to allow her the considerable time and space she will likely need to trust them will go a long way to meeting Kendra’s needs. In addition, being able to focus on the larger issues and letting the smaller ones go may also be key in helping Kendra acclimate to her new home and family. To help Kendra in her healing and recovery, her new folks will needs to take an active role in her treatment program, as requested, and see that she is given consistent messages at home, school, and in treatment in how to move forward socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Because Kendra’s need for parental time and attention can be exhausting at times, it is important for her adoptive parent(s) to have dependable respite care resources. It will help them in making a true commitment to being there for her over the long term.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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