c7502

Child's name: Kiersten
Number: C7502
Birthdate: 3/95
State: Washington
Listed: August 2009

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

KIERSTEN (3/95) has a lot going for her, not the least of which is her is desire to do well and be successful in life. Outgoing and friendly, Kiersten genuinely likes people. She can be quite the comedienne, who is playful and fun. Kiersten’s artistic skills and talent for drawing are not only something she enjoys, they are proving to be wonderful therapeutic tools that are helping her to identify and express her feelings of loss and anger in healthy ways. Kiersten likes to channel her high energy into sports and active pursuits, such as running, swimming, skateboarding, and hiking. She also enjoys singing in the choir at school, and likes hanging out with friends. Usually she get along fine with other girls and boys close to her age but doesn’t enjoy being around very young children and babies. Kiersten, who loves animals big and small, be they cats and dogs or horses, would enjoy living in a rural area or an area that has a relaxed and slower paced lifestyle. For the 2009-2010 year Kiersten will be in eighth grade; it is expected that she will do well. Last year she got a nice boost forward in her reading and math skills by participating at a private learning center.

Legally free, Kiersten came into foster care in March 2007. Kiersten continues to experience grief over the loss of her mother, father, and other family members, and her feelings of abandonment and rejection are never far from the surface.

Just recently, Kiersten began a program that uses Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist her in dealing with those feelings, as well as her fears about the future, mood swings, and impulsiveness (which is believed to be symptomatic of her attention difficulties and high energy).

Her social worker is very encouraged by the progress that Kiersten is making. Despite her own past abuse, Kiersten is maintaining appropriate boundaries and developing good personal safety skills. Her impulsiveness, which sometimes leads to aggressiveness, is lessening. And, perhaps, most importantly, Kiersten is showing greater awareness of and greater ability to take responsibility for her choices and her behavior.

Her adoptive parents can demonstrate their love and commitment to Kiersten by participating with Kiersten in family counseling during her transition into her adoptive home. Such participation will also demonstrate to Kiersten that her new folks value using such resources to help family members deal with past hurts and grow emotionally and behaviorally. Kiersten will benefit from having therapeutic supports as part of her regular support system for the foreseeable future.

Her worker wants to hear from couples and single moms who have meaningful experience parenting, teaching, or counseling young teens, and who have a good grasp of how early neglect and abuse impacts a child’s sense of well being and her emotional and behavioral development.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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