c7520

Child's name: Jacob
Number: C7520
Birthdate: 11/02
State: Oregon
Listed: August 2009

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

JACOB (11/02) is an adorable, loveable six-year old who likes to give hugs and snuggle. He has a very healthy desire for affection, and with his current foster family, he has demonstrated his ability to form healthy attachments. Jacob has a sweet demeanor and a smile that lights up the room. In many ways Jacob is typical of his age. He likes to swim and has spent much of his summer outside in the pool. Monster trucks and toy cars are some of his favorite playthings, and he also likes video games. His Game Boy is a prized possession. Jacob has a good appetite, although at times needs to be told to stop as he can eat in excess. Jacob likes pizza and donuts but is also game to try healthy food, as well as new foods. Legally free, Jacob came into foster care in August 2008.

Jacob gets along well with the other foster children in his home. Because he tends to get a bit jealous when attention is given to younger kids, he does better with those who are older than he is. Jacob blossoms with encouragement and lots of one-on-one attention. He needs a family that has an abundance of time to devote to him – a family that is highly committed and stable, and that will claim him as their own to help assuage his fear about the future.

Jacob is benefiting greatly from medication management, which is proving to be very successful in helping him to focus and to curb his high energy. Other therapeutic supports are helping him to deal with his symptoms of past trauma. His counselor is pleased with the good progress he has made, too, in strengthening his boundaries and understanding what is appropriate behavior and what isn’t. Jacob responds best when adults talk with him in very concrete, straightforward ways.

Being willing to participate with Jacob in family counseling during his adoption transition would be a wonderful way for his new folks to show their love and commitment to him. It will also show him that they value using such supports to help family members talk about past hurts and make behavioral changes. It is likely that for the foreseeable future, Jacob will continue to benefit from counseling to further help him address his issues related to abandonment and loss. He will also need to continue with the therapeutic supports that help manage his attention difficulties and high energy.

Because Jacob was in several schools during his kindergarten year, teachers and other professionals were not able to get a clear picture of his academic abilities. While the consensus is that he is ready to move to first grade for the 2009-2010 school year, his abilities need to be further evaluated. A recent psychological evaluation indicates that it is likely that he will require intensive special education supports in order to be successful in school.

Jacob will be counting on his adoptive folks to help him maintain his sibling connection to his older. The boys have been visiting each other regularly.

Jacob is a wonderful boy who will bring joy to the adoptive family that will cherish and love him, and who will see that his needs are met.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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