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LAURA (1/92) is a smart, inquisitive, and beautiful teenager of Alaska Native and Caucasian heritage. Among her many interests are riding horses, reading, crocheting, hanging out with friends, watching movies, and shopping. She also enjoys caring for and playing with young children. Laura does best with adults one-on-one and tries very hard to please.

A thoughtful, intelligent individual, Laura longs to have a normal life in a normal family and is highly motivated to transition into a home setting from her residential treatment center, which is in Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ families are especially encouraged to call to learn more about Laura.

Laura’s most significant relationships currently are with her 21-year old sister, her infant nephew, her therapist, her social worker, and her Guardian ad Litem. Her sister, nephew and therapist live in Massachusetts close to her treatment center; her social worker and Guardian ad Litem reside in Juneau, Alaska. Laura has other paternal family members back east, too. While none is able to be a permanent resource for her, Laura would love to continue to live in Massachusetts so that she can maintain these strong connections.

The primary resources that have helped Laura to address her emotional and behavioral special needs over the past six years have been residential treatment programs. She has needed and benefitted from the high level of structure, emotional safety, therapeutic child care, and multiple counseling resources that such programs offer. While being in residential treatment four different times may have exacerbated her attachment difficulties, they have laid the ground work for Laura to accept support from others in managing her attention difficulties, high energy, and mood swings. She has also been able to develop sufficient trust in her therapist to open up about the severe past trauma she experienced. In addition to being more willing to allow others to help her, Laura is also beginning to develop new behavioral tools and strategies to help her cope with stress and frustration. Once she is in her adoptive family, she and her new parent(s) together can address her difficulty trusting and forming relationships.

Laura is going to need a a rather special family with two parents or a single mom who can help her to integrate back into the real world and into a family setting. While it will likely be a slow process, Laura is motivated! Parental traits that her worker will be looking for include patience, empathy, and realistic expectations. Laura will need to have clear rules, expectations, and limits, and providing her with limited choices may be helpful. The ability to allow Laura the time she needs to begin to trust and the willingness to participate with her in family counseling with an attachment therapist will be invaluable to her success.

Laura also has some medical needs. She take a thyroid replacement medication. She also has a one time incident of what appeared to be symptoms of seizures. A neurologist is following up with her, but no cause has been determined. She has had no further seizures since the incident in March, 2009.

Academically, Laura is at an eighth grade level. She participates in an self-contained classroom and is given work that is appropriate for her skills and academic level. Despite being very intelligent, Laura’s academic struggles are likely due in part to having attended so many different schools over the years, and to her lack of permanency. Not having a family of her own has been very hard on her.

Any and all prospective parent(s) who believe they have what it takes to help Laura to reclaim her life and to be successful in a family are encouraged to call. Laura, expecially, hopes that there are at least some Massachusetts families among them.


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