ALEXIS (5/01) is an adorable eight-year old girl with light brown eyes, dark brown hair, and deep dimples that appear every time she smiles. Very loving and affectionate, Alexis can be shy until she gets to know you. Then you had better be prepared to give her a ton of attention, as she will want to be the center of attention. Alexis is very artistic and welcomes the opportunity to draw and create crafts for everybody. She also enjoys music and dancing. While she can be caring, generous and helpful, Alexis has an adventurous side and requires attentive supervision to make sure she doesn’t get hurt. Legally free, Alexis has been in the care of her original foster family since 2006.

A big challenge for Alexis is interacting successfully with kids her own age or younger as she lacks some of the basic social skills necessary to create friendships and does not like to share the attention. She struggles when there are other kids her age in her foster home, as she feels that they are taking attention away from her. A request has been made for Alexis to participate in a girls' social skills group this fall at her school.

Alexis loves school and has the extra supports necessary to address her behavioral and communication needs. Alexis has difficulty processing requests made of her, and often thinks she has completed assigned tasks when in fact she has not done them at all. As such, she requires more time to complete daily activities.

Alexis has therapeutic supports in place to help her deal with past trauma and to help her strengthen her boundaries. Being willing to participate with Alexis in family counseling during her transition into her new home would be a wonderful way for her adoptive folks to show their love and commitment to her. It would also let her see that they are willing to use such resources to help family members deal with past hurts and make behavioral changes. It is likely that Alexis will need therapeutic supports for the foreseeable future.

On the home front amidst a great deal of parental love, nurturing, and attention, Alexis needs structure, a consistent, predictable daily routine, clear rules, limits, and natural and logical consequences. It will be important for her adoptive folks to have good understanding of how neglect can impact a child’s sense of safety, self worth, and emotional development. Having patient, trustworthy parents who will claim her as their own, and yet allow her the time and space she needs to form relationships with them will be significant in helping her succeed. Alexis could do well as an only child or as the youngest of much older siblings.

Alexis has a younger half-sister, who has already been adopted. It will be important for Alexis’ adoptive parents to be open to the possibility of mediation with the sister’s family as requested by the Court.

The prospective adoptive parents chosen to adopt Alexis will be challenged and yet highly rewarded by this delightful little girl who has enchanted all of the people in her life. She will undoubtedly captivate her new forever family, as well.


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