For more information on these children or adoption in general, call the NC Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network at 1-877-NCKIDS-1 <www.adoptnckids.org> •
Elijah (age 17)
Elijah is a sweet, friendly young man who has overcome much in his life. He enjoys carpentry, weight lifting, skateboarding, and basketball. Like most teens, he also enjoys electronics, particularly video games. Elijah sees college in his future, but also wants to continue his carpentry trade.
Elijah is excited about the prospect of being adopted by a single- or two-parent family who will make him feel loved and included. Elijah wants parent(s) who will engage in activities with him, whether that be playing basketball together or cheering him on at a game. He is open to having siblings of any age. Elijah needs a family who understands the long-term impact of trauma. He responds well to living in a structured environment with realistic expectations, and would benefit most from a nurturing family who can help him develop independent living skills.
Haley (age 16)
Meet Haley! This vibrant, outgoing, and bold young woman has a great sense of humor and a loving, caring spirit. She excels in sports, and especially likes to play football and basketball. Haley also likes to listen to music, draw, play board games, and write poetry. Haley would like to attend NC A & T for college and work with young children after graduation.
Haley is nervous about adoption, but ready for the permanence it will offer. She would like a family that is “happy and active,” includes at least one female parent, and is knowledgeable about childhood trauma, grief, and loss. It is important that Haley have frequent one-on-one time with the adults in her life. Her forever family must be supportive and engaged in helping her maintain contact with her siblings, former foster parents, and other important adults in her life.
Jasmarie (age 11)
Jasmarie is a sweet girl with a great sense of humor. Those that know her best describe her as eager to learn, resilient, friendly, and fearless. Jasmarie loves to dance and sing, play outside, and play video games. Generally easygoing, she likes all sorts of foods, though she does have a sweet tooth. Jasmarie is in the 4th grade and is a delight in the classroom. A past teacher shared, “The enthusiasm she shows for school, friends, and life in general energizes our whole room.”
Jasmarie has been through a great deal and has shown great strength and resilience. She is eager to be adopted and find her permanent family. Jasmarie needs a family that includes at least one female parent. A family who speaks Spanish would be ideal. Jasmarie gets along well with adults and peers, though she would do best in a home where there are few other children, as she will require a lot of attention and supervision from her parents. Jasmarie will bring great joy to a family who understands her needs.
Kayleigh (age 11)
Kayleigh is a brave, creative, and loving child who has the makings of a great leader. She likes to play soccer and she loves to ride her bike at the park. She also loves owls: she likes to draw them and decorate her belongings with pictures of owls. Kayleigh also enjoys reading and doing arts and crafts. When she grows up, she wants to be famous and have a big family. Kayleigh is making tremendous progress in communication and identifying her own triggers and is blossoming into a bright, thoughtful, kind young lady.
Kayleigh is eager to be adopted by a family who will love her unconditionally. She benefits from high levels of structure, stability, and consistency. If other children are in the home, they would need to be older than Kayleigh. Kayleigh does well with positive reinforcement. She needs a calm family, preferably one that is experienced in de-escalating children who are experiencing emotional turmoil. Kayleigh deserves a forever family that will give her the love and care she needs so that she can thrive.
Phalen (age 10)
Phalen is an affectionate, loving, and independent little boy with a charming smile and infectious personality. He is very social and loves interacting with others. Phalen enjoys playing on his iPad, watching Peppa Pig, and swimming. He is very smart and learns quickly. Using tablets and other electronic devices helps him learn.
The ideal family for Phalen should have a flexible schedule and be able to maintain ongoing appointments and participate in various types of therapy to assist him in increasing his mobility and speech. Phalen would be most successful with caregivers who are calm, patient, and who have the ability to work with him on developing his skills. Phalen has a strong bond with his brothers. It will be important for his adoptive family to facilitate continued visits between the siblings.
Solomon (age 15)
Solomon is an intelligent, loving, and inquisitive young man with great potential to succeed. Solomon loves to build things and excels in hands-on learning environments. He loves games with hands-on components to them, and he also enjoys doing arts and crafts. Solomon wants to be an architect when he grows up, and all who know him think he is well-suited for that profession.
Solomon wants to be a part of a family and have a “normal” childhood. He would like a family in the Western North Carolina, and he would like to maintain contact with his older sister. Solomon does best in environments with high levels of structure, consistency, and predictability. A family with therapeutic foster parent experience is preferred. Solomon will thrive in a family with patience, energy, empathy, compassion, and love.
November is National Adoption Month!
According to the most recent Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System report, in the United States over 110,000 children and youth in foster care are waiting to be adopted. Close to 12,500 of them are between the ages of 15 and 17. This is one of the reasons that the theme of Adoption Month this year is ”Teens Need Families, No Matter What.” If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life by becoming an adoptive parent, please call the NC Kids Adoption and Foster Care Network at 1-877-NCKIDS-1 or visit www.adoptnckids.org.
