Meet the kids

Blake [b. April 2014] enjoys playing a good game of basketball or going for a swim.  In his down time, he also likes listening to music or playing video games. At school, Blake is keen on art class and likes doing arts and crafts projects. Blake is still trying to see what types of occupations might interest him for when he grows up, but for now the dream would be to play a professional sport.

Jordan [b. October 2015] loves riding scooter and playing the Spiderman video game on Xbox, along with his other favorite video game, Minecraft. In addition to pizza or food from McDonalds, Jordan is also happy with Cup Noodles. While Jordan doesn’t have a problem sharing his emotions, he is working on keeping his hands to himself and following the rules in placement. He is doing fine in school, but it takes some effort to get him there at times.

If you can picture these two joining your family squad, let us know.  Blake and Jordan long to belong to a family they can call their own. Photo Credit: David Tsay

Meet “Teo”, a gentle little boy with a heart of gold.  Teo is a warrior in every sense of the word.  He is the epitome of resiliency and strength.  Teo has endured many medical challenges and he is the light that encourages others around him.  His general health is stable although he requires constant supervision and care.

Teo enjoys attending school every day.  He is non-verbal, but reacts if you speak to him at eye level.  He enjoys soothing sounds and calming conversations.  Teo was born in January of 2011 and is of Latino descent.

Teogenes was a victim of severe physical abuse and is now dealing with many delays.  He is diagnosed with Subdural Hematoma, Traumatic Brain injury, Retinal Hemorrhage of both eyes, Battered Child Syndrome, Hemiparesis, Seizure disorder (well controlled), Encephalomalacia with Cerebral Infarction and Cerebral Palsy.  He is currently only feeding through a G-tube.  Teo has a hx of fractures that are now healed. He has limited mobility but is receiving physical and occupational therapy.  All eligible services from Regional Center are in place.

Is Teo tugging in your heart? Do you feel the love and patience to take care of him?  If yes, you are ready to provide him a forever family.

Meet Andre (b. August 2012), an enthusiastic youth with a golden smile! Andre enjoys social settings and people interacting with him.  He is a true warrior and has been able to deal with multiple medical procedures like a true champion.  Andre responds positively to his caregivers and shows his interest in things by smiling and giggling.  He can also mumble the word “hello”. Andre enjoys music and really likes having someone sing to him or read to him.   He is limited in his mobility and requires a wheelchair.  He has received successful surgery and is now able to utilize his upper body more effectively.  Andre receives his nutrition via a G-tube.

Andre was born at only 27 weeks gestation, which contributed to a group of conditions that affect his movement, posture and development.  Andre’s medical needs require that he attend multiple medical appointments a few times a month. Andre is benefitting from occupational and physical therapies and despite all his challenges, he is always ready to offer the world a smile.

Karina (b. October 2011) is a sweet, talkative and engaging teen.  Karina enjoys going to the park and going to the mall. She loves “movie nights” whether they be at her placement or involve going to the theatre.  Karina likes playing board games and card games, especially Uno.  She also likes playing soccer but has not yet been able to join a team.  Karina has expressed wanting to be part of an active family.  She also shared that she would like to travel and someday go to Korea to see BTS. Karina describes herself as funny and helpful, and someone who enjoys scary things like scary rides and haunted houses.

Jordan (b. February 2016) is a cheerful and playful youngster who gets along well with others.  Jordan enjoys outdoor activities, especially basketball.  Jordan also likes playing video games such as Roblox on X-box or PS5.  Like his sister, Jordan also enjoys playing cards and board games, especially Uno.  Jordan is described to have a silly and fun personality. Jordan does sometimes need assistance/guidance with self-regulation and how he reacts to sudden stress.

If you can see these two siblings as part of your family, please let us know.  We are eager for Karina and Jordan to have the sense of security that comes with feeling at home with a caring forever family.  Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli

Kendrick (b. June 2010) is a curious boy with a huge, infectious smile!  Kendrick loves to play video games and watch YouTube videos, and he is fairly tech-savvy.  He is also fascinated by cars and is knowledgeable about various makes and models — from their worth to their speed.  And while Kendrick benefits from reminders about personal hygiene, he does like picking out his own clothes and shoes in order to dress stylishly!

And while Kendrick can keep himself busy indoors, he also enjoys being active and playing outside. You can often find him riding his bicycle and running around. Kendrick has a great imagination and would do well in a family that is active and yet provides structure to daily routine. Kendrick does have an IEP to help him stay focused on schoolwork and to help with his mild speech delays. Kendrick can be easily influenced by others so conversations about safety are also important.

Kendrick loves animals and would love to have a family pet as part of his adoptive family.  Kendrick looks forward to being part of an adoptive family, sharing that he wants “to go to fun places and to be able to play and laugh with (them)”.  If you can picture Kendrick as part of your family, let us know.  We want to see Kendrick linked with the right adoptive family!

Photo Credit: Will Wong

Ottavio (October 2012) is a polite kid with an amiable personality!  Although he is initially shy, Ottavio becomes talkative and engages well with others, particularly when he receives some encouragement.  Ottavio enjoys all kinds of sports and plays both baseball and football on community teams.  Though generally quiet, Ottavio opens up with encouragement from teammates, responding to the social energy of others to come out of his shell.  Ottavio hasn’t decided yet what he wants to be when he grows up and would thrive in a family with adoptive siblings around his age or older.  Despite some mixed feelings about adoption, he is open to all family constellations.  Ottavio loves playing with the pet dogs in his foster home and is excited about the possibility of having pets as a part of his future forever family.  Photo Credit: Will Wong

Woodrow (b. July 2010) is a thoughtful and engaging young teen in foster care who is
earnestly seeking to be a part of a permanent family. He possesses a unique blend of
creativity and technical aptitude, particularly enjoying technology that merges sound and
visual editing.  Woodrow likes to read and is currently into competitive typing, something that reflects his dedication in developing new skills.

Woodrow is active and adventurous. He envisions a possible career pursuit of working for a government agency like the FBI, where he can leverage his intellect and technical
skills to make a difference. He seeks a nurturing family that would support his
interests and personal growth. Beyond the practical benefits of having a permanent
family, what Woodrow deeply desires is an inclusive environment where he is cherished
for who he is, rather than being merely monitored as part of the foster care system.

Woodrow describes himself as a kind person who makes a genuine effort to treat everyone he encounters with warmth and respect. His heartfelt request is simple yet powerful: he wishes to meet people who are willing to open their hearts and truly welcome him into their family. As Woodrow aptly states, “You’re never really going to get to know me until you actually go out and get to know me.”

Photo Credit: Peter Christiansen Valli

Victoria (b. April 2011) is an exceptionally creative young girl in foster care with a genuine passion for arts and crafts. She delights in making things and is deeply drawn to beauty and fashion – always eager to discover evolving aspects of her own unique style. With a flair for makeup, hair, and accessorizing, Victoria is fine with dressing up for any given occasion.

Victoria likes school, enjoying cycling class as well as leadership courses. Her enthusiasm for art classes comes as no surprise and one of her recent projects that excited her was crafting ribbon flowers, turning out some beautiful roses.

Though she may be a bit shy at first, Victoria’s charming personality quickly shines through and enables her to connect with others. Victoria has a heartfelt desire for a loving family, complete with pets! While she adores cats, her allergy makes having one a challenge; however, she dreams of having a pet dog. Victoria also envisions having adoptive siblings, perhaps a sister with whom she could share a bond as well as having fun times. Most importantly, Victoria is eager to find a welcoming family that is enthusiastic and ready to support her during her high school years and beyond!  Photo Credit: Will Wong