Adam and Dawn Are Aging Out!

Aging out is when a child becomes legally unadoptable due to their age and the laws of either the child's country or the country of the adoptive parents. Today's children are in a Hague country that requires immigration paperwork and fees sent in before the child turns 16. The rest of the adoption process can begin after that, if necessary. This country is open to adoption by both single mothers and single fathers. There are two shorter trips for this country, requiring travel by only one parent. If you have any questions about this process, today's children, other aging out children, or how to adopt children with special needs internationally, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org for more information.

I will be posting the August aging out recap in a couple days. Make sure you check back to see it! There is some great news! Don't forget to keep sharing the waiting children. We are making progress. We are doing great things! Kids are finding families! Keep it up warriors! Sharing these kids really does work. We have a lot more kids to find families for.
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Adam http://reecesrainbow.org/1138/adam-b-351 $10,000 grant

Adam is an older boy listed as having Down syndrome and autistic traits. It is not known whether or not those autistic traits are a result of him moving into a mental institution at the age of 4. It was described as a nicer institution, but he still did not receive the same care he could have in a family. He is currently living in a group home setting. His most recent update describes him as a calm, quiet child. He will age out sometime next year. We don't have his specific birthdate.

Adam sounds like a very sweet and gentle child. It sounds like he would do well with a family to support him. Right now he looks for help before acting. Unfortunately, even in better settings, help can be spread thin. It sounds like he enjoys quiet and moves away from busier settings.

He plays with toys and prefers some, but he doesn't use them for their intended purpose. That isn't unusual based on his setting. We needed to teach some of our kids how to play with toys. In the beginning they would spend a lot of time bopping toys on the floor or rolling them on their legs. They do a lot more purposeful play now. I don't know if Adam would progress to that stage or not, but it sounds like he does enjoy interacting with certain toys. It would be great for him to have a family to go shopping for some of those favorites.

He can walk and use stairs. Adam can feed himself with a spoon. He does need some assistance with some of his other daily care. He does not speak, but he can follow simple directions. He was attending a special needs school, but not participating in many of the school activities.

Adam sounds like a really precious boy who is very likely to fall through the cracks. He already has. He is calm and quiet. He likes to play off to the side by himself. He has been listed for more than 6 years without a family. In those 6 years I have seen him mentioned from time to time, but he has not been adopted. He is still waiting. He was transferred to a mental institution at 4 years old. That is so long to wait. It is not surprising in the least to see him described as having autistic tendencies. Can they be overcome in a family? Has it been too long? Would he have had autism even in a family? Honestly, it doesn't matter. This kid is waiting now. He will turn 16 next year and age out. He needs a family who is ready to meet him where he is and love him. He needs a family who will be thrilled for any and every bit of progress and success they see, but will be just as thrilled if they don't, because they will know that he is safe in their home and he is loved.

Adam is eligible for a $10,000 older child grant to assist with his adoption expenses. Find out more by emailing childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org or visit his profile HERE.

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Dawn http://reecesrainbow.org/4398/dawn-17-1 $10,204 grant

Dawn is another child with Down syndrome. She was also moved into an institution at a very young age. She was only 3 when she was transferred. At 3 years old she was sent from an orphanage to an adult institution. She is still in an institution now, and she has lost out on so much because of that. She attends a class at the institution, but not a regular school or even a special needs school. She has lost out on so much in those years.

But yet, her profile says that she doesn't have behavioral or medical concerns. She reacts positively to attention! She likes music. She understands what is spoken, but was not speaking at her last update. She can walk. She can interact with people and with toys. Oh, how much potential I see in her!

Several older girls with Down syndrome from different countries have come home to families over the last few years. It isn't always easy, but I see these children thriving and making so much progress in their families. They are overcoming years of trauma and neglect, but these kids are doing incredible things. They are alive! They are learning and growing and making up for so much lost time.

Dawn needs that chance too. She has also been listed for 6 years. She is running out of time. Dawn also will be turning 16 sometime in the coming year. We don't know when, but we do know that she needs a family to step forward. It would be so worth it for her to have her chance to shine. Dawn has an available grant of $10,204 toward her adoption expenses. For more information email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org or visit her profile HERE.