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Mark

Fourteen-year-old Mark gets along well with others and would like to have a family of his own. Although he can be somewhat introverted and shy with new people, Mark has an engaging smile and opens up around his siblings and people he trusts. He enjoys playing board games and video games, shopping at yard sales or thrift stores, and participating in family outings. Mark would do well with patient adoptive parent(s) who use positive regard, praise and encouragement and have the time to provide him with one-on-one time, attention and love.
 

Matthew

Matthew has some nice strengths for an adoptive family to encourage and enjoy. Matthew enjoys athletics and is an integral member of his school’s sports program. He is readily accepted by his teammates and peers and well thought of by the adults in his life. Basketball and football are his primary sports. He also participates in the sports medicine program (athletic training) at his school. In addition, Matthew assists coaches and enjoys supporting his team as a scorekeeper.

Matthew also has musical talents. His favorite instrument is the trumpet, and he has been acknowledged as the best trumpet player in his school band. In his spare time he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing videos and listening to music. His best subjects are math and music.

Matthew will need support to get through his feelings of grief, loss, anger and abandonment. He sometimes feels like his life has been turned upside down. He does well verbalizing his feelings and working through conflict. A loving, nurturing, warm family who loves sports and music would be ideal for Matthew.

To learn more about Matthew, watch his video clip.
 

Michael

Michael is a bright, articulate young boy who enjoys being active. He has many strengths and is open to trying new experiences. Playing in the yard and riding a bike are some of his favorite outside activities. Michael was introduced to writing poetry, glassmaking, and playing drums as part of his school curriculum, and he looks forward to continuing to develop these skills. Michael needs an active, organized family where he can be the youngest or only child with parents able to give him lots of time and attention.

To learn more about Michael, watch his video clip.
 

MJ and Jaleo

MJ, who just turned 9, and Jaleo, 5, are delightful brothers who are being placed together for adoption. Their social worker is looking forward to being able to choose an experienced couple who will open their hearts and home to these boys.

Charming MJ is very loving and full of energy. His broad, beaming smile and expressive brown eyes are his trademark. He loves to be funny and goofy, singing and dancing around the house. He is open and willing to try almost any activity. He loves playing soccer and riding his bike. He is currently taking swimming lessons, which he really enjoys.

Jaleo is a lovable, outgoing youngster who enjoys showing off and being right in the middle of everything. He is full of energy and can be a bit mischievous at times. Currently the boys are in separate foster homes in order to receive the intensive parenting required to help them stabilize and stay on track.

The couple chosen to adopt the boys must be able to provide a very stable, structured home environment with consistent daily routines, plenty of encouragement, praise and positive reinforcement. Adoption transition counseling would be necessary to demonstrate commitment; it would provide the children and parents opportunities to talk about rules, expectations and limits and to share the different kinds of family activities they want to do together.

To learn more about MJ and Jaleo, watch their video clip.
 

Patrick

Patrick is a quiet, kind and thoughtful young teen. He loves family pets, especially his hamster, New New. He also enjoys drawing, writing, swimming and listening to country music. Patrick likes being helpful and responds well to positive, nurturing adults. Because of his developmental delays, he needs parents who will advocate for his educational, vocational and counseling needs and be a long-term resource for him. An older sibling who could be a friend and role model for Patrick would also be helpful.

A major concern for teens in foster care is that at age 18 they can find themselves alone in the world. If they’re out of school and don’t have a job or a family to help them out, they run the risk of becoming homeless. On the other hand, with the unconditional commitment of an adoptive family, a teen’s hopes for a positive future are exponentially improved. If you or someone you know could be Patrick’s forever family, please contact WACAP for more information.

To learn more about Patrick, watch his video clip.
 

Randy

Randy is an inquisitive young preteen who likes to please significant adults in his life. He’s eager to help with chores around the house and is proud that he can prepare oatmeal and other food on his own. Randy played soccer in the Special Olympics and likes riding his bike. He also enjoys animals, music and watching cartoons. With developmental delays and symptoms of autism, Randy needs an experienced family able to provide love, supervision and structure. He could be an only child or the youngest in a family willing to be a resource for him throughout his life.
 

Rosie

Rosie is an intelligent, expressive teen with many interests. She has enjoyed singing since she was very young, and now likes writing her own songs as well as poetry and stories. Rosie is teaching herself to play the guitar. Her favorite sports are basketball, volleyball and swimming. She hopes her future will include college and maybe a career as a teacher or marine biologist. Rosie could do well as an only child or with siblings. She has relatives who care about her but can’t adopt her, and she wants her adoptive family to help her maintain those connections.

To learn more about Rosie, watch her video clip.
 

Sarina

Sarina is a delightful, outgoing, social teen with strong artistic skills. An amazing sketch artist, she loves creative arts and crafts. She has a sweet disposition and very nice manners, and is a fairly easy teen to parent. She loves being around other children of all ages. She enjoys being helpful and assisting with household chores if asked. Sarina is in the seventh grade and doing very well with school.

To help with making a successful transition into her adoptive home, it would help for all members of the family to participate in counseling together. This would be a wonderful way to show their love and commitment to Sarina, who is trying to overcome past trauma and feelings of loss so that she can learn to move forward in a positive way.

Sarina’s social worker would like to hear from couples and single moms who enjoy teenagers and have lots of time and attention to welcome her into their hearts and home. Sarina would like to maintain some contact with her younger sister and her birth mother.

To learn more about Sarina, watch her video clip.
 

Scotty

Scotty is enthusiastic and loves to be helpful. He enjoys sports, especially soccer and basketball. He is learning to play on teams at the Boys and Girls Club. At home, he excels at Wii bowling and loves to play with his Hot Wheels collection. Scotty has some medical and developmental special needs that require careful monitoring and stability. He thrives on encouragement, positive reinforcement and rewards. Scotty needs a smoke-free home with a nurturing, patient family who will embrace him with attention, love, consistency and structure.

To learn more about Scotty, watch his video clip.
 

Sean

Sean is a friendly 8-year-old boy of African-American heritage with a great smile. Sean received limited prenatal care and was born with initial heart and lung problems. Cognitively and behaviorally, he functions at the age of about 2 or 3. His speech is difficult to understand, although he is receiving speech therapy. Sean is in third grade.

Sean can be very sweet and engaging. He is eager to please and is able to entertain himself for periods of time. He enjoys playing with building blocks, Hot Wheels and Play-Doh. He also enjoys playing outside. Sean loves horses and stuffed animals. His favorite movie is The Lion King, and he’s fascinated with Africa and all things related to African people and culture. Sean also likes pizza and ice cream.

Sean would benefit from an adoptive family where he is the youngest child, ideally one with experience in parenting children with special needs. His family will need to have strong advocacy skills and be comfortable working within multiple systems, such as special education, medical and mental health services. They also should have a consistent and stable home environment with minimal transitions.

To learn more about Sean, watch his video clip.
 

Shauwen

Shauwen is an intelligent young teen with a strong interest in languages. He has taught himself Japanese and Spanish. He’s also a strong reader with a good recall of facts and a special interest in military history. Shauwen enjoys playing video games, drawing, listening to music and building with Legos. He needs an adoptive family who will encourage his gifts and build his confidence as well as help him work with his challenges.

To learn more about Shauwen, watch his video clip on your high-bandwidth connection.
 

Tavares

Soon to be 13, Tavares is an energetic boy of African-American heritage. He has a happy disposition and describes himself as a "joyful" person. Tavares is highly motivated to find a forever family that will accept him completely and provide him with the unconditional love and support he desperately craves. Tavares loves all things dramatic! He enjoys art, drama, music and dancing. Tavares is very flexible and would love to take gymnastics. He is also musically gifted—he taught himself to play piano, has played the viola and would love to take music lessons. His favorite type of music is "electro-pop." Tavares likes reading and is very creative and expressive. He is eager to explore the world and various cultures, and would love to travel.

Tavares has a large extended family in the Puget Sound area, and wants to remain connected with his siblings once he's placed in his adoptive home. Tavares strongly desires to have a two-dad family. He would prefer a family that is active in the community and likes to travel.

To learn more about Tavares, watch his video clip.
 

Temo

Temo is a very bright, creative young teen with many talents. He especially enjoys his media class at school, where he works with computers and can use his writing skills. He has a good sense of humor and likes to make others laugh. Temo also likes listening to music and singing. He may want to be an author or composer in the future. Because Temo has moved multiple times, his adoptive family will need to give him time to trust. His family must also be committed to sticking with him through the difficult times. A family who values education, can see his abilities and can help him stay motivated academically would be ideal.

To learn more about Temo, watch his video clip.
 

Thomas

Thomas is a compassionate young teen who expresses his emotions through art and poetry. He looks up to those who possess wisdom, respect and kindness. Thomas also likes being physically active. He wants to continue his martial arts and urban jumping programs as well as hiking and camping. He likes going to school and especially enjoys art and science classes. Thomas needs parents who can set clear limits and consequences as well as providing consistent supervision, guidance and unconditional love. He will do best as the youngest in his adoptive family.

Many teenagers in foster care have lived through very difficult years. Some have thought they were in a forever home but then were told they needed to move again. It may be hard for them to trust now that any family would care enough about them to offer unconditional love, even in the face of rough times. If you’re an experienced family who has raised teenagers and knows their struggles, please consider adopting an older child. Ordinary people, single or married, with lots of love and parenting skills can make the difference of a lifetime for children like Thomas. Please contact WACAP for more information about adoption.

To learn more about Thomas, watch his video clip.

Tim

Tim has great strengths and a wonderful smile. He’s articulate, charming, bright and persuasive, and has a great sense of humor. He’s interested in a wide variety of things, especially arcade games, collecting Yu-Gi-Oh cards, sports, computers and music. He responds well to clear, consistent rules, limits, expectations and consequences.

If you're a couple or a single dad willing to offer Tim unconditional love and acceptance along with clear structure and firm limits, please contact WACAP today.

To learn more about Tim, watch his video clip.
 

Tony

Tony is a sweet and genteel kind of guy. A delightful 11-year-old boy for whom saying “please” and “thank you” is routine, Tony has good attachment skills. He wants the world to be his friend, and is working hard to learn to be a good friend in return. Since he has become more comfortable talking about his feelings, his social skills have grown. Tony enjoys family outings. His favorite is to a local amusement park that has miniature golf, arcade games, and go-carts. He also enjoys spending time with his grandmother, with whom he has a close relationship. Tony has a 13-year-old sister named Gabby. While individual adoption might meet each child's needs more fully, their social worker is also interested in hearing from families who have the experience, skills, stamina, and love to adopt the siblings together.

To learn more about Tony, watch his video clip.