Kelli, a Child Specific Recruiter for one of our waiting youth, quickly realized two things would make her visits with C exciting: Culver’s and something active. “He likes to go on a bike ride on every visit,” she shares, “and eat a cheeseburger with all the fixings and a concrete mixer with M&Ms.” In reality, the 11-year-old boy isn’t picky about the activities he and Kelli share in their meetings, he just enjoys moving and playing. For instance, he likes to play basketball and correct Kelli’s form so that she can learn how to shoot better. “He was also crazy excited when we went swimming during our first meeting,” Kelli explains.
For C, staying active is a way of connecting with others. “He likes to dance to hip hop and R&B as a way to have fun together. Sometimes he will dance in front of people to get them to smile and laugh,” shares Kelli. “He’s really good at it…at least I think he’s really good at it.”
This open nature comes out even when he’s not active. While Kelli and he meet, he frequently talks about how he wants a family. “I asked him, ‘If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?’ He responded, ‘A house.’ For him it’s all about finding a family,” shares Kelli.
“I asked him, ‘If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?’ He responded, ‘A house.’ For him, it’s all about finding a family.”
These open conversations also focus on how he’s doing and what he needs to be doing in the future. “He is aware of places where he can grow and mature. He’s working on processing his history and personal growth,” notes Kelli.
His personal growth is propelled by goals. He made a goal with Kelli for self-improvement and proposed an incentive. Now, if he reaches his goal, she will take him for a movie and ice cream. “Once something is on his mind, he’ll work hard toward it,” Kelli explains.
C is open to all families and would especially like a family with a dog and a pool. His family should provide structure through nurturing positive relationships and creating step-by-step routines. He would benefit from having a positive male role model in his life and would do best in a home where he is the only child. While C could move anywhere within Minnesota, his adoptive family would need a plan for maintaining his family connections—it is important that he keep a connection with his birth siblings.
DETAILS TO NOTE
We cannot share photos or identifying information about C online. The photo used in this blog is stock.
The majority of costs to Minnesota clients adopting youth under Minnesota state guardianship are covered by a contract with the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Learn More About C
If you would like to know more about him, please contact Kelli Hanson [email protected]; 651.255.2441. Families may have to provide certain documentation to receive full information.
