Sunday’s Child is a weekly column featuring a child in foster care awaiting adoption.
Cameron is a polite and caring 9-year old boy. He is very active and enjoys playing football and basketball. Cameron has a great sense of humor and enjoys making others laugh. Cameron has a passion for computers and enjoys playing video games. He also enjoys drawing and doing art projects.
Cameron is in the third grade where he is performing on grade level with the assistance of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
Cameron does well in his specialized school and he particularly enjoys math. Cameron has made wonderful progress at his current placement, where he benefits from the structure and support from staff members. Cameron thrives with the praise he receives and the daily routine that is in place.
Cameron needs a family that will be playful and engage him in activities. He also needs a family in which he will receive a lot of attention. Cameron will benefit greatly from a home with a lot of structure in it. Cameron has two brothers in separate placements that he sees for sibling visits. It is important to Cameron that this connection be maintained. Being the only child in a family or having older siblings who could act as role models for Cameron would be ideal. Having siblings around the same age as Cameron could be difficult for him, as he may feel he is not getting enough attention. Cameron would love to be able to have a pet in his future family.
How do I adopt a child from foster care?
To adopt a child from foster care, you must go through a training, interview and matching process. To begin, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), for referrals to agencies in your area.
After an initial application is submitted, a social worker will meet with you, and then refer you for the Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training. After completing the MAPP course, you’ll have meetings with a social worker who will conduct your “homestudy’’ to explore adoption possibilities with you.
It’s important to balance patience with persistence to make a match that will build a lifelong family.
To learn more about Cameron, and about adoption from foster care, call the MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.mareinc.org. The sooner you call, the sooner a waiting child will have “a permanent place to call home.’’
