Sunday's Child
“Horse,’’ “Around the World,’’ and “Knock Out’’ are just a few of this rising basketball star’s favorite games. Eleven-year-old Raekwon can be shy in new situations, but as soon as he is comfortable, he has no problem being in the spotlight. Raekwon is an engaging, friendly boy of Hispanic descent with an endearing smile and a great laugh. Raekwon is currently living in a residential program where the predictable, structured environment allows Raekwon to shine. He responds well to individual attention from adults and is hoping to find a permanent family who can give him the love and care he needs.
Raekwon enjoys playing sports and singing and dancing to hip-hop and reggaeton music. Raekwon enjoys hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and Ropes Challenge Course activities. Raekwon does have mild cerebral palsy, but he no longer requires occupational or physical therapy. He benefits from an Individualized Educational Plan to stay on track behaviorally at school. Raekwon responds well to positive reinforcement and can follow through when clear expectations and limits are made.
Raekwon wants to join a family that supports his cultural ties to his Puerto Rican heritage and helps him maintain contact with his sister. He would do best as the youngest child in a patient, nurturing, structured two-parent home. Legally free for adoption, Raekwon is a loving kid who would bring love and lots of laughs to a family. His special wish is to have a family that would love him and stick by him.
What is a home study?
Part of the process to adopt a child from foster care is the home study review. After completing the Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP) training course, your social worker will conduct in-home interviews that will help gather information and get to know you and your family. Your social worker will schedule visits with you to discuss your strengths and challenges as a family, your parenting style, and the type of child you would like to adopt. From these meetings, your social worker will write a narrative, also called a home study, about your family. Once MAPP training is successfully completed and the interviewing is over, the decision is made to approve you as a licensed pre-adoptive parent. This home study document is then shared with other social workers to help make an appropriate, mutually selected match between your family and a waiting child.To learn more about Raekwon and about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-542-3678 or visit www.mareinc.org.
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