Virginia Children Waiting for a Forever Family

There are hundreds of children waiting for adoptive families in Virginia. These children need forever families through adoption.  Many of these children are nine and older and have experienced trauma in their lives.  They  need what every child needs; to be part of a family, to be treated with kindness and respect, to be nurtured, to have fun and to have a place that is called HOME.

Children who leave the foster care system without a permanent family do not often overcome the odds of dropping out of school, become incarcerated and/or homeless.  They often require community mental health and welfare assistance programs.  These children deserve so much more from us.  Coordinators²inc provides free informational meetings for families to answer any questions, workshops regarding adoption issues and parenting techniques, support through the process and post adoption services. 

The fees for training and home study services for children you see featured here are offered through a state grant.  There is no cost to parents who adopt children in the foster care system in Virginia.     

	Keyaira is a bright 12 year old young lady with a beautiful smile. She enjoys dance classes, especially ballet. Like all kids, Keyaira loves all types of food, especially pizza. She bakes, cookies and make ice cream sundaes. Keyaira said that moving from place to place makes her very sad. Keyaira needs a permanent, dedicated and committed family that she can trust and will offer her unconditional love.
	CJ (Charles) is a friendly, outgoing and active child who enjoys a wide variety of activities and particularly loves swimming, other water sports and many other sports such as football, etc. He can be very engaging, caring and has a great sense of humor. CJ loves cats and dogs and does well with them. He is 16 years old. CJ needs a mom and dad who are willing to work closely with a therapist to learn specialized parenting techniques designed to assure him that he is safe, protected, accepted and loved as he will initially have doubts that these needs will be met. CJ will do best in a 2-parent home or with a single dad and no other children. CJ will be a really wonderful addition to the right family. He seeks approval and love.
	Gina, is a energetic 16 year old who loves to be on the go; shopping, ice skating, horseback riding, going to movies and out to eat. She is an excellent reader and has read the Twilight Series. Gina is friendly and giving. She makes friends for a lifetime and values her relationships. Gina says she is looking for a forever family who “is nice, who will be kind, likes to do things, understands me and will always be there for me.” Gina needs a family who is structured, fair, and nurturing.
	Lolita is a 13 year old teenager with a beautiful smile. Lolita is in the 7th grade and enjoys popularity both in and out of school. Lolita says she enjoys friends as much as they enjoy being around her. Lolita’s favorite hobbies are crocheting and arts & crafts. She enjoys going to movies, reading and listening to her favorite singer, “Justin Bieber”. She has memorized all of the lyrics to all of his music. Lolita is hoping to be a cheerleader or play on a soccer team. Lolita truly wants to “belong” in a family… one that will provide her with skills to develop a positive self-image, esteem and a sense of belonging.
	Kristen is an outgoing and engaging 17 year old young lady who hopes for a family of her very own. She likes to go shopping and likes pampering activities such as manicures or getting her hair done. Kristen really benefits from nurturing interactions and likes to be the center of attention. She enjoys art and uses artwork and journaling to express her feelings about the experiences she has had in her life. Kristen adores animals and has always loved it when she is able to have a pet in the home. She has a warm, sensitive personality with a sense of humor and a great bubbly laugh! Kristen will benefit from a family who can make a commitment to provide her with consistency, structure, and stability and also to give her the nurturing that she missed as a young child in foster care. Kristen really wants a family that has pets and she loves dogs! Can you give Kristen the family she hopes for?
	Meet Ahmond! This handsome young man, age 11, would like nothing better than to have a family that will love him and keep him safe. Ahmond gets along very well with his peers. He enjoys karate, drawing and playing with interactive toys. Ahmond loves telling jokes and making people laugh.
	Davisha is an outgoing, friendly and vivacious 17-year-old teenager who loves to be pampered by getting her nails and hair done. She is stylish in her dress and cares about how she looks. If asked she would say “It’s all about me!” Davisha enjoys going to the park and the mall, being around other teens, playing games, poetry writing and likes to make people laugh. She has two siblings who have been adopted and would need to remain in contact with them. She does well in an environment where boundaries are well set. Davisha needs a family who is able to make a commitment to her needs as well as provide a lot of nurturing and consistency. While she still has many challenges left to meet, she believes there is a family out there that will help her meet them.
	Meet Tolanda! The first thing you will notice is his big, beautiful smile. He is a handsome, warm and friendly 16 year old who loves the challenges of board games and building with legos and magnetics. His favorite games are “Sorry” and Chess. He likes building things and says that someday he will build a miniature city with legos. Tolanda will need a family to support him in his efforts to overcome his grief and losses and provide him with a structured environment with set routines to manage his impulsivity. Tolanda would benefit from being an only child in the home in order to receive a lot of one-on-one attention but he says “I just want a family that will love me and take good care of me”!
	Robbie is a shy and quiet 13 year old. He wants to live with a family where there is a lot of outdoor space to explore nature. Robbie really loves getting out in the fresh air and letting the stress ease away. He loves nature walks and looking for lizards and frogs, but still isn’t a fan of spiders or other bugs! Robbie likes to participate in other activities too and likes riding bikes, playing video games or listening to music. He will do best in a family that has prior parenting or professional experience with children in foster care. Robbie needs a “cheerleader” and patient support to help him grow and move forward into his teen years. He will do best in a family with older siblings.
	David is a very intelligent 13 year old who wants to become a marine biologist. He loves all animals and is particularly fascinated with snakes. David loves reading and makes good grades in school. He is articulate and communicates very well. He has great social skills and is very charming and engaging with adults. David came into care as a result of a long history of neglect and abuse and lack of supervision that allowed him to engage in behavior that was harmful to him and others. David is aware of his challenges and actively participates in therapy. He is progressing very well. David would like a family that will love him in spite of his challenges and is willing to teach him how “to do the right thing” so he can grow up to be a good person and great biologist.
	Matthew is a soft-spoken, kind 17 year old. He is eager to join a family and hopes to have a dad. He is a budding young artist who enjoys drawing. He hopes to continue to develop his artistic skills and is working to learn shading. Matthew also likes “typical” teen activities like video games and listening to music. He likes to eat out and a favorite is Chinese food buffets. Matthew hopes to graduate from high school and one day attend college. He needs a family to support him in his journey towards adulthood and commit to supporting him long term. He will do best in a family that can provide a lot of structure and supervision and where he can be the only child or in a home that includes adult children.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE WAITING CHILDREN, PLEASE CONTACT LILLIAN, JENNIFER OR SHARON AT (804) 354-1881

Meet more waiting children at the Lutheran Family Services of Virginia Website.

Funded by the Virginia Department of Social Services