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Jonathan and Sasha
Oregon

Basic Info

Jonathan

Age: 48
Sex: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion: Christian

Sasha

Age: 43
Sex: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion: Christian

Child Preferences

Age: 2 to 7 years old
Sex: Female
Max Number of Children: 2
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian, African American, Asian, Native American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Mixed, Bi-Racial

Special Needs the Family is Open To: Mild Physical/Medical Disability (Open to Discussion)

Environment

State: Oregon
Neighborhood: City/Urban
Residency:
Years Together: 20
Children in the Home: 1
Pet(s): Farm animal(s)

Work

Jonathan

Occupation: Educator

Sasha

Occupation: Educator

Adoption Agency

Agency: A Family For Every Child
Worker: Dina Badolato
Worker: dina@afamilyforeverychild.org
City: Eugene
State: Oregon
Zip: 97402

Family Description

We are the Shay family, Jack (father), Sasha (mother), and our biological daughter Libby (2011).

Preference Description

We hope to adopt a girl (or sisters), ages 2 to 7, of any ethnicity. We're open minor or medically correctable conditions, a child with special needs such as PTSD, attachment, learning, or developmental delays but with no serious permanent disability.

The Shay Family Profile

We prefer a single girl (or girl siblings) between the ages of 2 and 7. We are prepared to navigate some minor challenges, but we recognize that we may not have the resources to support more extreme physical or behavioral issues. We do not have a preference about race, and we would enjoy learning, exploring, and celebrating our child's unique background alongside her. We are open to maintaining previous relationships and connections that are beneficial to her.

Introduction

We are often low-key homebodies who love to spend time together in our backyard, enjoying our pet chickens and our garden. We all love to create with many mediums, including art, music, writing, crafting, building, etc. We also enjoy going outdoors and getting exercise together as a family, as well as playing video games or watching movies to relax. Occasionally, we take short day trips together to explore different parts of Oregon.

Home and Community

We live in Salem, the capitol city of Oregon. Our single-family home is in a quiet city neighborhood with an elementary school and a park less than a mile from the house. The neighborhood has a mix of different households, and there is a church across the street from our house. There are many local parks with hiking trails or splash pads. There are also multiple children's theaters, and many sports programs in the Salem area. Additionally, Sasha is on the board of our local Children's Museum.

Parenting Experience

We spend a lot of time investing in children as public-school educators. Our jobs have connected us with many local resources for children and families, as well as training to better understand the diverse needs of kids from different backgrounds. Sasha grew up helping with her mom's daycare and serving with the youth programs at church. She also spent many years teaching musical theater classes to children from elementary to middle school age. Jack served with the middle school and high school ministries at our church before Libby was born, and he now mentors high school graduates who are interested in continuing their work with film and video production. We spend a lot of time with Sasha's nieces, ages 5 and 3, who live 30 minutes away. We support with their child-care when we can, and the girls are a regular part of our Oregon adventuring.

Support

in addition to living near Sasha's twin sister and nieces, we are also a 30-minute drive from her parents, so we spend ample time gathering together as an extended family. Sasha's parents enjoy their grandchildren, and they will often watch Libby for a day, here or there. They will be invaluable for times when we need to take a break or recharge. Beyond our supportive family, we have built great friendships in the Salem area, many of whom are teachers that understand kids and love working them. We will use these friends as thought-partners, connectors and encouragers as needs arise for resources in the community. Another great connection is being part of a thriving Christian church community with a comprehensive children 's program for all ages and extensive counseling services.

Motivation to Adopt

It is our hearts' desire to grow our family, and we have been considerting adoption for many years. We know change can be challenging, especially with uncotrollable circumstances. However, we know anything worth pursuing is worth working for, and we are committed to facing the challenges, knowing that the it will benefit us all.