A Family For Every Child
A Family For Every Child
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For further information, please call 877-343-2856 or email matching@afamilyforeverychild.org
Karen
Karen

Karen
Oregon

Basic Info

Karen

Age: 49
Sex: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion: Episcopalian-Anglican

Child Preferences

Age: 4 to 16 years old
Sex: Either
Max Number of Children: 2
Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian, African American, Asian, Native American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander


Special Needs the Family is Open To: Moderate Physical/Medical Disability, Asthma, Drug Allergies, Environmental Allergies, Food Allergies, Difficulty Making Friends, Lying, Poor Social Skills, Wets the Bed, Drug Addicted at Birth, Low Birth Weight or Premature, Prenatal Drug Exposure, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physically Disabled-Mild, Blind, Hearing Impaired, Speech Delays - Mild, Speech Delays - Moderate, Vision Impaired, Anorexia/Bulimia, Overeating, Academically behind due to poor attendance, Cognitive Delay - Mild, Mild Learning Disabilities, Speech or Language Impairment, One/Both Parents Diagnosed with Depression, One/Both Parents Diagnosed with Schizophrenia, One/Both Parents Have Alcohol Addiction, One/Both Parents Have Drug Addiction, One/Both Parents Diagnosed with Bipolar, Exposed to Domestic Violence, One/Both Parents Have Had a Mental Diagnosis, Child has had a disrupted adoption, Multiple Placements, ADHD, Arthritis, Diabetes, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Requires Medication For Psychiatric Condition/Mental Health Diagnosis, Requires Counseling/Therapy, Willing to Maintain Contact via Mail with Bio Family, Willing to Maintain Contact with Past Foster Parents, Willing to Maintain Contact with Bio Grandparents & Other Relatives, Willing to Maintain Contact with Bio Siblings, Child Identifies as LGBT, Alcohol Use, Smokes Cigarettes

Environment

State: Oregon
Neighborhood: City/Urban
Residency:
Children in the Home: 0
Pet(s): Cat(s)

Work

Karen

Occupation: Instructor/Educator

Adoption Agency

Agency: A Family For Every Child
Worker: Emily Lyons
Worker: emilyl@afamilyforeverychild.org
City: Eugene
State: Oregon
Zip: 97402

Family Description

I live in a family friendly neighborhood, with my 16 year old cat, Cadbury. I have two very close friends who live within 5-10 minutes from my house. I have a large network of friends and family who are excited to welcome my new family addition. I am single, and very active, and love animals. I stay in close touch with my sister, niece, brother-in-law and nephews in Montana. I have friends I consider family in Salem, and Corvallis where I work at OSU.

Preference Description

I am looking to adopt a between the ages of 4 to 16 years old. I am willing to accept minor medical conditions, a child with special needs such as learning, or developmental delays but with no serious permanent disability.

The Elliott- Family Profile

I am open to adopting a child of either gender ranging in age from four to 16. I do not have a preference for race, ethnicity, or religion. I would be open to a sibling set of two. I am comfortable parenting children with minor medical needs, learning or emotional disabilities. I do not feel equipped to parent a child with a history of violence against animals. I am ready to work hard with my child and connect them with therapy and counseling as they need.

Introduction

I enjoy spending time with my sixteen year old cat, Cadbury, and enjoying the company of my amazing friends, and hanging out with them and their families and children. I love to be outside and enjoy all the different adventures Oregon offers including hiking, yoga, running, going to farmers markets, community events and more. I have a deep desire to have a family of my own. My parents are both passed now, and I am blessed to have a wonderful sister who I have a very close relationship with her, my brother-in-law, niece and two nephews in Montana. I have a large support group of friends and colleagues. They are all excited for this next adventure for me and are ready to support me as I become a parent and grow my family.

Home and Community

My neighborhood is a mixture of family types including young families, those raising teens, single individuals, and older individuals. The neighborhood is away from main roads, quiet, and in a safe part of town. My child would attend Pringle Elementary School, Judson Junior High School, and South Salem High School. I have many options for pediatricians, mental health providers, and other services within my community. My house is a townhouse with a living room, dining room, and kitchen are open concept, with plenty of space. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms, my bedroom, the bedroom that will be my child's bedroom and a room that is used as a guest bedroom and office. I live by plenty of parks, family restaurants, a family friendly gym, bike and walking trails and more.

Parenting Experience

I have experience with children in my life in many ways. I am very close to my two nephews and niece who live in Montana, I have several friends with children of diverse ages, that I spend a lot of time with. I am also an educator/instructor at OSU, and I have been there since 2007, and I serve in a role to be an advisor with their career/life decisions. I have completed several trauma informed care trainings through work as at part of the adoption process. I have also participated in other ways to educate myself by reading books including Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields, The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel, and The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Child by Daniel Siegel.

Support

My supports include two very close friends, Nancy and Christa. Nancy lives five minutes away from me and Christa lives about ten minutes away from me, and she is married with two young children. With Nancy and Christa, we provide each other with mutual support. My family is very excited and supportive of my adoption. My immediate family includes my sister Kathy, her husband, and her three children. I have extended family with aunts, uncles, and cousins who have adopted within their families. They are also supportive of my decision to adopt. I am comfortable with outside support. My friend Christa is a mental health therapist and has many resources to help me support my future children. I believe that outside support is essential for my child's development and will help me meet their evolving needs. I have a very supportive community at my church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and I have one friend within that congregation that has adopted two children and is very excited for me, and is a tremendous resource as well.

Motivation to Adopt

I feel it is essential for a child to feel safe in the place they call home and I want to be able to provide safety for a child that might not experience that otherwise. I seek to gain a family and a parent-child relationship from the adoption process. I am committed to making my new family thrive and an proactively work through challenges that come up. I want to give a child an open, loving environment where they know they are loved no matter what. I hope to give them a foundation of confidence and knowing that there will always be someone. I want to give a child a chance to change the direction of their life and how they look back on their childhood. I am at a place where I can give my child all of my focus and show them that they are loved and important and that their purpose in life is significant.