KidsWait!

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Siblings 8880

2013-05-02T12:43:00.001-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a sibling group of four. These children's files are on hold with Hand In Hand through May 9th, so a family is needed to step forward quickly. The two middle children struggled to adjust to living with other children in the orphanage and school initially, but the loving care they have received since admission to the orphanage has been very helpful for them, based on the section of their file describing their current functioning at the orphanage. Contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org for more information, full reports and pictures.

Ref. No. DOB/ Sex

A- 8880 (12-0169) September 12, 1995/ Female
B- 8881 (12-0170) September 3, 2001/ Male
C- 8882 (12-0171) February 23, 2003/ Male
D- 8883 (12-0172) October 13, 2004/ male

The children were referred by their maternal grandparents to City Social Development Office (CSDO)… due to their incapability to take care of the children. Their biological parents left them since 2004 and never came back. The father’s whereabouts is unknown while the mother is already living with her new family. The CSDO social worker along with the grandparents referred the children to an institution for proper case management.

Child A: She is now 16 years and 11 months old. She is currently enrolled as 1st year high school. She had difficulty in reading, writing and comprehension but was able to cope up it through tutorials. Prior to her stay in the institution she stopped schooling when she was eight years old due to financial constraint and helped augment the family’s income. Child is enthusiastic to learn and eventually took Philippine National Placement Test. She was able to accelerated 2 years from elementary level. Child is responsible in school, household chores and in taking care of her siblings. She is friendly, cheerful, and expressive of her thoughts and feelings. She regularly attends school and church where she gains many friends. She likes to participate in different extra- curricular activities.

He is described as playful, responsible and respectful. He actively participates in doing household chores and attends to his assignments without complains. He also participates in spiritual activities. He dreamed of becoming a fireman or seafarer someday.

C: He is now 9 years and 6 months old. He is currently enrolled as Grade 3 pupil together with his older brother. It was his first time to attend school since he came to the institution. He also has difficulty in learning academic skills but through tutorials he was able to catch up. He is a fast learner but has difficulty in concentration. He is very responsible when it comes to school assignments.

He is described as diligent, respectful and sociable. He has good relationship with some of his classmates but his teacher states he struggle to admit his mistakes to his classmates whom he offended. He dreamed of becoming a fireman someday.

D: He is now 8 years and 10 months old. He is currently enrolled as Grade 2 pupil. He is sociable and friendly. He attends school regularly. Among all his siblings he started school at the right age. He has food relationship with the children and staff at the institution. He can understand instructions and can memorize bible verses.

Adoptee Speaks Spotlight! Letter to a Host Brother in the Philippines

2013-04-30T18:44:00.001-07:00

Hand In Hand received permission to publish this remarkable letter from a family who hosted a boy in 2008 and then adopted him. The family is hosting another boy this summer, and their son from the Philippines wrote this letter to the child they will host. We have used initials to protect the identity of the boys and family, but otherwise this is just as the big brother wrote it.

Dear C,

When I was your age I prayed to God to give me one more chance to be adopted due to I was about to age out and then I would not have the opportunity. I kept praying and praying to Him and then a month later I received good news that I was going to be adopted, but later on I received bad news that they had been in a car accident and their daughter was in serious condition. She had to go to the Emergency Room. But! I did not stop praying to God, I prayed to God to help this family to get healed and especially their daughter.

Then in weeks to come I received good news that they found another family for me, but this time I can feel in my heart that this family is going to be my true family. The family God wants me be with. When I received this news I then prayed and thanked God for giving me another chance to have a family.

I started receiving pictures and letters from mom. I thought God has given me a truly beautiful family. I actually have a dad, mom and brother. I was so happy and grateful. Although I was excited little did I know that being in a family is a lot of hard work but very rewarding. I wouldn’t trade my family for anything. They are the best family in the world.

To be in a family you have to put others first. We each have certain chores to do and these get done by all of us working together. Our mom has a bad ankle and back and we all need to work together to help her out and our grandma. She is the best mom in the world she will always do what is best for you. She is the hardest working mom, she works hard for everybody. She will teach you about life, God and also help teach you in your studies. She will protect you and always stand up for you as long as you ALWAYS tell her the truth. She loves with her whole heart and soul. I never thought I could have a parent that loved me so much. She will always put the needs of you, D, Dad and me before herself. You can talk to her about anything and she will help guide you to make good decisions and choices. You cannot get away with much, she is pretty smart, it is much better to be honest with her, do your best and what you are suppose to do, or what you are told. She will tell you it is not about being the best it is you doing your best. She will say to you God only wants this so I cannot ask for anymore. Just give Him your best! She will ask, is that your best?

Mom says I went through a honeymoon stage and you will too. She said it will be fine. So when you come if you need to talk or have questions it is better to talk. I kept mine in and then tested her quite often. She stood her ground with me every time, I knew I would not win the battle. I have found it is much easier to talk about what is going on and what you are thinking. To have a mom or dad to tell your thoughts to, to tell them what scares you or what you are worried about is a good feeling. Mom says she didn’t have that until she was older, this is why she is glad to listen and help you through. Grandma K is her mom and she is a pistol but she loves to cook but she wants us to work for her all the time. I worked 9 hours once and she paid me 3 dollars. My mom was upset but I told mom it was ok, because she will fix really good food and offer us to come over and eat it and she can’t afford much either.

Our dad is amazing, he works so that we can have a house, food, clothing and basically everything. He has to work a lot so mom is around us the most. Dad is a great artist, he will doodle just for fun. He is also good at fixing things and building things. He drives a truck at work, similar to a dump truck it is called a Slinger. Dad is the best Slinger driver, the customer’s request him to do jobs. He has a remote and the gravel from the bed goes on a conveyor belt and dad aims and it slings off in precisely where the customer wants it. Dad and I like to draw. Dad is more laid back and easy going. He doesn’t get excited to much. He is funny too! His mom is Grandma S and Grandpa S is who she married after our Dad’s dad died. Grandpa S keeps Grandma S really busy. She is nice and spoils us when we come around she always wants to give you things like candy or sweets and our mom doesn’t like that to much but she says it is ok due to this is what grandmas are suppose to do. Spoil you then send you home. We have a lot of people that care for us, we will all three be the luckiest brothers in the world. D said, “It is the 3 amigos!” or something like that.

D is a great brother, he has a kind heart and he is loving. He is who you will be sharing a room with. Good luck with that. Heee Heee He is messy, maybe you can help him with this problem, I couldn’t. Mom has him trying to keep things picked up and clean now due to she wants him to be prepared and not make you look at his mess. Mom and I are the ones who like things clean and neat. He is doing a little better. He is bright eyed and bushy tailed every morning. (This means he is a morning person, I am not) He just loves life and enjoys every day. I don’t know anyone as happy as him, everyday! He is so happy I wish I could be that way but I am not, I am a night owl mom says. She always smile at D every morning when he was a baby so she says that must be why he is a morning boy. He will talk and sing and laugh all day long if he could. He laughs a lot! Oh and if you are swimming you have to watch him because he will laugh all his air out and drown himself, seriously. He just can’t help but laugh. I think you will love him a lot, you two will be good friends and brothers.

I know at first it is overwhelming but eventually we will all get to know each other, it will just take time. We are truly a down to earth family with big hearts and lots of love to give. I will pray for you and for all of us. Mom says we don’t belong to her or dad, we belong to God and He has chosen Dad and Mom to help prepare us for our eternity with Him in Heaven. She thanks God for the gift of all of us, and feels so blessed that God loves her and dad enough to entrust them with 3 souls, His children.
Bye the way before we knew your name we were calling you CO due to these were the only letters we knew so thus for how we came up with K--- (it sound the same) as a first name. My brother and I like K---, my best friend’s name is C--- with a C. We kinda thought K--- with a K was cool! I like C--- too, mom is just trying to think of a middle name. Mine is L--- and D’s is L--- so we were thinking L--- for yours. Mom said this is our Grandpas middle name. C.L.S. or mom said CO aka K--- stuck with her since this was how she addressed you from the start. K.C.S. Also your initials would be K.C. S. and she said this was neat due to King, Christ our Savior please watch over C.

We are all excited and can’t wait to play and visit. Although, I will have school but I will get a week off in July for your July Birthday. I also have to work, I will have to water the flowers, trees and bushes at our church and mow. I also help our neighbors by cleaning their house and mowing their yard so they can stay a little longer in their house. Our neighbors are nice people but much older like maybe in their 80’s and I work for a massage therapist sewing for him and doing reports for him and financial books and things..

Ok, this is pretty long so I will see you soon. We will have fun, mom and dad make sure to play with us. Usually on Sunday evenings we play kickball, basketball, 4 square, sometimes we will go to the creek and just walk and look around. Mom says the simple things in life are what will make us most happy and show us inner peace. We don’t watch much TV we are usually outside when it is nice.

P.S. I love you brother!

Always In Christ,

F. L. S.

Waiting Girls in the Philippines - Updated March 2013

2013-04-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a number of girls who are waiting in the the Philippines. The following short descriptions are available, and more detailed case studies can be requested for interested prospective parents. Pictures are also available, but they cannot be posted on the Internet, and any names and place names have been removed for privacy purposes.

Healthy Older Girls

Ref. No. 8552 (11-0244)DOB / Sex: August 5, 1999 /Female

The child was rescued after a concerned citizen reported the physical abuse done to the child. Allegedly, the live-in partner of the birthmother physically abused the child. The birthmother and the live-in partner fled after the case was reported to the police. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother of the child but to no avail. The child was declared abandoned in the court. The child is described by her caregivers as respectful and affectionate. She enjoys showing her talent in dancing and joins in the group presentation. She had a good relationship with her co-children but at times would tease the younger children. When reprimanded, she acknowledges her mistakes and listens to her caregivers. At school, she has difficulty coping up with their lessons but her behavior has improved. She no longer causes disruption in the classroom and was regarded by her teacher as a responsible student.

Ref. No. : 8904 (12-0193)DOB/ Sex : May 18, 1997/ Female

Child was seven years old when rescued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development- Home for Girls due to physical abuse perpetrated by her birth mother. The child stayed at the Home for Girls for five (5) years while a case file against her birth mother and detained for certain period of time. On November 5, 2009, the child was referred to another child caring agency for further case management. Her mother signed the Deed of Voluntary Commitment on March 15, 2007. Child is 14 years old. She is physically healthy and active. She has a good appetite but choosy to food. She is currently 2nd year high school and one of the top ten in the class. She is neat and silent type of person. She listens and apologize easily when she realized her mistakes. She has a positive relationship to the staff and co- residents at the center. Child has a below intellectual functioning based on her psychological evaluation. She welcomes the idea of adoption and looking forward to have her own family

Girls needing families open

to medical needs or family medical history concerns

Ref. No.: 9135 (13-0025)

DOB/Sex: June 29, 2005/ Female

The child was rescued together with her birthmother. The child was referred to an institution while the birthmother was admitted at the National Center for Mental Health. The birthmother was assessed to be suffering from psychosis classified as undifferentiated schizophrenia. Efforts exerted to locate the relatives of the child proved futile.

The child was assessed to have mild cognitive delays. She is recommended to attend Special Education Program to better address her learning needs. At present, the child is a Kindergarten student. She enjoys going to school and can complete her school works independently. She likes to draw and she can tell stories based on her drawings. She can identify parts of her body, familiar animals, shapes and colors. She enjoys outdoor play and swimming with her friends.

Girls needing parents comfortable with

Complex Backgrounds, Learning Challenges, or Behavioral Challenges

These girls need special families willing to help them through the difficulties they have experienced so that they can reach their full potential. Many of the technical terms are discussed on Medline.

Ref. No. : 8796 (12-0085)

DOB/ Sex : July 15, 2005/ Female

Child was approximately 2 years and 5 months old when she was left by her alleged father to a certain woman eventually turned over the child to a barangay official for fear that she might be charged of kidnapping. The child was subsequently referred her to Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and stayed with the community based social worker…. The child stayed with the licensed foster family in the latter part of 2008. The foster mother had to migrate to the USA, thus, the child transferred to Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) for proper case management.

…Child was 3 years old when was placed to a foster care which lasted for several months until the foster mother migrated to United States.

Child currently Grade 1 pupil in a public school. She tries to listen attentively. She has poor comprehension. She has difficulty in focusing and following directions. She easily gets distracted. At the center, she is described to be responsible, friendly, sensitive, responsible and can relate well with co- residents. Based on the psychological evaluation, child has a below average mental ability. (There is some sensitive background information that parents will have to be comfortable with. Contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Ref. No. :9014 (12-0303)

DOB/ Sex: September 16, 2004/ Female
The child was 6 years and 9 months old when she was referred to RSCC on July 1, 2011 for proper case management.

Child is currently Grade 1 pupil in a public school. Her teacher reported that she can cope with her lessons. However, she is generally quiet in class and shows hesitation to respond to queries. She can identify colors and count 1 to 50 with few mistakes. She can write her name legibly. She can play harmoniously following game rules and participates in group activities. She likes to dance.

Child intellectual potentials are generally within The Exceptionally Low level. (There is a sensitive background situation that families will need to be comfortable with. Contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Ref. No.: 8548 (11-0240) DOB/Sex: April 17, 2004/ Female - The child was orphaned by her birthmother. The maternal grandmother decided to surrender the child for adoption as she could not adequately provide for the child’s needs. The child is an active child. She can manage self-help tasks. She can read English and Tagalog sentences. According to her teachers, the child is observed to be inattentive in class discussions. Based on her psychological report dated in October 2010, her non verbal intelligence is below average while she is advanced with her visual-motor integration. Using the Child Behavior Checklist, a caregiver observed that the child showed attention problem and delinquent behavior. Stimulating activities and tutorials are provided by the center to help the child with her school work and inattention.

Female, age 8. DOB: March 2004. Reference Number 8099 Child was approximately two (2) years old when found by a concerned citizen in front of a church crying and without adult companion. During the initial physical examination, the doctor saw burn scar on her abdomen believed to have been caused by metallic object. Efforts were exerted to locate the birth family of the child but yielded negative result. The child was declared abandoned in court when she was five (5) years old. Child enjoys riding a scooter, jumping on the trampoline and dancing. She loves playing with other children her age. She can wipe the table and sweeping the floor. The child’s Psychological Evaluation indicated her limited intellectual functioning. Her cognitive potentials are seemingly hindered by her tendencies to be inattentive, hyperactive, impulsive and defiant. She was diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type. She also shows high risk of developing Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Female, DOB January 26, 2003, Ref. No. 8364 (11-0056)
The child was voluntarily surrendered by her birthmother. The birthmother was observed not to comprehend simple instructions and often have blank stares. The child was placed in a foster family however it was assessed that the foster parents were not able to adequately look after the child and allegedly physically abused the child. She was removed from the foster family and was placed in the institution. The child was submitted for developmental assessment as she was observed to be defiant, hyperactive, throwing temper tantrums, bullying her classmates, self-centered and with poor waiting skills. Based from her developmental assessment dated December 2010 the child was assessed to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Combined Type with Learning Disability (Dyslexia) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. The developmental test reveals “fair average performance in fine motor and adaptive skills with mild impairments in language and cognitive skills. An academic achievement test reveals delayed academic skills”. She cannot identify the letters if the alphabet or give the corresponding letter sounds. She can write her full name but still cannot write alphabets. In math, she can identify numbers 1-10 with correspondence. She can solve one-digit addition with minimal assistance. The child is enrolled in an informal type of school and attends occupational therapy twice a week. The center also facilitates behavior modification and counseling with the child to help modify her behavior. She also attends tutorial sessions to develop her writing and reading skills. It is observed that the child’s behavior has improved. She respects the elder residents of the center and listens to the instructions and explanations of the staff.

Female, DOB February 20, 2000, Ref. No. : 8336 (11-0028)
At the age of 4, the child was abandoned by her birthmother to the custody of a landlady who eventually sought the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development for proper care and case management when the child reached the age of 7 years and 11 months. Initially, the child stayed at the Social Development Center of DSWD for 3 years then had 2 consecutive foster care placements that both lasted for a month. She was returned to the institution because of her negative behavior. In 2009, the child was placed in another foster family but after 3 years the foster parents returned her to the DSWD indicating that she has been lying and stealing from the foster parent and their church office fliers and materials. The child is looking forward to have a family who are willing to accept and adopt her. The child has an average IQ ability. She is quiet type of person but loves to play and participates in group discussion at the center. Despite of her negative behavior she is showing good academic performance and consistently first honor in the class. She is now in Grade 4 and diligent in school activities. She is responsible in doing household chores. She is physically healthy.

Ref. No. 8951 (12-0240)
DOB/Sex: December 19, 1999 / Female
The child was entrusted by her birthmother to an acquaintance as she could not provide for the needs of the child. The child stayed with her guardian for 9 years. In 2009, the child found out that she was adopted and started to manifest negative behavior. Her guardian is already old and was not able to manage her behavior. The guardian sought assistance and the child was referred to a child caring institution for residential care. The child was assessed to have poor impulse control. The child was reported to fabricate stories and steal other people’s belongings. The child had therapy session with a psychiatrist to help her improve with her impulse control. The caregivers of the child have been patient in understanding and in providing constant reminder regarding her negative behavior. The child has been able to realize her mistakes and is trying her best not to steal and lie. At present, the child is noted to have a happy disposition. She relates well with the other children and follows instructions from her caregivers. She enjoys helping especially in cooking. The child is noted to perform better when commended for a job well done.

Reference Number : 9090 (12-03790)

DOB/Sex: July 12, 1999/Female

Child was entrusted by the alleged birthmother to a certain T.E. Collateral interview revealed that the birthmother was a dancer in a club and was pregnant when V turned over the child to Trinidad. V agreed to send monthly financial support to the child however V left and never came back. TE brought the child and lived with her common-law-partner. While in the care of TE, the child experienced physical abused. When the child was brought to the city to take care of TE’s grandchild, she ran away from their home. A barangay police found her and was brought to Drop-in Center and was sent to an Orphanage. The child was eventually referred to the child caring agency for proper case management. Efforts to locate the child’s birth family proved futile.

Child is a grade six pupil in a public school. She is affectionate and likes to offer to other children in need of help. She smiles a lot and entertains visitors in the institution. She is participative in the institution’s activities such as singing, dancing, role playing and others. The Psychological Evaluation indicated below average in intellectual functioning aspect.

Female, age 13. DOB: October 1998, Reference Number: 6510

The child was found in front of a police station. Efforts has been done to locate her birth parents but were unsuccessful. She was declared abandoned in court. Upon admission, she was diagnosed with Marasmus and primary complex. She was given medication and was treated. For her eye condition, she was referred to an EENT specialist. She was diagnosed to have an alternating squint and was advised for rehabilitation of muscle tenorrhapy. Further examination with an EENT specialist showed that she has exotropia hypertropia and surgery was not recommended due to complications. As for her limp walk, he was recommended to have occupational therapy. Based on her psychological report, she has mental retardation as evidenced by her deficit in present adaptive functioning particularly along communication, academic skills and lack of direction. At present, she can express and never hesitate to communicate with her caregivers. She can already ask questions but when not in a good mood she will not answer. She can sing a few lines of her favorite songs. She can perform simple chores and is trained on table manners. She can attend to her personal needs with minimal assistance from her caregivers. She attends SPED classes .She can recite number 1 to 20 and some letters of the alphabet. She still cannot write her name and still scribbles. However, she interested in school and does not want to be absent.

Female, age 14. DOB 1997, Reference Number: 8509

The child was orphaned by both of her birthparents. The birthparents are of Islam faith. The child was found in the streets. ... Efforts were exerted to locate the relatives of the child but remained futile. Based from her psychological evaluation, the child has an intellectual functioning within the Slow Learner range. The report states that “Her learning potentials may not have been fully utilized, noted as well in her history of poor academic achievement. Her limited language processing and poor retentive skills can result to problems in learning.”The child also has feelings of inadequacy and dependency. “She is fearful, distrustful and withdrawn, which are salient expressions of her need for security and sense of attachment with a family.”At the center, she is observed to be physically aggressive when in conflict with other children. She however, accepts her mistakes and accepts the consequences of her action when talked to. At school, she is a fourth grade pupil. She is diligent in her studies. She sometimes has difficulties with her school works and asks the assistance of her caregivers. She is noted to have a good voice and she is taking piano lessons. She dreams of becoming a nurse someday. (There is some significant background that prospective parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Female, age 14. DOB 1997, Reference Number: 8121
The child was found by a concerned citizen to be roaming around aimlessly. The child was able to recall her father’sname but not her mother and siblings. ... Limited information was gathered from the child. The child assessed to have mental retardation. According to her psychological evaluation, she has a Very Low intellectual functioning that indicates difficulty in accomplishing various cognitive tasks expected of her age. She is currently enrolled in a Special Education class. She can identify and recite the alphabet, numbers 1-10, write her name and copy 2-4 sentences written in a notebook or whiteboard. She can color, cut, paint and replicate an artwork after showing a finished artwork. The child is polite and obedient but sometimes has tantrums when in a bad mood and when her wants were not given .In terms of self-help skills, she is independent in taking a bath, brushing her teeth, in dressing and undressing. She also helps in setting the table and in washing the dishes. Her houseparent continue to provide her with trainings with her self-help skills. To help with her speech, she has daily oral motor exercise. She also participates in cooking lesson as a pre-vocational training program. She is cooperative and likes the selling portion of the session. (There is some significant background that prospective parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Girls needing parents comfortable with

Global Developmental Delay or Multiple Needs

These little girls for various reasons are dealing with more complex medical conditions. For details of these conditions, consider viewing the Mayo Clinic site or Medilexicon site.

Ref. No.: 8903 (12-0192) DOB/Sex: February 7, 2011/ Female - The child was voluntarily surrendered by her birthmother. Her birthmother felt that she will have a better future if the child will be adopted. The child was assessed to have Global developmental Delay with hydranencephaly, seizure disorder, symptomatic, uncontrolled. She is currently undergoing physical therapy and takes two anti-seizure medications. At present, she can slightly lift her head when in prone position and turn her head to the direction of the sound or voices when her named is called. She cannot hold her own bottle or grasp toys.

Female, DOB: June 2010, Reference Number 8599
The child was left by her birthmother in the hospital after giving birth. She was born premature and was diagnosed with sepsis neonatorum. The child was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay, Cerebral Palsy spastic quadriplegia, microcephalic, and epilepsy, partial. She attends physical therapy twice a week. The child can roll her body from prone to supine position. She lays flat on her crib and could not support her own body weight. She can turn her head side to side and touches her face with her hands. She can maintain eye contact but downward gaze is still noted. She smiles when being fed or tickled. It was observed that there are times that the child’s body stiffens. When irritated, she cries with a high pitch sound. To pacify her, she is given a piece of cloth as her blanket.

Female, DOB: October 2009, Reference 8384
Child is a foundling. She is microcephalic, severely wasted and stunted, with visual impairment, spastic quadriplegia and global developmental delay. At present, she is undergoing therapy. She smiles when talked to and turns her head to movements inside the nursery room. She responds well to therapy. She is said to have developed emotional attachment to her caregivers and loves to be cuddled. She communicates hunger through crying. She enjoys playing and moves around her crib while in prone position.

Ref. No: 8930 DOB / Sex: April 9, 2009 / Female
The child was abandoned by her birthmother at the hospital after giving birth. The child was noted with tadyprea, cyanosis and bradycardia. She was intubated and hooked for ambubag. She survived on mechanical ventilator and undergone three times of FFP transfusion. After almost two months of medical intervention, she regained her health. It was then the child was referred to an institution for proper case management. At 2 ½ months the child was diagnosed with hydrocephalus. She underwent operation on her head when she was 6 months old. At present the child has big head because of post-meningitis hydrocephalus. She has the habit of thumb sucking before she goes to sleep. She cries out loud if she feels uncomfortable and hungry. She eats rice porridge and blended vegetables. The child can move her body from left and to her right side. She can roll over from her back to her stomach and vice versa. She responds when somebody calls her name and laughs out loud when ticked. She can utter “papa, aba, ate” to address people. She can count by pointing her fingers up to five counts and afterwards she will clap. She sits using her arms for support.

Female, DOB March 30, 2009, Ref. No. 8240 (10-0357)
The child was left by her birthmother in the hospital. She was born premature. The child was also diagnosed with pneumonitis on her left lower lobe and thus required confinement. When the child was admitted at the center, she was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis and was given medications. At present, her urinalysis results are normal however continues to take cephalexin drops 0.6 ml once a day at bedtime. At one year and two months the child was assessed to have Global Developmental Delay secondary to prematurity. She has good muscle bulk but with spasticity and hyperflexia on both lower extremities. Her abilities ranged from 2 to 6 months level with significant delays in the motor, communication, cognitive, personal-social and adaptive domains. She was also considered to have Diplegic type of cerebral palsy. At present, the child can stand on her own holding unto her crib bars, take a few steps when held, and coos and gurgles when talked to. She still cannot say distinguishable syllables. She can feed herself with biscuits and transfer object from one hand to the other. She turns her head when her name is called. She can play alone but likes to be near familiar faces. She has the habit of placing her hands in her face.

Female, DOB June 23, 2008, Ref. No. 7881 (09-0432)
The child was voluntarily surrendered by her birthfather and was orphaned by her birthmother. The birthmother died when she was giving birth to her due to eclampsia. The birthfather could not provide the needs of the child as he has seven more children to care for. She was born premature and was unconscious for two hours but was revived via a resuscitator. She also had intense therapy for a month. She was discharged from the hospital and was placed to temporary custodians. Under their care, the child had a blood transfusion and was treated for pneumonia. On April 28, 2010 the child was submitted for developmental assessment. She was assessed to have Global Developmental Delay probably secondary to Cerebral Palsy, Spastic, and Quadriplegic. She can lift her head when in prone position, hold and grip object momentarily, and moves her head from side to side following movements and sounds. She mimics sounds that people make through repeating the sound by throat grunting. She smiles when played and talked to. She eats soft solid food in small amounts to prevent choking. When bottled fed she is assisted by her caregiver as she cannot hold her bottle.

Ref. No. : 8907 (12-0196)

DOB/ Sex : October 21, 2007/ Female

Child was approximately 4 days old when she was found by a farmer lying on a field in the province of North Cotabato. The child was brought to the barangay and hospital for medical attention since her umbilical cord was still attached to her. After 2 days in the hospital, the child was referred to Reception and Study Center for Children through the Provincial Social Welfare Office for proper case management. Child was declared abandoned in court after efforts exerted to locate the birth family proved futile.

At 2 to 3 months old, the child diagnosed with Cleft of Secondary Palate and was recommended for Palatoplasty operation. At 1 year and 2 months old child was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. At 1 year and 4 months old the child underwent Palatoplasty surgery at Cotabato Medical Specialist Hospital. Her developmental pediatricianrecommended for chromosomal and metabolic work- ups due to the physical dysmorphisms noted (cleft palate, wide set eyes, flat nasal bridge and flat footed to rule out any genetic disorder.

At present, her weight is below normal and choosy to food. She is playful and active. She can say her name and age when ask. She can count number from one to five. She can identify basic colors and imitate simple pencil strokes. She likes to sing and dance. She can speak more than 5 word phrases.

Female, DOB 2007, Reference Number: 7763
The child was born out of wedlock. She was only 11 days old when referred to the child caring institution due to theinability of her parents to look after her. Child’s father is reported to be an alcoholic, drug user and abusive. Child’s mother on the other hand was assessed suffering from schizophrenia, disorganized type. Child was diagnosed having global developmental delay secondary to microcephaly, cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, moderate hypertonus right and left, cortical blindness and mild hearing loss. Child is undergoing physical therapy to improve her muscle tone. At present, she can move her right and left hand and moves around through crawling and creeping. She lies down most of the time and prefers lying on a prone position. She can hold objects but her grasp is weak. She can turn her head and responds in the same manner when her name is called.

Female, DOB 2006, Reference Number: 7849
The child was left under the care of her foster parents. However, the foster parents expressed that they were having difficulty to provide the medical needs of the child. She was referred to the institution for proper care and case disposition. The birthmother and other relatives were located and counseled. The birthmother expressed that she plans to give up the child as it may affect her relationship with her husband. The birthmother is also not capable of providing the needs of the child as she is dependent to her husband. The child was voluntarily surrendered by her birthmother on November 12, 2008. The child was diagnosed to have Unilateral Open-lip schizencephaly on the right lobe of her brain. [See here for more information: schizencephaly.] She is currently attending therapy at ... once a week and some improvements can be noted. Her upper and lower extremities are weak and at times would sit quietly and watch other children play. But there are also times when she is being carried so she could mingle with other children. She tries to stand with support on grills for few minutes then sits when tired. She could stand by herself when leaning or holding hard objects or when being assisted. She can also utter words like mama, papa, kuya, baby, ate, and dede. She can also identify her body parts and sways her body when she hears music. She still wears diapers as she cannot express her needs to go to the bathroom.

Female, DOB 2004, Reference Number: 6437

The child was abandoned by her birth mother in the hospital. She was born premature and was recommended to undergo series of medical examinations. The birthmother was also advised to undergo examinations but she left the hospital and gave insufficient information about herself. Several attempts were made to locate the birthmother but were unsuccessful. In 2004, the child underwent a hearing test and results showed that her right ear has normal hearing threshold while her left ear has mild hearing loss. When she was transferred to her current child caring agency for proper care, she was diagnosed to have Global Developmental Delay and Microcephaly. She was also assessed of Optic Nerve Pallor that indicates loss of small capillaries within the nerve accounts for the shift from orange pink to white. She also has Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Diplegia Secondary to Microcephaly. She underwent tendon lengthening operation in order to help her walk. Based on her psychological report, the child is estimated to have very low intelligence quotient. Her mental functioning is estimated to be that of a 2 year old. At present, improvements are seen on the child. In terms of her language skills, she can utter familiar words and can express her needs and wants to her caregivers. Physically, she is still underweight. Her walking ability is improving but toeing position of her left foot is still observed. She can tolerate standing for at least 3 minutes without falling. The child’s physical therapist reports that the child can follow simple instructions during sessions. She can lift her head while sitting and walking and can don and doff her shoes with assistance. She is also enrolled in a Special Education class wherein she actively participates. She can recognize colors and loves to color books. She can count from 1 to 30 with assistance and can follow instructions which at times need demonstration for her to understand. At home, she can eat and brush her teeth with minimal assistance. She still has difficulty with her toilet needs and still wears disposable diapers especially when she attends outside activities. She can take a bath independently. Her house parents are continuously training her to attend to her personal needs and toilet training is part of her daily routine. She is taking Baclopen 100 mg 1 tablet three times a day for spasticity.

Female, age 8. DOB 2003, Reference Number: 7598

The child is a foundling. Thus no relevant information on her birth history and identity was gathered. Her age was approximated by the center staff based on examinations conducted. The child’s record shows that she has global developmental delay. Hearing test suggests that she has moderate hearing loss on the right ear and severe hearing loss on the left ear. The child also has congenital cataract and microcornea on both eyes. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging suggests delayed myelination with associated mild frontoparietal volume loss and bilateralehmoid sinusitis. At her present age, the child can stand with support and imitate sounds made by adults. She currently avails the service of a physical therapist but with little progress.

Female, age 8. DOB October 2003, Reference No. 6560
She was abandoned by her birthmother at ... a few days after her birth. Efforts were exerted to locate the child’s birth family but all remained futile. At two weeks old, she was referred to ... for temporary shelter and case management.She was diagnosed with global developmental delay with optic atrophy. She is functioning in the retarded range. Through the help of occupational therapy, she can now walk fast without support. She can hop while holding one’s hand. She can follow simple instructions and can utter two words. She is fond of humming songs while walking around the nursery room. She always shows excitement to leave the center every time she hears that they will visit her therapist. She can climb stairs.She continues to attend her occupational therapy three times a week.

Female, age 8. DOB 2003, Reference Number: 8496
The child was left by a certain woman. The woman did not return to get the custody of the child again. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthparents of the child but remained futile. The child was assessed to have Congenital Rubella Syndrome with autistic features, and is functioning within the Retarded range. She also has bilateral cataract that have been operated. At present, the child can walk and run without tripping, climb onto furniture without assistance, and manage to walk up and down the stairs without holding in the rails.She is spoon-fed and can eat solid foods. As to her toilet-training, she still uses diapers. She has normal sleeping pattern. The child is enrolled in occupational and physical therapy every Wednesday. She can follow simple one-step verbal instructions with moderate to maximal verbal and physical guidance. She can remain sitting while doing tabletop activities for 2-5 minutes. She likes playing with bright colored objects and toys that create sounds.

Female, age 13. DOB 1998, Reference Number: 8403
The child was voluntarily surrendered by her birthparents. While both parents are at work, the child was left alone in their house. Her birthparents feared that she might be abused due to her disability. They sought he assistance of their local government. The child was referred to an institution that could provide her special needs. She is visually impaired and was assessed to have Status Epilepticus, Global Developmental Delay. She is taking maintenance medicine to control her seizure and to address her sleeping problem. She is usually awake at night and asleep in the morning. She moves slowly and she would only wake up to eat or walk around the dormitory. Daily activities are being carried out with the child with the help of a specialist from Resource for the Blind Inc. She is being trained in toileting but there are times that she wears disposable diaper. She likes to be hugged and habitually embraces the person near her. In term of her daily living activities, she can eat alone with a spoon but needs minimal assistance and can dress and undress on her own. She has a mannerism of twisting her fingers repetitively. When, tires she lies on the floor. She is observed to rock her body. She was previously enrolled in a school for the blind however, it was discontinued as she was always asleep during the class.

For more information and a picture, contact Hand In Hand at Indiana@hihiadopt.org, and mention the child's reference number.

Waiting Boys in the Philippines - Updated March 2013

2013-04-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a number of boys who are waiting in the the Philippines. The following short descriptions are available, and more detailed case studies can be requested for interested prospective parents. Pictures are also available, but they cannot be posted on the Internet, and any names and place names have been removed for privacy purposes. For details of these conditions, consider viewing the Mayo Clinic site or Medilexicon site

Boys who need parents open to parenting

healthy older boys; boys with minor/correctable medical needs; or boys with mild learning dificulties

The boys in this section are generally healthy, or have correctable conditions, and are functioning well in school, though perhaps needing some extra tutoring or individual attention in some subjects. It should be noted that some of these boys may show significant improvement in learning with one-on-one time and attention provided in a family environment. Each child should be considered in light of his full report, which can be requested from Hand In Hand.

Ref. No. : 8908 (12-0197)

DOB/ Sex : June 26, 2008/ Male
The child was approximately 2 years old when he was found loitering alone the vicinity of Quiapo church. The child was turned over to the police and subsequently to Manila Boys Town Complex for residential care. After four (4) months, the child was referred to another institution and was placed in a foster home for him to experience a normal family life while his documents are on process for his eventual adoption as no one claimed him during tri- media announcements. Child is currently in a foster family. He is active and playful. He plays and interacts well with other children his age. He likes to draw shapes and animals using pencil. He can count 1 to 10 with the assistance of his foster mother. He is very close to his foster family. He is healthy and has good appetite. Child was diagnosed of slight delay in language. His cognitive functioning falls into Mildly Delayed Level.

Male, 9 years and 4 months old, Ref. No.: 7957 (10-0075) The child was found by a concerned citizen roaming around a mall. The child recalls limited information about his family. Efforts were exerted to locate his birth family but all remained futile. The child was assessed to have Below Average cognitive functioning. At home, he has a good relationship with the other children. He respects the decision of others and sometimes consults older children in his decision. He sometimes gets involved in petty quarrels and explains his side when confronted. At school, he studies his lessons and maintains a good relationship with his classmates. His teacher reports that he is patient in listening and participates in different class activities. He attends mass every Sunday and always attends the daily rosary praying. He enjoys playing badminton, football, hide and seek and hopscotch. He also enjoys dancing and performing during the center’s programs.

Male, Age 9 years and 9 months old, Ref. No.: 7985 (10-0103)
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his maternal grandmother. The child is now a Grade 4 student. He is observed by his teacher to have difficulty to sit still and be attentive to lessons but he is polite and obeys when corrected. At home, he is sweet, cheerful, and active. He volunteers to do tasks and gets along well with the other children. He is a curious child and likes to roam around the home and discover new things. When frustrated, it was observed that the child rocks himself and hums/sing songs. The caregivers are trying to solve this behavior through talking to the child and teaching him on how to handle his frustrations properly. Spiritually, the child is raised with Christian beliefs. He prays before meals and before sleeping, he reads the Bible and attends Sunday school.

Male, DOB September 28, 2003, Reference No. 8378 (11-0070)
He is a non-marital child born to…. The birthmother’s family was against their common-law-relationship because S. [birthfather] is a blind man. The child was three years old when they separated. He was left in the care and custody of S. S. works as a masseur leaving him with a neighbor. When S. was unable to visit and provide financial support, the neighbor had to return the child to S. Considering that S. could not attend to the child’s needs and at the same time earn a living, he was left with no choice but to give up the child for adoption. In 2009, the child’s birthmother died due to “beri-beri.” He is generally healthy. He loves to run, jump and climb on trees. He is attending grade 1 in a public school. He is industrious and responsible in accomplishing tasks assigned to him such as sweeping the floor and putting back toys and books on proper places. He can write his name and identify some of the alphabets, sort objects according to sizes and identify different colors. He can understand one or two simple instructions. Based on the Psychological Evaluation, he performed at a low average level.

Ref. No. : 9038 (12-0327)

DOB/ Sex : August 12, 2003/ Male

Child was 3 years and 9 months when he was rescued by the social worker and police of Gumaca, Sariaya Quezon. A concerned citizen reported to the police that there were six (6) children being kept in an old house who are victims of child trafficking. On May 23, 2007, the child together with other 5 children were rescued and brought to an institution for proper case management. Child is approximately 8 years old and physically healthy. He is currently Grade 2 in a public school. As reported by his teachers, he has a good reading and comprehension. He easily understands instruction. He is described as sweet, polite and obedient. He attends daily devotion everyday and enjoys playing basketball, scooter and hide and other outdoor activities. He gets along with other children in the center. Child has a below average mental ability.

Ref. No. : 9058 (12-0347)

DOB/ Sex : January 19, 2002/ Male

Child was approximately 6 years old when he was found by tricycle driver in Pandi, Bulacan on January 19, 2008. The child was turned over to the barangay and police officers with the hope to locate the child’s family but efforts remain futile. Child was referred to Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and subsequently referred to the institution for proper case management. Child is a Grade 3 pupil in a public school. He participates in classroom discussion and received higher score on his quizzes on Filipino subject. His favourite subject is Mathematics. He attends his class regularly. He can do self- help skills like putting his shoes on, dressing and washing dishes. He has his own cabinet and keeps his personal belongings. Child easily smile and laugh to simple jokes. He likes indoor and outdoor games. Child has a low average intellectual skills and ability based on his psychological evaluation. Child is longing to have an adoptive family who will give him love, guidance and support to his needs.

Male, DOB April 23, 2001, Ref. No. : 8753 (12-0042)

Child was referred to Manila Department of Social Welfare- Reception Action Center (MDSWD- RAC) on May 5, 2009 by the Barangay officials who rescued him from the street. Child is a victim of physical abuse perpetrated by his mother who eventually decided to surrender him for adoption. The whereabouts of the child’s father is unknown. Child is now 11 years and 4 months old. He is healthy, active and playful child. He likes music. He likes to sing and dance. He is gifted in arts. He likes to draw and color pictures. He is good in making posters and greeting cards. He is part of the Fine Arts, Painting and Soccer classes in the institution. He is described as a person with cheerful disposition and likes to share funny stories with her friends and co-residents. He can fully express himself. He can converse in Tagalog and simple English. He is currently enrolled as Grade 3 pupil. He attends his class regularly and submits his school projects on time. He receives low scores in long quizzes but he passes quarterly periodical exams. He likes to participate in extra- curricular activities. His IQ level is low average.

Male, DOB July 18, 2002, Ref. No.: 8576 (11-0268)

The child was declared legally available for adoption. The child grew up with a couple whom he considered as his parents. The couple has no information on the birthparents of the child as he was referred from one relative to another. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthparents but were futile. The child was assessed to below average cognitive ability. He shows mild to moderate feelings of inferiority in academic performance mainly in reading and reading comprehension. In school, the child is observed to have difficulty in reading. To address this, the child has a specifically designed intervention program implemented by his school teacher, tutor, and house parents. Improvements were noted in the child. He can now read English and Filipino words. He is improving with constant practice. At home, he acts as the leader for the other children. He always volunteers in the center’s activities. He relates well with the other children but sometimes has misunderstandings with children he is not quite close with. When not in good terms with another child, he tells his houseparent or cry in one corner. He feels motivated when praised and encouraged. He attends church every Sunday and likes to hear Bible stories before going to sleep. He dreams of becoming a soldier someday.

Reference Number 8905 (12-0194)

DOB/Sex: January 25, 2012/Male
Child was approximately three years old when he was referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) by a concerned citizen. The concerned citizen found him at the doorstep on January 25, 2005 wearing dirty t-shirt and with rashes over his body. The DSWD eventually referred the child to a child care home for proper case management. Child has a good appetite. He can express his needs to the caregivers. He is affectionate to familiar persons but sometimes aloof to strangers. He is attending as grade I pupil in a public school. As reported by his teacher, he has a poor performance at school. He attends regular tutorial while at the center. The Psychological Evaluation indicated below average in verbal and average in non-verbal.

Male, DOB May 10, 2002, Ref. No.: 7904 (10-0022)

The child was declared abandoned, neglected and dependent by the court. He was left with a family when he was about 5 months old. No information on the child’s birth family was provided to the custodian. The custodian took good care of him for three years. However, they referred him to the orphanage when they started to experience financial difficulty and could no longer afford to give him good education. The child was assessed to have a general intellectual functioning within the Low Range implying possible difficulty in performing age expected cognitive tasks. He has limited ability in carrying out cognitive tasks that require verbal skills and comprehension but he showed better skills in solving purely numerical concepts. He receives tutorial sessions from the staff so he could cope from school. He is now closely monitored by the staff and has noted improvement since then. He is more diligent in doing his homework and improved in reading skills. In the home, he loves to play with blocks and toy cars.

Ref. No. : 8898 (12-0187)
DOB/ Sex : December 8, 2001/ Male
The child was approximately 7 years old when he was found by a concerned citizen watching TV in front of her house. The child was asked about his address but apparently the child could not give information….Child is active and playful. At the center he is a member of the Arnis (Filipino Martial Arts), holds the yellow belt. His coach stated that he has a great potential to excel in martial arts. He strives to be physically fit. Child finished Grade 1 but currently he is being assessed for home school program. He can identify letters and continuously learning to read Filipino and English. He can count from 1-100. He knows basic color and likes to draw animals or cartoon characters. He has good hand writings. Based on his psychological evaluation his full scale IQ is 62 which classify his general intellectual functioning as exceptionally low level but may show potentials in dealing non- verbal cognitive tasks.

Male, age 10. DOB 2001, Reference No. 8642
The child was left by his birthmother in the hospital after giving birth. Efforts were exerted to locate the child’s relatives but were futile. The child was assessed to be intellectually functioning within the Slow Learner level. Emotionally, “he has tendencies to be evasive and withdrawn in dealing with people and different situations. He has a strong need for nurturance but can also be impulsive.” The child has a good relationship with his co-children and caregivers. He loves to play especially soccer and dodge ball. He displays confidence when playing and he easily accepts when their team loses the game. At school, he is observed to have good performance. He needs improvement in reading and comprehension, vocabulary and in mathematics. He attends home class to help him improve with his studies. He shows interest and listens to their teacher. At the center, he is responsible with his assigned household chores. He does not need to be reminded by his caregivers. It is recommended that the child be placed with a family with one or two children as the child is used to living with other children.

Ref. No. 8944 (12-0233)

DOB/Sex: July 3, 2000/male
Child is the second non-marital child of his birthmother. His birthfather died of accident and his birthmother gave birth through the help of her friend. Child and birthmother came back to Manila and stayed in a job placement agency. While working, the birthmother would leave him in the agency until a friend advised her to place her son in the institution. The birthmother decided to surrender her son for adoption. Child was admitted at the institution when he was five (5) months old. Child is now 12 years old. He is generally healthy, energetic and with happy disposition. He likes to play basketball and dreams to become a professional basketball player someday. He enjoys participating in different activities such as sports fest, team building and dance presentation. He is currently enrolled as a Grade 4 pupil. He attends his classes and participates in class discussion. He accomplishes his homework with the help of his tutor. His nonverbal skills are average and he has borderline scores in language skills, but he excels in arithmetic problems, memory recall and reasoning skills. Child has possible auditory processing problem and will undergo evaluation.

Male, DOB April 2, 2000, Ref. No.: 7872 (09-0424)
The child was abandoned by his birthmother. J. was then admitted to an institution for temporary shelter and proper case management. He was declared abandoned in court on August 28, 2008. He was observed that he was not a fast learner and is lagging behind his lessons as compared to his classmates. Based on his psychological evaluation his cognitive functioning is within the Below Average range. Though with difficulty, he tries his best to learn when he wants to. He goes to remedial class and a volunteer teacher reviews him in the evenings. He can write well and read simple words up to 4 syllable Filipino words and 2 syllable English words. He can distinguish vowels and its sounds but gets confused when mixed with consonant letters. He enjoys doing arts and crafts and enjoys singing with other children. He is a respectful and industrious boy. He performs his household tasks and can attend to his personal needs. He is playful and takes the role of an older brother to the younger boys. He is respectful and always greets the visitors and staff. He is outspoken and very active. He likes to show his achievements and tell stories of good things he has done. He sometimes causes fight with other children but he can admit his fault and say sorry.

Male, DOB May 19, 2000, Ref. No.: 8571 (11-0263)
The child was declared legally available for adoption. The birthmother was only 15 years old when she gave birth to the child. The child was born premature. It was also reported that the birthmother started to use methamphetamine when she was 12 years old. After giving birth to the child, the birthmother was restless and displayed depressed behavior. She was referred to the center for mental health for proper intervention. The child was assessed to have an intellectual functioning within the Slow Learner range. At school, he has difficulty in mathematics and English. He is observed to be talkative during class as well as in the institution. He had tutorial classes to address his difficulty in English. He likes to play sports especially group sports like basketball and volleyball. He has a good relationship with the other children and likes to tell funny. He attends Sunday school and likes to hear bible stories and to recite memory verses.

Male, DOB June 20 1999, Ref. No. : 8444 (11-0136)

The child was abandoned by his birthmother at the hospital where he was born. The director of the hospital, who is a doctor took care of the child and stayed in the hospital until he reached 5 years old. At the age of 5, the child was transferred to the custody of a distant relative of the doctor until he reached 7 years old. After which, he was then rescued by the social worker of the City Social Welfare Office after a case was filed against the former custodian who allegedly physically abused the child. He was then transferred to an institution for proper child care management and proper intervention. At the age of 12 years old, the child very is active. He speaks clearly and can express his feelings. He is very friendly and talks with respect to elders. At Grade 6, he performs well in school. He can easily comprehend. He has positive outlook in life. He is responsible and learned to do household chores. At present, he is 13 years old and 1st year High School. His dream is to become a pilot someday. He is good in abstract reasoning and is looking forward to have his own family.

Male, DOB 9/98, Ref. No. 7969 (10-0087)

The child was surrendered by his birthparents due to their incapability to provide for the needs of the child. The child is in good health condition but is observed to have strabismus. He loves to play basketball, run races, and play toy cars with other children. He sometimes engages in fights but can admit his mistakes and ask for apology. In school, he has good relationship with his teachers and classmates. When he does not understand his assignments he approaches his caregivers to explain it to him. His intellectual ability falls within the Average level.

Male, DOB August 10, 1998, Ref. No.: 8438 (11-0130)

The child was left in front of the residence of a certain resident. The child was taken cared by the said resident until he died of severe anemia. The child was in his custody for seven years. The child’s case was reported to the local government as no one would take care of him. He was then referred to an institution for proper case management. The child has a strong attachment with his guardian. At first, he was hesitant to the idea of adoption. Counseling was provided to the child to help him cope with his longing for his guardian. He is now a grade 6 pupil. He is observed to be responsible in his school works but still needs supervision. At the center, he relates well with the children and is polite towards the adults. When he has done something wrong he is willing to ask for an apology. He likes to play basketball and rap music. He is also a drummer in the church band. Based from his recent psychological evaluation, he wishes to have his own family.

Male, DOB August 5, 1998, Ref. No.: 8377 (11-0069)
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his maternal grandmother. He is an orphan to both parents. The child has an eleven year old brother also cleared for inter-country adoption staying in another institution. (His file is available as well.) The child is currently a Grade 2 pupil. Based from his psychological report, he has high self-concept and superior emotional intelligence. His teacher reports that he can read simple sentences and do basic mathematics. He also has tutorials in the center to help him with his studies. At the center, he has a smooth relationship with his co-residents. He is responsible in his assigned tasks and assists the younger children with their chores. He enjoys playing basketball and badminton. He has a good appetite and maintains good hygiene. He dreams of becoming a soldier in the future.

Ref. No.: 7415 (08-0975)
DOB/Sex: June 7, 1998/ male
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother. The birthmother neglected and physically abused the child. The birthmother first placed the child for temporary placement but she always asked for extension of the temporary custody and later on decided to surrender the children as she will not be able to provide their needs. The child had a psychological evaluation and was assessed to be generally intellectually functioning within the Slow Learner range. His is currently a Grade 3 student and according to his teacher he has good academic performance in school. He participates in class activities and shows eagerness to learn. He can read Filipino and simple English words. He knows how to add, subtract and multiply five to ten digits. At the dormitory, he performs his assigned tasks and manifests a sense of independence in meeting his needs. He does not initiate fights but would defend himself when provoked. He relates well with the other children and likes to play hide and seek, basketball and ride his bike. He has been more open about his family and shares that he did not hate his birthmother but does not like to return to her custody. He remains firm with his decision to be adopted. He aspires to become a soldier in the future.

Male, DOB 8/98, Reference number 7080
Child suffered physical abuse from his father and stepfather as a toddler. The child’s life was in danger and he was referred to the child caring agency for protective custody and intervention. Eventually the birth mother voluntarily surrendered the child and wanted him to have a family and good future she could not provide. Child has an average level of intellectual functioning. He is currently a second year high school pupil. He interacts with his classmates and teachers and can easily understand the lesson. He knows to reason and stand for himself. He is also responsible and diligent in studying and in helping in school. At home, he acts as the big brother to the younger children. He has good relationship with his caregivers and shares his experiences to them. He easily gets offended when teased by the other children. He enjoys cooking and is very proud when he learns new dishes.

Male, DOB Sept. 29, 1998, Ref. No. :8809 (12-0098)

At the age of 2, the child was abandoned by his birthmother to the custody of her co- Guest Relation Officers who allegedly physically abused the child. On September 20, 2005 with the help of the Day Care Worker, the child was referred to the Municipal Social Welfare Office for proper care and case management when the child reached the age of 7 years old. Upon admission, he was then observed as very active and playful child. In 2009, the child was referred to psychiatrist for proper evaluation and further invention. He takes Carbamezepine as a mental relaxant. His intellectual functioning is classified as slow learner. He knows how to do simple chores and attend to his personal grooming. He likes dancing. He attends to his studies and shows interest in them and always attends school. He likes to paint walls, windows and grills. He likes group dancing, choral singing and is confident in performing on stage. He likes to join in group socialization activities.

Boys who need parents open to background or medical history concerns; behavioral concerns; and/or mild-moderate learning difficulties

These children may have complex family histories, ADHD or other concerns. The results vary significantly child to child, from not obviously causing daily problems to causing significant behavioral issues. Prospective parents will need to consider each child individually and in light of a full case study, which can be requested through Hand In Hand.

Male, DOB July 5, 2005, Reference number: 6786 (07-256)
Child was admitted to the child caring institution at one (1) year and four (4) months old. He has an older brother who was assessed to be mentally retarded and suspected having autism. Child’s mother is suffering from chronic schizophrenia. Child is reported to be physically active and sociable. He actively joins activities with the other children in his foster family’s neighborhood, is talkative and loves to ask questions. He can also initiate conversation with other people. At his age, he can already attend to his personal needs with minimal supervision from his foster parents. Child’s psycho-developmental evaluation revealed that he is intellectually functioning within the slow learner level. His developmental skills are slightly delayed.

Ref. No. 8770 (12-0059)
DOB/Sex: March 12, 2005/Male
The child is a foundling. The birthmother left the child to a certain woman who in turn took care of the child for three years. The child was referred to an institution when his caregiver could no longer provide his needs. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother but were futile. The child was assessed to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. At school, he is observed to have difficulty sustaining attention to his lessons or tasks. He cannot stay seated and is often playing with his classmates. At home, he is observed to be talkative and moves around a lot. He is prone to accidents. In one event, he fell on a canal while looking for fishes. As a result, he has a keloid on his left forehead. He was also observed to be small for his age. Referral to an endocrinologist was recommended. At present the child is a grade one pupil in a public school. He is physically and socially active. He currently stays with his foster parents. He enjoys playing with his foster brother, singing, dancing and watching television. He is observed to manifest feminine actuations.

Reference Number 8965 (12-0254)
DOB/Sex: August 30, 2004/Male
The child is a foundling. He can only recall the first name of his parents and siblings. Efforts were exerted to locate the birth family but were futile. The child has been declared legally available for adoption. The child was assessed to have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Phonological Disorder and to have mild mental retardation. The child was recommended to have speech therapy, occupational therapy and special education classes. At present the child attends tutorial classes within the center. He can write his name and one-syllable words. He can copy shapes and draw a person. He speaks in three and four word sentences and can tell stories of his recent experiences. He is affectionate and likes to hug his caregivers. He is curious and would ask questions. He has difficulty participating in group activities and would easily get irritated when faced with difficult tasks.

Male, DOB April 3, 2003, Reference Number 8115 (10-0232)
Child is a foundling. At five years old, he was left unattended by his parents and was found by Police Authorities loitering along Bolton Extension, Davao City. He was immediately referred to Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) for proper disposition and management of the case. Child is observed to be active and playful. He loves ballgames. He throws ball overhead with good coordination and direction. He can be independent and can attend to his needs with minimal supervision. He can eat and drink by himself without spillage. He can speak, answer questions and follow simple instructions. He can write is full name and knows simple addition and subtraction. Based on the child’s Psychological Evaluation, he has cognitive delay with hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention problems.

Ref. No : 9007 (12-0296)

DOB/Sex : April 25, 2002/ Male
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthparents for adoption. At two years old he was placed in a foster family. He stayed with his foster family for five years. The foster family decided to withdraw temporary custody of the child due to the child’s misbehavior. At the center, the child was noted to be hyperactive and does not follow his caregivers. He misbehaved in school and would not listen to his teachers. The child was submitted for psychotherapy. He has difficulty expressing his anger and vents his frustration through hostile behavior. He was assessed to have above average cognitive ability. At present, he is enrolled as a grade four pupil. He participates in class discussions and relates well with his classmates. He continues to receive counseling from his social worker. At times he becomes aggressive if he is frustrated and loses self control. After the incident, he acknowledges his actions and says sorry. His caregivers continue to help control his behavior.

Male, DOB January 5, 2002, Ref. No.: 7935 (10-0053) - The child was orphaned by his birthmother. No Information was given regarding his birthfather. After the death of the birthmother, the child and his older siblings were found roaming the streets asking for food. A maternal relative was found and decided to get the custody of his two older siblings while the child remained in the center. On his psychological report, the child was assessed to have low performance in short-term memory recall. His projective tests show that he has a need for dependency and has the tendency to be aggressive and emotionally sensitive due to pressure from the past unresolved issues in his life. The child is described as active and playful. He likes playing with toys and games that involve moving around. The child temporarily stopped attending school due to his decreasing interest in school. He is attending one-on-one tutorial lessons. He is observed to be eager to attend his tutorial lessons. At the center, he obeys his house parents and follows instructions. He performs his assigned chores however needs assistance. He needs guidance in bathing, eating and toileting. He is very fond of taking care of animals. He likes to look after the center’s dogs.

Ref. No.: 8499 (11-0191)
DOB/Sex: March 26, 2000/ Male The child was rescued from the streets. Efforts were exerted to locate his birth family. When the birthparents were found, counseling was provided to them with regards to their plan for the child. The birthparents have been separated and they stated that they could not properly take care and supervise the child. The birthparents relinquished their parental rights in view of the adoption of the child. He is a healthy and active child. He likes running and climbing. He is also found of assembling toys like robots. During playtime, he has the tendency to start a fight when accidentally hurt by his playmates. He also fights back when teased or provoked. His house parents are teaching him how to express his anger in acceptable ways. He has learned to say sorry and accept apologies. At the center, when doing chores he still needs supervision as he tends to play or chat with the other children. At school, he understands his lessons well but tends to be noisy at times. He can read Filipino words and English. Based from his psychological evaluation, he falls within the Low Average range of intelligence. He may encounter difficulty in coping with learning situations relative to his age peers. It is recommended that the child be placed to a family who has older children than him. He relates well with adults and older children. He has the tendency to tease younger children. He also wants to have an older brother who could guide him with his activities.

Male, DOB February 12, 2000, Reference number: 6354 (06-278)
Child and his three younger brothers were surrendered by their biological mother to the child caring institution in view of her incapacity to care and provide for the needs of the children. Child is half-orphaned by his father. While at the center, behaviors problems had been noted on the child. The latter concerns prompted the child caring institution and ICAB to decide to explore the possibility of placing the child separately from his two younger brothers. Child and his younger brothers agree with the arrangement. Child is physically healthy and active. He loves the outdoors and actively involves himself in activities done at the center. At home, he is noted to have mood swings. When in a good mood, he initiates to help out in doing chores. When frustrated, he can resort to throwing tantrums and displaying disruptive behaviors. The latter is observed both at the center and in school. His scholastic achievement at present is third grade. His psychological evaluation revealed that his intellectual functioning is within the extremely low level but has average rating in the processing speed and working memory. He also lags behind other children his age in written language. Socio-emotional evaluation revealed that his past experiences of witnessing the death of his father and their mother’s decision to surrender them to the child caring institution has caused him deep emotional wounds. His past experiences led him to acquire defense mechanisms to hide his true feelings and vulnerabilities.

Male, DOB January 19, 2000, Ref. No.: 8674 (11-0366)

Both birthparents were imprisoned. The child was referred to the center by the jail management for temporary shelter considering that the prison is not a conducive environment for a child. In 2011, the birthmother decided to surrender her child for adoption as she believes that her child will have a better future when adopted. The child is assessed to have Low level mental functioning. He has difficulty in coping with his studies thus his caregivers are providing him with tutorials. The child is observed to take things of other people without permission. He also has difficulty expressing his feelings. Constant counseling with his social worker is done to help him with his behavior and feelings. At present, the child is a Grade 2 pupil. He is observed to be friendly but at times would fight back when teased. He wants to be hugged by his caregivers. He frequently asks about his adoption and is longing to have a family of his own.

Male, DOB June 1999, Ref. No.: 6637 (07-107)

The child was abandoned. He was already orphaned to his mother and his birth father is unknown. His maternal aunt was not willing to take custody of the child due to their poor economic situation. The maternal grandmother and other maternal aunt living in California also have no plans to take custody of the child. He was first referred to his current child caring agency due to an alleged sexual manifestation in his former child caring agency. He has an average intellectual functioning based on hid psychological exam. He is a smart boy and his English is improving. He gets along with the other children and gained friends. He does however have difficulty in interacting with a group or with changing dynamics. He shows respect for authority and is becoming more genuinely affectionate.

Ref. No.: 8195 (10-0312)

DOB/Sex: July 16, 1999/ Male
The child was found wandering around a bus and jeepney terminal. The child disclosed that his father instructed him to ride a passenger jeepney and promised to follow later. The father did not come and nowhere to go the child begged for food at the terminal. Efforts were exerted to locate the birth family of the child but all remained futile. The child was observed by the physician to have some visual difficulties. The child was recommended for eye check-up and was diagnosed to have Anisometropia, error in refraction (right eye 2.75 – 1.00x90; left eye 3.50 – 1.50x 90). He was provided with corrective eye glasses and was observed that he can now attend to his school works and assignments much better. At present, the child is enrolled as a Grade 3 student. He shows interest in his studies and enjoys being in school. At home, he can perform household chores and respects his caregivers. He speaks in a slow and soft voice that is somehow slurred but coherent. He is sometimes reported to hurt small children because he reasons that the children are bad to him. He however acknowledges his mistakes and listens to his caregivers.

Ref. No. 8945 (12-0234)

DOB / Sex: October 1, 1998 / Male
The child was approximately two years old when he was found by a concerned citizen. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthparents of the child but were futile. The child experienced multiple placements. The child was placed in a foster family. The foster family decided to adopt the child but later on changed their minds as the child manifested negative behavior. He was referred to an institution and was then placed in another foster family. The child had a hard time adjusting and showed aggressive and moody behavior toward the foster parents. The child decided to return to the institution. The child underwent psychotherapy sessions. The child was able to express his feelings instead of keeping it or suppressing it. His sulking and grumbling have gradually decreased. At present, he is a first year high school student assessed to have difficulty in dealing with cognitive tasks. The institution is providing the child with alternative methods of learning to help with his academics. At the center, he relates well with the children and he has not shown any serious negative behavior. He is now in the adolescent stage and has started to show interest in girls. In the future, he aspires to become a mechanic.

Boys who need parents open to a range of

signifcant learning difficulties and possibly behavioral concerns

These children mostly have significant learning or behavioral disabilities, and will need parents able to help them have the fullest possible life. The range of effects on these children varies significantly, so prospective parents should consider each child in light of his full case study, which can be requested through Hand In Hand.

Ref. No.:8631 (11-0323) DOB/Sex: February 23, 2009 Male
The child’s birthmother was assessed to have mental retardation. The child and the birthmother were rescued by the authorities from the streets. The child was assessed to have Autism Spectrum Disorder. He has been attending occupational therapy for four months. For his speech and language development, home care program were given to his caregivers for implementation. He also attends SPED classes were he enjoys building blocks, scribbling, molding clay and playing musical instruments. The child loves to be cuddled, hugged and carried by his caregiver. He is not yet toilet trained. He is participative in grooming, dressing and bathing. He can express his need by pointing and uses 2-3 word phrases. He exhibits simple pretend play and imitates behavior or expression seen and heard from adults.

Male, age 3. DOB 2008, Reference No. 8379

The child’s birthmother was assessed to have mental retardation. ... The child was diagnosed to have Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was observed to have short attention span, no eye contact, and has unusual repetitive mannerisms like head banging and rubbing his back on the wall. At present, he still dependent on milk. He can eat oatmeal and mashed foods. He is very energetic and showed varying interest in objects. He can walk and run but with occasional falls. He is responsive to people and eye contact was noted but still brief. He has problem sleeping at night and sleep during the day. He also tends to play on his own. He is encouraged to play with the other children. He mingles with them but in a short span of time. He is undergoing frequent conversation with eye to eye contact. Information talk is also used to increase his vocabulary.

Male, DOB July 21, 2005, Reference No. 7403
The child was referred to the child caring agency by the Philippine General Hospital-Child Protection Unit for protective custody because of their findings that he was a victim of gross neglect of his birthmother that led to his confinement in the hospital.The child fell from the stairs when his birthmother left him to the care of a relative. He was asleep and when he woke up, he crawled until he reached the stairs. He fell from the 12-steps stairs down to the rough cement flooring. There was no adult left in the house at the time of the incident. From the medical examinations conducted at the Philippine General Hospital, the child was diagnosed to be suffering from “shaken baby syndrome”. He had cerebral edema/retinal bleeding supportive to the findings of being a shaken syndrome case.The child is very active. He runs and walks without direction thus he needs close supervision. Physically he is big for his age but has delays in all areas of development. His estimated IQ of 53% placed him within the mild mentally delayed range. He points to at least 4 parts of his body and attempts to repeat words heard. For his self-help skills, he can manage to eat using a spoon but with many spillage. He can drink from a cup and can use a straw. He still needs assistance in toileting and washing of hands. For his language skill, he can follow simple instructions and can express one syllable words. When he wants something he would just point to it. His gross motor skill is comparable to 2 and 4 ½ year old while his fine motor skill is equivalent to 1 ½ year old.

Male, DOB February 17, 2004, Ref. No.: 8184 (10-0301)
The child was found roaming around by a police officer without an adult companion. The child’s case was reported. He was referred to an institution for proper case management. The child was assessed to have Extremely Low intelligence quotient. He is in Grade 1. His teacher reports that he has the potential to improve through constant monitoring. He is also attending tutorial lessons in comprehension and mathematics. He loves doing art works. At the center, he has a good relationship with the other children. He plays well with his peers and he is respectful towards his caregivers. He can attend to his needs with minimal assistance. Since the child is a foundling. He was given an estimated age of 4 years old when found. However, it was not consistent with the bone scanning. Based from his bone age when found he is 3 years old. It is suspected that the disparity in the age is due to diet, illness, hormonal imbalance or emotional deprivation that the child might have experienced.

Male, DOB July 28, 2002, Ref. No. : 8854 (12-0143)
The child was approximately 5 to 6 years old when he was found by a concerned citizen walking alone under the flyover of Longos, Zapote V, Bacoor, Cavite. The child was turned over to the Barangay and subsequently referred to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development office for proper child care management. Child is active and playful. He is recently enrolled in a special class after he was found to be in mentally retarded and functions within the mild retarded range based on his psychological evaluation. He is improving and learning to relate well with his classmates. He can write his name, identify colors, shapes and animals. He has a good relationship with his co- residents and caregivers. He is helpful and knows how to set the table, chair and sweep the floor.

Male, age 9. DOB 2002, Reference No. 8498
Child is a foundling. He was judicially declared abandoned and legally available for adoption when efforts to locate his parents and relatives served futile. Child was assessed suffering from seizure disorder which is being treated with medication. Evaluations also revealed that child performs in the mild to moderate mental retardation level intellectually. Despite his intellectual ability, he is reported to be educable. He also has speech difficulty.

Male, age 9. DOB 2002, Reference No. 8402
The child was found loitering in the vicinity of a church. He was able to tell his name but he cannot recall the names of his parents and their address. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthparents of the child but were futile. The child was submitted for psychological evaluation and was assessed to have mild mental retardation. At present, he can relate and interact well with the other children in the center but he prefers to play alone. He can express himself though sometimes some of his words are mispronounced. He cries when his wants are not given. He continues to attend the tutorial lessons in the center. He can write the alphabet and numbers. He is good in coloring and can identify the objects in the picture. He can count from 1 to 25 and can copy shapes. He likes to participate in group singing, dancing and sports. He is encouraged to speak and his caregivers are teaching him to identify the objects around him. Improvements were noted on his speech.

Male, DOB May 25, 2002, Ref. No.: 7967 (10-0085)

The child was rescued from the streets. He was found begging and without adult companion. The child cannot recall where he lives and the names of his parents. Efforts were exerted to locate the relatives of the child but were futile. The child was assessed to have a mental functioning within the Retarded level. Based from his psychological report, the lack of intellectual stimulation, his low tolerance for frustration, as well as possible developmental delay can be attributed for his present cognitive limitations. At present, he is a Grade 1 pupil. He can read in Filipino and simple words in English. He can perform addition and subtraction. He is also starting to learn multiplication. He can count from 1 to 100. At home, he relates well with the other children. He can easily establish friendship and does not show extreme emotional outbursts. He does not engage in petty quarrels except when teased by the other children. He also has the tendency to be swayed easily by his co-residents. In terms of self-help tasks, he takes a bath on his own and decides on what to wear. He practices good hygiene.

Male, age 10. DOB 2001, Reference No. 6994

The child was rescued ... and was referred to the child caring institution for custody and shelter. He was voluntarily surrendered to the care of the state by his mother. ... Child’s psychological evaluation reveals that he has limited abstract and logical reasoning. His tests suggests that he is in the slow learner/dull category implying dependence on others for assistance to learn what most other children his age learn independently. Initial speech and language evaluation also revealed that child has mild speech and language disorder secondary to mental retardation. Child attends a home school program and is currently working on most subjects in the first grade level. At the center, he is said to be responsible in attending to his personal needs and is doing assigned chores. When frustrated or angry, he displays aggressive behaviors and at times, utters undesirable words. Behavior modifications helped lessen his behavior aggressiveness. (There is some significant background information that prospective adoptive parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand at Indiana@hihiadopt.org for more information.)

Male, age 11. DOB 2000, Reference No. 7944

The child is a foundling. During his admission in the center, he looked pale and has many scars on his face and body. The child was assessed to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with intellectual and social functioning under the classification of Moderate Mental Retardation. He is undergoing occupational therapy and special education. He is a thoughtful, sweet and polite child. He is courteous to adults and has good relationship with the other children at home. He relates well with them but sometimes throw tantrums when hurt, bullied or teased. He is currently being taught by the staff to be assertive in dealing with his problems. He performs his tasks but needs constant reminders as he has tendency to leave his tasks unaccomplished. He can attend to his personal hygiene but also needs supervision. He is enrolled in SpED-Kinder and attends his class regularly. He complies with school assignments and participates in class discussion. He has good retention if he is interested in a topic and can remember the colors as he likes to draw. It is observed that his attention span is only 10-15 minutes.

Male, DOB August 9, 1999, Ref. No.: RegXII-A
The child was found by a concerned citizen behind a fruit stall. The child was found in plastic bag and was wrapped in a flour sack. The child was then referred to the child caring agency. Efforts were done to locate his relatives but no one claimed the child in the center. Upon admission, the pediatrician noticed that the child was thin and malnourished. He was found to be a pre-mature baby and also has jaundice. In 2007, the child was assessed to exhibit delays in all areas of development except for gross motor skills and his weakest area is in language skills. His level of functioning is highly suggestive of Mental Retardation. After attending therapy, the child was found to be educable and can do basic independent skills. He is presently enrolled in Special Education Program to simulate his delays in language and other areas. At present, he can now utter simple words and the names of his caregivers. His social skills have improved as well as his daily grooming at school. He sometimes does not participate in activities with his peers and prefer to stay in the kitchen or ward and help his house parents in their chores. He is respectful and obedient to adults. At school, he can follow simple instructions but does not have patience in performing activities that require mental effort. He enjoys going to school and is always excited to dress himself with his school uniform and prepare his snacks.

Male, age 14. DOB 1998, Reference No. 8254
The child was rescued from the streets. ... He cannot provide any information with regards to his family. He was declared abandoned in court. The child is observed to have mild mental retardation and speech impairment. Based on his psychological report, the child has delays with his development. His communication skills are the most deficient and learning would be difficult for him since he writes most letter and numbers resembling those with dyslexia. His referral to a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician is still in process. At the center, the child is observed to manifest some behaviors when having tantrums. ... All these behaviors are being addressed by the center and the behaviors have lessened through positive reinforcements. Though with these behaviors, the child is also thoughtful to his caregivers and the other children. He likes to crack jokes but the children oftentimes cannot understand him. He is enrolled in Special Education class and he can write letter and numbers but shows signs of dyslexia. In sports, he is very competitive and likes to play ballgames. He is very good in basketball and track and field. (There is some significant background information that prospective adoptive parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand at Indiana@hihiadopt.org for more information.)

Male, DOB May 6, 1997, Ref. No.: RegXII-B
The child was left by his birthmother to a certain man who then gave the child to another man. The child was then given to a day care worker who eventually referred the child to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Upon, admission, the child was observed to be skinny. During his stay, delays in his growth and development were observed. Head banging was also manifested but stopped when he reached 5 years old. He was assessed by a developmental pediatrician and his behaviors are highly suggestive of Autism Spectrum Disorder. He exhibited delays in all areas of development except for gross motor skills. His weakest area is in his language skills. He also showed inconsistent social interaction and responses. At present, his basic language skill and cognitive development has improved. He can utter simple words and can communicate with his house parents. It was also observed that the child feels ashamed with boys of his age while he likes to mingle with girls of his age. The child has fascination with insects. He likes to roam around the center’s vicinity and look for insects. At school, he is cooperative and performs tasks given to him. He is doing well in writing and other social activities. He has less interest in the center’s tutorial as he prefers to roam looking for insects. He is recommended to continue in his Special Education Program.

Boys with Hearing Impairment

Ref. No. :8730 (12-0019)
DOB/ Sex :May 16, 2010/ Male
The child is 2 years and 2 months old. He was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. His abilities range between 9 to 18 months old. He underwent series of physical therapy due to delay in standing and walking. The child had an initial speech and language evaluation. Assessment shows that the child has mild speech and language delay. Based on the Auditory Brainstem Response, the child’s ear has slow responses and irregular waveforms, while his left ear results indicative of Auditory Nerve Neuropathy. Hearing/ Amplification and Speech Rehabilitation are strongly advised by the developmental physician. At present, the child says few words like ma’am, mama and papa. He could point his body parts when asked by the house parents. He responds by smiling when his name is called. He holds his feeding bottle and sucks his milk well. He could stand and make few steps inside his crib. He can stand for a few minutes while standing in a rail. He can climb his crib and goes down being assisted by the houseparent. He moves his body when he hears rock music. He eats small amount of solid foods like porridge mixed with blended vegetables and meat. He also likes fruits. (Sensitive family history; contact Hand In Hand for the full file.)

Male, DOB April 30, 2008, Reference No. 7828
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother. The birthmother has a very meager income and could not provide the needs of the child. The child’s developmental assessment was suggestive of Global Developmental Delay however, Autism Spectrum Disorder is not yet ruled out. He also has microcephaly, intermittent esotropia of the left eye, and mild hearing loss on the left ear. He can perform finger sweeping movements in manipulating toys and utilizes cause and effect properties of toys. He is observed to do play activities without association and apparent awareness to other people and toys in the room. He can follow simple instructions and needs minimal assistance in bottle and finger feeding. He utters simple words and laughs aloud when tickled. He knows his primary caregiver and turns his head when his name is called. (Based from CSR dated September 18, 2009)

Male, DOB: January 2008, Ref. No. : 7896 (10- 0104)
The child was born out of wedlock. His birth mother had to work so that she could support the child’s needs. He was three (3) weeks old when local community officials reported the child’s case to social service as the child was said to be neglected. The social worker immediately rescued the baby. The child has cleft lip which has been corrected. He was brought to a developmental pediatrician at 34 months old due to language delay. Based on the standard developmental tests, other domains of development are also delayed. He has Global Developmental Delays. Hearing test was done and revealed severe hearing loss on both ears and would need hearing aid. His right tympanic membrane is perforated. He can utter single words with nasal sound. He loves looking at colorful books. He can turn its pages one at a time. He is able to follow simple commands and may point to some body parts correctly when asked. He uses spoon and fork when eating. The child is friendly and enjoys playing with other children.

Male, DOB June 16, 2005, Ref. No.: 8055 (10-0172)
The child was declared legally available for adoption. The child’s birthmother is deaf, mute and was assessed to have intellectual level comparable to 5 and half years old and with an IQ to moderate retardation. The child was assessed to have a poor cognitive ability and may encounter difficulty performing age-appropriate academic tasks. His audiometric test showed normal hearing threshold on the left ear and severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss on the right ear. The child is not using hearing aid at this time. He has atopic dermatitis. He is currently attending a day care at the center with 3-5 years old children. He can comprehend and follow instructions if well explained to him like write your name, copy letters etc. He can count 1-50. He can memorize nursery rhymes. He could write his full name and all the letters of the alphabets. His attention span is 30 minutes but can stay longer if he finds the activity enjoyable.

Male, DOB: February 15, 2002, Ref. No.: 8089
The child was declared abandoned after his birthmother left him in the hospital. The birthfather was killed and left the birthmother to take care of their three children. She became a vagrant and depended on the help of other people. The present whereabouts of the older siblings and the birthmother remains unknown. The child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, right spastic and left flaccid hemiparesis, and has right mastoiditis and hearing impairment. Based on his psychological report, the child has a trainable level of intellect and may need consistent support although not on a daily basis. He may pass grade levels as long as there is consistent guidance and tutorials. At present, the child is living with his foster parents. He is active and loves to play with other children. He has difficulty speaking and can only say “ate”,“ya”, “ma”, and “pa”. He can follow simple instructions and tries to seek assistance if he cannot perform what he needs to do. He can count his fingers and can show his age through holding up his fingers. He can eat, bathe, and change his clothes on his own.

Ref. No.: 7879 (09-0431)
DOB/Sex: January 10, 2002/ Male
The child was found roaming and crying by a concerned citizen. His case was reported to local officials and efforts were exerted to locate his relatives. It was also observed that the child is suffering from Hernia. He was referred to a pediatrician and on 2007, he underwent a successful operation. The child also experienced asthma attacks but are resolved after medication. The child was subjected to dental aging to have an estimate of his age. Based on his dental aging he is approximately 8 years old. However, from the bone aging, it was estimated that he was approximately 6 years old. The child was also submitted for neurodevelopmental assessment and it was found out that he was functioning at the 2 year 10 month to 6 years 10 month level in the various domains assessed with skills clustering at the 5.9-5.8 year level. The presence of significant language delays with adequate social interactions is highly suggestive of Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder. The child also underwent Play Audiometry and was found to have mild hearing loss on the left ear. At present, the child has established positive relationship with the children at the center though sometimes he likes to tease other children that results to petty quarrels. He likes to be hugged and cuddled by his caregivers and can vocally express his needs. He likes to dance, color, watch educational cartoons, and join games. He is a Grade 1 student and can already copy and write sentences but need to further enhance his reading skills. Based on his psychological report, the child has an intellectual functioning within the Below Average range. The child has a positive attitude about adoption and is excited to meet his family. In the future, the child wants to become a soldier.

Male, DOB March 7, 2001, Reference No. 8543
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother. ... The child was tested positive for CytomegaloVirus in 2002. The doctors have stated that the virus can be excreted within three years through urine. In 2002, he assessed to have microcephaly, global neurodevelopmental delay, and epilepsy. In 2003, he has assessed to have communication disorder to consider mental retardation or autistic spectrum disorder. He has an eye grade of +10.23-1.50x33 20/ 60 516 for the right eye and +9.25-1.50 x 177 20/ 60 516 for the left eye. He is found to have mild hearing loss in the right ear and moderate hearing loss on the left ear. At present, in terms of motor development, he can jump but has difficulty if there is an object in front of him. He is attending therapy to gain more strength in his left leg. He likes to play basketball and has strong upper arm strength. He can kick a soccer ball with his right leg. He uses his left leg only when asked. With his fine motor skills, he can hold the pencil correctly with his right hand. He uses palmar grasp when holding an object with his left hand. At home, he can attend to his personal needs but still needs minimal assistance in dressing. He is friendly and likes to hug his playmates. When frustrated, he cries, whines or stomp his feet. He can speak in English and Cebuano. He can understand simple commands and instructions .He can say three to four word sentences. (There is significant family background that prospective parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Male, DOB August 4, 2000, Ref. No.: 7861 (09-0413)
The child was found loitering around in Makati City. He cannot remember his family’s whereabouts and can only utter his full name. Efforts were done to locate his parents but all remained futile. The child was assessed to have Global Developmental Delay and has a Full Scale IQ within Extremely Low range. He is currently enrolled under SPED class and according to his teachers he is very cooperative and follows instruction given to him. However, short attention span is still noted. He was also observed to have difficulty moving his neck. He underwent X-ray test and there are no osseous or joint pathology seen. No fracture or dislocation was also noted. His hearing test showed that the child has mild hearing loss on both ears. He can follow simple instructions and loves to sing. He can easily memorize songs that are familiar to him and also enjoys doing beat and rhythm through clapping. He can also attend to his personal needs and can perform simple household chores. He also has positive relationship with other children inside the center. He also attends to structured activities at the center. It was observed that the child has difficulty in expressing himself but can comprehend basic instructions. Though he could not speak well, he has the motivation to learn.

Ref. No.: 6341 (06-265)
DOB/Sex: September 9, 1997/ Male
The child was abandoned by her birth mother in the hospital after giving birth. Efforts were exerted to locate his birthmother but all remained futile. The child has speech and hearing impairment. In 2005 his BAER exam has an assessment of moderate hearing loss sharply falling towards high frequency AS profound hearing loss sharply falling towards high frequency AD. His BOA (Play Audiometry) has a result of mild hearing loss in left ear and severe hearing loss in right ear. He also started using a hearing aid but opted to not wear it. He feels more comfortable without the hearing aid and can still communicate without it. Based on his psychological report, it revealed that the child is intellectually deficient which attributed to his hearing problem. During her third grade in Pasay School for the Deaf he got a general average of 83% and was recommended for Grade IV for the next school year. He knows the sign language alphabet and the number sign. His teachers commented that he is courteous, attentive, and can be trained as a leader. In 2008, he was awarded as “Magalang na Bata” (respectful child) during the culminating activity of the celebration of National Children’s Month. He is physically health and active. He likes playing sports like basketball, running, and dancing. During sports fest he actively participated and won several games. Also during the school year of 2005-2006, he received certificates of recognition for winning the 2nd place in Running and 3rd place in Softball throw in the Division level during the Manila Youth Games for Special Children. He has good relationship with the other children and can relate well with them. He is affectionate, thoughtful, and courteous. He never forgets to keep something for his friends after attending activities and parties. He goes to Church on weekends and sometimes volunteers to play one of the musical instruments in the church.

Boys who need parents open to parenting children with

Global Developmental Delay, Multiple Special Needs or Significant Medical Needs

Reference Number 9043 912-0332)

DOB/Sex: January 13, 2012/Male

Child is the youngest among three non-marital children fathered by different men. The eldest child is under the care and custody of her birthfather while the second child was left under the care of her grandparents…. The birthmother got pregnant with the child; however after few months the birthfather left for unknown reason…. Being young and unprepared to parent a child, the birthmother surrendered her child for adoption. Child was diagnosed to have congenital heart problem and possible Lysosomal storage disease. He can roll over form one side to another and attempts to crawling movements. He can hold toys tightly if the caregivers try to take it away from him. He can turn his head when his name is being called. He can grasp object and put into his mouth. He cries when hungry and wet.

Ref. No.: 9114 (13-0004)

DOB/Sex: June 19, 2011/ Male
The child was left at the hospital. He was born premature and clinical impression showed potentially septic newborn. He was placed in an incubator at the Neonatal Intensive Care unit. He stayed at the hospital for three months. Efforts exerted to locate the birth parents of the child proved futile. He was declared legally available for adoption. The child is found to have microcephaly, left flaccid hemiparesis and developmental problems. He can pick up small objects using his thumb and fore finger. He enjoys playing peek-a-boo. He makes babbling sounds and sometimes screams loudly when he wants something. He loves to be tickled and hugged.

Ref. No.: 9064 (12-0353)
DOB/Sex: May 22, 2011/ Male
The child is a foundling. Efforts exerted to locate the birth parents of the child yielded negative results. The child was assessed to have Global developmental Delay and Spastic Cerebral Palsy-Mild. He has physical therapy sessions and takes Phenobarbital grain ½ a tablet at bedtime. At present, the child can reach, grasp and hold objects with his right hand while he has difficulty with his left hand. He can assume sitting position momentarily by supporting his two hands on the floor. He enjoys interacting with familiar persons and enjoys personal attention. He enjoys watching cartoon shows. He has a visible hemangioma in his upper left forehead and a bluish birthmark on his right shoulder.

Ref. No. 8931 (12-0220)

DOB/Sex: December 8, 2009 / Male
The child was abandoned by his birthmother at the hospital after giving birth. Child was diagnosed to have pneumonia and was undergoing medical treatment when hi birthmother left. After a week, the birthmother called the hospital and was advised by the head of the Medical Social Service to personally visit her son at the hospital by to no avail. After his medications, child was referred to child caring agency for proper case management. Child was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. He was observed being hyperactive and with speech delay. At present, child is described as affectionate, loveable and enjoys being cuddled. He is active and wanted to play a lot. He is unable to follow instructions and cannot speak well. He can only utter words like “ate, dede and baba.” He cries whenever he needs something. He has a good appetite. He eats rice porridge and blended rice with meat and vegetables. He can eat on his own with minimal assistance.

Reference Number 8721 (12-0010)
DOB/Sex: December 8, 2009/Male
The child’s birthmother…expressed that she cannot take care and provide for her child’s needs. The child’s birthfather is twenty (24) four years old and works as a jeepney dispatcher. He acknowledged paternity in the child’s birth certificate but his whereabouts are unknown. Based on the information gathered, the birthmother’s parents were not in the proper position to care for her son because they are physically disabled and they are street dwellers. The maternal grandmother is a beggar who does not respond when talked to. The child was declared legally available for adoption when he was one year and nine months old. Child can use spoon when eating but prefers being spoon fed. At his age, he can only utter single words when speaking to his favourite caregiver but does not respond when talked to by other adults at the institution. Based on the developmental assessment dated June 18, 2012, child has global delays and intrauterine health problems. (Sensitive family history; contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Ref. No. : 8889 (12-0178) DOB/ Sex : November 23, 2009/ Male

Child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother due to poverty. The birthmother is jobless and was impregnated by a married man who left them when the child was 5 months old. The birthmother decided to surrender her child for adoption due to her incapability to support the child’s needs. At 1 year and 2 months old, child was diagnosed of Global Developmental Delay. When he reached 1 year and 8 months he was diagnosed of Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegia (left) and Global Developmental Delay, probably secondary to prenatal factors. At present, the child is undergoing physical, occupational and speech therapy. At 2 years and 9 months old, he can walk alone and run unsupported. He walks up and down the stairs holding an adult’s hand for support. He can sit in the table. He builds towers of four blocks or more. He pulls toys behind him or carries a large toy or several toys while walking. He kicks a ball, runs to get the ball and kicks it again. He climbs onto and down from furniture unassisted. Child can identify his caregivers by pointing or calling them “mama.” His therapist reported that the child can identify parts of the body. He can imitate words from his caregivers.

Male, DOB 2009, Reference No. 8298
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother. The birthmother believes that her pregnancy will not be accepted by her family and opted to relinquish the child for adoption. The child is macrocephalic and was diagnosed with partial epilepsy. He takes Phenobarbital 15mg 1 ½ tab every 12hours and Valporic Acid 2.3 ml 2x a day and 2.5 ml at night time. He was also prescribed with Baclofen 10 mg ½ tablet once a day as additional maintenance medicine. He has physical therapy twice a week in the hospital and home therapy session as recommended.The child has stiff lower extremities and can walk with the support of a walker. He recognizes familiar faces and cries when his caregivers leave. He likes to grab different toys however he cannot open his fists completely. He can utter unintelligible sounds when he is played with or when he is happy. Drooling of saliva is sometimes observed. He likes to stroll around and enjoys seeing different faces and moving objects. He is bottle-fed and consumes 6 ounces per demand feeding. He still cannot hold his feeding bottle. He can also tolerate mashed vegetable and fruits. He likes biscuits and fruit juices.

Male, DOB August 11, 2009, Reference number: 8344 (11-0036)
Child was voluntarily surrendered by his mother to the care of the state when he was only 6 days old. Child was born to a single mother with no financial means to support the needs of the child. Child’s father is unknown. Child was assessed to have global developmental delay with emphasis on his fine and gross motor skills. He was 1 year and 1 month old at the time of assessment. Through physical and occupational therapy, child’s motor skills improved. At his current age, he can move from side to side and into prone position on his own. He is able to hold his milk bottle and also has a firm grasp on toys. He can crawl and bring himself into standing position while holding on to his crib. Child responds when his name is called by turning his head. Child was also assessed to have Klippel-Feil syndrome.

Ref. No.: 8465 (11-0157) DOB/Sex: November 23, 2008/ Male
The birthmother was suffering from mental retardation and was dependent on her parents. The maternal grandmother had a difficult time providing the needs of the child. The birthmother and maternal grandmother decided to relinquish the child for adoption. The child was assessed to have Global Developmental Delay with Autistic features. The child attends physical therapy sessions and improvements have been noted on the child. At present, he can sit by himself and stands while holding onto the rails. He can walk when both hands are held. He babbles and smiles when familiar persons talk to him. He can recognize his name when called and likes to be cuddled.

Ref. No. : 8943 (12-0232)
DOB/ Sex : August 10, 2008 (given)/ Male
On August 7, 2010 the child was found in an abandoned house by a concerned citizen. His case was immediately reported to the police and brought the child to the hospital as he was observed to be thin and with a wound on his feet. He was admitted in the hospital for 10 days. Child was referred to an institution for proper case management after efforts to locate the child’s birth family proved futile. Child was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and was considered to have Syndrome of Microcephaly with Polymicrogyria and Dilated Ventricler, most likely congenital. At 2 years and 5 months old, he was inserted with Nasogastric Tube (NGT) instead of feeding bottle for his formula intake due to his inability to hold his feeding bottle when fed. At present, child is 4 years and 3 months old. Physically, he cannot stand nor sit. He is unable to crawl or move from sitting to lying position. Most of the time he just lies on his back but can moves his body around his crib. He can stretch his hand and one leg through the help of the physical therapy. He cannot imitate or follow simple instructions and commands.

Male, age 4. DOB 2008, Reference No. 8257
The child was left by his birthmother in the hospital. He was confined in the hospital due to sepsis neonatorum, late onset and conjunctivitis with eye discharges. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother but proved futile. The child was assessed to have Bilateral Corneal Opacity which has to be operated for possible corneal transplant by the time he reaches eight or nine years old. He was also observed to have head lag and spasticity of the lower legs. His EEG result is normal sleep EEG recording. His Cranial Ct scan is also normal. The child was recommended to attend physical therapy sessions. Since August 2009, he has therapy sessions once a week. The child was also assessed by a developmental pediatrician. He was assessed to have moderate to severe range of Global Developmental Delay. He is recommended to have occupational and speech therapy. At present, the child can sit alone, stand and walk. He still cannot pronounce words but responds by producing sounds. He has the mannerism of tapping his chin with his clenched fist. At times, he throws tantrums when he is hungry, sleepy and wants attention. He cries aloud to get the attention of his caregivers. He has stopped banging his head to seek attention. His caregivers observe that he turns his head towards the direction of bright colors and moving objects. He turns his head when his name is called. He loves playing with a rattle and other things that produce sounds.

Male, DOB October 20, 2006, Reference Number: 7958 (10-0076)
The child was allegedly left by an unidentified old woman to certain person with the assurance that the old woman will return in the afternoon. However, the old woman did not return and the case was reported and referred to an institution. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthparents and relatives of the child but all remained futile. The child was diagnosed to have Cerebral Palsy, Quadriplegia, cortical blindness and Seizure Disorder. He had his speech therapy and was observed to have limited skills for language learning, has difficulty maintaining lip seal, and has limited oral peripheral mechanism movements and strength. He also had his physical therapy and was observed to have delays in his gross motor skills, has absence of mobility skills and increased plasticity 2 degree. At present, the child can move his feet and hands as if he is stretching and is lying on his back most of the time. He would cry out loud to get the attention of his caregiver. He is observed to be asleep most of the time but has no definite sleeping pattern. He is awake the whole night and sleeps during the day. Per neurologist’s advice this may be the result of his maintenance medicines. It was recommended that the child have Percutaneous Esophago Gastronomy (PEG) for him to receive his nutrients. The recommendation was on hold since he was responding to a special diet. The child attends physical therapy sessions. The therapist is having difficulty in conducting the session with the child as he is mostly asleep during the therapy.

Male, 6 years, Ref. No.: 7680 (09-0232) - The child was assessed to fall under the Slow Learner category with an overall IQ score of 73. He also observed to have problems with his speech development. He is currently under occupational therapy to improve his speech and gross motor skills. . His emotional control and social skills are normal for his age. He is also reasonable open to express his concerns. The child was assessed to have Global Developmental Delay. He is interested in storytelling and books. He is a cheerful and affectionate child who loves to greet, kiss and hug his caregivers.

Male, DOB: May 25, 2006, Ref. No.: 7044
Child ...[has a sensitive background situation; contact Hand In Hand for more information.] Child was voluntarily surrendered by his mother to the care of the state. Child is globally delayed with emphasis on his fine motor and language domains. Pediatric developmental assessment revealed hyperactivity and inattention problem. He has features suggestive of Down’s syndrome thus he was submitted for chromosomal analysis. Result showed Karyotype: 46 XY. No apparent chromosome abnormality. Child is physically active and especially loves running thus cannot be left unattended. At his age, he is potty trained and can go to the bathroom alone but has to be supervised as he sometimes takes a bath and wash his clothes. He can dress himself. Child attends SPED school. He can sing songs, identify different shapes and colors, some letters of the alphabet and can count from one to ten.

Reference Number 9010 (12-0299)

DOB/Sex: March 1, 2006/Male
Child is a foundling. He was found by the barangay official early in the morning in a waiting shed beside the Shell Gasoline Station in Tarlac City. The barangay official referred the child to the local Social Welfare Office for case management. Child was diagnosed to have cerebral palsy. At his age, he cannot sit or walk but can turn from one side to another. When called by his name, he responds by smiling. He cries when hungry and is unable to utter words. He can grab toys or colourful objects. He sucks milk from a feeding bottle but is unable to handle. He eats osteorized foods through the assistance of caregivers.

Male, age 6. DOB Oct. 19, 2005, Reference No. 7035
The child was legally declared abandoned.... He was born premature with 28 weeks of gestation. He was also diagnosed to have Renal Tubular Acidosis (RTA) and was medicated with Sodium Bicarbonate. Since July 2009, he has been cleared from RTA. Recent CBC and CO2test showed normal findings. He underwent neurodevelopmental evaluation in 2008. The findings showed significant delays in all domains except for his gross motor skills and highly suggested Global Development Delay. At present, the child can follow and respond to verbal and gestural commands. He can utter single words, use variation in his voice, and initiate sounds, gesture or words associated with what he sees around. He can utter 2 to 3 word phrases and can speak two English words (eat and no). He still cannot say his name but will respond when his name is called. He remembers the names of his caregivers but cannot utter them clearly. He can obtain water from a tap without assistance and can feed himself with minimal supervision. He can express his need to go to the bathroom and can be requested to do simple errands. He is a very curious child and likes to be physically active. Now he can stay put in one place for a longer period of time. The child will be submitted for follow-up assessment of a developmental pediatrician on August 2010. (There is significant family and medical background that prospective parents will need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

Ref. No.: 8834 (12-0173) DOB/Sex: May 26, 2005/ Male - The child was abandoned by his birthmother. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother but were futile. The child is declared legally available for adoption. The child was diagnosed to have global developmental delays with spastic type of cerebral palsy. He also has seizure disorder and hearing loss. The child attends physical therapy twice a week. Through therapy spasticity of his extremities has decreased. At present, he can pull himself up while holding in the rails and takes side steps. He cannot talk but could produce unintelligible sounds. He would cry to seek attention. He is pacified through calling his name, touching his cheeks or providing him food.

Ref. No. : 8787 (12-0076)

DOB/ Sex : March 18, 2005/ Male
Child was approximately 3 years old when he was referred for care…The child was left by his father sometime in April 2008 and never came back. The whereabouts of the child’s family is unknown. Child cannot utter any words except “black ah” which means black out when power interruption occurred and “te” for “Ate” whenever he calls his caregivers. When he is in need of assistance he would touch his caregivers like when he wants to go to the comfort room for personal necessities. He knows his daily routine. He follows his caregiver daily bath time. He can understand instructions. He is alert when his name is being called and responds positively. However, he does not have eye contact when someone talks to him. He is described as sweet child. He likes to be hugged. At times, he throws tantrums when things are not on his way. Despite of his limitations, he has social interactions with his co- residents at the preschool though sharing his toys. He likes to play and is fond of running around the center’s playground. His psychological evaluation indicates that the child is leading to a pervasive developmental disorder particularly autistic disorder.

Ref. No. : 8433 (11-0125)

DOB/Sex: October 1, 2004 / Male
Child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother due to poverty. The birthmother works as a laundry woman in order to support the needs of her children. Child and his seven siblings were left in the care and custody of their grandmother who sought the assistance of the child caring agency due to her difficulty in providing for the needs of the children. The birthmother decided to surrender her child for adoption due to her incapability to parent a child with special needs. At 5 years and 8 months of age, child was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay. He can do simple household chores like washing his own plate, wiping the table, folding his own clothes and fixing his beddings. He needs supervision during mealtime because he likes to talk and play while eating. He likes to play but cries loud when other children hurt him. He can understand simple instructions. He is not familiar with the alphabet but could sing the alphabet song. He can count from 1 to 10.

Male, DOB Sept. 25, 2004, Reference No. 8036
The child was abandoned by his birthmother. At three months old, the child was confined in a hospital due to Clinical Sepsis and Pneumonia. At five months old, the child was a gain re-admitted at the hospital due to Seizure Disorder secondary to Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalophaty: Septicemia; T/C Thromboembolic Disorder and S/P Below Elbow Amputation Right Secondary to Septic Embolism.The attending physician offered to foster the child to ensure post operation care and management. ... Based on the child’s developmental assessment dated April 2010, the child is diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay functioning in the retarded range, Cerebral Palsy, mixed (Athetoid, Spastic) 2 to Static Encephalophaty, Growth retardation and has feeding problem. At present, the child has a short stature brought by cerebral palsy. He is often confined in his stroller and his activities of daily living are dependent to his caregiver. He only eats osteorized food as he could not tolerate solid substance. He still cannot speak and communicates through gestures. The child attends physical therapy and it is noted that he still has difficulty in standing and kneeling but he is progressively improving in sitting and behaving well during his sessions. With his occupational therapy, his fine motor activities are improving and now show good response in holding things. He joins morning exercises and different activities inside and outside the institution to boost his social skills.

Male, DOB October 2, 2003, Reference No. 7629
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birth mother because she cannot provide the needs of the child, especially his milk... The child was assessed with Global Developmental Delay. He is also observed to be hyperactive and this is secondary to the developmental delay in his social and adaptive skills. He was also diagnosed to be positive for chronic activeHEPA B, High Infectivity. At present, he is a very active and playful child. He can attend to his personal hygiene and is helpful around the center. Socially, he relates well with the other children and has gained friends. He is affectionate and likes to be cuddled by his caregivers. He is not enrolled in the DayCare as the center was understaffed. His houseparent however continues to conduct developmental activities suited to the needs of the children. He can count but cannot identify the numbers. He can sing the alphabet song but cannot identify all of the letters. He can identify shapes and fruits and can draw simple things. He is interested in puzzles, toy cars and building blocks but was observed to have short attention span. In giving instructions and questions, it should be repeated before he was able to understand. In terms of his language skills, he can speak in short sentences and can be shy to unfamiliar persons. He can relate his experiences using 5 to 6 word sentences and communicates effectively.

Male, DOB Jan. 23, 2003, Reference No. 7956
The child was abandoned by his birthmother in the hospital. The child was confined at the hospital due to severe pneumonia. Efforts were done to locate the birthmother, however, local authorities stated that the birthmother have not returned in the area and is allegedly suffering from mental illness. A maternal uncle was found but expressed his inability to take care of the child. The child was declared abandoned in court. In October 2009, the child was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay (MR) and macrocephaly. He was also noted to have drooling of saliva, is hyperactive with poor sitting span and with tendency to grab things. At present, the child has a good relationship with the other children and likes to play with them. He can tell stories in short sentences and can sing one line of a song. He imitates words he hears and can sing the songs of tv commercials. The child performs good personal hygiene. He can brush his teeth, take a bath on his own and use the comfort room properly.

Male, DOB Feb. 28, 2002, Reference No. 8064
The child was left by his birthmother to the care of her cousin. The child’s father already left them and the birthmother never returned to get back the custody of the child. The maternal aunt could not support the medicines of the child and eventually referred him to a child caring agency. The child was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy Quadripastic Type and Global Developmental Delay. At present, the child can sit with support and can stand with a walker or with support. He vocalizes and shouts to get the attention of his caregivers. He also laughs loud and squeals. In terms of eating, he can eat osteorized food well and can suck milk from a feeding bottle with assistance. The child smiles in response to a caregiver. He stops crying when caregivers pick him up.

Ref. No. : 8898 (12-0187)

DOB/ Sex : December 8, 2001/ Male
The child was approximately 4 and 5 months old when he was found by a concerned citizen... The child was referred to a children’s home for proper case management. Child was diagnosed of Myoclonic and Atonic Seizure. He was prescribed of Topamax as his lifetime maintenance to lessen his seizure. At present, child is approximately 5 years and 11 months old. His caregiver is always alert when it comes to his seizure to avoid falling or bang his head on the floor. During spare time of the caregiver he is taught of the alphabets and some nursery rhymes. Child could speak three words in Tagalog like: “Kain ako” (I want to eat), “punta ako banyo” (I want to go to the bathroom), “Laro tayo” (Come on, let’s play). During mealtime he is comfortable using his hands rather than spoon. Child could express his needs but could not do things alone. The caregiver would bath him, brush his teeth and help him in the toilet. He could put his underwear and shorts but could not put his shirt and shoes. He is assisted by bigger children. He shows his affection by hugging his caregivers and kisses them. He spits to people unknown to him and could not control his saliva.

Male, DOB July 4, 1998, Ref. No.: 7601 (09-0153)
The child was voluntarily surrendered by his paternal grandmother. She cannot provide the basic and special needs of the child. Upon admission, he appeared malnourished and could not walk alone. At the age of three, the child was diagnosed to have meningitis and resulted to his mental and physical delay. In 2004, his EEG test showed that he has abnormal EEG showing focal epiletiform discharges coming from right fronto-central and fronto-parietal areas. The background activity on his brain is slow for his age. He also suffered with episodes of seizure attacks and was diagnosed of suffering from epilepsy. He was prescribed to maintain medication of Phenobarbital 2 tablets to avoid his seizures. He can stand and walk. He is being fed by his caregivers. He eats rice porridge, blended fruits and vegetables. He still experience occasional seizures.

Waiting Sibling Groups in The Philippines - Updated April 2013

2013-04-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on sibling groups waiting in the the Philippines. The following short descriptions are available, and much more detailed case studies can be requested for interested prospective parents. Pictures are also available, but they cannot be posted on the Internet, and any names and place names have been removed for privacy purposes. For resources on parenting sibling groups see the list of Recommended Websites and Recommended Extra Training in the sidebar.

These children are on a shared list, so their files may be locked by other agencies without notice. Please contact Indiana@hihiadopt.org for the pictures and to inquire about whether a child is still waiting.

A: Male, DOB: Feb. 7, 1999
B: Male, DOB: Oct. 3, 2000
Reference numbers: 7244, 7245
The children were surrendered by their mother to the child caring institution due to her incapability to provide for their needs. Children were half-orphaned by their father who died of heart attack. The children have two siblings (one older and one younger), the older now under the care of another institution and the younger died of asphyxiation ten months after admission to the center. The children adjusted well to the lifestyle and environment of the center. They have good relationship with each other and to their co-wards and the staff of the center. Child A’s psychological evaluation revealed that he has poor intellectual functioning and scholastic achievement. On the other hand, he has average social adaptive functioning which enables him to independently perform age expected skills. His psychological valuation further reveals that his early separation from his parents has affected him emotionally making him feel insecure of himself and to his environment. He seeks social approval, attention and belongingness. Child B’s psychological evaluation revealed that he has poor intellectual functioning but has adequate social adaptive skills. He has low frustration tolerance in difficult situations and may engage in acting out behaviors. His psychological evaluation further revealed that his cognitive skills are affected by his tendency to be hyperactive, inattentive and impulsive.

A: Female, DOB: May 13, 2000
B: Male, DOB: May 20, 2003
C: Male, DOB: November 14, 2004
D: Male, DOB: November 17, 2005
Reference numbers: 8428 (11-0120), 8429 (11-0121), 8430 (11-0122), 8431 (11-0123)

The children were rescued from the streets and referred to their current residence by the DSWD. They were later surrendered by their birth mother to the care of the state.

Initially after admission, the children manifested behaviors learned from the streets such as uttering foul words and being aggressive. Through intervention and the love and care of the staff of the center, the children soon learned to behave properly. They are reported to have adjusted well and have good relationship with the other children and the staff of the center. They are also close as siblings, and when adopted they would like to be adopted by one family so they could stay together.

Child A is said to be affectionate and caring to her younger siblings. She understands and follows instructions and complies when asked to do a task. She can be relied upon to assist her younger siblings during mealtime and in cleaning their rooms. She can also attend to her personal needs and hygiene with minimal assistance. She just finished second grade in school. She loves going to school and learns the lessons fairly well.

Child B is a well-adjusted child. He has good relationships with and loves playing with the other children in the center. At times, he misbehaves or gets involved in petty quarrels with the other children but is easily redirected. He knows when to approach the staff. He just finished second grade in school. He loves going to school but is sometimes lazy to copy their lesson. He is provided with tutorial services to help him cope with the demands of his school. Child B has clubbed fingers in his right hand.

Child C is a well-adjusted and playful child. He loves the outdoors and exploring his surroundings. He has the tendency to tease his playmates and knows how to defend himself when he perceives that he is being taken advantage of. He is observed to have short attention span and loves distracting the other children during activities. He also does not put effort in tasks given to him when he does not know how to do it. At the center, child can be relied to do simple chores and could attend to his personal needs and hygiene with less supervision. In terms of food, he prefers meat over vegetables.

Child D is energetic and one who loves to play outside. He loves to play with the other children but mostly prefers to play by himself. He is said to have short attention span and is easily bored especially with structured activities such as tutorial or singing time. He is articulate and can express himself well. He can manage to eat alone but needs supervision in terms of hygiene and grooming. He has good sleeping pattern but there are times that he bed wets. The children are close to each other. They desire to be adopted but would like to have one family so they could all stay together.

A: Female, Age 11. DOB 2001, Reference No. 7884

B: Female, Age 10. DOB 2002, Reference No. 7885

The children were referred to the center since their relatives have difficulty in providing the needs of the children. The children are active girls that like to play with their friends. They are positively growing in their foster family and had a positive relationship with them. A is assessed to be Moderately Delayed/ Impaired while B is assessed to be Mildly Delayed/Impaired. ...

Child A has poor interest to learn. She cannot pronounce words clearly and interchanges some of the letters when pronounced. She can write letters but cannot recognize them when asked. When given with instructions she sometimes stares blankly and as if she heard nothing. The school principal recommended that she be transferred to Preparatory where her academic skills will suit her.

Child B shows interest in learning. She participates in class discussions and during tutorial lessons. She can follow instructions and advices easily but would usually follow her older sister in misbehavior. (These children have a significant background situation that prospective adoptive parents need to be comfortable with. Please contact Hand In Hand for more information.)

A: Male, DOB July 25, 2000, Ref. No. 8710 (11-0402)
B: Female, DOB October 12, 2001 Ref. No. 8711 (11-0403)

The children were voluntarily surrendered by their biological mother for adoption because of her incapability to take care of the children. The mother is currently in jail due to possession of illegal drugs. The father of the children died in 2006. Both of the children were found in the streets and rescued on different occasions through a concerned citizen who sought the help of social worker who referred them to an institution since their mother is in jail. Initially they were entrusted to the care of their stepfather and half sibling who eventually neglected and physically abused them.

Child A: He is a charming boy with sweet smile. He is friendly and acts as “big brother” to his co- residents in the center. He is respectful, polite and obedient to the home staff. He uses courteous words when talking to adult. He learned to pray inside the center. He knows how to do household chores appropriate for his age. He is a member of a choir. He loves to sing and dance. He likes to paint and draw. He can read simple sentences but needs to be guided. He has difficulty in reading but he tries to do his best. His psycho- educational assessment states that he has extremely low cognitive. He has Borderline IQ level. But his psychologist states that through proper guidance and continuous tutorial he can catch up.

He is currently in Grade 3. He is 11 years and 11 months old. His teacher said that he is showing motivation to learn. He behaves well in the class and can follow instructions easily. His penmanship is neat and legible. He attends Reading and Comprehension, English and Math tutorial at the center. He and his sister have a good relationship. He longs to have a family who will protect him and his sister. He is physically healthy.

Child B: She loves to groom herself. She enjoys doing arts and crafts at the center. She also attends English, Math and Reading/ Comprehension tutorial class at the center. She listens attentively and can follow instructions. She can speak clearly with a soft voice. She is a good reader with only few mistakes in reading exercises. She has good writing skills but does not observe correct capitalization and spacing. She is in the Borderline IQ level. She is friendly, spontaneous, compliant and cooperative. She is fun-loving. She is looking forward to have a kind, supportive and loving parents with a sister older than her. She is now in Grade 4. She is 10 years and 7 months old. She is physically healthy.

A: Male, DOB, September 1, 2000, Reference No. 8159
B: Male, DOB August 16, 2002, Reference No. 8160

The children are orphaned by their birthmother. When the birthmother died the children were left in the custody of relatives while the birthfather worked. Until such time, the birthfather had another relationship and left the children. The grandparents sought the help of the government as they could not provide the needs of the children. The birthfather showed in the center and he decided that it is the best interest of the children if they will be placed for adoption.

A is assessed to have average intellectual capability. In school, he has satisfactory grades. He can read and express himself in Filipino and simple English words. At home, he is active and energetic. He likes to climb, jump and run a lot. He is affectionate to person he is lose with. However, when reprimanded or when mad, he tends to be alone and lock himself in his room. He also has the tendency to be aggressive and violent. The child is recommended to engage in music and art to better express himself.

B is assessed to have average intellectual capability. He can read well in Filipino and simple English but stutters at times. He behaves well and is attentive to his teachers. At home, he is diligent in his chores and needs not to be reminded. He relates well with the other children. He can at times be aggressive when provoked.

A: Male, DOB 6/2000
B: Female, DOB 6/2001
C: Female, DOB 1/2004
D: Female, DOB 6/2007
Reference Number 8792, 8793, 8794, 8795

The children’s mother died in 2010 due to cardio pulmonary arrest. The birthfather was not able to have a stable job due to his medical condition. He decided to surrender his children for adoption as he cannot provide the needs of his children.

Child A is a level II student in the home school program of his child caring agency. He is reported to be coping with his lessons and can perform his school tasks with minimal supervision. At the center, he relates well with his peers. He is curious and likes to ask questions. Based on his psychological report, he is assessed to have behaviors pointing to features of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. He has a general intellectual functioning within the slow learner range. Tutorials and play therapy were recommended by his psychologist which the child caring agency has been consistently doing.

Child B is a level I student in the center’s home school program. She is reported to follow instructions well and can finish her tasks independently. Her caregivers describe her as as a well-behaved child. She enjoys choosing her clothes and has her own style. Based from her psychological report, her intellectual functioning is within the slow learner range. Paly therapy and tutorial are provided by the center as recommended by the psychologist.

Child C is a home school preparatory student. She is reported to be obedient and eagerly listens to her lessons. She enjoys singing and dancing. At the center, she is described by her caregivers to be respectful and cooperative. Based form her psychological report, her general cognitive functioning is at the slow learner level.

Child D is described as happy and adorable. She can converse in full sentences in Tagalog using five words per sentence. Her speech is understandable though she is practicing more on her T sound and S sound. She knows simple English words. At times, she tends to push and shout to her playmates to get their attention. She is being taught and encouraged to make good relationship to her friends. Time out works well on the child if she commits misbehavior and when having tantrums.

A: Male, DOB 10/1999

B: Male, DOB 4/2001
Reference numbers 7346 and 7345

The children were turned over to the police district by their stepfather. The children’s birthmother was detained in jail due to shoplifting in a department store. After a few days, the children were transferred to a child caring agency for proper case management.

Child A is described to be affectionate and thoughtful. When frustrated he would throw tantrums such as shouting with loud voice, throw things around him and sometimes hit other child. He is observed to be caring to his younger brother. He would defend his brother when hurt by other children. He can relate well with other children his age. He loves to spend time with his caregivers.

Child B is described to be jolly and playful child. He is fond of playing ball games and sharing jokes with other children. He rarely involves with fights. He has initiative in doing his household chores with minimal supervision. He attends to his personal hygiene. He is currently enrolled as grade III in public school. He is active in extra-curricular activities in school but seldom participates in class discussion. He behaves well in class and has a good relationship with his classmates.

A: Female, May 1999, Reference Number 8178
B: Female, June 2001, Reference Number 8179
The children were voluntarily surrendered by their birthmother after their birthfather died in a vehicular accident. A is a Grade 3 student. She studies well and is given with continues tutorial lesson to develop proper study habit. The child is jolly and talkative. She has established good relationship with other children and is protective of her sister. She and her sister occasionally have conflict but both can accept their mistakes. At home, she can perform household chores and has the initiative to help others. She desires to have an adoptive family.

B is in Preparatory and was observed to have improvements in her studies. She can now read simple sentences and recognize the alphabet, numbers, and colors. She has developed her sense of responsibility and has the initiative to do her assignments. She is friendly and always smiles. At home, she performs her household chores diligently and shows respect with adults. Spiritually, she participates in their daily prayer. She regularly attends Sunday Eucharistic Mass Celebration. She desires to be placed for adoption together with her sister.

A: Male, DOB 10/1999
B: Female, DOB 6/2002
Reference numbers: 8424 (11-0116) and 8425 (11-0117)
The children were born out of wedlock to parents who have no means to properly provide for their basic needs. Children’s parents have been sent to prison due to illegal drugs and pick-pocketing. Known relatives of the children claimed incapability to take custody due to financial difficulties. They were voluntarily surrendered to the care of the State by their mother. Having come from the streets, the children initially presented behavioral concerns such as uttering foul words and physical aggressiveness. Proper interventions by their child caring agency yielded positive improvements on the children as the behavioral concerns were lessened. The children reportedly have adjusted well to the structured activities of the center and were also able to build good relationships with the other children and the staff of the center. They actively participate in activities done at the center.

Child A openly expresses desire to be adopted while child B has ambivalence towards getting adopted. Their social worker continues to prepare them for eventual placement to an adoptive family. The children wish to be adopted by one family.

A: Male, Age 15. DOB 1996, Reference No. 8632.

B: Male, Age 13. DOB 1998, Reference No. 8633
The children were declared abandoned in court.The birthmother left the family and was reported to be engaged with prohibited drugs.The birthfather was left alone to raise their two children. He was able to provide the needs of the children until he lost his job and got sick.The birthfather died in 2007. The children were left in the custody of their paternal relative; however they had difficulty raising the children due to financial constraints. The paternal relatives were prompted to refer the children to a child caring agency.

A is assessed to have borderline intellectual functioning and underdeveloped receptive and expressive language skills. He is recommended to consult a neuro-audiologist to rule out any hearing deficits. He is now a Grade 4 pupil. He reads and writes well. He loves to draw and enjoys playing chess with his peers. He relates well with the other children and respects his caregivers. He aspires to become a businessman in the future.

B has Phthisis bulbi [See here for more information: Phthisis bulbi] as a result when the child accidentally hit his right eye with a pen. He was also assessed to have below average intelligence. He is now a Grade 4 pupil.He likes going to school and learning new things. He can focus his attention and search for needed facts for his assignments. He is affectionate and shows respects to his caregivers. He wants to be a scientist or seaman someday. The children have positive outlook in having a family through adoption. A and B wish to be adopted together.

A: Male, DOB 9/1998, Reference No. 8137(10-0254)
B: Male, DOB 9/1998, Reference No. 8138 (10-0255)
C: Male, DOB 3/2000, Reference No. 8136 (10-0253)

The siblings were voluntarily surrendered by their older siblings. They were orphaned by their birthmother and birthfather. The older siblings stood as their parents but they cannot provide the needs of the children. A is a healthy and active boy. He is always excited to attend his classes. He can read simple sentences in English but still has problems in reading and understanding long paragraphs and stories in English. He can cope up with all of his lessons. He also likes to dance, draw, and play sports such as basketball, volleyball and badminton. He also likes to read and spends time reading books and comics at the library. At home, he is responsible and performs his assigned tasks. He has good relationships with his roommates and his siblings. He offers his help to others when needed. In terms of personal cleanliness, he keeps good hygiene and is organized with his personal belongings. The child dreams of becoming a doctor and giving free medical services to needy people.

B is the twin brother of child A. He is performing well at school. He can read will in Filipino but is slow in reading English. He listens well to his teachers and participates in class discussions. At home he is responsible and can do all his household chores very well. He likes to dance and performs during activities at the center. He also likes to play badminton, volleyball, and basketball. He is now conscious of his looks and maintains good hygiene. He is organized with his things and dos not like when others play with his toys without permission. He has a good relationship with other children and respects adults. He also maintains a good relationship with his brothers and is caring towards them. He dreams of becoming a policeman someday and protecting people from harm.

C is noted to be a fast learner compared to his classmates. He can easily understand his lessons and is very participative in class discussions. Like his older brothers, he likes to dance and is good at it. At home, he is responsible and helps the younger children. He can perform his tasks without supervision and has the initiative in performing tasks. The child likes to spend time with his brothers and feels secure when he is with them. C dreams to be a carpenter and build houses for different people. (Based from September 2010 Child Study Report.)

A: Female, DOB 7/17/98, Reference No. 9573 (11-0265)

B: Female, DOB 9/29/99, Reference No. 8574(11-0266)
C: Male, DOB 6/4/00, Reference No. 8575 (11-0267)

The children were voluntarily surrendered by their birthmother. The birthmother felt that she cannot provide for the needs of the children especially the medical attention needed for child C. Child A is described as joyful, obedient, lovable and respectful. She is always smiling and can mingle with other children, staff and guests of the center. She avoids conflict by walking away or relaying any issues to her caregivers. At school, she is focused and is active in class activities. She reviews her notes and finishes her assignments. She can write legibly and read English and Filipino words. She needs practice in her reading and writing. She tries her best to speak English as she is inspired by her teacher who speaks English well. She is active in church and loves to read the Bible and memorize verses. She aspires to become a nurse in the future.

Child B is sweet, jolly and softspoken. She likes to hug and say “I love you.” She has many friends in the center and likes to play with them. At school, she is an average study and she works hard to understand their lessons. She can read Filipino and English words and solve simple mathematics problems. She likes to sing and dance worship songs. She participates in devotions as well as in Sunday school. She is now trying to memorize Bible verses. She dreams of becoming a teacher someday.

Child C has atopic dermatitis and skin asthma. He is prescribed to apply lotion and use mild soap. He avoids eating chicken, egg and seafood. His skin condition does not hinder him to play sports and participate in activities. He enjoys reading books, stories in the Bible and playing with action figures. He interacts well with the other children and is sensitive to the feelings of others. At school he is doing well. He is good in math but needs efforts in reading and phonics. He loves to go to church every Sunday and actively participates in Sunday School. He dreams of becoming a city mayor to serve the people.

A: Male, DOB May 28, 1998

B: Female, DOB December 25, 1999
C: Female, DOB December 29, 2002
Reference Number 8704, 8705 and 8706

Child A, B and C are legitimate children born to.... After years of being married, [birthfather] ... became alcoholic and physically abusive to his wife. He left his family for another woman. A concerned citizen referred the children to the Children’s Shelter of Cebu for case management. Allegedly, the children were prone to accidents and abuse while they kept wandering from one place to another. The concerned citizen advised the birthmother to temporarily refer her children in a child caring institution for proper case management.

Child A is curious about many things. He read experiments and asks questions. He gets along well with other children but has the tendency to manipulate younger children. He is learning to play guitar and drums at school. He is observed to be honest and responsible in household chores. Child B is good in dancing and gymnastics. She is learning to play the flute and is an active participant in extracurricular activities at school. She enjoys doing puzzles and crafts. Child C is making good progress at school. She tends to care more on social aspects than academic. She learns things quickly. She has established positive relationship with other children. She smiles and easily laughs.

A: Male, DOB October 30, 1997, Reference No. 8327

B: Female, DOB June 21, 2001, Reference No. 8328
C: Female, DOB February 24, 2007, Reference No. 8326
D: Male, DOB February 24, 2007, Reference No. 8325

The siblings were voluntarily surrendered by their birthmother. The birthfather’s whereabouts has been unknown since the birth of the youngest child.

A was assessed to have mild hearing loss on his left ear. He was diagnosed with obliterated middle ear, complications of recurrent acute otitis media infection secondary to conductive hearing loss. The problem was permanent and the doctor recommended necessary preventive measures to avoid infection that could cause further damage on his left ear. He was assessed to have an Average cognitive functioning. He is described as a bright and inquisitive child. He learns quickly but sometimes can be uncooperative with his teacher. He can speak in Cebuano and in English. He shows respect and follows the rules in the center. He has a good relationship with his siblings.

B is an active girl. She likes jump rope activities and playground games. She also enjoys learning dances at school. Academically, she is working hard to learn her school lessons. She sometimes need reminder to listen to her teacher and to do things in appropriate sequence. She asks many questions and seeks answer in appropriate ways. She prefers to speak in Cebuano but can also converse in English.

C likes to color and scribble. She can hold a crayon in a pincer grasp. She takes pride in feeding herself. She likes choosing her clothes and can dress herself with minimal assistance. She can take a bath, brush her teeth and use the toilet with minimal assistance. She loves to be cuddled and enjoys sitting in one’s lap while having a conversation or when reading a book. She both has good understanding of Cebuano and English. She can speak in full sentences and is asking many questions.

D likes to scribble with crayons and draw long lines on the cement using chalk. He enjoys feeding himself but sometimes allow adult to feed him. He still needs help in bathing, brushing his teeth and using the toilet. He likes to imitate the actions of his caregivers and to watch the activities around him. He is also showing imaginative play. He can understand both English and Cebuano language. His vocabulary continues to grow.

A: Female, DOB July 25, 1997, Reference No. 8014 (10-0131)

B: Male, DOB September 27, 1998, Reference No. 8015 (10-0132)

The children were physically abused [sensitive background information; contact Hand In Hand for more information]. The children were first referred in a center catering for abuse children. The children stayed in the center for four (4) years until they were referred to their present child caring agency.

Child A ...[sensitive background information; please contact Hand In Hand] is cheerful and responsible. She relates well with other children and with the visitors of the center. She follows instructions from her caregivers and performs her assigned tasks. She has learned to identify her mistakes, learn from it, and ask forgiveness. She is also observed to show spiritual growth as she practices praying, reading the Bible, worshipping and participating in activities with such joy and great interest. Based on her psychological report, she intellectually functions within the Average range.

B is respectful and has a good sense of humor. Most of the time, he is the center of attention among the boys of his age because he can make them laugh. At school, he is doing well and excels in Filipino followed by English, Mathematics and Makabayan subjects. He is doing his best to read because he loves Bible reading. At home, he performs his assigned chores and can attend to his needs. Based on his psychological report, in terms of intellectual functioning, he appears to be adequately developed compared to children of his own age.

A: Female, DOB October 1, 1996, Reference No. 8573

B: Male, DOB October 1, 2004, Reference No. 8574
C: Male, DOB October 1, 2002, Reference No. 8575

The children were declared legally available for adoption. Their birthfather died in 2006 and left their birthmother to raise her children. The birthmother looked for the relatives of the birthfather to sought assistance. However, she was not able to locate them. She left her children to a certain lady and promised to get the custody of her children once she finds a job. However, the birthmother did not return and the case of the children was reported to the authorities. The children were placed in the institution for proper care and case management.

A is a girl that always has a smile on her face. She likes to dress in comfortable clothes. She is being taught on how to dress appropriately for her age. She related well with the other children in the center. She expresses herself through writing and talking to her friends. She is diligent in performing her tasks and is helpful to others. She is observed to be loving and caring to her siblings. The child is assessed to have low level intellectual capacity and has very low self esteem. She is currently enrolled in the home program to have individualized teaching. She is also exposed to different activities to increase her self esteem. She aspires to become a teacher someday.

B is an active child. He is assessed to have very short attention span and is hyperactive which makes him more out of focus. He is also observed to have low self esteem. He is now a Grade 1 pupil and his teacher reports that understand his lessons and follows simple instructions. He however gets distracted easily. He participates in the Filipino Martial Arts training where he is a yellow belt holder. His instructor shares that he has good attitude and behavior. He has the potential to become a good master. He wants to become a soldier in the future.

C is described as a jolly and friendly child. He likes to be cuddled and embraced. He is a grade pupil. He can identify the alphabet and pronounce it well. He likes playing with cars and trains. He is a fan of Spiderman, Batman and Ben 10. Based from his psychological report, he has delays on his socio-emotional and communication scale and is below his expected cognitive performance. He is engaged in different activities to develop his interpersonal skills and joins the daily tutorial to help him with his lessons. He dreams of being a soldier someday.

A: Male, DOB December 25, 1994, Reference No. 7364 (08-0924)
B: Male, DOB August 24, 1997, Reference No. 7365 (08-0925)
The children are orphaned by their birthfather while their birthmother suffers from a mental problem. The children were seen roaming around town by a local pastor. The birthmother also signed the DVC during her lucid moment and after discussing to her the implications of the DVC. A is a helpful and obedient child. The child has strabismus and it is too late to correct his eyes. He was given a pair of glasses to help him with his vision but the glasses were always broken or missing. At home, the child is a bit timid and needs encouragement to speak out more. He seldom gets involve in fights but is easily influenced by other children. He commits mistakes but easily accepts corrections. He needs more motivation to study as well as in addressing his personal hygiene. He has good relationship with the other children and especially with his brother. B is a playful and active child. His being a teaser is being minimized and he follows corrections and instructions. But when he is upset, he does not follow his caregivers. At home, the child is helpful and responsible to his chores. His personal hygiene has improved but still needs more work. At school, he passed his classes but his grades are quite low. He is capable of getting high grades if given with adequate supervision.

A: Male, DOB June 7, 1996, Ref. No. : 8852 (12-0141)
B: Female, DOB June 7, 1997, Ref. No.: 8853 (12-0142)
The children were approximately 5 and 4 years old when they were found by a concerned citizen in one of the streets in Compostela, Cebu. The children were brought to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development office for proper child care management.

Child A: Child is physically healthy and active. He is approximately 15 years old and currently enrolled as Grade 7. He is regularly attending his classes and actively doing his assignments. He is fairly well in quantitative reasoning but his verbal skills are below par. His intellectual functioning is average level. He likes dancing and basketball. He has a good relationship with his co- residents and house parents. He is respectful and able to establish good relationship with other people. He looks after the younger children at the center. He likes the idea of having a family of his own.

Child B: Child is physically healthy and active. She is approximately 14 years old and currently enrolled as 3rd year High School. She is attending her class regularly and she is one of the top ten in her class when she was 2nd year High School. Her verbal comprehension falls below the average range and also below average in numerical reasoning. Her intellectual functioning is below average. She is graceful dancer and also loves to sing. She is God- fearing and respectful. She is humble and loveable teenager.

Half-brothers: DOB 5/2/97 and 2/28/09, Ref. No 8827 and 8835
The children are half siblings who currently reside in two different institutions. They were declared legally available for adoption. The birthmother was alleged to have mental illness. The elder child’s birth father died. The father of the younger brother is unknown. The elder child is a Grade 4 pupil in public school. He has low average intellectual functioning. He receives help from his house parents if he needs assistance in his studies. He can write simple paragraphs and solve simple math problems. He likes reading books and watching cartoons. He is respectful and gets along well with other children. The younger brother likes to run around the dormitory and plays with other children well. He communicates in broken sentences. At bedtime, he sways his head until he falls asleep. He is attentive in watching games of older children.

A: Female, DOB September 12, 1995, Reference No. 8880 (12-0169)

B: Male, DOB September 3, 2001, Reference No. 8881 (12-0170)
C: Male, DOB, February 23, 2003, Reference No. 8882 (12-0171) D: Male, DOB October 13, 2004, Reference No. 8883 (12-0172)
The children were referred by their maternal grandparents to City Social Development Office (CSDO) of Buhangin District, Davao City due to their incapability to take care of the children. Their biological parents left them since 2004 and never came back. The father’s whereabouts is unknown while the mother is already living with her new family. The CSDO social worker along with the grandparents referred the children to an institution for proper case management.

B: He is now 11 years and 11 months old. He is currently enrolled as Grade 3 pupil. He has difficulty in learning academic skills but through tutorials he was able to cope up. He showed interest in schooling and participates in classroom activities. He likes to play basketball and has been part of the class team. He is described as playful, responsible and respectful. He actively participates in doing household chores and attends to his assignments without complains. He also participates in spiritual activities. He dreamed of becoming a fireman or seafarer someday.

C: He is now 9 years and 6 months old. He is currently enrolled as Grade 3 pupil together with his older borther. It was his first time to attend school since he came to the institution. He also has difficulty in learning academic skills but through tutorials he was able to catch up. He is a fast learner but has difficulty in concentration. He is very responsible when it comes to school assignments.

A: M, 16 years, 5 months, 7061
B: M, 14 years, 11 months, 7062
C: F, 13 years, 1 month, 7063
D: 10 years, 6 months, 7064

The siblings were orphaned by their birthmother. Due to the death of their mother, their father worked the whole day to sustain the needs of his family. The children were left alone at home and were neglected. The children did not go to school, were sick and malnourished. The children’s plight reached the knowledge of the municipal social worker who, for concern on the children’s safety, facilitated their referral to the institution. The birthfather eventually voluntarily surrendered the children since he cannot provide their need.

A: M, DOB March 16, 2000

B: F, DOB February 13, 2003
C: M, DOB March 20, 2005
Ref. No. : A- 8923 (12-0212), B- 8921 (12-0210) , C- 8922 (12-0211)

The children were voluntarily surrendered by the biological mother due poverty condition. Through the help of her cousin who is a volunteer in a child caring agency, the children were referred for proper case management. The children’s birth father who is married did not acknowledge paternity over his children. The birthmother died of kidney failure and ovarian cancer in August 2011.

Child A: Child is now 12 years and 5 months old. He is physically active and spontaneous person. At present he is being assessed to know the condition of his left ear. He was diagnosed of mild hearing loss on his right ear and mild to moderate conductive hearing loss in the left ear. The child is advised for yearly audiometry. Child enjoys outdoor games such as basketball, badminton, baseball and football. He has a good hygiene and independently washes his own clothes. He is currently in Grade 3 level. He is described by his teacher as punctual, obedient and eager to learn. He started to read Tagalog and English. He is a happy child and has several friends. He is one of the dancers in the center and church. His IQ level is low average.

Child B: Child is now 9 years and 6 months old. She is happy, active and affectionate child. She is healthy and has a good hygiene. She enjoys her studies and attends tutorial class. She can read Tagalog and English. She wants to become nurse someday. Her IQ level is slow learner. She is sweet and has several friends. She enjoys outdoor activities. She is strong willed person.

Child C: Child is now 7 years and 5 months old. He is active and enjoys swimming and running with his siblings. Child has mild wasting (89. 5%) with height for his age based on Waterlowe’s classification. Nutritional build up was suggested. Child’s teacher complimented him for being eager to learn although he has short attention span. He continues to learn the alphabet. He can identify words like dog, cat, mat, and sad. He can draw and color. He holds pencil and crayon in a correct position. During free time he memorizes bible verses. He recites intonation with confidence. He enjoys attending school. His teacher described him as responsible student. His caregivers described him as loving, sweet and respectful. His IQ level is low average.

A: F, DOB 8/25/03
B: M, DOB 8/25/07
Reference numbers 8778 (12-0067) and 8779 (12-0068)

The children were orphaned by their birthmother. Their birthfather left the children in the custody of their neighbor. At present, the whereabouts of the birthfather is unknown. The neighbor sought assistance of the authorities as he has no means to support the children. The children were referred to an institution for proper care and case management. The children were placed in two foster families. The first foster family had difficulty managing the behavior of Child A, thus they were placed in another foster family. In their second foster family, it was noted by the foster mother that the children manifested sexual acting out behavior. It was decided to separate the children while undergoing therapeutic interventions. They attend counseling sessions and play therapy to help them express their feelings and address their sexualized behavior. At present child A is in a foster family while Child B is in the institution. Though living separately, the children see each other regularly. No other sexualized behavior was reported. Child A enjoys dancing, playing ball games and running. She can perform simple household chores and attend to her personal care needs. She attends tutorial lessons at home. She can write letters, numbers, and draw simple objects. She is affectionate and loves to be hugged and cuddled. The child was assessed to have intellectual functioning in the Intellectually Deficient category. Child B enjoys running, jumping, and dancing. He can do simple household chores with minimal supervision. He attends Day Care sessions in the center. He can solve simple puzzles, match colors, and name different animals. He has difficulty memorizing and identifying colors, numbers, and letters. Based on the psychological report, his personality profile depicts an impulse driven child who seems to be lacking in restrain and appears to act by his own urge. Proper training and guidance was recommended.

Boys born 7/4/98 and 1/8/04
Reference Numbers 8734 (12-0023) and 8735 (12-0024)
The children were orphaned by their birthmother. The birthfather left the family when the children were still young. When he returned and looked for his family, he was surprised about the death of his wife and the condition of the children. He decided to surrender the children for adoption. He cannot provide the needs of the children and felt that the children will have a better future if adopted. Child A is a second grade student in the home school program of the center. His teacher report that he improved in his academic performance and tries his best to catch up with their lessons. He has a good relationship with his co-children in the center. He is open in sharing his thoughts and feelings with caregivers. When frustrated or sad, he usually cries and stays quiet for a moment. He has a good relationship with his brother. Child B is on his second level in the home school program of the center. His teachers report that he copes up with the lessons and has a great potential when given more supervision and training. He speaks fluently and expresses his thoughts clearly with his caregivers. He is affectionate and likes giver caregivers hugs and say “I love you” to them.

Ref. No. : A- 8679 (11-0371)

B- 8678 (11-0370)
DOB/ Sex : A- January 2, 2002/ Male
B- January 2, 2003/ Male
The children were only 6 and 5 years old when they were found roaming round on January 2, 2008. They cannot remember where they came from and the names of their parents. That same day, the Barangay officials facilitated their referral to a child caring agency.

Child A: He likes collecting toys. He likes to draw things and objects he usually sees on his surroundings. He likes to read books to practice his reading and comprehension skills. He likes Math and Filipino subjects. He enjoys being with his friends and sharing their class lessons. He is close to his younger brother. He expresses his love to him by sharing his toys and helping him in his assignments. He is responsible, obedient, sweet and affectionate to the house parents. He is 10 years old and currently in Grade 2. His psychological test states that he has minimal cognitive and developmental delays for his age. He is looking forward to have his own family. He is physically healthy.

Child B: He is playful and energetic. He likes to play with his classmates. He is very close to his brother. He is 9 years and currently in Grade 2. He has a hard time reading Filipino and English words. But he is trying his best in his studies. He is responsible and has initiatives in doing household chores. His psychological test states that he exhibits a number of cognitive and developmental delays for his age. He is looking forward to have his own family. He is physically healthy.

A: Female, DOB March 14, 1999, Reference number 9028
B: Female, DOB April 30, 2000, Reference number 9029
C: Male, DOB August 7, 2001, Reference number 9031
D: Female, DOB January 10, 2003, Reference number 9030

The children’s birthfather was incarcerated. This prompted the birthmother to look for a job and raise their five children. The birthmother left the children in the care of the maternal grandparents to look for a job. However, the birthmother did not return. The maternal grandparents had difficulty providing the needs of the children. The children were referred to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. They were admitted in an institution for proper care and case management. Child A is a grade six pupil in a public school. She enjoys going to school and participating in class discussions. She has a good relationship with her classmates as well as with her peers. Based on her psychological evaluation, she has below average intellectual functioning and has a positive self-concept. She is able to comply with rules and expectations in school and at home. Child B is a grade five pupil in a public school. She enjoys attending school and had satisfactory performance. She can easily follow instructions and perform simple household chores. She has a good relationship with the other children and respects her caregivers. She was assessed to have average intellectual functioning. Child C is a grade three pupil in a public school. He is playful and active. He sometimes has petty fights with children his age. He defends himself and reasons out when confronted. He listens when reprimanded. He enjoys dancing and singing. He was assessed to have below average intellectual functioning. Child D is a grade three pupil in a public school. She regularly attends her classes and is reported to be doing well. She can do her assignments with minimal assistance from her caregivers. She is report to show temper tantrums when in conflict with another child. Individual counseling and group activities that promote good values are regularly done. This has helped lessen her temper tantrums. She was assessed to have below average intellectual functioning.

Child   DOB/Sex                     Ref. No.
A         March 14, 1999/Male             9074
B          April 30, 2000 /Female           9075
C         August 7, 2001 /Female           9076
D         January 10, 2003/Female       9077

The children are orphaned by the birthmother while the birthfather’s whereabouts are unknown. The children were left with the maternal grandparents. However, they could not provide the needs of the children thus they sought the assistance of an institution. The maternal grandparents voluntarily surrendered the children for adoption.

Child A is a grade seven pupil in a private school. He is reported to cope with his lessons and shows interest in learning. The child is assessed to have average intellectual functioning. He enjoys physical activities, listening to music and singing. The child is observed by his house parents to quarrel with the other children in the center. When provoked he can be aggressive. He has the tendency to control and influence the children at the center. Regular reminders and counseling are provided to the child to help him with his aggressive tendencies and express his feeling in appropriate ways.

Child B is a grade 6 pupil in a private school. She copes with her lessons and can manage to do her tasks without supervision. She is motivated to put effort in her studies. She is assessed to have average intellectual functioning. At the center, she acts as a big sister to the younger children especially to her siblings.

Child C at the time of admission was diagnosed with an infection of the central nervous system and meningitis. The child was treated and has recovered from the infection. At present, she is a preparatory level 2 student in a private school. She is reported to have very short attention span. She can identify few alphabets, numbers, animals, objects and colors. She was assessed to have mild mental retardation. At the center, she is described as a sweet girl and likes to be hugged. She can perform simple chores and could attend to her personal needs.

Child D was assessed to have global developmental delay with autistic features. She can understand simple instructions and can attend to her personal hygiene with minimal assistance. She still cannot talk in sentences but is starting to use words like “mama”, “dada”, “no” and “open”. She enjoys playing with the other children and loves to be hugged. She is described as a happy girl that smiles a lot.

Child   DOB/Sex                     Ref. No.
A         November 30, 1999/Female   9098 (12-0387)
B          December 1, 2004/Female      9099 (12-0388)

The children were abandoned by their birthmother. No information was gathered about the identity and whereabouts of the birthfather. The children were left in the custody of their maternal grandfather who in turn neglected the children. The maternal grandfather was reported to physically abuse the children. A concerned citizen saw the condition of the children and referred their case to an institution.

Child A is a second grade home school student. She is reported to have initiative to learn and enjoys her school activities. Based on her psychological report, she has intellectual functioning within the Dull Normal range. At home she is friendly, cheerful and very caring towards the younger children. She enjoys attending her ballet classes.

Child B is being home schooled. She is observed to enjoy coloring, doing puzzles, singing and doing art. She has difficulty focusing in mathematics and reading. Based on her psychological report, she has intellectual functioning within the dull normal range. She enjoys watching movies and playing with her friends and with babies.

Child DOB/Sex Ref. No.

A February 20, 2003/Male 8983 (12-0272)
B February 21, 2005/Male 8984 (12-0273)

The children were voluntarily surrendered by their birthmother. The birthfather died in a vehicular accident and left the birthmother raising her children alone. The birthmother has no stable source of income and was not able to provide for the needs of the children.

Child A is described as energetic, creative and playful. He loves playing soccer and riding his bike. He enjoys building structures with blocks, making kites, and playing board games. At home and at school, he has difficulty complying with directions from his teacher and caregivers. He wants to be independent and make his own decisions. Based on his psychological report, he has highly developed powers of observation and reasoning skills.

Child B is described as child who never runs out of energy. As a result, he fractured his left arm and affected his 4^th and 5^th digits of his left hand. The fingers are always bent and have weak grasps. He continues to work with a physical therapist to improve range of motion. He is friendly and can communicate his thoughts easily. Based on his psychological report, he has above average intellectual capacity. The child was reported to be involved in inappropriate behavior. The child receives counseling and his counselors reported that they were not episodes of sexual acting out nor manifestations of abuse in their background. The child is being taught how to interact appropriately especially to his female peers.

A- December 11, 2001/ Female, Ref No. 9160

B- September 10, 2006/ Female, Ref No. 9161
The children were voluntarily surrendered by the biological mother due poverty condition. She is mute but could slightly hear. Through the help of Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Bulacan, the children were referred to an institution for proper case management. The children’s birthfather is unknown since the birthmother had an affair with different men in order to survive.

Child A: She is a healthy and active child. She likes to join different kinds of activities done in and outside of the center. She is described by her teachers and caregivers as industrious, responsible, kinds and generous. She likes to persevere in her studies. She has leadership ability. She is close to her younger sister and expresses her love to her by sharing her toys, food and helping her to simple assignments. She is a good dancer and likes to join different school activities.

Child is functioning within Low Range based on her psychological evaluation. She is hopeful to have parents that will love them.

Child B: She is a healthy and active child. She can count from one to forty and able to identify different colors. She can write her full name and knows her age.

She can do self- help skills like putting her shoes on, dressing and undressing. She enjoy running and playing with her playmates with their dolls and teddy bears. Per psychological evaluation, she is functioning in the average range.

Male born 8/20/99, Ref No. 9154

Female born 4/22/02, Ref N. 9155

The birthmother left the children in the custody of their birthfather. The birthfather had difficulty providing the needs of the children and sought the help of an institution. The birthfather decided to relinquish his parental rights over the children for adoption. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother. The birthmother appeared in the institution and disclosed that she cannot take custody of her children as she has no stable income. She decided to surrender children for adoption. Child A is a Grade 5 pupil in a public school. He is reported to do well in school. He can read and write English and Filipino words. His teachers reported that he is active in class discussions. The child is assessed to have average intellectual functioning. At the center, he relates well with the other children. He does not want conflict with other children would refer to his house parents when confronted by his peers. He enjoys playing basketball, football, and indoor games. He aspires to become a scientist in the future. Child B is a Grade 3 pupil in a public school. She is reported to have good grades in school. She actively participates in class discussion and has good relationship with her classmates. The child is assessed to have low intellectual functioning. At the center, she has good relationship with the other children. She follows instructions of her house parents but would at times refuse to comply. She enjoys playing with her friends, swimming and indoor games.
For more information and to find out if these children are still available, please contact Hand In Hand at Indiana@hihiadopt.org.

STUCK Film Tour for International Adoption

2013-04-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

The "STUCK" film continues to make a tour of the country. Have you seen the film yet? The tour features an award-winning documentary about families trying to navigate the international adoption process.

From "Both Ends Burning":

"To see the trailer for the film, learn more about both the tour and our volunteer needs, and to purchase tickets for the screening, please go to www.bothendsburning.org. As the momentum gathers, we sold out in Phoenix earlier and again in Seattle... Fortunately were able to secure a larger theater at the last minute, but that’s not always possible, so we encourage you to purchase tickets online in advance

"STUCK is a testament to the power of human love and the undeniable connection between parent and child – even when separated by thousands of miles and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. It is a love story of a different kind that celebrates the human spirit, the loyalty and the devotion that bonds these parents and kids together as families."

Hand In Hand encourages you to explore this organization and their new film at www.BothEndsBurning.org

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy MS

2013-04-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a little boy who just turned six on April 13. He is waiting in the Philippines.

This little guy was born in 2007, and he has a repaired cleft lip and repaired cleft palate, along with mild bilateral hearing loss, and moderate intellectual delays. It was noted more than once in his child study, though, that some of his learning delays must be viewed in light of the fact that he has never been in an education program, even one to teach him the basics of numbers, colors and shapes. It was recently recommended to put him in a special education program, so he will have the opportunity to learn. He is generally noted to be a happy, friendly little guy, who was a favorite with the doctors who consulted about his clefts. He gets into normal, petty arguments with his friends occasionally, and sometimes can be stubborn with his caretakers, but is noted to be a child who can be corrected when necessary. He is an active boy, enjoying bike riding, and dancing, and he is noted to be outgoing with adults as well. He speaks with a somewhat nasal sound still, as a result of the recently repaired cleft, but he is much easier to understand than before and does not have trouble communicating.

This little boy will do best with a family who has access to doctors who can follow up on his cleft as he grows.

For his picture and full file, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org, and ask about Boy M.S.

Finally Home Spotlight! Favorite First Memories with our Adopted Teenager from the Philippines

2013-04-11T11:26:00.001-07:00

We would like to focus on some of the thoughts, experiences, and adventures of our families who are finally home with their children (Finally Home Spotlights), or from older adoptees who wish to write their own stories (Adoptees Speak Spotlights). Do you have a story or favorite memory to share? We would love to hear it. Send it to HandInHand@hihiadopt.org with "KidsWait Story" in the subject line.

We start these posts off with a list from a family home with a teenaged daughter hosted during the 2011 Philippines Hosting Program, and home permanently to her parents and little siblings in early 2012:

Favorite First Memories with Our Adopted Teenager from the Philippines

-Seeing her drop everything with delight when she came into the house for the first time to see that her choir director mom had a home organ. Her little siblings about had to pry her away from there to take her to see her room and the rest of the house.

-Hearing her sing duets with her siblings, and enthusiastically learn to play music.

-Watching her joy at getting her very first bike, and her pride at being able to take a bike ride with her Dad.

-Looking out the window just in time to see her five-year-old brother flying by on a bike for the first time, with her running beside him, teaching him how to ride.

-Seeing her experience static electricity for the first time...a truly shocking experience!

-Watching her see fireflies for the first time. She and our little kids spent two solid hours the first night they were out, chasing them, photographing them, and exclaiming over how marvelous they were!

-Watching her nightly ritual of hide and seek with her toddler sister, involving much squealing and laughing.

-Watching her discover that she really DOES like to read; all she needed was a good library and a Mom to be her "audio dictionary" if she got stuck on a word.

-Hearing her say over a pre-algebra lesson with Mom, "I never understood this before, but now it is easy."

-Experiencing those ESL (English as a Second Language) moments that make life never dull, like the pronoun reversal or the classic F/P switch. She looked very suspiciously at the Fig Newtons when we offered her one, finally asking why they were called "Pig Newtons." We agreed that we should enunciate better!

-Hearing her stories of her life before coming here, about her friends, her caretakers, the holidays they celebrated, and the activities they did.

-Noticing the loving way she talked about the waiting kids with special needs whom she helped to care for.

-Spending not-so-quiet evenings at home, watching as our little kids danced around the living room as she played everything from marches to movie tunes loudly enough to shake the house.

-Seeing her delight when she found out we had started the process to adopt a boy she grew up with, who was obviously like a younger sibling to her.

-Watching her hug her littlest sister, and hearing her say, "I'm so glad to have a baby sister. I never expected to have a baby sister!"

-Hearing her call us Mom and Dad!

--R.I. and M. I. (Indiana)

Hosting Family Needed Immediately!

2013-04-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

MATCHED! Hand In Hand just received word from the Philippines that this boy is still available for hosting. A family is needed to commit to hosting him immediately so his passport can be processed in time.

This child would be a good fit for a family with children, and his social worker has asked that he be placed where he will have siblings if possible. He is 14 years old, and he is waiting in the Philippines. This is his last chance for hosting as he will age out in 2014.

Boy 7080, born August 20, 1998, is a shy boy, enjoying riding his bike and playing with the other children. What makes him stand out is his exceptionally tender heart for the toddlers and infants. He is noted to love to carry them around and care for them, and he falls naturally into a big brother role... MATCHED!

This young man could be hosted during the Summer Hosting Program. For his full file and picture, please contact Vickie immediately at Indiana@hihiadopt.org and ask about Boy 7080.

Philippines Orphan Hosting Program for Summer 2013

2013-03-28T07:24:00.002-07:00

The Philippines Orphan Hosting Program for 2013 has only a short window of time left for families to join before it is too late for the children's passports to be processed in time to travel. Hand In Hand is very excited that so many children have been matched for hosting already! We need families to commit to the remaining children right away. Children on the Special Homefinding List could potentially be added to the hosting program as well if a family is interested. Contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org or 260-636-3566 for full files and pictures of these kids.

Families within driving distance of Indiana, Colorado, Minnesota or Florida (where we have Hand In Hand offices) may host children. Other families may adopt these children through the Special HomeFind process. If you cannot host a child, consider donating to offset the airfare of the second and third member of sibling sets, so they are not at a disadvantage in finding a family: YouCaring Hosting Scholarships

Children Waiting for Hosting in 2013

JC and JeC – brother and sister born October 1999 and June 2002: These children came from a difficult background, and their time in the institution has been a blessing to them as they learned how to be loved. JC is a good student, earning second honor in second grade, and maintaining good academic standing in subsequent grades, though he says he sometimes needs help with math. He does his chores consistently. He has difficulty relating to other children, but has been improving with the consistent discipline that he did not have previous to his admittance to the center. He was introduced to Christianity and will now volunteer to pray and knows Bible stories, and he hopes he and his sister will have parents of the same faith. JeC does well at school and gets a good report from her teacher. She helps out with chores, and is respectful and obedient to the staff. She is noted to be a "reporter" to the staff when other children break the rules, and sometimes has trouble getting along with the other children, but the behavior is being minimized with consistent discipline. These children have made huge strides in a loving environment with consistent discipline, and they would thrive in a home where they could be the only children and receive the loving training they need to excel in all areas of their lives.

JML – boy born April 2001: JML had a difficult situation without a permanent home before he was found and brought into care. He likes creative activities, and was noted to even take his drawing instruments to bed, so he could do art there, and he was later enrolled in a painting program. He learned to get along well with his peers, and to speak respectfully to adults. He can handle his daily tasks and chores, but sometimes needs reminders and supervision from his caretakers. He is functioning in the low average range intellectually as of the report, but it is noted that the test result was influenced by the fact that he did not have schooling before admittance to the center, so he is expected to progressively improve as his studies progress. He idealizes having a happy family, but still is insecure about how adults will treat him, and sometimes shows attention-seeking behavior or a tendency to test an adult's patience until he sees that he can trust the adult to be loving even while giving consistent discipline. He can apologize and promise to do better. JML is happy about the possibility of being adopted and having a family, and he hopes for a family with siblings so he will have children to play with. He would thrive in a family that can provide him with guidance, consistency and love, while fostering his artistic abilities, which are noted to be increasing with continued lessons.

JM – boy born February 2000: JM has been in care with multiple placements, and he remembers the traumatic experience of his father’s death.He is a high energy child, and a placement disrupted within five days because he was thought to be ADHD, but further evaluation in his regular environment indicates that he is in normal limits.It is thought that he may be experiencing post-traumatic behaviors rather than ADHD, and positive methods of discipline were recommended.He responded very well to this consistent, positive discipline, particularly to a star chart method, and, while he has occasionally had sibling rivalry, he has been noted throughout his childhood to be habitually kind, caring and protective toward young children, at one time becoming attached to a particular toddler that he would go out of his way to help care for.He serves Mass and leads the Rosary.JM now needs an experienced family who understands his needs and potential, and who will provide loving, consistent discipline, stability, and permanency.

CR, AR and JR – sister, brother and sister born October 1998, October 1999 and July 2001: Child A is a grade V pupil. Her teacher reported that she has poor reading skills but shows willingness to improve her reading ability. She is now doing her assignments diligently. She just needs attention and consistent reminders from houseparents to help her improve her reading and communication skills. She is observed to be shy with strangers. Child B is an active little boy. He loves mingling with friends and spent time playing with them.He is observed to be responsible in doing his assigned tasks. Sometimes, he can be restless, naughty and noisy but when talked to he listens and shows willingness to be corrected and guided. He is now a grade I pupil. He has an average performance in all subjects. Child C is a grade II pupil. She is behaved and sits quietly in the class. She has a hard time coping with all the subjects as she lacks focus and attention in the lessons. She has the difficulty in reading as well. She loves to play with other children but prefers to be with his siblings. She is observed to be quiet and inexpressive most of the time. While with her friends, she talks and laughs with them. Her caregivers often encourage and motivate her to express her needs.

RF and LF – brothers born August 1998 and July 1999: Child A is currently a Grade III pupil. At school, he is trusted by his teacher to do run errands. He is doing well in his studies and has high grades in all his subjects. He participates in class discussion as well as school activities. At the center, child attends daily tutorial. He is consistent in carrying out tasks assigned to him, such as sweeping, mopping the floor, washing the dishes, washing his clothes and cleaning their room. He also assists the younger children in their school assignment and projects. Child likes to play outdoor games such as basketball and badminton. He plays with children his age. He likes watching DVD or TV shows like cartoons. Based on his psychological report, he has high self-concept and superior emotional intelligence. Child B is healthy and has a good appetite. He is currently a Grade V pupil and participates in class discussions. He knows how to read and write Tagalog and English words. He is kind and has good relationship with his classmates. He likes basketball, hopscotch, biking and chasing each other.

Children Already Matched for Hosting in 2013

JP -- 14 year old boy: MATCHED!

AY-- 12-year-old boy: MATCHED!

TA – boy born May 2002: MATCHED!

AO – boy born January 2002: MATCHED!

WS and WF – sisters born November 1998 and April 2000: MATCHED!

GA –Boy age 14: MATCHED!

CO– Boy born July 4, 2000: MATCHED!

GL – Girl age 14: MATCHED!

JP and JLC – brothers born May 2000 and December 2001: MATCHED!

--------------------------------------------

Are you unsure about what it "looks" like to adopt older children, especially older boys? See some of the resources available in the links on the left, watch the video below, or click on this link for some amazing testimony about how deeply older children desire a family: On My Own

(Blog link and video courtesy of Love Without Boundaries)

For more information, please contact your local Hand In Hand Office or Vickie Truelove at: 260-636-3566 or indiana@hihiadopt.org.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Siblings 9154 and 9155

2013-03-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a sibling group that could be included in the 2013 Philippines summer hosting program. Contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org immediately for more about these children, their pictures, and details about the hosting opportunity.

Child A: Male DOB August 20, 1999, Reference 9154
Child B: Female DOB April22, 2002, Reference 9155

The birthmother left the children in the custody of their birthfather. The birthfather had difficulty providing the needs of the children and sought the help of an institution.The birthfather decided to relinquish his parental rights over the children for adoption. Efforts were exerted to locate the birthmother. The birthmother appeared in the institution and disclosed that she cannot take custody of her children as she has no stable income. She decided to surrender her children for adoption.

Child A is a Grade 5 pupil in a public school.He is reported to do well in school. He can read and write English and Filipino words. His teachers reported that he is active in class discussions. The child is assessed to have Average intellectual functioning. At the center, he relates well with the other children. He does not want conflict with other children and would refer to his house parents when confronted by his peers. He enjoys playing basketball, football, and indoor games. He aspires to become a scientist in the future.

Child B is a Grade 3 pupil in a public school.She is reported to have good grades in school. She actively participates in class discussion and has good relationship with her classmates. The child is assessed to have Low intellectual functioning. At the center, she has good relationship with the other children. She follows instructions of her house parents but would at times, refuse to comply. She enjoys playing with her friends, swimming and indoor games.

Waiting Children in China - March 2013

2013-03-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on children waiting in China. Please contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org for more information about any of these children. See RainbowKids.com, Love Without Boundaries and the Mayo Clinic website for information about the medical conditions of these children.

Girl 301 M – born 8/10/09 - cleft lip and palate, congenital heart disease

Sex: female DOB: Aug.10 2009

State of health: cleft lip and palate, CHD

Category: abandoned baby

Intake date: Aug.10 2009

She was abandoned on the lawn north of South Entrance of a park, was picked up and sent to this institute by someone. PE on admission: poor growth, nutrition was not good, thin, ptosis of upper lid of both eyes, smaller rima oculi, flat and thin bridge of nose, left cleft lip and palate III, soft neck without power of resistance, strong heart sound, coarse murmur above III like blowing wind can be heard at apex of heart in period of contraction, no palpable swelling of liver and spleen, no deformity of spinal column and limbs with easy motion, no deformity of anus and genital organs.

Now she is 63cm in height, 6kg in weight, 39cm in head size,43cm in chest size. She is very cute and clever, the caretakers all like her very much. She never cries noisily, lies on bed or in the cradle to play alone when being full, lifts her hands, looks at them and plays them when being bored, turning them to and fro, utters some sound alone at times which others do not understand. Now we are training her function on all aspects.

Sealed by: Children’s Welfare Institute Nov.24 2010

Boy 320 J - born Aug 31 2006 - mild mental retardation and epilepsy

At 20:00 on Aug 30 2010, the common people report to 110 that there is a 4 years old boy left in a store. The Police Station Public Security Bureau received the report and reached the site immediately and did lots of reaches, and put the notices, but failed to find the birth parents and relatives, and confirmed his as the abandoned child. On the following day, the child was sent to this institute. On admission, according to the physical development, his birth date is estimated as Aug 31 2006. On admission, he has 118cm in height, 20 kg in weight, 50.50cm in head size, 55.5 cm in chest size, and 20 teeth. After admission, we did the tests on liver function, blood routine, 4 items of blood within one week. After that, he was arranged in Care Group 3.

The child is already 4 years old on admission. He always stares at the people with the eyes. He does not go out to play. And he does not like to talk. Being familiar after a period of time, the child gradually involve in the team. He is more active and optimistic. He likes to run and jump likes to play games. He can thread the little car with a string to pull. He likes to observe the outside world, and asks restlessly the aunts “what’s this? What’s that?” after being dressed in beautiful clothes, he can point at the clothes with little fingers and says to the aunts “aunt, beautiful”. Even though he is a little boy, he likes to flirt. He likes to be held by the aunts and bury the head in the breast of the aunt. When seeing the favorite objects, he will ask for it restlessly. He works hard and is full of ability. He can put on and off the clothes. He can help the classmates to put tidily. Whatever you tell him to do, as long as it belongs to his ability, he will be pleased to do. Every time when the aunts speak highly of him, he will smile happily, very cutely. He has 119cm in height, 22.5 kg in weight, 52cm in head size, 57cm in chest size, and 24 teeth at present. We already give him OPV for 3 times, DPT for 3 times, HBV for 3 times, MV for 1 time, DPT for 4 times, EMV for 3 times, HBV for 3 times, MV for 1 time. He has taken anti- epilepsy medicines. Now he recur the disease for 1-2 times per month.

At present, the child has been living care district no. 3, and there are more than 20 children who have the age from 5-14 years old. He gets up at 7:30 in the morning every day, wash on his own, has breakfast at 8:00 as congee and desserts, goes to special class at 9:00 to study children songs, writing, math, hand crafts, makes preparations for meals at 11:00, such as washing hands, preparing the chicken tools, has lunch at 11:30 , stable food as rice, supplementary with diet menu made by the nutritionists in the institute every day, such as fish, pork, chicken, eggs and vegetables, takes the nap from 11-13:30, then has fruits after getting up, goes to special classes at 14:00,and does reactive activity and sports, supper at 17:30 as rice, fried meals and soup, watch TV from 18:00-19:30, makes preparations for sleeping from 19:30 to 20, such as washing feet, drink milk, goes to bed at 20:00. He sleeps well. There are 2-3 times bath per week during the spring, autumn, and summer, bath every day during the summer. He is a naughty (AKA full of personality) little boy.

Social Welfare Institute

May 4 2012

Girl 220G – born 2/7/10 – ambiguous genitalia (karyotype：mos 46, XY[45]/45, X[15]) – on our list until 5/20/13

The one day old girl was picked up at the gate of Bureau of civil Affairs on Feb.8 2010. On the same day she was sent to this institute to be raised upon agreement of the civil affairs bureau. PE given to her by medical staff in this institute on admission found 43cm in height, 3.5kg in weight, 33cm in head size, 36cm in chest size, cunnus deformity, preliminary diagnosis: newborn with defection. According to her physical growth and umbilical part, medical staff in this institute decided her DOB as Feb.7 2010 .

Presently the child’s body and intellectual development is normal.

At the age of 1-2 months she can twinkle and watch slight light; at 3-4 months, she can turn over body, when amusing her, she would watch you, pay to sound; at 5-9 months, she can play her two hands before chest, when feel hungry or before sleep, she would like suck finger, can find sound direction, turn over body flexibly, can support upper body by hands and raise head; at 10-13 months, she can sit alone, often sit on the bed with listening music; at 14 months, she can stand against bed rails, walk around the bed, play with the near children and hand in hand with near children, rob near children quilt, sometimes she will make happy sound out when feel excite. When caretaker brings milk, she knows it is the time to drink, then she would cry until caretaker make the milk into her mouth. She can hold milk bottle on her own bed.

The child is quiet and cute. At the age of 2-4 months she would cry when feel hungry and respond to caretaker; at 5-10 months, she become interest in her own sound, always speak “yiyi, yaya” long tong on the bed; at 25 months, she is fond of caretaker amusing her. When you approach her bed and call her name, she would watch you and focus on you. She would smile to familiar people, but afraid of stranger and would cry; at 16 months, she can stand beside bed with listening music, watching caretaker’s expression. When listen her likable music, she would move body to dance, sometimes play toy quietly on her bed, when caretaker call her name she will smile happily, and then use hand to hide half face seem shy, whole body lying on the bed and watch you secretly, very cute.

On admission, she was diagnosed cunnus deformity, others are normal, never had operation since admission. Through checking Chromosome, Karyotype analysis results is mos 46, XY [45]/45, X[15], explanation is chimaera of two karyotype. Since admission she has not had severe diseases, suffered cold occasionally, has had fever, running nose and cough etc. at various degrees which were cured soon after the treatment by medical staff in this institute. She has no history of drug allergy.

The child has been vaccinated according to the children’s planned immunization program in her province. Now she has been vaccinated with BCG, OPV, DPT, MV, JEV, HBV with detail record.

Report Date: Nov.16 2011

Boy 220H – born January 8, 2011 - congenital hydrocephalus and brain ventricle after drainage; spinal meningocele; emboli loosening after surgery – on our list until 5/20/13

The child’s birthdate was estimated as Jan 8, 2011. He was picked up in the residential building opposite the County Transportation office. The local police station failed to find his parent and sent to Social Welfare Institute to be raised to this day. Diagnosis on admission: Spinal meningocele, hydrocephalus

When admission weight: 3.45kg, height: 48cm, head size: 33cm, chest size: 37cm

On June 22 2011 the child received V-P shunt and tethered spinal cord neurolysis in the neurosurgery department of Shanghai Children’s Medical Center affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School. On Jul 5 2011 he received ventriculo peritoneal shunt tube exploration and ventriculo peritoneal shunt because of pleural effusion. The operation was successful and he was healed well.

He is over 11 months old. He is clever, lovely, handsome, cute and adorable boy. All the caretakers like him. He likes being kissed by the caretaker, likes someone talking and playing with him, and likes waving his arm or clapping his hands when feeling happy and giggling. Every time when playing, we always hear his wonderful voice and sweet smile. Now he can pass the toy from one hand to other one; can bang the toy blocks together; can sit against objects; can drink milk with holding the milk bottle; can use the tube when drinking the yogurt; can call “mum”. And he likes watching TV.

The child has a routine life, deep sleep, good appetite and does not pick at the food. He is easy to satisfy.

At present height: 67cm, weight:8.5kg, chest size: 48.5cm head size:45.5cm, teeth: 4.

Report Date: Dec 23, 2011

Girl 109F – born 12/5/08 – underdevelopment of right hand, language delay – on our list until 4/9/13

The female, an abandoned child, was found across the street of original meat process factory on on 2008-12-9. The police officers received the report. Upon failing to find her birthparents with a lot of searching, the child was sent to our institute to be raised on 2008-12-25. The results of the physical exam done by our medical staff on admission were 50cm in height, 3.2kg in weight, 34cm in head size, 34cm in chest size. The preliminary diagnosis was underdevelopment of right hand, syndactyly of index finger, middle finger and ring finger. Her DOB was determined to be Dec. 5 2008 according to her growth and development. She has normal physical and mental development: At the age of 6 months, she held up head to look around when calling her. At the age of 1 year old, she could crawl and sit alone. At the age of 1.5 years, she could stand up while holding onto objects. At the age of 2 years, she could walk on her own. At the age of 3 years, she could eat food, wear clothes, take off shoes and eat food with a spoon. She likes hugging and she kisses your face. At the age of 1 year old, she could babble imitating adults’ words. When you say welcome, she would clap hands right away. At the age of 1.5 years, she could say simple words such as “dad, mom, and ayi”. At the age of 2 years, she understood instructions saying goodbye and thank you. At the age of 2.5 years, she could count numbers. At the age of 3 years, she could express her instinct needs via words and she enjoys attracting others’ attention. The child was diagnosed as underdevelopment of right hand, syndactyly of index finger, middle finger and ring finger on admission. She had chickenpox since admission; however, she is physically healthy and seldom gets sick, nor has she had drug allergies. she has been vaccinated regularly according to the requirements of the National Epidemic Prevention Department.

Report date: Aug.10 2011

Boy 1217 C –born 11/24/10 – spina bifida - on our list until 3/17/13

The child, a male, DOB: Oct.25 2010, is fostered in a loving family at present. On Nov.24 2010, the County public security bureau received the common people’s calling, saying a male baby aged 1 month was found in the village; a lot of search failed to find his birth parents, then he was sent to the orphanage to be raised.

On admission, his development and nutrition are in medium level; he has free motion of limbs, there can see a spina bifida cystica mass of skin of the waist, heart, abdomen and lungs auscultation found no murmur, diagnose of red cross hospital: congenital cleft spine.

He is an active and outgoing little boy. Now his life is regular: get up at 6:00, nap at 11:30-14:00, go to bed at 21:00; he has moderate sleep, when falling asleep he likes to suck fingers. He has 5 meals of milk a day, about 250ml; kinds of supplementary foods: fried dough twist, small steamed bread, egg, bread and all kinds of fruits and so on.

Now he can raise head when lying on stomach, can roll over alone, can sit alone freely. He can crawl, and he can crawl fast. He crawls from this side of bed to the other side for a while, then he turns back his head to make faces to adults. He is active, has quick reaction, fond of listening to music. His favorite activity is hide and seek, and he likes toys with music; he likes to smile very much; when meeting happy matters he can laugh a lot. He likes to communicate with people, likes to play with others, but if you let him to play alone, he can play carefully. He is very clever, and he can understand adults’ expression; sometimes he can tease adults, so people all like him very much.

Immunization: HBV: 2011-1-9, 2011-5-25; OPV: 2011-6-25; DPT: 2011-6-25. Above report is dated: July 28 2011

Girl 1217 D – born 1/20/11 – rash on face - on our list until 3/17/13 – per new information received 1/7/13 this child has serious delays

At 8:30 on Jan.20 2011 an abandoned female infant was picked up at the entrance of vocational school by a passer-by. The girl, a newborn infant, no physical abnormality which was to be checked, with no objects brought with her, was sent to the welfare institute by the police station.

On admission she was 50cm in height, 2.4kg in weight, 30cm in head size. On admission doctors’ PE results: the abandoned infant was newborn, had normal development, conscious mind, unclosed A-F, slightly yellow stained skin and sclera on the whole body which was not in accordance with the information in her file, the . doctors’ PE result should be accurate. After admission the staff named her and offered her scientific and reasonable feeding. 1 month later the child roughly adapted to the living and nursing environment in this institute, occasionally cried noisily, can cry aloud. At the age of 3 months she had good energy and eating, average sleep, slightly slow response to sound stimulation, can gaze at the objects teasing her with her eyesight. At the age of 6 months she can roll over from back to side, grasp things with her hands, had good free motion of limbs, can kick and tread with strength.

Now her height: 64cm, weight: 11.5kg, head size: 36cm. The child can adapt to living environment well, has a regular daily life, good appetite and sound sleep.

This institute vaccinates the child regularly according to the requirements of national epidemic prevention departments.

Date of report: July 17 2011

Boy 1205A – born 1/1/01 - Down Syndrome

The boy was abandoned at the small square of Railway Station on July 9, 2009. The male child was sent to our institute by Police Station, and his DOB was estimated as Jan.1 2001. He is active and extroverted, likes to integrate with other people, and is good at it; he also would act like a spoiled child to his favorite or familiar people, so cute. In life, he can take care of himself, can put on clothes and shoes, can have a meal alone, without any concerns; sometimes he would care adults; when he sees the aunt tried to stand, he would move a chair for her; he is fond of playing with toys, and would speak to himself while playing with toys; after that he can put toys back; when having a meal, he is quiet and clean, loves to eat meat and doesn’t like vegetables; he is fond of soup. He can adapt the life in the welfare institute and is willing to play games with other children. On admission he was 103cm in height, 16kg in weight, 45cm in head size and 53cm in chest size, anterior fontanel closed, average nutrition, tongue overhanging with salivation, 18 teeth, 5 Dental Caries, clear breathing sounds of both lungs, no enlargement of heart, HR 102bpm, strong heart sound, regular, no murmurs, soft and flat abdomen, no swelling of liver and spleen, no deformity of spine, no deformity of limbs, good movement, stubby fingers of both hands, simian line, normal urogenital system, physiological reflex existent, pathological reflex not educed, eyebrow spacing broadening, walk alone steadily, can speak simple words, not clearly, can understand others, can have a meal alone and can go to toilet alone. He agrees to be adopted by foreigners. Although he suffers from Downs syndrome, he is very active and lovely. We hope that he can live in a family soon.

Girl 1205B – born 1/1/01 – post-operative anal atresia, right aural deformity – on our list until 3/5/13

The girl was abandoned at a garage of Railway Station on Nov.29 2000. The Female child was sent to our institute by Public Security Bureau of this city. Her DOB was estimated as Jan.1 2001. PE on admission, she was 49cm in height, 2.9kg in weight, 33cm in head size and 33cm in chest size, anterior fontanel 2.0x2.0cm², flat and soft, no stained yellow of the skin, white skin, average nutrition, right aural deformity, normal auditory meatus, clear breathing sounds of both lungs without rales, no enlargement of heart, HR 120bpm, regular, no murmurs, mild abdominal distension, no swelling of liver and spleen, no deformity of spine, physiological curve existent, good movements of limbs, thorax symmetrical without deformity, no anus, with recess, no hernia; urogenital system: rectovestibular fistula; there are gas and defecation eduction at orificium fistulae; normal nervous reflex basically; clinical impression: 1. congenital anal atresia; 2. rectovestibular fistula; 3. congenital aural deformity. She has had four surgeries. On July 31 2012 she was diagnosed with hearing nerve injury on both sides, serious on right side. She has been vaccinated according to normal vaccination process after admission. She was a little introverted when she was young. Now under the help and teachers and aunts and the infection of children, she is quiet, smart, and has a ready smile; she is fairly active when she plays with familiar people; she can take good care of herself in life, and is organized and responsible; she can care about young brothers and sisters; sometimes she is reserved, like a girl. In the studying, she is very careful, and is able to finish homework according to the teacher, meticulously, writing and reading text in particulars. (See our Family Experiences links in the column on the left to see blogs from families who have adopted older children.)

Families Needed Immediately for Philippines Hosting Program!

2013-03-23T09:44:00.003-07:00

Hand In Hand is very excited that so many children have been matched for hosting already! We need families to commit to the remaining children right away. The children below are on the hosting list only for a few more days, so families need to step forward immediately. Contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org or 260-636-3566 for full files and pictures of these kids.

Children on the shared Special HomeFind List may be added to the hosting list if they are over the age of six: Special HomeFind List

Families within driving distance of Indiana, Colorado, Minnesota or Florida (where we have Hand In Hand offices) may host children. Other families may adopt these children through the Special HomeFind process. If you cannot host a child, consider donating to offset the airfare of the second and third member of sibling sets, so they are not at a disadvantage in finding a family: YouCaring Hosting Scholarships

Children Waiting for Hosting in 2013

JC and JeC – brother and sister born October 1999 and June 2002: These children came from a difficult background, and their time in the institution has been a blessing to them as they learned how to be loved. JC is a good student, earning second honor in second grade, and maintaining good academic standing in subsequent grades, though he says he sometimes needs help with math. He does his chores consistently. He has difficulty relating to other children, but has been improving with the consistent discipline that he did not have previous to his admittance to the center. He was introduced to Christianity and will now volunteer to pray and knows Bible stories, and he hopes he and his sister will have parents of the same faith. JeC does well at school and gets a good report from her teacher. She helps out with chores, and is respectful and obedient to the staff. She is noted to be a "reporter" to the staff when other children break the rules, and sometimes has trouble getting along with the other children, but the behavior is being minimized with consistent discipline. These children have made huge strides in a loving environment with consistent discipline, and they would thrive in a home where they could be the only children and receive the loving training they need to excel in all areas of their lives.

JML – boy born April 2001: JML had a difficult situation without a permanent home before he was found and brought into care. He likes creative activities, and was noted to even take his drawing instruments to bed, so he could do art there, and he was later enrolled in a painting program. He learned to get along well with his peers, and to speak respectfully to adults. He can handle his daily tasks and chores, but sometimes needs reminders and supervision from his caretakers. He is functioning in the low average range intellectually as of the report, but it is noted that the test result was influenced by the fact that he did not have schooling before admittance to the center, so he is expected to progressively improve as his studies progress. He idealizes having a happy family, but still is insecure about how adults will treat him, and sometimes shows attention-seeking behavior or a tendency to test an adult's patience until he sees that he can trust the adult to be loving even while giving consistent discipline. He can apologize and promise to do better. JML is happy about the possibility of being adopted and having a family, and he hopes for a family with siblings so he will have children to play with. He would thrive in a family that can provide him with guidance, consistency and love, while fostering his artistic abilities, which are noted to be increasing with continued lessons.

JM – boy born February 2000: JM has been in care with multiple placements, and he remembers the traumatic experience of his father’s death. He is a high energy child, and a placement disrupted within five days because he was thought to be ADHD, but further evaluation in his regular environment indicates that he is in normal limits. It is thought that he may be experiencing post-traumatic behaviors rather than ADHD, and positive methods of discipline were recommended. He responded very well to this consistent, positive discipline, particularly to a star chart method, and, while he has occasionally had sibling rivalry, he has been noted throughout his childhood to be habitually kind, caring and protective toward young children, at one time becoming attached to a particular toddler that he would go out of his way to help care for. He serves Mass and leads the Rosary. JM now needs an experienced family who understands his needs and potential, and who will provide loving, consistent discipline, stability, and permanency.

Children Already Matched for Hosting in 2013

JP -- 14 year old boy: MATCHED!

AY-- 12-year-old boy: MATCHED!

TA – boy born May 2002: MATCHED!

AO – boy born January 2002: MATCHED!

WS and WF – sisters born November 1998 and April 2000: MATCHED!

GA –Boy age 14: MATCHED!

CO– Boy born July 4, 2000: MATCHED!

GL – Girl age 14: MATCHED!

JP and JLC – brothers born May 2000 and December 2001: MATCHED!

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(Blog link and video courtesy of Love Without Boundaries)

For more information, please contact your local Hand In Hand Office or Vickie Truelove at: 260-636-3566 or indiana@hihiadopt.org.

URGENT NEED FOR A FAMILY! Philippines Sibling Group 8852 and 8853

2013-03-23T09:44:00.002-07:00

Hand In Hand is looking for a family interested in adopting this sibling group of two from the Philippines. They age out on June 7, 2013 when the girl turns 16, so they need a family to file for their immigration clearances immediately.

An eleventh hour call for parents for kids whose time is running out!

Child A: Male, DOB June 7, 1996
Child B: Female, DOB June 7, 1997

These children have been in care since 2001, when they were found, and their ages at the time were estimated to be four and five. Child A struggled to pay attention to school and to attend regularly in his pre-teen years, but has been diligent during the last couple of years, graduating from elementary school and progressing onward in his studies. He will ask for help now if he needs it with his studies rather than avoiding them. He gets along with other children, helps the younger children and is respectful of his caretakers and enjoys dancing and basketball. He would very much like a family along with his sister, but understands that he is close to aging out and may have to go into an independent living center if a family does not step forward immediately. Child A is described as a sweet girl, God-fearing, sweet, cooperative and helpful. She loves to dance and sing, and participates in sports. She is progressing well in high school. Both of the children are noted to be resilient, calm, and willing to learn from criticism.

These children are at the very edge of aging out through no fault of their own. Their paperwork took eight years to clear, and now they need a family to step forward right away. Other families have recently brought home children on the verge of aging out. If you wish to contact these families to ask about their experiences, contact Hand In Hand.

Please contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org to discuss their current availability (other agencies may now be advocating for them as well), and for their full file and pictures. Ask about siblings 8852 and 8853.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy ET

2013-03-14T06:06:00.001-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a little boys waiting in the Philippines. This little boy is four years old, DOB Nov. 23, 2008. His report is from age two, and a more recent report could be requested for an interested family.

As of his report, he was noted to be able to walk fast with both hand held, but tended to have a fear of falling when walking alone. He enjoyed being around other children, but would tend to play alone in the corner of the play room. He was affectionate with his caregivers, and smiled easily when being cuddled, and he had a good sleeping pattern. His medical report indicates that he may have bronchial asthma, and he is noted to have developmental delays with possible autistic-type features. His social worker wishes him to have a family that will encourage his development. He is a very cute little boy, and is making excellent eye contact with the person behind the camera, though he was obviously caught in the middle of trying to play with his Pooh bear!

For more information about his current availability, and for his full file and picture, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org about Boy 8465.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy BT

2013-03-14T05:44:00.002-07:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a little boy waiting in the Philippines. He was born on March 25, 2011.

This little guy had a difficult birth and spent time in neonatal intensive care. He is diagnosed with undescended testicle, and inguinal hernia, both of which are common, correctable conditions. He also has nystagmus, a condition in which the eyes move involuntarily. This condition can vary in its effects, and may be helped by corrective lenses. See more here: Nystagmus. He is noted to be a happy, smiling child, who likes to be interacted with, and he has regular sleeping and eating patterns. As of his last report, his development is somewhat delayed, and his family will need to be prepared to help him reach his full potential. He is a very cute child with wavy hair, big eyes, and, judging by his pictures, he is a curious little person.

For more information about his current availability, and for his full file and pictures, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org about Boy 8666

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Siblings 8014 and 8015

2013-03-06T12:13:00.002-08:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a sibling group of two waiting in the Philippines. These children could potentially be hosted this summer.

Child A: Female, DOB July 25, 1997
Child B: Male, DOB September 27, 1998

These children have been in care since they were two and one. They manifested a number of challenging behaviors when younger, but have been in the care of an excellent Christian institution that has helped them develop into promising young people. The older sister is noted to be sweet, friendly and confident when speaking to people, and she helps with younger children, and is very involved in dance and singing. She is doing well in her schooling and is committed to working on her studies. The younger brother is an active child, who is noted several times to love to climb things. He has had a tendency to want to do things his own way, but has responded positively to the firm love of a pastor and his wife, who are clost to him and say that he sees them as parents. He and his sister are being raised in Christian beliefs, and he is noted to be very generous in giving tithes. Their social worker believes that these children will thrive in a home in which they have experienced, firm and loving Christian parents who will continue the excellent progress these children have made.

For more information about these children, including their full file and pictures, and for more about the hosting program possibility this summer, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org.

Children Eligible for Hosting in 2013!

2013-02-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

We have received a list of children who are eligible to participate in the Summer 2013 Philippines Hosting Program. The list below gives their initials, ages, and a brief summary. If you see a child or sibling set you would like to learn more about, let us know and we will send you their complete file, which includes a case study, medical and psychological evaluation, and pictures. We are excited that nine children have been matched so far!

If you do not live in or adjacent to Indiana, Colorado, Minnesota or Florida (where we have Hand In Hand offices), then you likely could not participate in the Hosting Program. However, you could adopt one of these children or sibling sets through a process called Special Home Find. So if a child or sibling set interests you, it is still fine to ask to see their full information.

Are you unsure about what it "looks" like to adopt older children, especially older boys? See some of the resources available in the links on the left, watch the video below, or click on this link for some amazing testimony about how deeply older children desire a family: On My Own

(Blog link and video courtesy of Love Without Boundaries)

Children Eligible for Hosting in 2013

JP -- 14 year old boy: MATCHED!

AY-- 12-year-old boy: MATCHED!

TA – boy born May 2002: MATCHED!

AO – boy born January 2002: MATCHED!

JML – boy born April 2001: JML had a difficult situation without a permanent home before he was found and brought into care. He likes creative activities, and was noted to even take his drawing instruments to bed, so he could do art there, and he was later enrolled in a painting program. He learned to get along well with his peers, and to speak respectfully to adults. He can handle his daily tasks and chores, but sometimes needs reminders and supervision from his caretakers. He is functioning in the low average range intellectually as of the report, but it is noted that the test result was influenced by the fact that he did not have schooling before admittance to the center, so he is expected to progressively improve as his studies progress. He idealizes having a happy family, but still is insecure about how adults will treat him, and sometimes shows attention-seeking behavior or a tendency to test an adult's patience until he sees that he can trust the adult to be loving even while giving consistent discipline. He can apologize and promise to do better. JML is happy about the possibility of being adopted and having a family, and he hopes for a family with siblings so he will have children to play with. He would thrive in a family that can provide him with guidance, consistency and love, while fostering his artistic abilities, which are noted to be increasing with continued lessons.

JP and JLC – brothers born May 2000 and December 2001: MATCHED!

JM – boy born February 2000: JM has been in care with multiple placements, and he remembers the traumatic experience of his father’s death. He is a high energy child, and a placement disrupted within five days because he was thought to be ADHD, but further evaluation in his regular environment indicates that he is in normal limits. It is thought that he may be experiencing post-traumatic behaviors rather than ADHD, and positive methods of discipline were recommended. He responded very well to this consistent, positive discipline, particularly to a star chart method, and, while he has occasionally had sibling rivalry, he has been noted throughout his childhood to be habitually kind, caring and protective toward young children, at one time becoming attached to a particular toddler that he would go out of his way to help care for. He serves Mass and leads the Rosary. JM now needs an experienced family who understands his needs and potential, and who will provide loving, consistent discipline, stability, and permanency.

WS and WF – sisters born November 1998 and April 2000: MATCHED!

RF and LF – brothers born August 1998 and July 1999: Child A is currently a Grade III pupil. At school, he is trusted by his teacher to do run errands. He is doing well in his studies and has high grades in all his subjects. He participates in class discussion as well as school activities. At the center, child attends daily tutorial. He is consistent in carrying out tasks assigned to him, such as sweeping, mopping the floor, washing the dishes, washing his clothes and cleaning their room. He also assists the younger children in their school assignment and projects. Child likes to play outdoor games such as basketball and badminton. He plays with children his age. He likes watching DVD or TV shows like cartoons. Based on his psychological report, he has high self-concept and superior emotional intelligence. Child B is healthy and has a good appetite. He is currently a Grade V pupil and participates in class discussions. He knows how to read and write Tagalog and English words. He is kind and has good relationship with his classmates. He likes basketball, hopscotch, biking and chasing each other.

GA – Boy age 14: MATCHED!

CO – Boy born July 4, 2000: MATCHED!

For more information and a complete case study please contact your local Hand In Hand Office or Vickie Truelove at: 260-636-3566 or indiana@hihiadopt.org.

Child A is a grade V pupil at Happy Valley Elementary School. Her teacher reported that she has

a poor reading skills but shows willingness to improve her reading ability. She is now doing her

assignments diligently. She just needs attention and consistent reminders from houseparents to

help her improve her reading and communication skills. She is observed to be shy with

strangers.

Child B is an active little boy. He loves mingling with friends and spent time playing with them.

He is observed to be responsible in doing his assigned tasks. Sometimes, he can be restless,

naughty and noisy but when talked to he listens and shows willingness to be corrected and

guided. Allan is now a grade I pupil at Dinalupihan Elementray School. He has an average

performance in all subjects.

Child C is a grade II pupil. She is behave and sits quietly in the class. She has a hard time

coping with all the subjects as she lacks focus and attention in the lessons. She has the difficulty

in reading as well. She loves to play with other children but prefers to be with his siblings. She is

observed to be quiet and inexpressive most of the time. While with her friends, she talks and

laughs with them. Her caregivers often encourage and motivate her to express her needs.

Family Needed Immediately!

2013-02-14T06:17:00.001-08:00

MATCHED!! Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on an unusually talented and dedicated child who could be hosted during the Philippines summer hosting program along with the other children already matched. Out of many, MANY children's files, this is one of the few in which the child has specifically asked for parents who share both his dedication to academic success and his strong Christian values!

CO was born on July 4, 2000. He is noted to be one of the “most industrious children” of his institution. He had been found on the street when young, and has since wholeheartedly embraced his new life in a loving, Christian environment, learning to care for himself and his things, learning to positively interact with other children, and learning how to express affection for his caregivers. He is an organized child, taking care to see that his dormitory stays neat, and his care extends to his schoolwork, as he has the top scores in his whole school, and will take home advanced work, “determined to submit it the next day.” He is well-rounded, though, and likes to play outside, sing and dance, and he would like to learn to play the piano someday. He is a calm, kind person, respectful to adults, and good-natured with the other children. He wants to be a successful person, and dreams of becoming a pastor when he grows up. He says he wants a family with older or younger siblings and with God-fearing parents who will also value education very much.

Hand In Hand has only a few days to find a family for this high-achieving boy before he is moved to a different agency's list, so interested families should contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org immediately. A full file and pictures are available.

A Grant for a Waiting Girl in China!

2013-02-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

We were notified by Reece's Rainbow, an organization that raises funds toward the adoption of children with special needs, that there is an adoption grant currently in the amount $2047 for the adoption fees associated with the adoption of little girl 1115E on our China Special Focus List from November. Please share this information with those you know who might consider making this little one a part of their family. See here for the link to the grant information: Erika

If you are interested in adopting her, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org, and inquire about child 1115E

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy JRM

2013-02-12T19:21:00.002-08:00

Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a live-wire, seven-year-old boy waiting to be adopted in the Philippines.

This little guy is quite small for his age, so it is recommended that he have a screening by an endocrinologist at some point, since he is growing rather slowly. He is playful and talkative, and his ability to reason things out is noted to be mature for his age. He is assessed to have ADHD, and his foster family is being trained in methods to help him control his energy. He is in a class with 50 young children right now, which is certainly not the most ideal situation for a child with attention difficulties, and he would do best in a school situation in which he can get more individual attention. His foster mother says he can be a live wire, but she will miss him when he is adopted because he is a sweet and cute boy. He will answer back sometimes, and has picked up some of the mannerisms of the neighborhood children, but he is well integrated into the foster family, respectful of his oldest foster brother, and he enjoys playing with the other foster brother who is nearer in age to him. He has a keloid scar (a large, raised scar) on his forehead after falling into a canal while trying to see the fish. It may need to be looked at by a dermatologist, but is high enough that it will not be a significant disfiguring feature for him if he wears bangs. This little guy needs experienced parents who will provide him with the firm and loving care that will help him to manage his high energy. He is sure to bring much activity and excitement into some lucky family!

For more his full information and pictures, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org and ask about Boy 8770.

Hand In Hand on the Radio!

2013-02-05T14:15:00.004-08:00

Listen in as Hand in Hand's Vickie Truelove, director of the Philippines Program, discusses the upcoming Summer Hosting Program for orphans in the Philippines. A total of 17 children have been approved for summer hosting, including several sibling groups. Two of the children have already been matched, and Hand In Hand is looking for families for the others.

Hear Vickie's interview on STAR 88.3 at 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, out of Fort Wayne, IN.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy 8905

2013-01-20T19:48:00.001-08:00

Today's waiting child spotlight is on a boy waiting for adoption in the Philippines. He is an active, healthy boy who turned eleven on January 25th.

This child is a foundling with an assigned birthday; he was estimated to be age three at admission. He was shy and withdrawn at first, but opened up with constant care and affection from his caregivers. He is described as polite and obedient, quite shy with strangers, but friendly with those he knows. He is in grade one, and he has average non-verbal skills and can write, but is behind in reading, and is noted to be playful and inattentive in class. He will retake grade one, and expresses a desire to do better with his studies. He speaks with a stammer. He is affectionate with his caregivers, and will express his needs and feelings to them. He does not initiate fights with his peers, and he is said to respond positively to correction, and he tries not to make the same mistake twice. He is a healthy, active child with a good appetite and regular sleeping patterns.

Detailed information is available. Contact Vickie@hihiadopt.org and ask about Boy 8905.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Girl AM

2013-01-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

MATCHED! Today's Waiting Child Spotlight is on a cute, curly-haired toddler girl waiting in the Philippines. She born on April 16, 2010 and has developmental delay but is catching up with occupational therapy. The report below indicates that she is expected to catch up to age appropriate development, and she is in foster care with a foster family that is supporting her development. She is otherwise healthy, but there is a sensitive family background that families will need to be comfortable with. An extensive report covering her health and development from birth is available, as are pictures.

Here is the discussion of her current development and health:

"AM is now 2 years and 7 months old. She walks and runs with speed. She walks up and down the stairs without assistance. She sits alone in the sofa chair without help. She climbs on the furniture or in an elevated area with less supervision. She says “mama”, “papa”, “dodong”, “ate”, “daday” and “mamay”. She can understand simple instructions like “kuhaa ang duwaan or trapo Angel” (get the toy or rug Angel).

"She weighs 10 kilograms and 83 centimeters in height. Her head circumference measures 46.5 centimeters while her chest measured 47centimeters. She is slightly underweight. She drinks 3-4 glasses of milk every day. She eats solid foods like rice, vegetables, chicken and fish but prefers meals with soup most of the time. She drinks lots of water and fruit juices. Her favorite fruit is banana. She thumb suck.

"AM only had a medical check up by Dr. P. when she was ill. The recent check up of the child was on November 11, 2012 and Dr. P. observes her to be active, playful, can follow simple instructions and can now speak 1-2 words clearly.

"AM was 2 years and 5 months old when she had her neurodevelopmental re-evaluation on September 18, 2012 with Dr. A. According to Dr. A., AM had improved a lot after a few sessions of her occupational therapy. She further said that there are big possibilities that AM can catch up age appropriate development."

For more information, contact Vickie at Indiana@hihiadopt.org about 8483.

Waiting Child Spotlight! Philippines Boy 7415

2013-01-08T05:44:00.000-08:00

MATCHED! Our Waiting Child Spotlight today is on JP, who waits in the Philippines. A teenager who grew up with him was recently adopted, and she says that JP is quiet, shy with strangers, but friendly with those he knows. They were raised in a Catholic orphanage, and JP is a regular altar boy at the chapel there, serving several times a week. Another friend of his will be coming over this summer for the Indiana hosting program, and JP would very much like a family as well. It would be nice if he could be hosted and placed near his friends in Indiana, but he may be placed anywhere in the USA.

Male, DOB June 7, 1998, Ref. No.: 7415 (08-0975)

The child was voluntarily surrendered by his birthmother as she will not be able to provide his needs. The child is currently a Grade 3 student and according to his teacher he has good academic performance in school. He participates in class activities and shows eagerness to learn. He can read Filipino and simple English words. He knows how to add, subtract and multiply five to ten digits. At the dormitory, he performs his assigned tasks and manifests a sense of independence in meeting his needs. He does not initiate fights but would defend himself when provoked. He relates well with the other children and likes to play hide and seek, basketball and ride his bike. He remains firm with his decision to be adopted. He attended a one month summer camp in the US in 2009 and his experiences has deepened his desire to have a family though adoption. He aspires to become a soldier in the future.

For his full file and pictures, please contact Vickie at indiana@hihiadopt.org for more information.