Window on the Clearwater
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Editor's Note: Window on the Clearwater has joined the Wednesday's Child network to help spread the word about children that are waiting for families to give them the loving care that they need. Each Wednesday we will profile a different child. For more information about Wednesday's Child and how you can be involved check the web site at: http://www.idahowednesdayschild.org/.

Donovan

Age: 5

Portrait and profile provided by Northwest Adoption Exchange

Excited about the world around him, Donovan wants to learn it all! Museums, art, history, rocks, and space - any facts can keep this busy boy entertained for hours. Donovan loves to help out around the house, and gets joy from the approving feedback he gets from trusted adults. He wants to please adults and peers. He also likes drawing, building, biking, fishing, camping, animals, and books. Busy families need not be diverted; just being a part of what's going on around him makes Donovan happy.

Donovan is a beautiful child with deep brown sparkling eyes. He is active and loves one on one interaction. He loves his life on a farm and spends much of his time outside. Donovan helps his current foster family feed the animals, collect fire wood, and collect eggs from the chickens. While Donovan can be playful and rambunctious, he takes tasks assigned to him seriously. He's able to slow down and be gentle if needed in order to carry out a task.

Donovan likes to ask lots of questions. When he's engaged in a one on one conversation, he has a calm, quiet, gentleness about him as he converses. He loves to sit close to adults or on their laps while talking about different things. In these quieter moments he willingly takes direction and is responsive. Donovan also enjoys silliness, especially when he comes across ridiculous situations. For instance his foster mother will try to put his shoe on his elbow instead of his foot. He enjoys entertaining the absurd.

Donovan is in preschool through Head Start but requires extensive support to meet his needs. In fact, at this time alternative educational options are being sought so that he can thrive within an even smaller classroom setting. Donovan benefits greatly from environments with very small numbers of people.

There are significant members of Donovan's birth family that he would benefit from maintaining contact with, including two siblings who may be seeking adoptive placements in the future. Potential adoptive parents for Donovan should consider their ability to sustain these relationships, whether or not they are available to provide an adoptive home for these siblings. Donovan has also formed a close bond with his current caregiver family. He will likely want to keep in touch with them, and honoring their relationship could help to make the transition to adoption smoother for everyone involved. Because Donovan is not legally free, interested families need to be licensed for foster care and have an approved adoption homestudy completed.

Donovan needs a home that offers him consistency, predictability, and is considerate to the level of visual and audio stimulation. Donovan is very easily overwhelmed by sights and sounds that others would usually take for granted. He would benefit from a family where he can be an only child. He needs a family that can provide significant attention and hands on parenting.

Donovan struggles with maintaining safe behavior for himself and others. He needs a family who can consistently monitor him and provide guidance when he acts in ways that are inappropriate or undesirable. Donovan's behaviors are at their best when his environment is calm and quieting, and an adoptive family who can offer an uncluttered and peaceful home will be a good match for his needs. The absence of visual and audio stimulation provides him the ability to better regulate his emotions and negotiate situations. In his current home Donovan has consistent expectations. Regardless of a holiday or family crisis, the expectations for Donovan never change. He responds favorably to this level of predictability.

Donovan has not demonstrated the ability to form meaningful relationships in the same ways as his peers. His decisions and desires are not motivated by relational expectations such as respect, love, commitment, wanting to please, etc. He needs parents who are patient and who can model appropriate social skills and behaviors. He needs a family that understands the struggles he'll have in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships. Donovan will need a family that will help him develop a positive self-concept and who is open to facilitating ongoing sibling contact.

Despite the challenges a family will face in parenting Donovan, the heart-warming words of Donovan's current caregiver offer so much hope as to the person he can become: "His smile and bright eyes will melt your heart; his laugh will take your breath away. With the support of loving arms, patience, structure and a forever family, I believe Donovan will become a wonderful young man."

To find out more about Donovan, adoption or becoming a foster parent, email the Idaho CareLine (Please include your zip code and city.) or call 1-800-926-2588. Danny is available for adoption through the State of Oregon.

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Window on the Clearwater
P.O. Box 2444
Orofino, ID 83544

Telephone:
Orofino 476-0733
Fax: 208-476-4140

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