Editor's Note: Window on the Clearwater recently 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/.

Joe

Age: 12

"Hi, my name is Joe. I'm 12 years old. People always ask if that's short for Joseph, but it isn't. It's Joe.

I like all kinds of sports. I love football, especially. While I was in Boise, I got this cool baseball cap that's dark blue and has a Boise Bronco on the front. I wanted to get a football helmet, but that was way too much money!

I want to live in a family that will let me play tackle football, not just flag. I don't much care what they are like except that they are fun and like to play games and do stuff together. And I want to still live near my Nana and my brothers and my sister. I could fly on an airplane to see them sometimes. I loved my first airplane ride yesterday.

I like math and reading and recess at school. Reading is the hardest, but I still like it a lot. And I like watching movies on Fridays at school.

When I grow up, I want to work and be able to buy my own car and my own house."

People who know Joe say he is a remarkably optimistic young man who generally looks on the bright side things. He's a well-rounded athlete who seems to understand the complexities of each game. He looks forward to being the member of a family that shares his interests and will also introduce him to new experiences.

Joe recently demonstrated his strong eye-hand coordination as he received his first archery lesson. With amazing accuracy, he landed near the center of the target most of the time.

Joe is on target in many other areas of his life such as making friends, listening and carrying on a conversation. Children and adults are drawn to his positive attitude and enthusiasm.

Joe attends an academic learning center where he's making good progress. He has to work extremely hard because of attention, hyperactivity, short-term memory and visual processing challenges. Despite everyday struggles, Joe puts forth good effort, especially when encouraged and given one-on-one instruction. His adoption team will be looking for savvy parent(s) who know how to navigate the school system. Because Joe doesn't present a behavior problem in class, his learning needs can be easily overlooked.

This happy-go-lucky boy would function well in a traditional or non-traditional family in which he is the youngest or only child. According to his social worker and foster parents, Joe responds well to structure and follow-through with rules and with promises. Because he has a great sense of humor, playful joking is very effective in relieving stress or redirecting.

Joe's five-year-old brother and six-year-old sister are already in adoptive placements. Relatives are adopting his eight-year-old cousin. These children have remained in contact and continue to have a close relationship. Various forms of mediated contact would go a long way to helping Joe understand there can be continuity in life's relationships.

If you are a family that values consistency, structure and playing by the rules-in sports and everyday life-set your sites on Joe and let his social worker know you're on-target with a completed home study. Please ask her about legal risk placement with an eye toward adoption. This is one boy who deserves a friendly football skirmish, sooner rather than later, with a family that's in it for the long run!

Joe lives in Oregon. for more information, call the Idaho CareLine number, 1-800-926-2588. In Idaho you can dial 2-1-1.

Photos by Moffett

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