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/.

Matt

Age: 13

Portrait and profile submitted to SNAPS.

Matt is a kind young man who loves one on one attention. He is excellent at getting through mazes and gets very excited when he reaches the finish line! Family permanency is a maze he hopes he can solve with the help of committed adoptive parents.

Matt's many interests include singing, playing the piano, board games, sports (including baseball) and playing with Tinker toys and Legos. An avid reader, he can read for several hours at a time.

If he could visit anywhere, Matt would choose Hawaii. His favorite food is chocolate and his favorite color is red. Art ranks #1 at school and he enjoys creating maps. Matt wants to be an inventor, a parent and a teacher when he grows up.

Matt entered into foster care in July 2009, while he was in the hospital. He has been in six placements in that time, with his current family surpassing 15 months.

Matt attends grade school. He is very intelligent, is able to figure things out quickly but has difficulty staying on task. He is on a IEP to help him focus better at school.

Matt is the third oldest of his sibling group. It will be important to continue sibling contact in the future for Matt and his brothers and sisters, all of whom were placed separately. Matt has not had any contact with either birth parent for over rwo years.

Like all children, Matt will need a family who can help him develop positive ideas about his cultural background, which includes Messianic Judaism and Native American heritages.

Matt could thrive socially and emotionally with extra supports provided in these areas. He is working to improve his communication and coping skills and to model positive social skills. Patient parents could assist with skill building that empowers him to interact well with his peers and to carry on a conversation. Matt will continue to work with his therapist to help him with these skills, as well as helping him transition into an adoptive placement.

Matt would love parents who will engage and play board games and sports with him. He wants siblings who "respect each other and parents who respect the kids and everyone respects each other."

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

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