Meet Brody

Brody is a 14-year-old boy who wants nothing more than to be adopted. He has an electric smile and an outgoing personality that allows him to easily jump into the fun with others. In group settings, he is quick to catch on and engage in structured activities. Whether it be decorating a gingerbread house for the holidays, creating his own masterpiece in an art class, or concocting dinosaur toothpaste while experimenting in his middle school’s science lab, Brody is always ready to share fun times with others.  

When asked what kind of family he would like, Brody states that he would enjoy having a family that shares his outgoing spirit. If he could go anywhere in the world, Brody states that he would love to go to Washington D.C. to see historical monuments or to New York City to have a taste of authentic New York pizza. He enjoys playing sports and one of his favorite memories is being on a little league baseball team. Brody states that he wishes he could spend more time outdoors and would love a family who could teach him how to camp. He also enjoys fishing and is proud to share that he has caught a bonnethead shark and carpe on prior fishing trips. On quiet days indoors, Brody enjoys playing video games, creating art or watching movies. He states that his ideal family would include a couple of sisters, a brother and a pet gerbil – because they are easy to care for and feed.

In a one-to-one setting, Brody can be like a book that pulls at the reader’s heartstrings. He easily opens up when he has the opportunity to speak with adults in more quiet settings. With his poignant communication skills, Brody shares that he has suffered a lot of disappointments and confusion about losses and abandonments. Brody laments foster care placements that did not work out and shares that one of his biggest fears is that he will never be adopted and have a forever family.

Because of these fears, Brody sometimes has difficulty coping with frustrations and loss – challenges that often affect children who have experienced significant time in foster care. Although Brody has experienced such losses, he is making progress in learning how to appropriately express his disappointments. He is proud to share that he is working hard to use his coping skills to self-reflect and share his feelings in more suitable ways. At times, Brody continues to struggle when he is faced with difficult situations or painful memories and feelings. Although Brody has made some strides in his emotional growth, he needs parents who can help him continue to grow in these areas. Ideal parents for Brody are ones who will seek to understand the nature of his behaviors and can recognize his need for continued work on his emotional development. Brody will be best served by a forever family who will support him as he continues to seek therapeutic resources in order to strengthen his long-term coping skills and reach what he deserves, happiness in life.