Marshall
Marshall is a wonderful young man with a very appealing and engaging personality. Bright and extremely intelligent, he is very talkative, friendly and intellectually wise beyond his years. Marshall truly likes to please others, especially adults, and enjoys helping. He thrives on adult attention and conversations, and he greatly prefers the company of older peers to younger ones. Once Marshall feels comfortable, he is able to show his warm, affectionate nature and his desire for the love and gentle nurturing that all children need. He positively shines with individual attention and affection once a trusting, comfortable connection has been made.
A voracious and insatiable bookworm who rapidly devours books, Marshall loves reading! Greek mythology and fantasy are some of his favorite genres. Marshall would do well with an adoptive family who likewise loves similar literary pursuits. He also enjoys playing video and board games and working on the computer. He’s both a city boy and a homebody who really prefers hanging out at home and being indoors. His caseworker expresses that he is a really cute, funny and sweet kid with tons of potential for the right family to encourage.
Legally free, Marshall has been in and out of foster care since 2006. He came into care most recently in 2007. Marshall spent two years in foster care before being placed in a pre-adoptive home in July 2009 – a placement that was not a good match for him. Since being placed with his therapeutic foster family in July 2010, Marshall has been thriving. With the structure, consistency, routine, nurturing, and loving discipline his foster parents provide, Marshall has done beautifully in their care. Marshall would love to have a family “that is just like them.” Over the past two years, Marshall’s behavior has become much more stable, he has acquired a nice sense of security, and his self-confidence has increased.
In the fall of 2012, Marshall will be back in middle school where he will likely continue to benefit from having an IEP for behavioral support. Ironically, he loves to read so much that he often needs to be redirected to put a book down for other learning activities. School staff reported that Marshall is using the new coping skills he has learned and adjusted well to instruction. Marshall does, though, need to continue to work to improve his social skills and peer relationships and to better manage his impulsiveness.
It is important that Marshall stay connected to his sister who is in an adoptive family in Oregon. The kids have phone contact and occasional face-to-face visits. Because of Marshall’s strong bonds and healthy relationships with his current foster parents, he absolutely wants to be able to continue to know them as he is growing up.
An active boy who requires redirection at times, Marshall is responding well to his medication therapy and weekly counseling. These days he is being more accountable for his actions instead of shifting the blame elsewhere. Marshall, who can be impulsive and be inattentive, sometimes acts first before thinking, proceeding quickly without understanding what it is he should be doing. It helps immeasurably for adults to be clear and specific about expectations and to avoid lengthy discussions.
Marshall will do best with two parents in a supportive home where he will feel safe and secure. Marshall needs his parents to provide clear expectations and to appreciate him for his individuality. Marshall will benefit from daily routines and consistency. He will do best as an only child or the youngest of older teenage siblings. Having adoptive parents who have a good grasp of the residual effects of past trauma and who take the time to understand what he has experienced will be very important in helping Marshall be successful in his adoptive home. Although extremely smart, Marshall is also emotionally very vulnerable. He needs a family that will be committed to his educational, medical, and emotional needs now and in his future. Most of all, Marshall needs adoptive parents who will embrace him at his own pace, while maintaining optimism and confidence in his ability and desire to belong to their family.
Marshall is available for adoption through the State of Oregon. For contact information, please contact the Idaho CareLine at 1-800-926-2588.
