Canyon Acres Children and Family Successes…

A Success Story of Canyon Acres Foster Care & Adoption Programs

Adam

Adam came into Canyon Acres Foster Care program when he was 13 years old. Adam was a kid many would have thought of as a “lost cause.” He had been an abused child, was failing badly in school and had a reputation of being disrespectful, ungrateful and defiant. The Canyon Acres staff, however, did not let Adam’s reputation of being a “bad kid” deter them from their goal of finding Adam a safe and loving home. They believed in Adam and worked diligently to find him the right family for his unique needs.

The staff turned to long-time Canyon Acres foster parents Mark & Nancy. Mark and Nancy seem to have a gift for working with adolescents. They have biological kids of their own, ages 14 and 15, and another foster son, age 17. Adam quickly bonded with the family, especially the 14 year old son. Mark & Nancy welcomed Adam into their home and it has made a huge difference in his life.

Adam is now in a stable family environment and has siblings his own age with whom he can relate. Adam’s foster parents are incredibly supportive of him. When he plays sports, they attend all of his games. They have even taken efforts to introduce Adam to the coaches at the high school he’ll be attending next year. Adam is very excited about this. Sports have become an incentive for Adam to keep his grades high as well. He is doing better than he ever has in school and even his county social worker is amazed at his turn-around in behavior and attitude.

In addition to helping Adam succeed in school, Mark & Nancy have also helped Adam learn many new socialization skills. They teach him how to be a good host (offering a glass of water to visitors, etc) and have helped boost Adam’s confidence by validating him and giving him positive praise.

Adam now makes eye contact when you speak with him and even jokes around light heartedly. These are all huge steps of improvement for Adam. It is apparent he feels at ease and is enjoying this placement. He calls Mark and Nancy “mom and dad” and thinks of the other kids in the home as his siblings. He also has regular visits with his brother John, who is often included in the family events Mark and Nancy plan. This is the right home for Adam at the right time.

Thanks to the efforts of the Canyon Acres Foster Care staff, Adam is now in a stable and healthy home environment. His foster family believes in him and provides him with unconditional love and support that has made all the difference in the world. Adam is truly thriving.

Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.