Benson

Benson, age 5 (born May 2014), is a delightful, gentle and happy little fellow.  His diagnosis of Down Syndrome has slowed his development, but he is making continual progress in all areas of his life.  Benson lives with 7 other children with in his ICC family style care center and has consistent care givers.  He is very settled with in his ICC family, and enjoys the company of his ICC siblings.

Mr. Cuteness - Oct 2019

During this past year, Benson has made good progress and improvement in his social communicative skills.  He interacts with adults and children well.  He loves pre-kindergarten group playtime which he attends several times a week.  It has free play with focus on manipulative skills, singing, rhythm and socialization.  Often in his group settings, he perceives happy situations and will raise his hands in the air and exclaim "Horray!"  "He is delightful" state his carers.

Hooray for Park Outings - May 2019

Benson loves to watch and imitate his caregivers.  They have been teaching him how to stomp, twist and dance; he is able to follow their instructions.  He understands his caregiver's interactions with him, but he currently has a very limited vocabulary.

In July 2019, Benson took his first steps!  Our ICC staff were so excited to see this major milestone and even captured it on video!  It is not often that children in institutional care have milestones like this one captured! We are thankful that Benson is experience family style care and is loved and celebrated.

He enjoys the freedom to walk around and explore different things.  He can walk from his ICC family home to the kindergarten classroom every day.  At kindy class, he enjoys shape sorting and displays fine motor skills to pick up shapes, small objects, instruments and has a good grip.  His carers have recently started to teach him to feed himself and put on his socks.  He is trying to do both of these skills by himself!    

Sweet Benson has made a lot of progress in the last year!  He is delightful, well adjusted little boy whose happy kind ways would bring sunshine and joy into a forever family.  We pray that his forever family will see him soon!

Benson has a Reece's Rainbow Account where funds are being raised for his adoption.  https://reecesrainbow.org/130309/benson

Benson may also be eligible for adoption grants via certain adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards his adoption.

Benson is currently on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org for Benson's identifying information if you wish for your agency to pursue his file.

Cora

Cora, age 5 (born March 2014), lights up a room with her magnetic smile and personality!  Cora has Cerebral Palsy which affects her mobility and some body control.  She has been in ICC's care since she was 3 months old.  Cora lives in family style care with 7-8 other children with consistent care givers.  Our ICC staff notes she has a strong persevering and endearing personality!

Cora was an Angel during ICC Christmas 2019!

Cora absolutely radiated joy when she received her new wheelchair in May 2018!  She wanted and needed to wheel herself around as she desired more independence.  Having seen other "big kids" wheeling themselves around, she took to it immediately! She is able to maneuver her wheelchair independently for 20-30 meters (65-100 feet) before she tires.  But she is getting stronger and going further over the last 6 months.

Fine motor skill development has been a consistent focus of Cora's class and therapy times.  Using a variety of puzzles, manipulative skills and play activities, she has become very adept at shape sorting and strengthening her fine motor skills.  She can hold a crayon but not with a traditional grip.  She is learning how to use a spoon for feeding but still needs some help.  She manages finger foods on her own.  

Cora can sit independently in a chair when the height is right for her feet to touch the ground.  She can stand from sitting using her hands to pull up.  When she is tired, ICC staff do use a chest harness in her wheelchair to help her with sitting balance.    She loves the outdoors and gets excited when outdoor activities are suggested!  She also loves spending time with her friends and ICC siblings.

Parking Outing May 2018

ICC staff note that Cora is very clever and perceptive.  She attends classes each morning within the ICC project.  Her teachers acknowledge her potential to further flourish if there was more opportunity for 1 on1 teaching time and additional resources.   She can confidently count to 10 in Mandarin, and happily counts to 10 in English too!  She recognizes names and colors.  She loves repeating phrases spoken to her.  In the classroom, she understands taking turns and teachers call Cora the "little helper" because she would remind the other children what to do!

Cora is a beautiful girl with an internal sparkle that just radiates.  She loves pretty hair and dresses, hugs and kisses from those she loves.  She gives love as well as receiving it!  Our ICC staff long for her to have a family of her own where she can flourish and reach her potential.  

"This little girl is full of life and joy!  She has so much potential that would only be realized if given supports of family, love, therapy and education.  The welfare system is not a place for her to grown up.  Let's find her family!" - ICC Staff

Cora is currently on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org if you desire for your agency to locate her file on the shared list.  

Everly

Everly is a sweet 3 year old girl born Nov 2016 who is affectionate and has an infectious giggle!  She has Down Syndrome which has delayed her development.  Over the last 4 months, Everly has made some significant improvements in her social and physical development.  ICC is so proud of the progress she is making with the help of her loving ICC family.

Everly can roll over independently, and crawls quickly when motivated!  She is able to get up into standing position happily, and enjoys cruising around furniture.  She has started walking with carer's holding both of her hands.  She LOVES this!  She can sit unsupported, and enjoys watching bubbles being blown!

This sunshine girl enjoys hugs and the company of others!  She loves to play hand games with people and gives kisses on the cheek!  She loves receiving kisses too!  Everly is part of family style care where she has 5 consistent caregivers, and lives with 8 other children all under the age of 4.

Everly has therapy sessions two times per week where she has opportunities to work on her development through play!  She makes sounds to communicate and enjoys face to face time with others.  She has not verbalized with simple words yet, but she enjoys connecting with people and has become a sociable little girls in the last few months.

Our hope is that Everly will have a forever family very soon who will be blessed by her!

Everly has an adoption account on Reece's Rainbow where funds are raised for her adoption, and she may be eligible for additional grants through various adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards her adoption fees.

https://reecesrainbow.org/130045/everly

Everly is on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org  for Everly's identifying information if you wish to have your agency locate her file.

Chloe

Chloe is now assigned to Madison Adoption Associates, 

and MAA is offering a $1500 adoption grant to eligible families!

Chloe is a playful and happy girl who is currently 9 years old (DOB 9/2010).  She fills every room with laughter and joy.  She loves to play, socialize and have fun in all aspects of her day.  She has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, and has recently joined ICC's care in August 2019.  Prior to moving into ICC's care, she was under the care of her Welfare Center.

Chloe is the youngest member of her ICC community group home, and she is very loved by all her older sisters and carers!  She is a very social girl who enjoys spending time with others.  She is able to express herself through use of gestures, simple phrases and sentences.

                      


She is friendly, greeting those she knows with a big smile and hug!  She also displays confidence and has been observed introducing herself to new people and is willing to spend time with them. She is caring and will make sure that all of her friends are included in any games or activities that are taking place!  She can be a bit mischievous - she has been caught several times sneaking into her ICC sister's room to eat snacks with a big smile on her face!

Chloe is independent in most self care skills through out the day.  At times, her carers will supervise her to make sure she is completing a task correctly like dressing.  She enjoys mealtimes and can feed herself with a spoon.  She can brush her teeth and toilet independently.  She loves selecting her own clothes and wearing pretty dresses!  Her carers report she will change clothes if she prefers to wear something else over what has been selected for the day :)

Chloe attends a special school outside of the Project and Welfare Center.  She attends school 5 days a week.  Her classes at school include fine motor activities, exercise, language, art and self care skill development.  Despite some difficulties with focus and concentration, Chloe has shown she has an ability to learn and is making progress in her subjects.  

Chloe loves many activities, especially if she can do them with other children or a carer.  Some of the activities she enjoys are:  Dancing and Singing, Playing games with ICC sisters, Watching stories on TV, Going for a walk or to the playground, Drawing/Crafting, Having her picture taken!    She LOVES all things girly including dresses, painting her nails and sparkly headbands.

Chloe's file was just released on 1/14/2020 to the Shared List.  Madison Adoption Associates is now holding her file, and MAA is offering a $1500 grant towards her adoption fees!   Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org or MAA directly to receive more information about Chloe!

Yvonne

Yvonne is a beautiful, social 12 year old girl who just celebrated her birthday at the end of November! She was born in November 2007, entered into government care in 2008 and has been in ICC care since April 2010.

She has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and Microcephaly which have not dampened her spirit or smile.  Her smile brightens everyone's day within the SWI.  Yvonne enjoys spending time with her peers, her teachers and therapist.  She receives 5 therapy sessions each week which are working to build her muscular strength, stability and balance.  She is also working on motor skills and sensory sensitivities.  If Yvonne is not receiving therapy, she is often found being a "therapy assistant" by watching and joining others during their sessions!

Yvonne is beautiful!

Yvonne loves to be included in play!  She is continuing to develop her fine motor skills with her teacher and therapists.  She is naturally left handed, and requires some encouragement to use her right hand.  With some prompting and modeling, she is able to complete simple two handed play.

She enjoys going for walks to the therapy room or to visit other children within the SWI.  She is making improvements in her balance and stability, however, she does experience falls or requires prompting or hand held assistance to stand up after falling.

Yvonne is able to understand simple, route instructions. She can say simple words like "hello" and "good" when prompted but prefers to grasp a carer's hand and lead them to item that she desires.  She is able to communicate with carers when she is happy or upset through gestures (e.g. she will tap her chin when she is unhappy).  Yvonne was recently assessed by a Speech and Language Pathologist.  Therapists will begin using a PODD Book to support her communication. A PODD book contains symbols and words which will allow her to more openly express her needs, wants and emotions.

Yvonne is receiving education within the SWI, and attend classes Monday-Friday.  She loves going to class and spending time with others!  She also attends group classes and receives one-to-one support which she greatly enjoys!

Yvonne is a lovely girl with a beautiful personality.  She enjoys one-to-one attention and praise from her caregivers.  She is very helpful and will collect toys for the other children or will help her carers during the day.  She responds well to familiar routines, is easy to form a relationship as she enjoys being with others.  She does have a close bond with her main caregiver and therapist.

We hope that Yvonne's forever family will see her soon!  We have a wonderful, professionally done therapy assessment that sheds much light on her personality, abilities and goals.  Yvonne is on the shared list.  Please contact Erin Schmidt (Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org), ICC's Adoptive Families Coordinator, to receive her identifying information so that your agency can pull her file.

Joshua - AGING OUT!

Joshua, born Nov 2006, is 13 years old, and is such a handsome fellow with a bright smile.  Those close to him say he is a lovely boy, very polite and keen to learn and be more independent.  Joshua has Cerebral Palsy.

In ICC's care, Joshua has grown in confidence and ability.  He is member of the Conductive Education group where he receives education and therapy to help him develop his abilities.  Joshua has good communication skills, and expresses his opinions and wishes with his teachers, carers, therapists and friends.  He enjoys learning, and is an active member of his education and therapy classes.  He would benefit from speech and language therapy to help understand the cause of his "hoarse" voice.

Joshua has lots of learning potential, and really enjoys going to daily classes.  He is able to concentrate during class, ask questions and respond appropriately.  His education is behind due to his delayed opportunity to receive education. Joshua recognizes colors, animals and 40 Chinese characters. He can count and recognize numbers, and do simple math.

Joshua uses a wheelchair, and can move himself independently from chair to bed or bathroom without help.  He manages to get himself around in the wheelchair including a daily 30 minute trip to school!  He is able to pull himself up to stand at a table, and can sit unsupported on a stool.  He does have some high muscle tone which affects his legs and arms.  His hands are affected by the CP, but he is able to feed himself, brush his own teeth and do puzzles.  He can also dress himself independently.

Joshua has been in ICC's care since he was 5 years old, and he longs for a forever family. He has seen several of his friends adopted, and desires to have the same.  He has been asking about a family.  We pray that the Lord will bring Joshua a forever family.

Joshua's advocacy name means "God is my Salvation" and "Bringer of Truth."  We pray that Joshua will know God's salvation and redemption, and pray that a Forever Family steps forward to answer Joshua's deep desire to be a part of a family.

Joshua is currently on the shared list.  Please contact Erin Schmidt, ICC's Adoptive Families Coordinator, at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org to receive Joshua's identifying information so that your agency can find his file.

Wade

Praise!  We have heard that Wade is matched 

with his Forever Family!!!