Patrick is a handsome boy with sandy brown hair and blue eyes. He is in the third grade.

Patrick, 9, enjoys building things with his hands, riding his bike, snowmobiling and four-wheeling, watching television and movies and playing computer and Nintendo games. He tends to prefer doing his own thing rather than being involved in social or competitive activities.

Patrick has talked about designing, building and painting a tree fort. He loves tools, though close supervision is needed when he uses them, and he also enjoys a variety of hands-on activities. Patrick likes to go on fishing and hunting expeditions with his foster father and brothers.

Patrick came into the care of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services in August 2001 and parental rights were terminated in October 2002, thus freeing him legally for adoption. He has been in the same therapeutic foster home since entering care.

At school, Patrick receives special education services for writing, reading and spelling and is in the resource room for two hours per day. He has significant behavioral issues and requires a significant amount of supervision, especially in unstructured times. Patrick also receives weekly therapy, and family therapy will be needed once he is placed in a new home in order to achieve a successful transition.

Patrick’s foster parents provide him with firm limits and structure, and his negative behaviors are lessening as a result. He will be a child for whom long-term behavioral management and a team approach will be required. He would do well in a two-parent family with a significant support system.

When asked what he would like in an adoptive family, Patrick says he would like a mother and father, some brothers either his age or older by one or two years and someone who will let him have pets such as dogs, goldfish and snakes. He also is looking for a family that enjoys some of the same activities that he does, such as snowmobiling and four-wheeling.

Patrick has contact with some members of his birth family through visits and phone calls. An adoptive family will need to be open to some form of this contact in the future as well as contact with his present foster family. While a two-parent family is strongly recommended, all appropriate families will be considered. Patrick should be the youngest child in any family. Adoption subsidy is available to the most appropriate family.

Patrick is one of the 207 Maine children in Maine DHHS care who are seeking an adoptive family. For information about Patrick or other children available for adoption, contact A Family for ME at (877) 505-0545 or visit www.afamilyforme.org.