Joshua, 10, is a very engaging boy who has a sweet demeanor. He enjoys playing tag and hide-and-seek with his friends. He also loves video games.

Joshua likes basketball, football and baseball. He says that he does not like soccer because there is too much kicking involved.

He is willing to try new things and recently went roller-skating during a WABI “Thursday’s Child” filming, which will air May 11. He has a good appetite for a wide variety of foods.

Joshua expresses an interest in being a police officer when he grows up. He is happy to go to school, and he enjoys learning new things. He does require someone to make sure he is getting his schoolwork completed.

His favorite subjects are science and social studies. He particularly enjoys using a microscope.

Joshua can seem younger than his age with regard to his speech and behavior. He and his siblings came into DHHS custody in 2004 after experiencing abuse and neglect. Joshua has learned some coping strategies to protect himself from the impact of early childhood trauma.

It is important to Joshua that others are pleased with him, and he often tries to appear happy when he is in obvious distress. Joshua benefits from patient, caring and compassionate attention from adults who also can maintain firm and consistent boundaries.

An adoption subsidy is available for the most appropriate family. Joshua is one of the 155 children in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ care who are seeking an adoptive family.

Based in Gardiner, A Family for ME is a nonprofit program that works in collaboration with Maine DHHS to find foster and adoptive families for Maine children in care. For more information about Joshua or other children available for adoption, please contact A Family for ME toll-free at (877) 505-0545 or visit www.AFamilyForMe.org and see the Heart Gallery of photographs of some of the many children awaiting a “forever family.”