family connection By Susan Grandpre  

Devon, a 7-year-old boy, is looking for what most other children his age cannot even imagine having to search for. He is looking for a new home, while his peers are looking for lost toys.
 
That is the way it should be for children. They should not be in search of a family—they should already live with a family that protects them, loves them and is willing to do anything for them.
 
However, that is not the case for children like Devon who live in foster care. Devon has been in foster care for one year and is now available for adoption due to the recent termination of parental rights.
 
Like most children, Devon lives for his next play session. He enjoys playing with a variety of toys including video games. Going to the movies and eating out in a restaurant are two of Devon’s favorite activities. He is always interested in going to new places on short trips, and he loves an adventure.
 
Devon possesses a vivid imagination and has an outgoing personality. Pamela Piero, a social worker with the City of Richmond Department of Social Services, describes him as “adorable, charismatic and a really nice boy.” Devon loves to laugh and that is easily seen in his extremely expressive eyes.
 
This first-grader loves school, especially gym class. Devon likes his teacher a lot. He is a smart boy and does well in school. He loves to color and to tell stories. 
 
The foster family that Devon currently lives with truly loves him and wishes they could adopt him, but they are not in a position to adopt. Any family interested in adopting Devon must be willing to allow him to maintain a relationship with his foster parents. They mean a lot to him and it is important to him that they remain in his life. The adoptive family also needs to be open to keeping his biological family involved in his life.
 
Piero feels that Devon would benefit from being adopted by a two-parent family or a strong single male. An adoptive family must be totally dedicated to him and show patience and determination. Any adoptive family must be ready to love the adopted child, but they must also be prepared to protect, provide security and do whatever is best for that child. For more information, contact Pamela Piero at 804-646-3790.

Susan Grandpre earned a B.A. in English from James Madison University and has been a freelance writer for nine years. She lives in Richmond with her husband and three children.

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