No child is unadoptable
A worker talks about finding a family for a teen preparing to age out of foster care.
November 25, 2014
"No child is unadoptable" is a sentiment that Marci Siegel-Kittrell lives by—and always fights for.
As a Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiter with Boys & Girls Aid in Portland, Oregon, Marci embraces her role of getting to know children she works with through a "life book" process of researching and helping them to document their lives.
"As advocates, we have to represent the child and help others see the potential within them," Marci said.
The young people and families that Marci has worked with are eager to sing her praises and describe the effectiveness of her efforts.
"We would not have found our daughter without Marci," said Kim, who is the parent of 17-year-old Crystalanne. Marci met Crystalanne when she was 15 years old and living in a residential treatment facility. Her team was recommending that Jennifer remain in foster care until aging out of the system. Marci immediately started pushing for adoption.
"I could see that she was a loving kid who was starved for affection, which simply was not available in that setting.”
Marci made it her mission to have Crystalanne's plan changed—and to find the forever family she so desperately needed and deserved. She had Crystalanne featured in several television adoption spots and newspaper articles and posted a detailed profile on the Northwest Adoption Exchange and AdoptUSKids websites.
Kim and her partner, Lori, live in Texas. They spotted Crystalanne's profile on AdoptUSKids and contacted Marci. In their early conversations Marci immediately noticed that Kim and Lori had a lot in common with Crystalanne—from simple things to deeper commonalities and shared life experiences.
Kim and Lori have added Crystalanne to their family, and Marci has been there every step of the way. Kim says that it was Marci's patience, persistence and "personal touch" that ultimately enabled them to become a family.
"Many people did not see Crystalanne for who she really was. Marci saw the child behind the behaviors—and helped us see her too. Marci saved Crystalanne's life, I truly believe that," said Kim.
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