For seven years, 10-year-old Lamara has been in and out of foster care. She appeared on Wednesday’s Child Segment on WFAA, where they give an insight into the lives of a foster child who is desperate to be adopted.
According to the most current Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) report from the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 29% of the 125,422 children waiting to be adopted from the US foster care system were Black or African American. The median age of children waiting for adoption was 7.7 years old.
The study also discovered that older children, particularly those over the age of 10, often had more difficulty finding permanent adopted families.
Lamara said, “I just want somebody to adopt me.”
The 10-year-old, who spent some time in foster care, has a positive outlook on life. She laughs, grins, and is self-confident and curious.
She attended Lancaster Music School for private singing lessons to help her find her voice and is looking forward to joining fifth grade albeit being older than the other students.
Lamara, however, is upbeat about going to school and told the publication that she thinks starting the fifth grade will be fantastic since she gets the chance to perform excellently in her two favorite subjects, science and math.
“Learning about bugs and frogs and other animals and their life cycle,” she said, revealing that she wants to become a Kindergarten Math teacher.
Kathleen Cain, Lamara’s court-appointed special advocate, believes that after spending most of her childhood in foster care, it is long past time for a loving family to welcome this lovely kid.
Cain noted, “She loves singing, tumbling and performing but she’s really into trying new things. I think it’s one of her best personality traits.”
She added, “She makes friends so easily. I’ve seen her in so many new schools and new situations and she comes out with a new friend and she sees the positive in everything.”
The hopeful child remarked, “I like to color, paint, and watch TV. I play with slime which I don’t have right now but I can make some. I like to play with toys and go shopping.”
“Sometimes I like to cook. I cook by myself. The one thing I don’t know how to cook is shrimp and crab. I love seafood,” she added.
To her future forever family, she declared, “Just take me shopping, that’s it!”
