Family Service & Children's Aid
MAIN OFFICE   330 West Michigan   Jackson,  MI  49201    517-787-7920   Fax 517-787-2440
FIELD OFFICE  142 East Maumee #2   Adrian,  MI  49221    517-263-2625   Fax 517-263-7369

Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, was adopted as a child.  As a result he was committed to helping America’s Foster Children find permanent loving homes. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has introduced a new program called Wendy's Wonderful Kids. This program was created to specifically recruit families for children who have been waiting a long time for a “Permanent Family”. We are currently recruiting families for the children featured below.  If you would like  more information about any of these children, please complete an inquiry form, or contact Jessie-Mae Secord, WWK Recruiter, at 517.787.7920x247 or fax 517.787.2440

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Asharae, 16

Asharae likes to be called "Shae." She enjoys creative activities such as scrapbooking, writing poetry, and doing arts and crafts projects. Shae also has an interest in music and enjoys playing the flute. In addition to her creative outlets Shae enjoys playing a variety of sports and watching crime dramas on television. Shae does best with one-on-one attention from adults where she does not feel the need to compete with other children for attention. She struggles with patience and accepting rules from adult authority. Shae needs encouragement in learning to express her feelings appropriately and accepting responsibility for her actions. A positive and committed female role model could help boost her self-esteem and encourage healthy habits. Though coping with the effects of significant hurts and losses, Shae is described as a very determined and resilient person who can choose to make the best of life if given appropriate structure and guidance. Shae's worker feels that she would do best with a single female and no other children in the home. She needs a patient, experienced, and committed parent who will stand by her and help her reach her full potential.

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Curtis, 16

Curtis is a friendly and affectionate child who enjoys playing with others, spending time outdoors, and playing computer and video games. He is also very attached to his sisters. Curtis is the survivor of a chaotic past. He exhibits developmental delays and requires assistance and reminders with daily self-care tasks. Curtis may not respond well to multiple directives and does best with a few specific requests at a time. Curtis also needs vigilant supervision around other children. He is friendly and gets along well with other children in the foster home but often struggles with peer relationships in the school setting. Curtis receives additional educational services. Curtis needs a patient and committed family who can provide a great deal of time and attention along with constant supervision and support.

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D’onte, 10
Timmecia, 7
Shantilacy, 13

Shantilacy, Timmecia, and D'Onte are all very energetic and outgoing children who enjoy spending time together and play well with other children in the neighborhood. They love to ride bikes and play outside, and can never get enough of swimming! Playing video games is one of their favorite indoor activities. Shantilacy feels a great responsibility toward her siblings and often tries to assume a parental role with them. She is a bright and capable student and has been making significant improvement in her classroom behavior and academic performance. Like most children, Timmecia may occasionally disregard directions form caregivers or show reluctance to complete chores; however, she exhibits no significant behavioral concerns. She does well in school, both academically and socially, and enjoys having many friends. D'Onte can be anxious and often needs a great deal of reassurance that caregivers will keep him safe and secure. Even though all of the children generally get along well with their peers, consistent supervision is still necessary. Shantilacy, Timmecia, & D'Onte have experienced the disappointment of placements that did not work out and need a patient, caring, and experienced family who can make a firm commitment. A structured environment with plenty of individual attention would be best. The children have a positive relationship with the foster parents and should be allowed to maintain contact with them in the future.

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Naquandra, 15

Naquandra is an outgoing and talkative teen with a warm and inviting personality. She enjoys volunteering at a local botanical garden and caring for younger children. Naquandra also loves to sing and dance and has a good sense of humor. She also enjoys having a variety of adult mentors in her life. Naquandra can be confrontational with peers. She struggles with schoolwork but has been able to form positive relationships with teachers in the past. A highly structured classroom environment seems to help Naquandra enjoy greater success. Naquandra wants to be adopted and needs a patient and loving family who can make a firm commitment and who will stand by her, even when she tests their resolve. She may do best as the oldest or only child in the home. Naquandra also needs to maintain contact with her grandmother.

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Khiersten, 11

Khiersten considers herself to be a "country girl" at heart and enjoys caring for farm animals and listening to country music. She is talkative and thrives on receiving individual attention from adults. Khiersten tends to engage in behaviors that isolate her from her peers and therefore struggles to maintain healthy peer relationships. She may also exhibit outbursts where she can be disrespectful toward adult caregivers and, at times, toward the personal property of others. Khiersten is very intelligent and has the capacity to do well academically in a structured classroom environment. Khiersten needs a patient and loving family who can make a firm commitment. A structured environment with clear guidelines and consistent routines would give her the best opportunity to reach her full potential. Khiersten should also be the youngest or only child in the home.

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Rayshun, 10

Rashun is a talkative and fun-loving child who interacts with others easily. He enjoys receiving positive attention, going shopping (especially for new shoes), and the comfort and routine of a bedtime story. Rayshun also likes to play soccer and basketball. Although Rayshun is grieving the loss of his birth family, he has expressed excitement about being adopted by "a nice family." Rayshun can be emotionally reactive, and it can be hard to identify what triggers his extreme emotions. When angry he will yell and throw things, and is difficult to calm down. He has no noted challenges in a school setting, and indicates that math and science are his favorite subjects. Rayshun enjoys being around older children, and because he can be physically aggressive, he may do best as the youngest child in a family. Rayshun also has relatives in the mid-Michigan area with whom he would like to remain in contact.

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