Welcome to NC Kids, the Adoption Exchange program for children in foster care in North Carolina.

NC Kids helps connect waiting children with pre-adoptive families by:

• Featuring waiting children on www.adoptuskids.org and www.adoptnckids.org. These websites provide pictures and profiles of legally free children awaiting adoption and general information on adoption and foster care

• Maintaining a central database of children available for adoption and families who are interested in adopting children from the foster care system

• Offering matching services for waiting children with pre-approved families registered with NC Kids

We also provide:

• Adoption support services, including how to get started on your adoption
• Community outreach
• Announcement of trainings and adoption-related events

NC Kids serves as a liaison between agencies, children and families. NC Kids is not an adoption agency and does not make any decisions regarding placement. Please see the FAQ and Information sections for additional details.

For more information, or to register with NC Kids, please call our hotline at 888-625-4375 or email us at nc.kids@dhhs.nc.gov

“Juanyae is a warm, sensitive child who is eager to please others. He is also outgoing and friendly and has a wonderful smile that he shows more and more often. Juanyae is inquisitive and excited about learning new things. He loves sports, especially basketball, football, and kickball, and thinks he will make his career in sports. Juanyae also likes to play card, board, & video games.

Juanyae attends an alternative school where the very small class size allows him to stay better focused and on task. In this academic environment he is also able to work at his own pace and receive the additional assistance he needs to be successful. Counseling is helping Juanyae learn to respond appropriately to adult direction, cope with frustration, and improve his self-concept.

Juanyae is a very resilient boy who continues trying to adjust to his circumstances. He has responded very well to people who understand and care what he has been through in his life and who are patient with him. When he recognizes that people are trustworthy, he will open up to them and feel safe. Juanyae needs love, guidance, encouragement, and lots of nurturing. Stability, security, structure, and consistency are also a must. Either a single parent or a couple would be fine. It would be best if there were no other children in the home, or perhaps only one other child. An older child to whom he could look to as a role model would be appropriate. If you are interested in learning more about Juanyae, please email NC Kids consultant, Robyn Weiser, at robyn.weiser@dhhs.nc.gov or call 919-334-1132. “