In October 2026 we spent time playing with 8-year-old Andrew and his 7-year-old brother Ira at a children’s home (orphanage) in Colombia. Andrew was initially shy and quiet and slow to warm up to us. His face lit up once his Granny (through Spence-Chapin’s Granny Program) joined us in the room. Her presence allowed Andrew to trust that it was safe to play with us. His favorite activity with us was playing with bubbles which makes sense since his favorite subject in school being Science.
Andrew has been working with his granny on learning how to identify risks and that his actions have consequences. His Granny shared that Andrew recently told her: “If I climb a tree, I could fall, so I’m not gonna do that!” This is a huge step for Andrew who is receiving support and medication for managing ADHD.
Ira was quicker to jump in and play with us, he enjoyed coloring and played with a lot of energy. Unlike big brother Andrew, Ira is not afraid to climb on and jump off things which makes sense since he idolizes Superman. A strength Ira identified is that “I am really good with computers.”
Andrew and Ira came into the child welfare system after experiencing abuse and neglect, along with an older sister and a younger brother. While all four siblings are currently living together in the children’s home, the legal and therapeutic teams in charge of their cases have determined that it is in Andrew and Ira’s best interests to be adopted as a sibling pair, separate from their other two siblings. Andrew and Ira are receiving supportive services around this difficult decision.
The right family for Andrew and Ira would have an active lifestyle in which the brothers could have the opportunity to experience various activities (swimming, soccer, basketball, etc.) and one who would support the continued healing and growth from abuse and neglect. They need a family who will advocate for their needs in the educational setting as well as behavioral health.
Ideally, it would be wonderful if Andrew and Ira found a family that was open to remaining in contact with their older sister and younger brother once they are placed with adoptive families.
Please contact our team at 212-400-8150 or email us at [email protected] to learn more about Andrew and Ira.
If you receive and accept the referral of Ivy & Leah through Spence-Chapin, you will benefit from the generosity of our new Briden Adoption Fund, which can offset the costs of adopting an international Waiting Child. The Briden Adoption Fund is made possible by the generosity of a Spence-Chapin family.
Elizabeth L. Smith, LMSW (she/her) is a compassionate, trauma-informed, and adoption-competent therapist. In her Adoptee Support Sessions, she provides non-clinical support services to adopted people. Her clinical training, narrative work, and living experience as an adopted person inform her perspective and practice. Elizabeth possesses deep awareness, empathy, and understanding of the shifting complexities of adoption, reunion, search, and the importance of being together in community.
In October 2026 we spent time playing with 8-year-old Andrew and his 7-year-old brother Ira at a children’s home (orphanage) in Colombia. Andrew was initially shy and quiet and slow to warm up to us. His face lit up once his Granny (through Spence-Chapin’s Granny Program) joined us in the room. Her presence allowed Andrew to trust that it was safe to play with us. His favorite activity with us was playing with bubbles which makes sense since his favorite subject in school being Science.
Andrew has been working with his granny on learning how to identify risks and that his actions have consequences. His Granny shared that Andrew recently told her: “If I climb a tree, I could fall, so I’m not gonna do that!” This is a huge step for Andrew who is receiving support and medication for managing ADHD.
Ira was quicker to jump in and play with us, he enjoyed coloring and played with a lot of energy. Unlike big brother Andrew, Ira is not afraid to climb on and jump off things which makes sense since he idolizes Superman. A strength Ira identified is that “I am really good with computers.”
Andrew and Ira came into the child welfare system after experiencing abuse and neglect, along with an older sister and a younger brother. While all four siblings are currently living together in the children’s home, the legal and therapeutic teams in charge of their cases have determined that it is in Andrew and Ira’s best interests to be adopted as a sibling pair, separate from their other two siblings. Andrew and Ira are receiving supportive services around this difficult decision.
The right family for Andrew and Ira would have an active lifestyle in which the brothers could have the opportunity to experience various activities (swimming, soccer, basketball, etc.) and one who would support the continued healing and growth from abuse and neglect. They need a family who will advocate for their needs in the educational setting as well as behavioral health.
Ideally, it would be wonderful if Andrew and Ira found a family that was open to remaining in contact with their older sister and younger brother once they are placed with adoptive families.
Please contact our team at 212-400-8150 or email us at [email protected] to learn more about Andrew and Ira.
If you receive and accept the referral of Ivy & Leah through Spence-Chapin, you will benefit from the generosity of our new Briden Adoption Fund, which can offset the costs of adopting an international Waiting Child. The Briden Adoption Fund is made possible by the generosity of a Spence-Chapin family.
Waiting Children Profiles
Thank you for your interest in adopting through Spence-Chapin! We are able to share the profiles of children who are considered to be the most in need and are waiting internationally to be matched with an adoptive family. The children featured on this page have been waiting for the longest to find families and consist of children who are older, part of a sibling group, or children with a diagnosed medical condition. In order to respect the privacy of these children, this page has been password protected.
Spence-Chapin takes the privacy rights of the children that we are seeking to place very seriously, and share the profile with you under the following conditions:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PASSWORD ACCESS
That you acknowledge and understand that
1. Misuse of the content, and/or linking to any sites that reflect practices that involve the sale, abduction, exploitation, or trafficking of children is strictly prohibited.
2. You have been given limited access to confidential information in the form of images that you will not disclose to any person or in any manner that is inconsistent with applicable policies and procedures of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.
3. The confidentiality obligation shall continue indefinitely, including at all times after my association with Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children.
4. You are not permitted to release, copy, distribute, or sell any of these images to third parties in any form.
5. Impermissible disclosure of the images may result in legal actions being taken against you, by or on behalf of that person.
6. You are doing this freely, voluntarily and with a full understanding of what you are agreeing to by entering/accessing this blog.
7. Thank you for your interest in providing a loving home for a waiting child! We look forward to connecting with you soon to continue discussing adoption paths at Spence-Chapin. We hope that you like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter, and keep up with our families through our adoption blog!
Warm regards,
The Adoption Team at Spence-Chapin
Phone: 212-400-8150
Email: [email protected]
