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Celeste and Milo need a forever family

Meet Celeste and Milo, two loving siblings who need a forever family!  

12-year-old Celeste

Celeste is a resilient girl with immense potential for growth and happiness! She has forged deep emotional connections with her foster family and her biological brother, Milo, showing her ability to establish and maintain meaningful relationships. Her expressive and articulate communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal, further highlight her emotional intelligence and readiness for a loving and stable family environment.

Celeste finds joy in various activities, such as spending time with family and friends, going for walks, shopping, and enjoying meals. She has a range of interests, including playing soccer, engaging in traditional games, and solving puzzles. Celeste is also creative, enjoying activities like coloring, drawing, and working with recycled materials during her free time.

Despite significant trauma in her early childhood, Celeste has demonstrated admirable adaptability and a positive response to change. She has embraced her foster home’s rules and structure, showcasing respect and responsibility. Her new family will need to continue supporting her mental health with ongoing therapy. 

Celeste’s joyful demeanor, love for various activities, and clear aspirations for the future underscore her resilience and determination. With the proper support and a nurturing family environment, Celeste and her brother Milo have the potential to thrive academically and personally.

15-year-old Milo

Milo is a remarkable teen who embodies resilience, kindness, and a spirit eager for a loving home. Milo’s journey has been one of growth, and he is now ready to embark on the next chapter of his life: a forever family.

Milo does well in school compared to peers his age. He consistently shows respect for authority figures, such as foster parents and teachers. His adherence to norms and rules at home and school reflects a maturity and commitment to keeping the peace.

For instance, Milo’s interactions with peers are marked by appropriateness and a talent for conflict-free sharing, making him a delightful companion for adolescents his age.

Beyond his admirable character, Milo harbors a deep fear of separation from his sister, Celeste. This fear is a testament to the importance of family bonds in his life, and we believe that a loving and supportive family can help him navigate this emotional challenge.

Milo’s interests are diverse, ranging from a love of soccer and competitive games to enjoying board games like bingo, Parcheesi, and lottery with his sister and other children from the foster home. His simple preferences in clothing, like jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, reflect his down-to-earth nature.

The commitment of his current foster family has led to significant improvements in his attitude, decision-making, and academic performance. Milo is ready to extend this journey with a family that can offer him a sense of belonging, stability, and unconditional love. Due to a traumatic childhood, he will need ongoing therapy and support. 

Celeste and Milo need a forever family to call their own

Please consider opening your hearts and homes to Milo and his sister, Celeste. Their journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. With the right family, their story will continue to unfold with warmth, joy, and the love they deserve.

Please contact our Colombia team for inquiries about Milo and Celeste’s adoption. 

Colombia Adoption Program

In light of the many children in need of a permanent and loving family, CCAI launched its Colombia adoption program in 2020. Children eligible for adoption from Colombia tend to be older with varying degrees of medical needs. These resilient and hopeful children bring with them their rich and unique culture and history!

CCAI’s parent preparation resources give families the tools to welcome a special child into their hearts and home. Our Colombia adoption program is a fast-growing, robust program that offers both traditional and host-to-adopt adoption options for children of all ages and sibling groups!

Recent posts

GiGi Pleet

Adoption Program Specialist

GiGi Pleet joined CCAI in 2014 as our China Applications Specialist. She rejoined the team in 2022 after taking a few years off to spend time with her family.  GiGi and her husband have adopted three beautiful daughters from China who are the joy and purpose of their lives.  GiGi is passionate about adoption and furthering CCAI’s mission to find loving parents and permanent homes for as many children as possible and to continue reaching out to children left behind.  When she is not working, you can find her spending time with her girls in the beautiful mountains of Colorado or on an adventure to a new, faraway place.
 
Joined CCAI:  Originally 2014 – 2020, rejoined 2022
 
Bucket List Item:  To see all Seven Wonders of the World 

Contact Information

gigi@ccaifamily.org

(303) 850-9998 ext. 300

Emily Straut

The Park Administrative Assistant

Emily was adopted through CCAI in 2002!  Having always admired the ways that the organization continued to support families even after adoption, she began working at The Park last year because she wanted to be more involved in the adoption community and according to her, “It’s been a blast so far!”

Emily is majoring in environmental science at MSU Denver and hopes to help mitigate the causes and effects of climate change. In her free time, she like to practice guitar, play video games, watch movies, and spend time with her friends and family. 

Bucket List: Visit every province in China!

Contact Information

emily@theparkcommunity.org

(303) 221-6688 ext. 170

CO Team Line 4

Ivy Buchanan

The Park Adoptee Program Coordinator

Ivy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Production Design for Film and Theater with a minor in Studio Art. She had the opportunity to study abroad in London, England and Florence, Italy. After graduating, while visiting an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal she had a moment of realization and knew she wanted to work in the adoption community. After some prior experience in post-adoption and nonprofit management, she came to The Park and is really enjoying focusing on and being involved with offering lifelong support for adoptees and the adoption community.

Ivy was adopted from Kazakhstan at 18-months old and is proud of her adoptee identity and her adoptive family. She is passionate about sharing the stories of the amazing people in the adoption community and helping adoptees celebrate their identities. Her lifelong best friend was adopted from China through CCAI. 

In her free time, she enjoys making art (she is working on a series of sculptural paintings of poached animal species), trying new food, catching up with friends, reading, and being with family. She loves to travel whenever possible.

Joined CCAI: 2023

Top Bucket List Items:

  • A trail ride through “Middle Earth” in New Zealand
  • Volunteering for a few weeks at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
  • Sleeping in a hammock on a beach

Contact Information

ivy@theparkcommunity.org

(303) 221-6688 ext. 205

CO Team Line 1

Colorado Expenses

ExpenseAmountPmt MethodPay ToDue
Application Fee$250Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIApplication submission
Child Abuse Record Search$35/FamilyCheckCO Dept of Human ServiceApplication submission
IAAME Monitoring & Oversight Fee$500Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAI (Sent to IAAME)After App Approval
First Program Fee (Includes Home Study)$5,700Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIAfter App Approval
CBI/FBI Fingerprint Search$39.50 per personMoney OrderColorado Bureau of InvestigationAfter App Approval
USCIS Filing & Fingerprinting$775 plus $85/adultCheck/Money OrderUS Dept. of Homeland SecurityUpon I-800A submission
Dossier PreparationApprox. $450-$900Check/Money OrderSecretary of State(s), Chinese Consulate(s)As preparing Dossier
Second Program Fee$5,050Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIDossier Submission
CCCWA Fee$1,270Check/ACH WithdrawalCCCWA via CCAIDossier Submission
Third Program Fee$5,500Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
CCCWA Post Adoption Translation Fee$300Check/ACH WithdrawalCCCWA via CCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Court Validation Deposit$200CheckCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Post Adoption Deposit (Refundable)$450Check/ACH WithdrawalCCAIPrior to receiving child match acceptance letter
Visa to enter China$140 (plus courier fee)Check/Credit CardChinese Consulate via a courier/travel agencyApproximately one month before travel to China
US Domestic & International Airfare$1,000 – $2,000 per traveler (adopted child over 2 requires full ticket)Credit CardA travel agency/airline of your choice

Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure

In China Travel & AccommodationsApprox. $4,000-$4,400 for two adultsACH WithdrawalCCAI (wired to China)Approximately 7-10 days prior to China departure
Adoption Registration and Notarization$800 – $1,000CashLocal government in ChinaIn China
Orphanage Donation(Voluntary)Cash or WireOrphanageIn China
Child’s Passport$100-$150CashLocal passport agencyIn China
Food$700 – $800 per coupleCash/Credit CardHotel(s), restaurant(s)In China
Child Physical & Photo$130-$150CashClinicIn Guangzhou, China
Child U.S. Entry Visa$325Cash or CheckU.S. ConsulateIn China
Court Validation Fee$167CheckCounty CourtAfter U.S. Return
Child’s Colorado Birth Certificate$37.75CheckColorado Vital Statistics OfficeAfter U.S. Return
Lutheran Family Services$250CheckLutheran Family Services via CCAIWhen Home Study is approved by CCAI