MEET HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE IN FOSTER CARE. BUT NOW HE NEEDS A PLACE TO CALL HOME. HIS SOCIAL WORKER SAYS HE IS SURE TO WIN YOU OVER. AUDREY AUDREY BIESK INTRODUCES US TO CAITLYN. LOOK AT THAT SMILE. I COULDN’T HELP BUT NOTICE IT. AND HIS BIG BLUE EYES. FIRST WE CLIMBED UP TO THE TOP OF THIS AWESOME TREE HOUSE AND CAITLYN WAS IMPRESSIVE ON THE ROPES COURSE. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? FOOTBALL. BASKETBALL. AND YOU’RE REALLY GOOD AT CLIMBING. YOU LIKE THIS TREE HOUSE, DON’T YOU? YEAH. CAITLYN, SOCIAL WORKER CARLA SWAIN HAS KNOWN HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. SHE SAYS CAITLYN HAS AUTISM AND IS MOSTLY NONVERBAL, BUT HE’S WORKING HARD ON SPEECH THERAPY AND COMPREHENDS WHAT OTHERS SAY TO HIM. HE TALKS MORE AND MORE. MORE. UM, WE’RE LEARNING A LOT OF WORDS, RIGHT? YES. UM, AND HE HE LOVES BEING AROUND PEOPLE. HE LOVES BEING AROUND CHILDREN. AND HE ENJOYED SEEING THE FARM ANIMALS. HE LIKES THINGS TO BE NEAT AND CLEAN. HE’LL COME IN AND START CLEANING UP. AND HE LOVES CLOTHES. IF CAITLYN, IF YOU HAD MONEY, WOULD YOU PICK TOYS OR CLOTHES? KIDS CLOTHES? YOU? YEP. HE LIKES TO LOOK GOOD, LIKES TO HAVE HIS HAIR DONE. LIKES TO HAVE NEW CLOTHES. THAT’S THE FIRST THING HE SHOWS ME EVERY TIME I GO VISIT HIM IS HIS NEW CLOTHES. CAITLYN IS OH SO SWEET AND HE WILL THRIVE WITH A PATIENT ADOPTIVE FAMILY. I THINK HE NEEDS HE NEEDS STRUCTURE AND CONSISTS YANCEY AND LOVE. AND CAITLYN HAS A LOT OF LOVE TO GIVE, REACH OUT TO THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN NOW. THREE, THREE, 6271 7989 TO SPEAK WITH THE CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO LEARN ABOUT ADOPTION AND HELP GIVE CAITLYN A PLACE TO CALL HO
A place to call home: 'He needs love': 13-year-old Kalen spends most of his life in foster care
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Updated: 8:57 PM EST Feb 22, 2024
A 13-year-old boy has spent the majority of his life living in foster care and is in need of a place to call home.Kalen's big blue eyes and smile are sure to win over someone's heart. Top StoriesNorth Carolina man convicted in killing of Winston-Salem police officer Sgt. Plouff released from prisonChina plans to send San Diego Zoo more pandas this year, reigniting its panda diplomacyWhat we know about Audrii Cunningham, the Texas 11-year-old who vanished on her way to schoolGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereHe met WXII 12's Audrey Biesk at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham so he could enjoy an afternoon of playing. Kalen's social worker, Karla Swaim, has known Kalen for several years, working closely with him. She says Kalen has autism and is mostly nonverbal, and he's working extensively on speech therapy and comprehends what others say to him."He talks more and more, we're learning words, aren't we? He loves being around people, he loves being around children," Swaim said. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsHe likes to show love by helping to do things or by giving hugs. Kalen loves basketball and playing with other children. Swaim said he also loves clothes and having his hair done. Kalen will do best and thrive with a patient family."I think he needs structure, consistency and love," Swaim said. Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Call 336- 271-7989 to speak with the Children's Home Society of North Carolina to help give Kalen a place to call home.For more of Audrey Biesk's A Place to Call Home, click here! A PLACE TO CALL HOME COVERAGE
N.C. — A 13-year-old boy has spent the majority of his life living in foster care and is in need of a place to call home.
Kalen's big blue eyes and smile are sure to win over someone's heart.
Top Stories
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here
He met WXII 12's Audrey Biesk at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham so he could enjoy an afternoon of playing.
Kalen's social worker, Karla Swaim, has known Kalen for several years, working closely with him. She says Kalen has autism and is mostly nonverbal, and he's working extensively on speech therapy and comprehends what others say to him.
"He talks more and more, we're learning words, aren't we? He loves being around people, he loves being around children," Swaim said.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
He likes to show love by helping to do things or by giving hugs. Kalen loves basketball and playing with other children. Swaim said he also loves clothes and having his hair done.
Kalen will do best and thrive with a patient family.
"I think he needs structure, consistency and love," Swaim said.
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
Call 336- 271-7989 to speak with the Children's Home Society of North Carolina to help give Kalen a place to call home.
For more of Audrey Biesk's A Place to Call Home, click here!
A PLACE TO CALL HOME COVERAGE
