Wednesday's Child: 15-Year-Old Luis

BOSTON (CBS) --- Luis is an energetic 15-year-old Latino teen who is coming out of his shell and is so ready to join a permanent family. His personality shines through when he is comfortable and confident. He describes himself as calm, usually serious, and sometimes silly. If he were an animal, Luis says he would be a turtle because they are laid back. Luis also shared that he cares for a lot of people, and he even volunteers to help staff in his residential home.

Luis enjoys a variety of music, computer games and outdoor sports, such as fishing and more recently ice-skating. He also loves playing on a basketball league, as well as watching the New England Celtics. A caring, empathetic boy, Luis likes to have friends, though he has had difficulties connecting with his peers and sustaining relationships. In his words, friendship is based on trust and respect, and he feels he is a person who keeps his word. Academically, math and writing are challenging for Luis and his goal is to further develop these skills. He has enjoyed spending time at the town library.

Luis is a polite, kind boy who will benefit greatly from a loving and nurturing family that can be patient with him as he develops a strong sense of appropriate boundaries. He would do well in a two-parent family, as an only child or the youngest child. He is open to a family with a single mom or two mothers, and would enjoy having older siblings and pets. Legally free for adoption, Luis is looking forward to building strong relationships with a stable family that will support him and advocate for his needs now and into the future. Luis is very close with his brother, and an ideal family will help him maintain that relationship.

To learn more about Luis, and about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.MAREinc.org. The sooner you call, the sooner a waiting child will have "a permanent place to call HOME."