*Maya (9) and her brother, *Jacob (11), are in need of a foster carer who can look after them both and help them continue on their positive trajectories. 

Maya 

Maya is a playful, caring and bright nine-year-old girl who loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.   

Cheerful and curious, Maya is open to trying new activities and has recently begun gymnastics and horseback riding – both of which she enjoys. Maya also loves creative pursuits like knitting, colouring and learning to cook and bake, as well as outdoor play and video games. She has loads of friends in school and is progressing well socially and academically. 

Maya has a cleft pallet and Pierre Robin sequence, which can make verbal communication more challenging for her. Though her speech can sometimes be difficult to understand at first, her verbal skills are extensive, and she is very chatty and social. 

Jacob 

Jacob is a kind and thoughtful 11-year-old little boy. Chatty and playful, Jacob has a great sense of humour and loves to tell jokes and play harmless tricks on people. He is talkative, caring and affectionate with people he trusts and enjoys grown-up attention. 

Like his sister, Maya (9), Jacob is creative, and he loves to do colouring, painting and art. He also loves video games and sports, and particularly all things football –especially Liverpool -- related.  

While Jacob is mostly a typical boy of his age, he can have outbursts of defiance that include some verbal aggression and kicking objects. He responds well when caregivers remain calm, help him ground, and give him time and space to regulate his emotions. Jacob engaged in play therapy ever fortnight and enjoys spending time with his Youth Advocate Programmes (YAP) worker. 

Jacob has some digestive issues for which he receives ongoing medical support. 

Ideally, Maya and her brother, Jacob, would find a foster care placement which could allow them to remain living together, as they have been. They are typical siblings who love each other very much, bicker when testing each other, and who would benefit from continuing to grow up together. 

For more information, please contact Tusla's national freephone fostering number 1800 226 771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie. More details on Tusla fostering services can be found on www.fostering.ie