This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This Thursday’s Child, we introduce you to a 13-year-old boy who’s ready for a new start and a family he can rely on. Ben lost his mom a few years ago. Now he’s hoping another mom – and a dad too – will see how smart and thoughtful he is and decide to make him their son.

For this science lover, we took him to the Museum of Illusions inside Union Station. It was the perfect way to get him thinking.

It’s the teen’s favorite subject in school. He is fascinated by physics, chemical reactions, and how the Earth works.

  • Photo of Ben looking straight into the camera
    Picture by AJ Film and Photo.
  • Photo of Ben and Sherae in illusion museum
    Photo of Ben and Sherae in illusion museum. Picture by AJ Film and Photo.
  • Picture of ben in purple tunnel at illusion museum.
    Picture of ben in purple tunnel at illusion museum. Picture by AJ Film and Photo.

Ben is polite and easy going. He likes riding bikes, playing video games, and enjoys watching baseball.

He says he thinks a lot about being adopted, and his future. He’s not concerned about what kind of parents he would get. 

“It doesn’t matter to me. As long as I have parents, I’m good,” Ben said.

Ben came into foster care a few years ago when his mother passed away. They were very close, and she was his only parent.

“That’s the main thing I want is really just a mom,” Ben said.

He will always miss his mom, but he hopes another woman can help guide him into adulthood.

“They’d probably help me find a job and get a car,” Ben said.

He would like to have a few siblings if possible, and he definitely wants a dog. He’d like to get a puppy so he can watch it grow.

Ben isn’t sure what he wants to do when he grows up, but he knows he wants it to be the kind of life most of us hope for.

“I’m not saying I want to be rich. I just want to have a decent amount of money, a good house, a family — I just want to be an average human,” Ben said.

“I think you are an extraordinary person. I think you’re going to do something great. I’m just so excited to see where you’ll go,” I told him.

  • Picture of Ben slurping a shake
    Picture by AJ Film and Photo.
  • Picture of Ben and Sherae sitting at table with shake in front
    Picture by AJ Film and Photo.
  • Picture of Ben and Sherae at an ice cream shop
    Picture by AJ Film and Photo.
  • Photo of Ben smiling
    Picture by AJ Film and Photo.

Want to adopt him?

If you’re interested in learning more about how to adopt Ben, please get in touch with Megan Fisher, the Adoption Coordinator for Jackson County at 816-889-2144.

Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent in Missouri?

  • Cornerstones of Care specializes in Standard and Career Foster Licenses at  1-855-SRV-KIDS (855-778-5437) or visit its website.
  • Crittenton Children’s Center (Saint Lukes) focuses on medical homes, homes that can accommodate sibling groups, and homes for older youth (age 12 and up).
  • If you are interested in learning more about this organization please reach out to Virginia Fatseas at (816) 986-5209
  • Missouri Alliance offers elevated needs training (Level A & B) to our Resource Families.  They also train our foster parents in TBRI (Trust Based Relational Intervention) as well as SOS (Signs of Safety).
  • If you are interested in learning more about this organization please reach out to Karie Scott-Roark email: KRoark@MA-CF.org.
  • Great Circle Behavioral Health for Children & Families does foster care licensing for prospective foster parents.
  • If you are interested in learning more about this organization please reach out to Jaqueline Brown at (816) 255-1503 or Jacqueline.Brown@greatcircle.org

Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent in Kansas?

Want to see more children who are looking for a family?

Want to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children in the metro?

According to CASA’s website, a court appointed special advocate make a life-changing different for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Each volunteer is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child’s best interest in court.

Its volunteers help judges develop a fuller picture of each child’s life. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.

Missouri

Kansas

Want to reach out to Sherae?

For business inquiries or questions that are unable to be answered through this article, you can reach out to Sherae Honeycutt, the host of Thursday’s Child, by email at sherae.honeycutt@fox4kc.com.