Email Icon Newsletter Sign Up Email Icon 866-217-8534
  • C.A.S.E. institute
  • Events
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Careers
Fundraise
Donate
close
  • Login
  • Store
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Board of Directors
    • Emerging Leaders
    • The C.A.S.E. Team
      • Overview
      • Kathleen Dugan, Founder
      • Debbie Riley, CEO
      • Staff
    • Annual Reports
    • Partnerships
    • Our Impact
      • Overview
      • Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruitment
      • Policy & Advocacy
      • C.A.S.E. Stars of Adoption
      • Awards & Recognition
    • Careers
    • C.A.S.E. Locations
    • 25 Year Anniversary
  • Counseling Services
    • Overview
    • Counseling at C.A.S.E.
      • Overview
      • Tele-mental Health Services
      • Individual & Family Counseling
      • Consultation
      • Child & Teen Groups
    • Who We Serve
    • Meet Our Mental Health Staff
    • How to Schedule an Appointment
  • Adoption Competency Initiatives
    • Overview
    • Directory of TAC Trained Mental Health Professionals
    • Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)
      • Overview
      • About TAC
      • TAC Sites and Partners
      • TAC Participants
      • TAC Trainers
    • National Training Initiative (NTI)
  • Education & Resources
    • Overview
    • For Parents & Families
      • Overview
      • Strengthening Your Family Webinar Series
      • In-Demand Webinars
      • Free Resources and Links
      • W.I.S.E. Up!®
      • Post Adoption Support Resources for Maryland Families
      • Post Adoption Support Resources for Northern Virginia Families (NPAC)
    • For Professionals
      • Overview
      • Live Webinars
      • In-Demand Webinars
      • W.I.S.E. Up! Become a Certified Trainer
      • Jockey Being Family Backpack Program
      • Educational Trainings for Parent Groups and Professionals
      • Post Adoption Support Resources for Maryland Families
      • Post Adoption Support Resources for Northern Virginia Families (NPAC)
  • Get Involved
    • Overview
    • Donate
    • Planned Giving
    • Ways to Give
    • Corporate and Foundation Partnerships
    • Events
    • Volunteer
    • Internships
  • Growing Together Campaign
    • Overview
    • Goals, Impact & Leadership
    • Thank You Campaign Donors
    • Donate to C.A.S.E.
    • Endowment Fund
    • Planned Giving
  • NTI
Newsletter Sign Up
Fundraise Donate

Nicky’s Story

ShareTweet

Nicky 20 stories for 20 yearsHi, this is an adoption story for Nicky, as told by his dad and mom.

Nicky is a witty, charming, high-energy, and sometimes rascally 11-year-old boy who joined our family when he was 1.5 years old.  When he was 6, we thought Nicky would enjoy karate since he was very coordinated and energetic, so we found him a class, explained how karate would help him learn self-control and channel some of that energy…but he was just not comfortable learning karate in front of a bunch of strangers.  So, we withdrew from the class.

Over the last several years, some very patient and insightful counselors at C.A.S.E. helped Nicky learn to identify and overcome many of his fears. After seeing that Nicky was gaining confidence in himself, we brought up karate again, but he just wasn’t interested.  But, could he try break dancing like his friend Joaquin from down the street?

We thought to ourselves, “Break dancing?  Is that even a thing?  Didn’t that die out in the ’80’s?”  But to Nicky, we said, “Yes!  Let’s give that a try.”  And try we did.  Nicky took to this amazing urban dance form like fish to water and it’s been an indescribable joy to watch him perform and grow more and more comfortable doing “top rock, footwork,  freeze, and power transitions” in front of his teacher, fellow students and their parents. People who, for a while at least, were strangers.

Nicky Break Dances!

Nicky has worked so hard and has done so well that he’s now performing at regional competitions and recently won a “Rock the Box” competition against “b-boys and b-girls” from up and down the East Coast. I hope you enjoy the movie of one of his performances.

Many thanks to C.A.S.E. for helping our big boy slay a few of his demons!  We can never repay Nicky’s counselors, but we do want to express sincere thanks for the miracles they perform every day.

P.S. Nicky was also featured in the “C.A.S.E. Helped Me” video! Check it out!

View other stories

Contact Us

3919 National Drive, Suite 200 Burtonsville, MD 20866

Other Locations

General

301-476-8525  (phone)
301-476-8526 (fax)
caseadopt@adoptionsupport.org

For More About Our Mental Health Services or to Schedule an Appointment

866-217-8534

appts@adoptionsupport.org 

 

Everyone is Welcome Here

Connect With Us

Stay up to date on C.A.S.E. News and Events

Enewsletter Sign UpFor Email Newsletters you can trust.

C.A.S.E. Privacy Policy

Press & Media

Maryland Post Adoption Support Services

Northern Post Adoption Consortium

Counseling Services

Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)

Support Us

C.A.S.E. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
EIN 52-2100734

Website Maintained by