4Ever Family: Iliana and Star

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Every week, CBS 4 works to find a forever home for a Rio Grande Valley foster child as part of our “4Ever Family” partnership with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Meet 12-year-old Iliana who is an open-minded, outgoing, energetic child who is very artistic, and has a talent for drawing. She is also very caring, as she is always willing to help others, and takes her role of big sister seriously.  

At school reading and math are her two favorite subjects, and thinks she would like to go to college for a degree in criminal justice,  with a possible career in law enforcement.

Iliana says she would like to join the school volleyball team, along with continuing her outdoor hobbies of swimming, camping, and fishing. She is very proud of her first catch and looks forward to sharing the big catch story with her future forever family, during a dinner at Peter Piper Pizza, her favorite fast-food restaurant.

Nine-year-old Star is Iliana’s little sister, who is also very outgoing and gets along well with others.

Star likes to do arts and crafts and is very creative with various artistic mediums, and like her big sister, drawing is her specialty.

At school, Star is on the Honor Roll and says she wants to try out for the cheerleading squad in the next school year.

For indoor recreation, she enjoys playing video and board games, but in the outdoors, it's swimming, activities in the park, and riding bikes.

Star’s favorite foods are tacos, pizza, and chocolate.

Iliana and Star are both looking for the same thing, parents who will adopt them together as sisters, love and care for them, and be there for all of the daily activities and share in their life’s milestone moments. If the family includes a pet dog, even better.

If you think you could be Iliana and Star's forever family or for another Texas child, call 1-800-233-3405. For more information visit www.adoptchildren.org where you can find a schedule of online public information meetings, and learn about the foster/adoption program.

You can also view the NEW www.heartgallerystx.org website, where South Texas children have their portraits along with individual personal stories they wish to share, with their future forever family.

Basic Adoption Requirements

The prospective foster/adoptive parents may be single or married and must:

• be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults
• complete an application (staff will assist you if you prefer)
• share information regarding their background and lifestyle
• provide relative and non-relative references
• show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable)
• agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members
• allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household
• attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children