4Ever Family: Orion

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.

Orion is a 5-year-old who is an early bird and wakes up by 6 a.m. every morning to begin the day. He enjoys attending school and interacting with his peers. Orion loves learning, his favorite subject is reading/story time, especially when the topics are cars and animals.

One of his favorite activities is to play games and watch YouTube videos on his tablet, with his favorite video character being Sonic the Hedgehog.

Regarding non-electronic entertainment, he enjoys playing with trucks, puzzles, stuffed toys, and water balloons.

Orion uses a wheelchair when he is outdoors. He is a strong-willed child and is learning to walk without assistance, as he can currently take 9 to 10 steps independently. 

For his list of favorites; it would be going to church, playing with his peers at school, and for food, it’s tacos. A fun fact about Orion is he likes to wear his hair long.

Orion would do well in a two-parent household with parents who have a medical background. He is about to turn 6-years-old, and what better present than that of a forever family.

If you think you could be Orion’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