4Ever Family: Serenity

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.

Serenity is a very active, sweet, nurturing, and social 10-year-old who enjoys playing outdoors. Some of her favorite pastimes are swimming and riding her bike with friends.

One new activity on her list of things to do is karate lessons. Serenity is learning additional levels of discipline, and is looking forward to one day obtaining her black belt in karate.

Serentiy is currently into listening to K-Pop, watching anime such as Sailor Moon, and enjoys spending time with her caretaker and engaging in family activities such as going to church, going out to eat, or a shopping trip.

Serenity loves eating and creating sweets, as she has recently begun to learn how to bake cookies and cakes to share creations with her friends.

Serenity is not sure yet what she wants to do careerwise, but she knows she wants to attend college, as education is very important to her.

However, she is sure about Christmas being her favorite time of the year, as she loves the feeling of being around loved ones and enjoys the holiday treats, with the ultimate gift of a forever family.

Serenity is wanting a family with many siblings, younger or older, and one with many pets, but most importantly forever love.

If you think you could be a forever family for Serenity or 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 www.heartgallerystx.org website, where South Texas children have their portraits and 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, responsible, and 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