Houston boy, 7, looking for family to adopt him

SUGAR LAND, Texas - In 2025, FOX 26 is committed to featuring more children in need of a forever home.

By the numbers:

Across the Greater Houston area, there are more than 5,000 children in foster care. Of them, more than 1,700 have had parental rights terminated and are available for adoption right now.

7-year-old Maverick looking for forever family

What we know:

Maverick was non-verbal for the first several years of his life, but he's made so much progress in his foster home. 

"He's been in foster care for about three years, and he is looking for his forever family," said Ashley Garner, Depelchin Children's Center.

Now 7 years old, Maverick loves other kids, animals, Legos, superheroes and trains.

"He loves playing anything imaginative.  He wants to play Legos and trucks.  He enjoys movies and cuddle time is a big thing for him," said Garner. 

Garner says a family who can keep him in a good routine will be key to his success.

"We are here to find homes for children, and we want to make that as pain free as possible, so we walk through this whole process with our families," said Garner.

What they're saying:

Maverick's caseworker had this to say about his personality.

"Maverick is a quiet and playful child. He loves playing with his toys quietly and using his imagination with his cars and trucks. He can sit and play for long periods with his legos, sit and enjoy a good movie or TV show, snack on his favorite snacks, and go for a fun outing. He enjoys car rides and sometimes enjoys taking naps while riding in the car. He can be silly and bubbly and loves cuddle time. He can also be very laid back and chill and play on his own with his favorite toys. Maverick loves it when he meets another child who is on his level and can play with him. He prefers his favorite foods and snacks on a routine basis."

"The home can be a one or two parent home.  One with children, especially those younger than Maverick or in the same peer group would be a good fit. He likes animals. He gets along well with peers like him who love Legos, toy trucks, playgrounds, and playing games."

How to adopt

What you can do:

If you're interested in adopting Maverick or any other child, the first step is an orientation with Depelchin Children's Center.  After that, a background check and home study would take place.  It can take anywhere from three to six months to complete.

Dig deeper:

If you are interested in fostering or adopting, visit https://www.depelchin.org/prospective-parents/