Florida orphan Davion Only could have an adoptive family by Christmas--even though his biological relatives want him back
Davion Only’s caseworkers at Eckerd are sorting through 10,000 requests to create a short list of 10 families. That list likely won't include his biological family, including a big sister, aunt, and grandma who aren't eligible to adopt him.
Comments (5)By Carol Kuruvilla / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Saturday, October 26, 2013, 12:01 PM
Updated: Saturday, October 26, 2013, 1:54 PM
abcnews.go.com
Producers of ‘The View’ flew Florida orphan, Davion Only, and his caseworker Connie Going (C), to New York for a chat with the show’s stars. It was Only’s first trip outside of Florida and his first time on a plane.
After spending his life in foster care, Florida orphan Davion Only might wake up this Christmas to a family of his own.
The 15-year-old’s adoption agency, Eckerd, had to hire a public relations firm to manage media requests after his heartfelt plea made the front page of the Tampa Bay Times and went on to garner international attention. More than 60 volunteers at the agency’s makeshift call center have fielded 10,000 adoption requests from around the world.
Within the next month, Eckerd will sift through this pool to find 100 eligible families. They’re looking for people in Florida who have had experience with teens, who don’t have young children, and who have already done adoption home studies. Then, Only’s caseworker Connie Going will give the teenager a short list of 10.
RELATED: GRANDMA RAISES MONEY TO ADOPT HER ORPHANED GRANDSON
But that list likely won't include Only's biological big sisters, brother, aunt, grandma. Many of the boy's relatives have tried to bring him home in the past, but their criminal records make it difficult for them to qualify for adoption, according to MailOnline.
"We really want to be a part of his life," said his 71-year-old grandmother Carole Ware. "If nobody from our family can adopt him for whatever reason, then we want to be able to have regular contact, even if we have to be supervised while we do it. He needs to know his real family, it is so important."
Some relatives met up with Only in August, a few months before he took to the pulpit at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla. to publicly ask for an adoptive family.
The 15-year-old’s adoption agency, Eckerd, had to hire a public relations firm to manage media requests after his heartfelt plea made the front page of the Tampa Bay Times and went on to garner international attention. More than 60 volunteers at the agency’s makeshift call center have fielded 10,000 adoption requests from around the world.
Within the next month, Eckerd will sift through this pool to find 100 eligible families. They’re looking for people in Florida who have had experience with teens, who don’t have young children, and who have already done adoption home studies. Then, Only’s caseworker Connie Going will give the teenager a short list of 10.
RELATED: GRANDMA RAISES MONEY TO ADOPT HER ORPHANED GRANDSON
But that list likely won't include Only's biological big sisters, brother, aunt, grandma. Many of the boy's relatives have tried to bring him home in the past, but their criminal records make it difficult for them to qualify for adoption, according to MailOnline.
"We really want to be a part of his life," said his 71-year-old grandmother Carole Ware. "If nobody from our family can adopt him for whatever reason, then we want to be able to have regular contact, even if we have to be supervised while we do it. He needs to know his real family, it is so important."
Some relatives met up with Only in August, a few months before he took to the pulpit at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Fla. to publicly ask for an adoptive family.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/florida-orphan-davion-family-christmas-article-1.1497408#ixzz2itBDMV6o
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