Sometimes, young children in Child Protective Services custody don't fully understand what it means to be adopted. All they know is they want to be part of a family.
But 7-year-old Jarius is different. He is very aware of what a forever family is, and he is ready to find one.
He's a curious and fearless little boy who easily scales the rock walls at Orsinger Park.
I going up, he says as he crosses over the top of the wall and climbs down the opposite side.
I don't need no help, he says as he moves over the monkey bars, his feet dangling three feet above the ground.
Jarius will be eight years old in a few days, but he has an adventurous spirit and is open to try lots of fun things.
He is very sweet and very adventurous. He loves superheroes, the outdoors. He loves anything that has to do with nature, period, said his caseworker, Brenda Evans.
Evans says once Jarius gets to know you, he'll even break out in song if you ask him to.
When you first meet him, he's quiet for 2.2 seconds, then his personality comes out. He's loud, talkative. He's very funny, she adds.
With a birthday coming up in a few days, Jarius was excited to talk about going to Chuck E Cheese, one of his favorite places. Also in the near future, he hopes a forever family will soon come calling for him.
He understands the concept of forever family, because we talk about it all the time. He's OK with a dog. He says he's OK if they have one, and he's OK if they don't, says Evans.