Teegan
Adopted
Eric
16 years old
Adopted
Meet Eric, a thoughtful 15-year old gaming enthusiast. Eric would like to learn more about coding, streaming, and technology. A family that has similar interests would be ideal. Just like a challenging game level, Eric’s life has had some tough obstacles. Due to his past experiences, he’s unsure of what a healthy “family” really means to him. While he’s passionate about his interests, he’s still figuring out what it means to be loved and feel like he’s enough. Eric longs for a family that will take the time to be with him, talk through the hard stuff without raising voices, and support him as he navigates life’s ups and downs. He’s missed out on many typical teenage moments and is eager to experience what that’s like with a family that’s patient and willing to help him grow. Eric needs a supportive home where he can feel safe, cared for, a priority, and understood. Eric is open to a home with animals. Eric does have siblings, therefore, a family that is supportive and willing to maintain this connection is critical. Though Eric might put up some walls at first, beneath that cautious exterior is a bright, clever teen who’s waiting and wanting to trust again. He needs a family who is patient, willing to take things one step at a time, and understands that healing- much like leveling up in a game- takes time and effort. Can you be the one to help him unlock the next chapter?
FAQs
If a child in foster care is in the Heart Gallery, reunification with their biological family was not possible so an adoptive family is needed. Most Heart Gallery children are at least 9 years old, part of a sibling group, and/or have special needs. All children in foster care have experienced abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect; therefore, need support to heal from the trauma they have experienced.
All children are different, with a variety of unique strengths and needs so all types of families are needed. In Florida, you must be at least 21 to adopt a child from foster care. There are no restrictions based on age, race, marital status, or sexual orientation. You may live in a home or apartment that you own or rent. Adoptive parents must have a stable income sufficient to support their family.
In Florida, there is no cost to adopt a child from foster care. In fact, families who adopt may qualify for a monthly adoption subsidy. Health care for children adopted from foster care is covered by Medicaid until age 18. They also receive free tuition at any Florida state college, university, or vocational school.
Federal tax credits and exemptions may also be available. Visit the IRS website to learn more.
Prospective adoptive parents must complete Adoption Orientation, a 36-hour Professional Parenting course, have an approved home study, and approved background screenings. Most importantly, you must be willing to make a lifelong commitment to a child in need.
Yes. One of the benefits of adopting from Florida is having access to a comprehensive case history. You will be given information on the child’s background, medical history, and personality. This information helps you determine if your family is the right fit for the child.
This can vary greatly depending on the situation. However, as a general rule, it usually takes about 12 months from the time a family begins training to the time when a child is placed with the family.
Yes! Your approved home study should be accepted by any child welfare agency. Each circumstance will be assessed to determine if it is appropriate for a child to move out of state. Keep in mind these adoptions can be more complex and take longer, depending on the case.
Adoptions appear to be more stable when parents have flexible and realistic expectations for their children and when they use post-adoption supports to help with challenges.
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