Serenity & Alayah
Adopted
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Elijah
17 years old
Adopted
Eager and hopeful for a forever family with siblings to look up to and love..
"I'm a math whiz!" Elijah is full of love and life and is ready to take on any new experience that comes his way. He loves everything from video games, sports, chorus and excels in math or anything related to numbers. Elijah thinks his friends would describe him as "a fun kid to be around". He is also described as a creative thinker, funny, and intelligent. He is proud of the progress he is making in school and dreams of going to Florida State University after graduating. A patient and supportive family who not only encourages Elijah, but challenges him intellectually is ideal. He would also do best as an only child or the youngest child in the home.  Elijah needs positive stable figures in his life to trust and speak to about personal issues as he matures. Elijah added that a family who likes to fish and is active outdoors would be an added bonus! Elijah would also prefer to have a mom and a dad.
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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