Serenity & Alayah
Adopted
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Christopher, Alec, Aubrey & Andrew
Adopted
Where Hope Finds a Home.
The oldest of the bunch, Christopher is the perfect big brother. He's sweet, kind, loves to smile and also likes to joke around. Christopher wants to be an engineer when he grows up and would prefer to spend the majority of his time playing video games, Minecraft in particular. Alec loves sports, in particular, soccer. On any day, you can catch him outside running around kicking a soccer ball. He's also a big fan of coloring and is doing well in school. Andrew loves to play outside or in his indoor play kitchen – he's great at imaginary play and even comes up with own narrative through his play. He likes to help in the kitchen and is very interested in learning how to cook. Of the four, Andrew definitely has the most energy and is always on the go! The perfect combination of girly girl and tom boy, Aubrey loves to play outside, jump on the trampoline, and swim. She also loves to do arts and crafts and is an avid reader. Aubrey keeps up with her brothers who are always on the move, but is more than happy to run around in a princess dress. Photo by: Allie Isabel Photography
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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