Colton
Adopted
Colton
Adopted
A little bit shy, a whole lot of sweet, Colton’s waiting for a love that’s complete.
Colton is a bright, curious, and imaginative eight-year-old who is ready to find the nurturing and supportive forever family he deserves. He’s got a soft spot for graphic novels like Captain Underpants and DogMan, loves building Lego creations, and lights up when he’s creating or drawing. Colton enjoys board games, playing outside, and the occasional round of Roblox. With a sweet and sensitive nature, he thrives with consistency and encouragement. While he can be shy in new situations, he warms up with time and patience—and when he feels safe, his charm and humor shine through. His favorite foods include chicken nuggets and collard greens, and he’s even curious about golf and open to trying new activities after a little warm-up time.Colton would do best in a calm, structured two-parent home—ideally with a nurturing mother and a steady, caring father figure. His current foster family reports that he gets along well with other children but would benefit from being the only child or one of few to ensure he receives the attention and guidance he needs. A trauma-informed family who can offer stability, firm but loving boundaries, and access to continued counseling will help Colton continue to grow into the confident, secure child he is meant to be.
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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