Jasmine
Adopted
Dennis
19 years old
Adopted
Eager and hopeful for a forever family with siblings to look up to and love..
"Confident and compassionate."
Give Dennis the great wide open -- and a place to come home to -- and watch him thrive. Independent, caring and adventurous, Dennis loves playing basketball and running. He's also fascinated by science, and learned about exoplanets this year, excited about the vastness of the universe. In fact, Dennis hopes to work in science someday, research or "inventing something new." Easy-going and kind, Dennis "gets along with everybody." Although Dennis can be shy until he becomes comfortable, he is a leader among his peers and quietly confident in his world. Dennis likes cooking, playing music, and going for long walks. He dreams of visiting beautiful places some day, Arizona or the Bahamas, and soaking up the sun and scenery. Dennis hopes for a family that also loves being outdoors; skin color doesn't matter, but he'd like a mother and a father. He wants his future family to know that he also uses his walks to manage his emotions: "sometimes I get mad but it is not an issue as long as I am able to walk and clear my mind.  I would never just leave; I would always come back." Compassionate and wise, Dennis is ready for a place to call home.
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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