Elijah
Adopted
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Elijah
10 years old
Adopted
You can catch me outside...
Elijah is a happy, healthy boy who loves any and all outdoor activities, which is probably a good thing cause he has LOTS of energy to burn! Elijah loves sports, and is particularly fond of soccer. Elijah is a little foodie and doesn’t hesitate to try new things. Elijah’s favorite subject in school is…you guessed it…PE. He loves his teachers and actually wants to be a teacher himself one day; although he is still deciding between being a teacher or Spiderman when he grows up! Although he likes attending school, Elijah does need help with focusing and being re-directed, as he is easily distracted. Elijah is a bright and imaginative child who sometimes struggles with honesty and will need a patient and understanding family that can gently guide him in building trust, picking their battles wisely, and helping him differentiate between reality and fantasy. The perfect family for Elijah is one who loves the outdoors, sports, and is always on the go. Elijah expressed hopefulness in a family that has a mother and father present, and whom looks like him. Elijah does have biological siblings in the area and those relationships are very important to him. Therefore, a family that is local or willing to facilitate sibling visits as needed is preferred. Elijah would benefit from being the youngest child in the home. Elijah has a caring, sweet soul and deserves a family that will be there for him through thick and thin. The ultimate GOAL for Elijah- is adoption!!!
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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