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Henry & Talia

Henry, 4 years old
Talia, 4 years old
Adopted

TWINNING!!!!

Meet the two cutest peas in a pod- Henry and Talia! These twins share more than just a birthday: They both love to play, they are both described as independent, and both love Bluey. Although they have a lot of similarities, they each have separate personalities and qualities that make them unique. Henry loves to count and watch his favorite shows- Sesame Street and Elmo. Henry is described as outgoing and loves to say hi to anyone that walks by. He loves cuddles and is the sweetest boy. Henry has battled with some medical barriers so far in his little life and this is something that will need to be monitored and advocated for in his future. He has already made tremendous progress and with continued services in place, he is expected to make lots more! However, a family must be aware that Henry is at risk for or is experiencing infrequent and predictable changes in medical needs. Talia is described as sassy, shy, and protective of her brother. It takes Talia a little while to warm up to others, unlike her brother Henry! Talia’s perfect day would be spent playing at the park, watching Dora, and eating her favorite food- mac and cheese. When she is coloring, she always uses her favorite color orange. Henry and Talia would benefit from a two -parent household. Talia is scared and unfamiliar of dogs and often says “no” when asked if she wants to pet any. Therefore, a family with large or energetic dogs may not be the best fit. A family that is patient, active, and local to Hillsborough County is preferred. Because of Henry’s medical condition, a family MUST HAVE a flexible work schedule or at least one parent that works from home, as he will have ongoing appointments and services. A family must be dedicated to both children equally and be prepared for a lifetime of fun! It would be preferred that these two children are the youngest in the home by at least a few years, if a prospective adoptive family has other children in the home. Double the fun, double the love! Who is ready to take on this dynamic duo? Henry and Talia would benefit from a two parent household. Talia is scared and unfamiliar of dogs and often says “no” when asked if she wants to pet any. Therefore, a family with large or energetic dogs may not be the best fit. A family that is patient, active, and local to Hillsborough County is preferred. Because of Henry’s medical condition, a family with a flexible schedule or works from home would be best, as he will have ongoing appointments and services. A family must be dedicated to both children equally and be prepared for a lifetime of fun! The professional team would prefer these children to be the youngest in the home by at least a few years, but will be re-considered on a case by case basis

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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