Marshall
Waiting
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Honest
Matched
Where hope finds a home.
Honest is such a special girl. She is loving, kind, and above all else, cares deeply about people who mean the most to her. Honest can be very shy when first meeting you, however, as she opens up, you'll quickly learn she has a great sense of humor. Honest loves hair, makeup, and dreams of being a cosmetologist one day. She is just like every other teenage girl in that her ideal day would be getting her hair done, shopping at the mall, or spending time with her friends. Honest likes school, however, may need some help to get caught up academically. She prefers Science and of course, lunchtime, at school and has learned that many of her teachers and faculty really care about her. Honest has a strong faith and relied heavily on God to get through the difficult times she has faced caused by the instability in her young life. Honest would do well in a home with one or two parents who are able to provide the unconditional love she so craves. She does well with younger children and would benefit from a family who is loving, patient, and trauma informed. Honest isn't picky when it comes to the type of family she wants; more than anything, she just wants someone who will accept her for her.
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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