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Josh & Donielle

Adopted

Where Hope Finds a Home.

"We love to make each other laugh."

You won't find a friendlier or kinder set of siblings than Joshua and Donielle. Talkative and outgoing, Joshua will try to make you laugh as he loves using humor in all situations. Donielle will keep you enthralled with her vibrant imagination and creativity or share with you the secrets of her favorite animal -- lizards! If it were up to Donielle, the whole world would love these amazing creatures. Despite many hardships, these siblings have kept an open attitude towards the world that is truly inspiring. Both show affection and compassion easily, and Joshua will always notice when someone needs cheering up. Now, Joshua and Donielle deserve compassion and affection for themselves. Their path has been difficult, but they are both moving forward in their journey and working hard to improve, both in school and within themselves. They both love science; Joshua recently earned an A on an English exam, and Donielle has made significant improvements with her comprehension skills to now reach grade level. Although she admires Katy Perry and would love to be famous on You-Tube, Donielle really wants to work with animals someday. Joshua is interested in working in a restaurant, and also hopes to learn construction skills, as he enjoys building things. And he'd really love to learn virtual skills in programming to build video games. The siblings' bond is growing stronger, and Donielle chose her brother as the person she most admired. These children seek a loving, compassionate family with experience or the willingness to learn how best to support trauma. Joshua and Donielle are repeatedly praised for their "sweet dispositions" and smiles. These siblings deserve a world of smiles!

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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