Jasmine
Adopted
Levi
8 years old
Adopted
Eager and hopeful for a forever family with siblings to look up to and love..
"We've got each other's backs."
Savannah, 15
Savannah has a fervent passion and love for animals, and the dream to become a veterinarian when she grows up. She's most at home when surrounded by four-legged creatures, but she also has a great, funny sense of humor that she allows to peek through when she's comfortable with you. She's not fond of airplanes or bullies, and if she could have one superpower it would be telepathy. Savannah's favorite book is The Fault in Our Stars, and her ideal day would be spent "catching up on sleep." Spoken like a true teenager!
Sara, 13
Sara's an intelligent, spunky kid with the ability to bring out the best in others. She loves to swim and skate on her longboard, and she adores her little brother Andrew - the two of them are basically attached at the hip! Sara works diligently in school and has made all As this year, despite coming to the realization that "math gets harder"! When she grows up Sara wants to be a lawyer, and her favorite book is You Gotta Want It, a motivational memoir by a Disney star. Sara possesses the rare gift of acknowledging, embracing and celebrating her uniqueness, and she deserves a family who does the same.
Andrew, 12
Andrew's an outgoing, welcoming young man who's never met a stranger. He has an uncanny knowledge of mechanics and engineering, and is particularly tech-savvy. One of his goals in life is to "create a new and different way" of using the internet. Like a lot of kids, Andrew loves to play video games, but it could be considered research in his case because his ultimate goal is to be a video game designer when he grows up. Andrew wishes he could rid the world of pollution and clean up the oceans, and his ideal day would be spent on the beach and end with dinner at a fancy restaurant. He considers his sisters his best friends.
These are three wonderful kids with so much to offer the world, and they deserve a home where they feel cherished and are encouraged to go after their biggest dreams. They will thrive together in a two-parent home with a lot of room to explore and play.
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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