Colton
Adopted
Maycoll
18 years old
Adopted
Maycoll is just coming into his own, ready for a forever family to help him bloom. A native Spanish speaker, Maycoll has quickly adjusted to school in English, excelling in Math and Science. Most of all, Maycoll has gained confidence in his studies, learning this year that “school is not difficult.” Maycoll is both creative and sporty, happy to be playing street hockey or football with his friends. He played drums as a child and still enjoys music. His caregivers write that Maycoll is “good at everything” and has a “kind heart,” frequently helping around the house; his friends say that “he’s a good student.”Maycoll loves Spanish food, identifies as Christian and is open to all races or ethnicities. He dreams of a family that plays outside together, is open to older brothers and sisters, but most of all, Maycoll wants a family that engages with him, asks questions and listens to his answers, a family to “bring happiness”. A thoughtful, sensitive boy, Maycoll wants to “be a better person each day”. His ideal day is “waking up, exercising, and then spending time with a family.”Although shy at first, Maycoll soon opens up with a wide range of interests, from how to fix a car to video games. Bilingual, Maycoll is creative, outgoing and athletic, ready for success with the right guidance and care.
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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