Jasmine
Adopted
Ni’Jah
18 years old
Adopted
Eager and hopeful for a forever family with siblings to look up to and love..
"Always on the go!"
Blast off with Zyon, a bundle of energy and friendliness. Funny, cute, engaging, Zyon is a people-person, and will happily talk with both strangers or friends. He loves boxing, sports, and playing with his Beyblades, spinning action toys as he imagines himself as a police officer or Power Ranger, "putting the bad guys away." Zyon also loves to draw and to read origami books because "they teach me how to make things." In school, his favorite subjects are PE and Math. Zyon admits, "I'm sometimes sassy and I'm picky about lunch, but I am always kind." His friends say he's a "really nice guy." He wants to be the person who makes teddy bears at the Build-A-Bear Workshop, to come up with creative ideas for new teddy bears for children. He loves sunny days and would love to go to LegoLand or Busch Gardens. Zyon enjoys all kinds of music, from gospel to Kidz Bop, and if he could change one thing about the world it would be "everyone treating each other in a kinder way." He learned this year that "with great power comes great responsibility." Zyon wants a "nice, cool, fun" family, and he's ready for his forever home.
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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