Skip to main content
CLICK HERE to help us spread JOY to foster children this holiday season!

Serenity & Alayah

Serenity, 4 years old
Alayah, 3 years old
Adopted

Two peas in a pod! Serenity and Alayah are the dynamic duo sister set with lots of energy. Serenity adapts well to almost any situation. She is friendly with other children, animals, and has shown she can thrive in both a single parent and two parent household. She is such a funny little girl, with a lot of love and energy to give. She loves dress up, dolls, playing with toys, and being outdoors. She is an active little girl with a bright future and endless possibilities! Alayah is the sweetest little girl. She’s made tremendous strides in her first two years of life. With the right services and supports, her professional team feels she can continue to make significant progress. Alayah has some medical, developmental and speech delays that limit her ability to be self-sufficient. A family would need to be willing to commit to the potential of life-long care, as her long-term prognosis is still unknown. The girls would do best in a home with an active, younger family. A family that has a flexible schedule to accommodate to medical appointments and extracurricular activities. A family that is local is preferred, as it would be ideal to keep local providers in place for Alayah and make for an overall smooth transition for both girls. The girls are placed together in a fantastic foster home, who would love to be involved in their lives and be a built-in support system for any potential adoptive family.

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.

Your Gift: Hope, Love, & Transformation

Your kindness fuels our mission. Donate to The Heart Gallery of Tampa, support unique photo experiences for foster children, and advocate for their rights. See your gift ignite powerful, positive change.