Teegan
Adopted
Teegan
9 years old
Adopted
Resilient, fierce, and fun are just a few of the words to describe Teegan. Teegan is a talented gymnast and dancer and loves to be on the go! Whether she is creating new dance routines to show off to her friends or coloring pictures of her favorite princesses, Teegan is always down for adventure. Teegan is talkative and sociable and can make friends wherever she goes! She can be described as independent, headstrong, sassy, smart, and loving—she truly is a force to be reckoned with. Teegan loves animals and expressed interest in becoming a veterinarian one day, but can be afraid of dogs at times. Some of her other interests include art, making bracelets, crafts, singing, karaoke, and horseback riding. Teegan would do best in a two-parent home with no younger children. It would be preferred that she is the only child. Teegan would also benefit from a family that is local to Hillsborough County or within the surrounding counties, as she has an extremely large and strong support network here in Tampa, including her brother. An ideal family for Teegan would have a strong understanding of trauma and attachment—and must be patient to allow her to slowly let her guard down at her own pace. An active family would do best for Teegan, as her dream day would be filled with shopping runs to Target and flipping all over the yard.
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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