Foster care gives children in need a safe and loving home. Private domestic adoption can do the same with some added benefits. 

Most hopeful adoptive parents end up at this fork in the road: foster care in Florida vs. infant adoption. Which is right for you? It all depends on your unique situation and your dreams for your adoption in Florida.

We are happy to answer any questions you may have about foster care, as well as how you can begin your Florida private domestic adoption journey with us. You can visit us online for more information on adopting through our agency, as well as prospective birth mothers considering placing a child for adoption in Florida with us. 

Facts About Foster Care in Florida

Foster care adoption in Florida can be an amazing way to start or grow your family.

• There are an estimated 19,000 children in foster care in Florida.  

• Providing a child in need a home is a rewarding experience for everyone involved. 

• Foster children tend to be older. 

• Private domestic adoption is a happy and life-changing experience for everyone involved and allows you and the birth mother to share the journey together with a unified goal of providing a loving home for the child. 

At any given time, hundreds those 19,000 children are eligible for foster care adoption in Florida, many of whom are older or are part of a sibling group who should be adopted together. 

The primary goal of children entering Florida foster care is always to be reunited with their biological family. For 51 percent of children in foster care, this goal is reached. However, 22 percent of children in foster care are unable to reunite with their biological family and become eligible for adoption through foster care. 

Considering Domestic Infant Adoption

American Adoptions specializes in the adoption of infants and is unable to provide foster care adoption services in Florida. With that being said, we fully support each hopeful parent as they pursue the dream of starting a family. Foster care adoption could be right for you and we want to provide information for foster care adoption. However, private domestic infant adoption is an alternative to consider in your journey of growing your family. 

The opportunity for you to adopt is an experience we hope to share with you. Many of our adoption professionals have their own first-hand adoption stories and can provide you support with a unique perspective. We work with thousands of birth mothers who choose adoption because: 

• Adoption gives control over which family adopts your child. 

• Builds a life-long bond between all parties involved in the adoption journey. 

• Financial assistance for pregnancy-related expenses such as living costs can be provided during the private domestic adoption process. 

Choosing to adopt through foster care or domestic infant adoption takes a special person, and we are here to support you in every possible way. Contact us here to get started.

Continue with this guide to learn more about foster care adoption in Florida.

The Three Different Types of Foster Parents 

Essentially, there are three options for getting involved in the Florida foster care system: temporary care for a foster child, temporary-to-permanent care, or permanent care. 

Here’s what these types of relationships look like: 

1. Foster Parenting (Temporary Care) 

As a Florida foster parent, you’d be responsible for providing children with a temporary home that’s safe and loving while they wait to be reunited with their biological family or to be adopted. 

2. Foster to Adopt in Florida (Temporary-to-Permanent Care) 

Florida foster parents may choose to permanently adopt a child after fostering them. This can only occur when the child’s parental rights are terminated and they become eligible for adoption out of the foster care system. 

The majority of Florida foster children don’t become eligible for adoption, but if the need for adoptive parents does arise, priority is often given to biological family members and then to his or her foster parents. 

3. Adopting from Foster Care in Florida (Permanent Care) 

Rather than becoming a foster parent, you can request to adopt through foster care in Florida, instead. This can be an expedited way of bringing a child into your family. You could select eligible Florida foster children for adoption from a photo listing, and have them be placed with you for the sole purpose of eventual adoption. 

Each of these paths offers its own advantages and disadvantages, so we encourage you to speak with a local professional if you’re interested in adopting a child from foster care in Florida today. 

Florida Foster Care Adoption Subsidies 

Whether you’re a Florida foster parent providing temporary care or you’re thinking about adopting through the Florida foster care system, you’re likely eligible for some amount of adoption assistance. A Florida adoption subsidy can vary in amount based on the needs of the child(ren) you’ve adopted, but can help offset the costs of raising a child. 

Speak with your local foster care professional for more information on this topic. 

Who Can Foster to Adopt in Florida or Adopt from Foster Care in Florida? 

While foster parent requirements can vary depending on the Florida agency you work with, there are several standard requirements that all prospective foster or adoptive parents in Florida must meet before welcoming a child from foster care into their home. 

All prospective parents must undergo a Florida foster care adoption home study, which includes background checks for all household members aged 12 and older, abuse and neglect clearances, family interviews, home inspections, a review of financial, social and medical documents, and more. As a fully-licensed adoption agency, American Adoptions can always perform your Florida home study, even if you are not working with our agency for the rest of the process. 

In order to receive their license, foster and adoptive parents must also complete a Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) course, or the PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information Development and Education) training. You’ll also need to complete a licensing study. 

The entire process takes about eight months to complete in order to be approved as a Florida foster parent. 

Who Can Be Adopted from Foster Care in Florida? 

Any child whose parents’ rights have already been terminated is eligible for adoption in Florida. Until parental rights are terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily by the court, adopting your foster child will not be possible. 

Children aged 12 and older also must consent to their adoption. Although children “age out” of Florida foster care when they turn 18, they may still be adopted by foster parents who cared for them via an adult adoption. 

Florida Foster Adoption Agencies and Resources 

The following resources for foster care and adoption in Florida include Florida foster care adoption agencies and Florida adoption photo listing sites: 

• Florida Department of Children and Families 

• Florida Child Photolisting 

• Heartland for Children 

• A Family for Every Child 

• Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options 

• Family Support Services of North Florida Inc. 

• Families First Network 

• Kids Central, Inc. 

• Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc. 

• One Church One Child of Florida 

Any adoption through foster care in Florida will need to be finalized in your local circuit court. 

You Have Adoption Options   

Both foster care adoption and private domestic adoption in Florida are available to you. There are distinct differences between the two, but ultimately, it’s about providing a loving and safe home for a child. The chance to grow your family through adoption is a rewarding and life-changing experience. 

For more information on foster care adoption, additional resources, foster care services and help, turn to your Florida foster care adoption agency.  

Considering Private Domestic Adoption? [We’re here to Help] 

Michelle, a birth parent specialist and a birth parent herself, is ready to answer any questions you have about adoption.     

“I am available to answer any questions that arise, particularly from birth moms, as I have been in your shoes and know how you are feeling,” Michelle said. “It was most helpful to me when I had someone to talk to who would just listen to me without making any judgments or conclusions about who I was as a person.”     

You can ask Michelle questions about the Florida adoption process online. You can also get free information with our online contact form for prospective birth mothers considering adoption here. Adoptive families wanting more information on adopting a child can click here to get more information. 

Disclaimer
Information available through these links is the sole property of the companies and organizations listed therein. American Adoptions provides this information as a courtesy and is in no way responsible for its content or accuracy.