A heartfelt THANK YOU to the 66 vendors and over 300 attendees who joined us at our 2024 Child Welfare Provider Fair!
Together, we're making a difference by connecting those in need with support and opportunities to thrive. Let's continue to work hand in hand for the well-being of our community's children and families.
Step right up and run for child abuse prevention at Loop the Lake Carnival Run! This 5K is hosted by Florida Southern College's Kappa Delta's to benefit Prevent Child Abuse America and Heartland for Children. Whether you run, skip or walk, this is going to be a fun evening for the entire family.
Foster families open their heart + home to love on our children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Let's show them love and appreciation this Valentine's Day!
Congratulations to Maria Gutierrez, one of our Transition Age Youth Mentors, for last week, hitting her 1-Year Work Anniversary! Maria herself is a former foster youth and now uses her experiences to help encourage and mentor youth.
Throughout National Adoption Month we've highlighted some of our incredible adoptive families! The Emery Family has adopted 4 siblings at different times that have had their own medical challenges. Jerry and Belinda were there every step of the way for their children through every circumstance.
Yesterday, the Polk County Courthouse was full of families, friends, kids and our adoption teams to celebrate our families who finalized their adoptions! We love getting to celebrate these beautiful milestones for our children and families!
Congratulations to the Boarman, Romero and White families!
In March 2022, the Banse Family welcomed a brother and sister, ages 7 and 8, to their family and providing their forever home! They surrounded the children with love, support and telling them "you are good enough and we want you." The children are now thriving in their adoptive home and have made many gains.
There are countless benefits to fostering or adopting a teen but here are just 8.
The Barger family reflects 11 years later shares what inspred them to open their hearts and home to children through adoption.
Family is the BEST Christmas present! This video captures the moment that Rae, one of our 17-year old teens, found out that she was OFFICIALLY ADOPTED!
Jamie and Michael have always had a heart for kids - especially teens and siblings! This lead them to starting their journey 8 years ago by becoming foster caregivers and providing a safe and loving environment for kiddos.
This year, Giselle made it official and adopted 16-year old Lili! Giselle explains what inspired her to consider adoption. Read their story here.
We invite you to join Heartland for Children in our 17th Annual Rudolph Round-Up Holiday Toy Drive. With your help, our goal is to help make incredible holiday memories for over 1,500 local children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.
In October 2019, the Chapdelaine's adopted siblings Jordan and Lane keeping the children together and their strong sibling bond. Read their story.
Hey Parents & Caregivers!
We are excited to announce that we have launched our monthly Parent's Corner Newsletter. Once a month, subscribers will receive an email packed with helpful resources, safety info and parenting tips to strengthen you and your family.
SUBSCRIBE HERE and check out January's Parent's Corner.
Despite all of this year's challenges we saw our community rise up to meet the needs of our most vulnerable children and families. Let's take a trip down memory lane and remember all of the amazing things that happened this year!
Happy New Year to you and your family!
In honor of #NationalAdoptionMonth we wanted to highlight the Jasmine family. In the past few years, they have become the forever home to 4 children & teens and now have a family of 9!
In honor of #NationalAdoptionMonth we wanted to highlight the Barnes family. This past year, Tatrina opened her heart & home to Dylan and adopted him right before his 18th birthday!
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proclaimed November as #NationalAdoptionMonth! During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 4,548 children in Florida found forever families! In the state of Florida, approximately 700 children are without an identified adoptive family, including teenagers, sibling groups, and children with medical needs. Learn how you can become a teen or sibling group's forever home by calling 863-519-8900 x 223 or visit heartlandforchildren.org/gallery.
Rudolph Champions are needed to help make holiday memories for over 1,500 local children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.
Case manager's corner is Chief Quality & Performance Officer, Bill Nunnally's forum in which to recognize various employees from case management organizations for their outstanding work.
IN THIS EDITION:
- Roger Vazquez, Monaya Crossen & Trina Stevenson at OHU
- Shane Bishop at CHS
- Minoo Khordehpaz, Michelle O'Conoor, Alfreda White, Maria Cartegena, Julie Bartle, Mariel Sepulveda, Roshonda Lofton, Mykira Johnson, Kathryn Marini, Lisa Pyles, Amensha Willix, Katelyn Davis, Karla Diaz, Shedlie Desraines, Candice Hailey, Rachelle Louis, Adrianna Williams-Rice, Tangela Coleman, Rodina Lynch, & Valderria Mitchell at Devereux
Case manager's corner is Chief Quality & Performance Officer, Bill Nunnally's forum in which
to recognize various employees from case management organizations for their outstanding work.
IN THIS EDITION:
- Austin Morgan, Nena Cizewski-Baird, Pam Brack, Gail Werley, Dorcas Statham-Walker, Kimberly Helmick, Brittany Pinkney, Tammy Cleveland, Pamela Brack, and Natasha Hardin at OHU
- Tyrica Morris, Stephanie Balmaceda, Shedlie Desravines, and Walner Pierrissaint at Devereux
- Anna Easley at CHS
READ MORE...
Case manager's corner is Chief Quality & Performance Officer, Bill Nunnally's forum in which
to recognize various employees from case management organizations for their outstanding work.
IN THIS EDITION:
- Nicole Luebke at CHS
- Stephanie Balmaceda at Devereux
- Mamie Lumpkin at NTF
READ MORE...
Case manager's corner is Chief Quality & Performance Officer, Bill Nunnally's forum in which
to recognize various employees from case management organizations for their outstanding work.
IN THIS EDITION:
-India Spence at Devereux
- Austin Morgan, Austin Morgan, Chenoa Baldwin, & Ed Ramey at One Hope United
-Todd Raines at Children's Home Society
- NTF Family Advocate, Shanique Outley
READ MORE...
Benefits of Adopting Florida's Children
Adoption provides unique opportunities to change children's lives and enrich the life of the adoptive parent or family that welcomes them in. Adopting one of Florida's children from foster care offers many special benefits
by: Bill Nunnally
Case manager's corner is Chief Quality & Performance Officer, Bill Nunnally's forum in which
to recognize various employees from case management organizations for their outstanding work.
IN THIS EDITION:
-Karina Escalera of Devereux
-Danielle Meinke of One Hope United
-Ana Cruz of Neighbor to Family
-Cris Allphin of Gulf Coast
-more...
CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE...
Did you know that our biggest adoption month each year is National Adoption Month (November)?
On November 18th, 2015 (National Adoption Day) alone, we had six children (all girls) finalize their adoptions! We had one additional adoption at the end of November, making a total of seven total children and teens adopted during the month of November.
In 2015, 32 children and teens throughout Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties were either matched with a family, or finalized their adoption with a family they were matched with!
Black widow, Spider Girl and the man of the day, Thor. We wanted his day to be special. After all, you only get adopted once, and it's a super big deal. So, we let them put on their costumes because superhero costumes, rather than fancy clothes, represent our children and their personalities. All three of them share characteristics that every superhero has, from their extraordinary powers and abilities to courage, being energetic and bravery.
As I sit here thinking of life and what our family has become over the past couple of years, I have a mix of emotions. If anyone knows me, they know how much I love my kids, but there is more to the story than most know.
Over the past eight years of working in the field of social work, specifically in adoptions through the state, I have learned a lot about the world's varying views about adoption. When I tell people that I’m an Adoption Specialist, they automatically think that I’m finding "forever homes" for infants whose parents made the decision to give them up for adoption. I have yet to meet a person who initially thought that I might have played a hand in many successful adoptions of teenagers, sibling groups, children with lifelong medical needs, etc. So I take every encounter with someone who is curious about my profession as an opportunity to educate about the type of adoptions I help to facilitate and continue to spread the word about the need for quality forever adoptive homes for our teens, sibling groups, etc., as well as the need for temporary foster parents for these very same children.
My family was blessed with Shania six years ago. We loved her from the moment we saw her. She has three brothers, including a twin! Being the ONLY girl in a house full of boys is not easy. One of Shania’s best qualities is her incredibly strong spirit. Her no-fear attitude led her to not only enter her 5th grade speech competition, but come in 2nd place for the entire county! She is now in her middle school's law program. We are so proud of her and so blessed to call her out daughter.
Here is the beautiful speech she wrote specially about adoption, based on her personal experience of being adopted:
You hear time and time again, "Adoption is forever." It is very true that adoption is forever. It is also very true that adoption can impact the lives of an entire family in a very powerful and positive way. In the midst of all the positives about adoption, the truth that adoption can be challenging and have “bumps in the road” years after the adoption finalized is very real.
Take a moment and think back to what life was like when you were a teen. What do you think would have happened to you if you had no place to call home, nobody to help you fill out job applications, nobody to be there to plan a high school graduation party, help you get ready for prom, practice driving, etc.? Even as adults, many of you probably turned to your parents for something whether it was for advice, tips on how to do something, somewhere to go for the holidays, or a good home cooked meal.
This story is written from the perspective of a local adoptive family regarding their journey of their second adoption through public adoption. We thank this family wholeheartedly for sharing this beautiful story!
When Cebien Alty’s wife, Joy-Lynn, brought up the subject of becoming foster parents, as her biological mother had been during her adolescent years, his quick reply was a resounding “NO!" He wanted to focus on having children of their own and was quite honestly worried about the "type" of children in the foster care system.
The Florida Baptist Children's Homes values the partnership with HFC as we serve children & families together. Heartland communicates well with our agency, keeps children and families central to its goals and works to empower our agency to improve services.
Pam Whitaker, FBCH - Florida Baptist Children's Homes