Today, was Adoption Day for 3 teens and their forever family! This is why we do what we do every day.
During November, we celebrate National Adoption Month and on November 29th we gathered with our Adoptions Teams, case management, families and friends to celebrate 9 families' Adoption Day! The Polk County Courthouse turned into a place full of celebration as we celebrated children leaving foster care and joining their forever families. Congratulations everyone!
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.
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.
In October 2019, the Chapdelaine's adopted siblings Jordan and Lane keeping the children together and their strong sibling bond. Read their story.
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.
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.
We knew we wanted to adopt again after we finalized David's adoption. We had been searching the websites and reaching out to all of the local agencies. In November of 2012 we attended a matching event held by Heartland for Children at Family Fun Center.
It was just last fall that Jacob began visits with a prospective adoptive family when everything just fell into place and this family knew he was just perfect for them!
This sibling group met their forever family at a local matching event. Their instant connection with this family lead to a perfect match and a forever family through adoption!
When speaking of Adoption Success Stories I automatically think of the Goff Family!
This family was matched with Faith and everything started to come into place - just as if they were the family meant for Faith!
Theresa Mixon has been fostering since 1998 and is currently fostering two children. She has a 17 year old male that has been residing in her home for two years. Ms. Mixon believes in ensuring the children are actively involved in community activities and athletics...
My wife, Joy-Lynn and I became Foster Parent Mentors (FPM) through Heartland for Children in 2012. When we were approached with the opportunity to be an added support for incoming Foster Parents, we jumped at the opportunity because we saw the value in having someone who other Foster Parents could relate to as being an invaluable resource; especially, if the individual(s) were completely new to the fostering and/or parenting experience.
As FPMs through Heartland, we've had the chance to interact with incoming Foster Parents on many levels including assisting with respite, providing guidance or best practices with difficult behavioral issues, advocating for a child who had to be moved from one home to another, making recommendations on working with case management, providing another vantage point through the process of Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), and many other areas that Foster Parents can encounter during their first and continuing years of child advocates.
What we've gained as FPMs is a heightened level of understanding of how important it is to identify the needs of incoming Foster Parents. Being able to make recommendations on how the training component has and can continue to successfully equip incoming parents with the proper training and education; is a value add that Heartland has really welcomed input on.
Cebien Alty - HFC Foster Parent, Foster Parent Mentor