Call ChildNet's Adoption Hotline in Broward at 954.414.6001 and in Palm Beach County at 561.352.2501 for more information.
Most family structures can adopt. This includes singles, married couples, relatives and non-relatives. Interested families should be financially stable.
Most foster children are reunified with their parents or are permanently placed with relatives and never become available for adoption. However, those foster children whose birth parents' parental rights have been terminated by the courts may be adopted.
The majority of children who are eligible for adoption are between the ages of 8 and 18. While many of these older children have experienced multiple rejections and are hesitant to try adoption, it is important for them to have a family to assist them through the remaining years of adolescence and to be supportive into their adult years.
Once you are approved to adopt, a counselor will help you to identify the children whose needs correspond with the strengths of your family and will provide you with their pictures and bios. In addition regular adoption matching events are held to allow adoptive parents to meet the children who are eligible for adoption. You can also visit children available for adoption online by clicking HERE for Broward County and HERE for Palm Beach County
It costs nothing to adopt from ChildNet. Related fees, such as attorney's fees for finalization and mileage during the visitation process, are reimbursable up to $1,000.
The process to become an approved adoptive parent includes attending a preparation course, obtaining local, state and federal background checks, and completion of a home study. The home study generally takes about four months. On average, the adoption process can generally be completed in eight months to a year. The main factor affecting the length of time to adopt is if a child that meets the family's preferred characteristics is available.
When a child is matched with your family, pre-placement activities will occur including visits and regular communications with the child. Placement of the child will occur as soon as the child is comfortable. The child's counselor will supervise the placement for a minimum of 90 days. When the supervision period is completed, the counselor will provide consents to your attorney and a hearing may be scheduled for legalization of the adoption.
You will be given the child's foster care history, such as the circumstances involving the child's removal and the child's medical history, including the birth and delivery information, any assessments or psychological evaluations, and the child's current daily habits and preferences. Non-identifying social and medical information about biological parents and birth family will also be provided.
Post adoption services are offered to parents who adopt children in care to ensure services, such as medical and mental health services, to continue after a child is adopted. Mental Health services, including individual and family therapy and psychiatric services, are provided through Medicaid and local network providers. Adopted youth are eligible for Medicaid. Most post adoptive services and benefits expire once the child turns 18.
For more information about post adoption services, contact ChildNet's Post Adoption Specialist in Broward County by e-mail at srappaport@childnet.us or by phone at (954) 234-1571 and Children's Home Society's Adoption Social Worker in Palm Beach County by e-mail at amy.garvin-liddell@chsfl.org or by phone at 561.868.4321.
In order to access post adoptive services, contact ChildNet's Post Adoption Specialist in Broward County by e-mail at srappaport@childnet.us or by phone at (954) 234-1571 and Children's Home Society's Adoption Social Worker in Palm Beach County by e-mail at amy.garvin-liddell@chsfl.org or by phone at 561.868.4321.
Children adopted through ChildNet, are eligible to receive a tuition waiver to attend a four year university or college, a community college and technical school within Florida. Only children adopted through the dependency court system within the state of Florida are eligible for the tuition waiver. Effective July 1, 2010, this exemption remains valid until the young person reaches the age of 28.
There are post and pre adoptive support groups for families who adopt. The Pre Adoption support group meets the third Thursday of every month, 6:30pm-8pm at Kids In Distress. The Post Adoption group meets the fourth Wednesday of every month, 6pm-8pm at Kids In Distress. Contact Terry Badeaux at (954) 390-7654 ext 1254 for more information about joining a support groups. Babysitting is offered for both group meetings.
Yes. You may call the ChildNet's Adoption Hotline in Broward at 954.414.6001 and in Palm Beach County at 561.352.2501 for more information.
