Have you ever thought about adopting?  Consider the foster care system.

The process may seem daunting, but there is a program to help.

We created the Hearts to Home Program for agency adoptions through foster care. It helps individuals and families navigate the entire process from application to completed adoption. We provide numerous, supportive services of an agency adoption.  Also, Hearts to Home has additional resources for your family’s success.

Why Go Through the Hearts to Home Program Instead of a County Program?

While we encourage you to investigate your local county adoption services, many counties require that you foster first or foster only. The Hearts to Home program focuses on children in foster care who are awaiting adoptive homes. Our goal is to find permanent homes for youths ages 6 to 17 who are in the child welfare system. We work with every county in Florida.  Additionally, we also work with out-of-state counties.

What Families and Individuals are Best Suited for the Hearts to Home Program?

The Hearts to Home Program has coordinated successful adoptions from foster care for:  single men and women, same-sex couples, older couples, minority couples, first-time parents, and experienced parents.

Undoubtedly, you need to have a high degree of flexibility as well as the willingness to parent children with special needs.  Consequently, many foster children have varying degrees of trauma experiences. Understand, you must be prepared to coordinate with various professionals to arrange special services as needed for your child.

Do You Provide Training for Prospective Parents?

Yes, we want you to be as prepared as possible!

We require all individuals and families in our Hearts to Home Program to complete the National Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents, our state-approved adoption education course. All children in foster care have experienced trauma and need to be parented with trauma-informed care.

Virtual classes are held in the evenings throughout the year.

While all youth in foster care have special needs by virtue of being removed from their family of origin, some children have more unique needs such as physical or mental disabilities that require more specialized treatment plans.

What is the Age Range of Children Adopted Through the Hearts to Home Program?

The average age of children waiting for an adoptive home in the foster care system is between 6 to 12 years of age. Generally, most children waiting for a family are school-aged children.  However, the exceptions are children that are part of a sibling group with other children. If you want to adopt a child under the age of five, the wait is typically longer.

How Can I Learn More About the Hearts to Home Program?

Please contact us at Heart of Adoptions Alliance with any questions about agency adoption and county adoption services at (813)-559-0035. Thereafter, we will help you consider the legal, financial, physical, and emotional impacts of adopting from foster care so you can make the right decision for yourself and your family.

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Sources:  https://hoaa.heartofadoptions.com/hearts-to-home/

Keywords: hearts to home, agency adoption(s), county adoption services

Thoughts about the holiday season come about in the fall, which stirs up anticipation and excitement for many parents and children. Some families celebrate traditions and plan gatherings. You may get wrapped up in your typical festivities and expect your older, adopted child to experience the same joy. But the traditions that can be enjoyable for you can bring up complicated feelings or memories for older, adopted children.

Bonding with an adopted child can take time. Adopting an older child comes with additional considerations about their past. Your first holiday season with your child will require a little preparation and extra thought to help put everyone at ease. Here are some tips to navigate it with care.

Discuss Their Traditions

If you have adopted an older child, they may have some previous traditions that are special to them. If they are from a different cultural or religious background, learn about their typical customs. Ask your child what holds special meaning to them. By blending their holiday traditions with yours, you can make new memories as a family. 

Manage Your Expectations

You might have a special feeling toward a specific holiday, but an older, adopted child may not. Communicate with them to let them know their feelings are normal. Your anticipation of enjoyment and sense of family may elevate during the holidays, but it may heighten their feelings of loss instead. Acknowledge their emotions and be there to listen.

Schedule Thoughtfully

Try not to overcommit to gatherings and parties, especially if this is your first holiday season as a family. Meeting so many new friends and relatives may be overwhelming to your child. They may find more comfort in small get-togethers at your home.

Prepare Everyone

Talk to your child about traditions you have and the meaning behind them. Prepare them upfront for any gatherings by providing details of what will take place. You can also have conversations with friends and family about your child, so they can make them feel more comfortable in their presence. 

Include Their Biological Family

Everyone’s adoption situation is unique. If you maintain contact with your child’s biological parent(s), arrange a time for them to celebrate a meaningful holiday. If you do not have contact with the birth parent(s), you can still acknowledge them throughout your traditions. 

Adopting an older child means they have already experienced their own holiday season outside of your family. Openly communicating throughout the holidays is a great practice to ease your child into new events and traditions. Recognize that they might withdraw or exhibit bad behavior. This is entirely normal with older, adopted children. It is a huge period of adjustment for everyone.

If you are looking for guidance to help you navigate the upcoming holiday season with a newly adopted, older child, reach out to Heart of Adoptions Alliance. Call 866-432-7860 or email us at [email protected]. We can help connect you with helpful resources to ensure a successful first holiday season as a new family.

As a foster parent, choosing to adopt is a life-changing event that lets you grow your family while giving a foster child their forever home. Both of you will be experiencing a lot of thoughts and emotions. If you are considering adopting a foster child or have already chosen to do so, it is essential to understand how to talk to the child about it. An accredited adoption service provider can explain why you should bring up the discussion as early as possible and tailor it to children of different ages.

Talking to your child about the adoption process:

• Allows the child to understand their biological makeup. Your child may or may not have a relationship with their birth parents, but they should understand that their genetics are different from yours. This can be helpful as they get older and encounter health questions or medical issues.
• Let’s them hear the adoption story from you. As your child gets older, chances increase for a friend or family member to comment on their adoption in front of them. Learning that information from somebody else could be traumatic for both of you.
• Acknowledges the child’s feelings surrounding the relationship with their birth parents. As your child matures, they can make their own choices about seeking more information. Withholding adoption information takes that choice away and can lead to resentment later in life.

Accredited Adoption Service Provider Studies to Guide You

Research suggests beginning the adoption conversation right away, knowing that it will be an ongoing conversation throughout your child’s life. You don’t need to share everything immediately, especially when they are young. Adoption consultants recommend starting with some basic language and letting the discussion grow naturally over time. Professionals can help break down how to talk about adoption with your child based on age and emotional development.

Tips for Introducing Adoption to Foster Children of All Ages

Babies: You can begin introducing the topic just by using the word “adoption” around your baby. Use loving sentences such as, “Your mother and I are so happy we got to adopt you, and we love you so much.”

Toddlers: Children become very curious as toddlers, so your child might begin asking questions. Use simple statements that begin to share your adoption story. You can also start reading children’s books to them about adoption.

School-Aged Children: At this age, you can begin sharing more detailed information about their past. Prepare your child for questions they may get from classmates about why they make look different from you. Your child will begin asking you more specific questions about their birth parents or the adoption.

Teenagers: If you are adopting a teenager, understand they are forming their identity as a person. Always be transparent but give them space to grow. Recognize that they are heavily influenced by various factors, including social media and peers at school.

Patience Builds Healthy Adoptive Families, Not Perfection

Regardless of age, continuously remind your child that they are loved and a valuable part of your family. You do not need to have all the answers, and keeping an open line of communication will help everyone work through issues. These are opportunities to strengthen your relationship, learn, and grow.

Continue to have patience and grace with yourself and your child. You decided to adopt out of love and a longing to grow your family, so keep that at the center of all conversations. You can always reach out to Heart of Adoptions Alliance at 866-432-7860 or [email protected] to speak with our adoption consultants and ask about additional resources.