Florida Guidelines

Step 1 

Start by contacting Forever Family®. Depending on where you live, a representative will help you locate your nearest foster care and adoption agency.

Step 2

Your local agency will invite you to an open house or adoption orientation where you will learn about becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

Step 3 

Families interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents need to take the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) or Parent’s Resources for Information Development Education (PRIDE) classes. While they go by different names in different areas, these 30-hour trainings are designed to prepare you for your journey in foster care or adoption.

Step 4

A home study will be conducted. This is essentially the story of your life. Home studies are designed to ensure families are able to provide a child with a safe and nurturing environment. It will involve:

  • Acquiring information about your physical and emotional health;

  • Background clearance in order to complete the adoption process;

  • References from your employer, school officials (if you have children in school) and character references from individuals who know you;

  • A counselor visit to your home a least twice during the adoption process to complete the home study interview.

Some of the topics that will be discussed with you and your family include your:

  • Reasons for adopting;

  • Childhood and upbringing;

  • Marriage strengths or current significant relationships;

  • Thoughts on the effects of a new child on your family;

  • Financial standing;

  • Parenting philosophy.

Step 5

All of the information will be gathered into a home study packet to be reviewed for final approval by the director of permanency.

Step 6

Once approved, begin your search by viewing videos and state websites, attend recruitment activities such as matching events to meet children available for adoption. When you identify a child or sibling group you’re interested in, notify your counselor for information. Keep in mind that multiple families may be interested in the same child(ren), and workers will take as much time as necessary to ensure the family selected is the right match.

Step 7

When the needs of a child or sibling group are matched with your family, the adoption counselor will go over pre-placement activities, including supervised and unsupervised visits. Once you, your family, the child and the counselor determine that the child is ready, official placement will occur.

Step 8

After a child is placed, a counselor will make monthly visits to assess the child’s adjustment and determine if new or additional services are needed. This supervision lasts a minimum of 90 days and ends when the counselor provides “consent to adopt” to your attorney.

Step 9

Your attorney will schedule a hearing before a judge to legalize the adoption, making the child officially part of your family!