Newsroom

State of Florida
Department of Children and Families

Rick Scott
Governor

David E. Wilkins
Secretary

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Gillespie,
Press Secretary,
(850) 717-4450
DCF Communications

FLORIDA CELEBRATES NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH WITH “30 DAYS OF AMAZING CHILDREN: EXPLORE ADOPTION!” CAMPAIGN
~ Will feature videos, photos, and stories of Florida’s foster children awaiting adoption ~

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary David Wilkins today joined with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr., and Cyndee Odom, Director of the Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection to launch the "30 Days of Amazing Children: Explore Adoption!" initiative to help Florida's foster children find adoptive families.

The campaign, which takes place during November's National Adoption Month, will feature a different "Amazing Child" available for adoption through videos and photographs each day of the month. Many of these children are teens, sibling groups and children with medical needs whose biggest dream is to become part of a permanent loving family. The videos, photographs, and stories of these children will be displayed on www.adoptflorida.org.

Florida is a national model for successful adoptions. During the past four years, the state has found homes for nearly 14,000 foster care children; more than 3,000 of those were adopted last year alone. Over the past year, Florida has also significantly reduced the number of children in foster care available for adoption without an identified family.

"On any given day in Florida, about 800 foster children are waiting for loving parents to give them a permanent, stable home and a bright future," said DCF Secretary Wilkins. "Raising awareness and recruiting loving adoptive parents are simple things we can all do to give these children the best possible opportunity for success."

The majority of the foster children currently available for adoption in Florida are teenagers, for whom it is even more important to find a family. Children in foster care who do not achieve permanency with a family before aging out at 18 run a higher risk of being arrested, becoming teenage parents, dropping out of school, and becoming homeless.

"The 30 Days of Amazing Children campaign is such an important tool in raising awareness about the beautiful children in foster care who are dreaming of being adopted," said Odom. "Last year, this initiative found forever families for 12 of the children featured in the campaign, and we know that this year is going to be even more successful. As an adoptive mother, I know first hand that opening your heart and home to a child will not only change the child's life forever, it also will enrich your own."

Florida's children come into foster care through no fault of their own. Many were abused. Even more were neglected because their parents were unable to care for them due to drug abuse, imprisonment or mental illness. In some cases, children enter care because they have medical needs or disabilities their birth parents cannot cope with. They come from varied backgrounds, circumstances, races and ethnicities. While some have specific medical, physical or emotional issues that require special care, many do not. Their life histories are shared with prospective adoptive parents. When Florida's children in foster care are available for adoption, the legal rights of their biological parents have been terminated. These children will never be returned to their birth parents.

To reward families finalizing adoptions of children in foster care during National Adoption month, DEP joined efforts with the "30 Days of Amazing Children: Explore Adoption!" campaign to provide these families with free passes to state parks. Additionally, several state parks are hosting adoption celebrations throughout the month.

"Florida's 160 state parks provide a perfect setting for families to spend time together and appreciate each other and the beauty of our environment," said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. "We are honored to give Florida's newest families the chance to celebrate the joy of family and have fun outdoors during National Adoption Month."

Credit for Florida's adoption successes is shared by many committed partners, including Florida's First Lady Ann Scott, the Explore Adoption campaign, the Governor's Office of Adoption and Child Protection, DCF, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, our community-based care lead agencies, local adoption providers, Forever Family, Heart Galleries, One Church One Child, and community supporters such as Centennial Bank.

While private forms of adoption can cost more than $30,000, adopting one of Florida's children in foster care costs little or nothing. The benefits include a monthly adoption subsidy for the family, health benefits for the child, and free college tuition at a Florida public university, community college or vocational school. The federal adoption tax credit recently was raised to $13,170 per child and is refundable, meaning eligible taxpayers can receive it regardless of whether or not they owe taxes for that year.

Nearly 50 adoption celebrations and finalization ceremonies are being held throughout Florida during the month of November. To find an event in your area, please visit www.adoptflorida.org/adoptionmonthcalendar.shtml.

For more information about the “30 Days of Amazing Children: Explore Adoption!” initiative or general questions about adoption of foster children in Florida, please visit www.adoptflorida.org or check out our Twitter feed at @ExploreAdoption.

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