ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE SERVICES

Adoption and Foster Care
Our S.E.A.R.C.H Department is a team of professionals exclusively committed to recruiting, preparing and supporting permanent families for our boys and girls. As our department name suggests, every child deserves a home, and we are dedicated to finding one for each of them.

We provide assistance to families before and after an adoption or foster care placement has been finalized, including the following free services:

• Parent training
• Comprehensive support during foster care licensure or adoption placements
• Ongoing and regular consultation, including 24/7 on-call support
• Clinical services
• Financial assistance information

We specialize in placing “special needs” children ages of 5 and up. A child who is experiencing some or all of the following circumstances is considered by the State of Florida to be a special needs child:

• Being part of a sibling group
• Belonging to a minority
• Older than 8 years of age
• Recovering from abuse, neglect and/or abandonment
• Unlikely to be reunited with his/her biological family

To provide these special children the attention they deserve, The Children’s Home has a particular interest in placing our children with licensed foster parents. For more information on becoming a foster parent, including monthly board rates, please contact S.E.A.R.C.H. Services at (813) 864-1434.

Download the Parenting Application

Note: For best results in using this form, please access the application through a separate browser (such as Internet Explorer) other than an e-mail-based platform.

Find out about adopting or fostering a child by attending one of our free orientation sessions:    

• Monday, Aug. 11, 2008  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Tampa
• Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008 10 to 11:30a.m.
                  - Land O' Lakes
• Monday, Sept. 8, 2008  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, Sept. 15, 2008 6:30 to 8 p.m. - Tampa
• Friday, Sept. 29, 2008  6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Clwtr. 
• Monday, Nov. 10, 2008  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, Dec. 8, 2008  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, Jan. 12, 2009  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, Feb. 9, 2009  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, March 9, 2009  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa
• Monday, May 11, 2009  6:30 to 8 p.m. - North Tampa

In addition, we offer free weekly MAPP (Model Approaches to Partnerships in Parenting) training classes on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9 p.m., beginning on the following dates:

• Tuesday, July 15, 2008 through Saturday, September 13, 2008
• Tuesday, October 7, 2008 through Saturday, December 6, 2008

For information or to register, please call (813) 864-1434.

Links:
Florida State Statutes & Administrative Code