Adoption of Foster Children

Hundreds of children in the State of Florida do not have a forever home that they can call their own.  All they want is a stable, nuturing family where they can feel safe, secure and most of all loved.  Kids Central contracts with Youth and Families Alternatives (YFA) to provide this service here in the Fifth Judicial Circuit serving Marion, Lake, Sumter, Citrus, and Hernando Counties.  Youth and Families Alternatives has been helping unite loving families with wonderful adoptive children since 1970.  This program provides specilaized training and preparation for parents interested in adopting children in the foster care system.  A dedicated team of highly motivated professionals works closely with your family to best serve you and the children in our care.

The process begins when you consider adopting a child.  YFA offers monthly Orientation sessions throughout our communities to provide information to interested families about the adoption process and the types of children needing permanent families.  Our greatest need is for families willing to consider the older child, minority child, sibling groups and children with medical and behavioral challenges. YFA staff will follow up with each family to explore their interest in pursuing adoption.  Families are invited to begin a mutual approval process, attending a 30-hour course on the Model Approach to Partnership and Parenting (MAPP class) where you will learn more about the children in care, positive parenting tools, helping children with birth family connections, and the impact of adopting in your life.  You will then participate in a home study where we as an agency will learn more about your strengths and needs so we can effectively match your family with a waiting child. 

10 Steps to Adoption

1.  Attend an orientation open house

2.  Complete the Model Approach to Partnership and Parenting pre-service training (MAPP class)

3.  Participate in a Home Study

4.  Submit to a Background Screening, which includes FBI, FDLE, Local Law Enforcement and Child Abuse checks

5.  Submit 5 references

6.  Have at least 2 home consultations by an adoption counselor

7.  Approval of your application and home study

8.  Match - When the need of a child or sibling group closely matches your family's strengths, a recommendation will be made

9.  Placement Supervision - This period ends after a successful transition is made between the child and family

10. Finalization - a court hearing before a judge makes a child a legal member of your family
                          **Note: These Finalization Court Hearings are not open to the public.

For more information about Adoption, please contact Sharon Gibbs at (352)873-6332. or via This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it