Many people recall their childhoods as a time of play, learning, and growth. But for hundreds of local children, this critically formative time has brought the suffering of abuse, abandonment, neglect and trauma. They have a great need for caring homes now to love them, nurture them and show them a more positive way of life. Our adoption services connect children who have suffered abuse and neglect with loving forever families.
Foster or Adoption?
In the communities of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion or Sumter County, Florida, approximately 1,600 children are living in crisis every day. Kids Central recruits, trains, licenses, and supports foster parents and children who have suffered abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Resource parents provide nurturing, temporary homes to children during their greatest moment of need. Resource parents provide a loving refuge until the child is able to return home or transition to a permanent living arrangement. Kids Central’s caring foster parents are everyday heroes who make lifelong difference in just a short time.
Give The Gift Of A Family
Many people recall their childhoods as a time of play, learning, and growth. But for hundreds of local children, this critically formative time has brought the suffering of abuse, abandonment, neglect, and trauma. They have a great need for caring homes now to love them, nurture them and show them a more positive way of life.
Foster and adoptive parents respond with compassion and love to fill this need. Foster parents provide caring temporary homes to children in need, creating a lifelong impact in a relatively short period of time. Adoptive parents become the legal parents to a child, providing a forever family. Both foster and adoptive parenting are vitally important and change the world—one child at a time.
Change A Life For Good
Hundreds of children in our own communities need safe, loving homes, and they need them now. In the Florida Counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter, over 1,600 children have experienced the trauma of abuse or neglect and been removed from their parents or caregivers. Less than half of these children are in licensed foster homes with loving families, and many are available for adoption. The need is great, especially for older youth, but so are the blessings for those who feel called to open their hearts and homes to children who have suffered.
Is Fostering Or Adoption Right For You?
Ask yourself the following questions to help decide if becoming a foster or adoptive parent is right for you. Will you be able to:
- Love and care for a child with a challenging background and sometimes difficult behavior?
- Help the child develop a sense of belonging and security in your home—whether on a temporary basis or as a permanent family member?
What Are The Requirements To Foster Or Adopt?
Foster and adoptive parent candidates must:
- Be a Florida resident age 21 and older;
- Be financially stable;
- Be able to provide appropriate sleeping arrangements
- Be able to provide support, care and stability
Importantly, foster and adoptive parents don’t have to be young, wealthy, or a married couple with a stay-at-home caregiver. The most important requirements are a heart for children and a willingness to make a difference for life…
Become a part of our community of care
Complete the information request form orcall us at 352-873-6332
WE’RE HERE
To Help
At Kids Central, our mission of service, excellence, and caring is reflected in everything we do. We are dedicated to achieving measurable, positive outcomes for children and families in the Central Florida communities we serve. Please join us in creating brighter futures for children and families.
Have Questions?
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IN THE
Community
Give4Marion
SAVE THE DATE! Donate to Kids Central during Give4Marion! Join us on September 19th & 20th in helping children and families in need throughout Marion County. Raise money and awareness for Kids Central through this 33-hour giving campaign! To help donate or fund raise for Kids Central, visit the event webpage or scan the QR …
ReadKCI Quarterly Service Awards & Ice Cream Social
KCI Staff, from both the Wildwood and Ocala office, enjoyed ice cream and good company at the Quarterly Service Award Meeting held on May 18, 2023. Offices were able to join each other via Zoom to honor and recognize all employees who have been with Kids Central from one year, up to 17 years. Our …
ReadNational Child Abuse Prevention Month
April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month Kids Central encouraged community partners, community members, and our system of care to wear blue and plant a pinwheel garden to help bring awareness and support to the prevention of child abuse. Kids Central partners with dozens of organizations to highlight the incredible work done across …
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