LilMtnCbn
11-03-2003, 04:59 AM
http://www.news-press.com/news/local_state/031103adoption.html
Vulnerable children wait for adoption
Older kids harder to place in homes
By ANDI ATWATER, aatwater@news-press.com
Published by news-press.com on November 3, 2003
George, 13, loves fishing.
Jessica, 12, enjoys church activities.
Duane, 14, is a straight-A student.
Despite their different interests, each of these bright, young children has one
tremendous burden in common: They don’t have parents and they need a loving
home.
Child advocates in Southwest Florida are hoping to pull the heartstrings of
potential adoptive parents this week during an annual Calling Out ceremony that
highlights 134 children in need of homes in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and
Glades counties.
WHO CAN ADOPT
Anyone who is:
• 21 years or older
• Financially self-sustaining
• Married, single, divorced or widowed
Other requirements:
• The state recommends anyone interested in becoming an adoptive parent take
a free 30-hour training course
• Extensive criminal and reference checks of potential parents are conducted.
They also undergo two home studies and a physical exam.
More details:
• Adoptive parents receive monthly subsidies averaging $336, depending on the
age of the child.
For more information:
• Call toll-free 1-800-89-FAMILY
• Visit news-press.com to learn more about adopting in Florida.
IF YOU GO
• What: Calling Out ceremony
• When: 10 a.m. Thursday
• Where: DCF Regional Service Center, 2295 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers
RELATED LINK
• Florida's Adoption Program
The majority of children — 78 percent of them — are older than 11. They are
the hardest to place in new homes and are at a vulnerable stage in their lives.
“It’s pretty easy to fall in love with a baby, but once they get to be
about 12, they’re not so cute anymore,” said Lorna Kibbey, operations
manager for foster care and adoption for the Department of Children & Families
in Southwest Florida.
“By the time they hit their teens, they have the whole puberty thing going
and a lot of changes physically and mentally — it’s a tough time for
someone to fall in love with a child and adopt,” she said. “But it’s hard
for these children who’ve been in our system and just want to go home, fit in
and be happy forever. They so much want to be loved and have a family.”
DCF, in partnership with the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida — the
agency taking over DCF services by 2004 — will call out the names and ring a
bell for each child in state care who needs a home.
Out of the 134 children awaiting adoption, 84 are from Lee County and 40 are
older than 12.
Children who’ve been abused, neglected or abandoned are typically the
children who fall under state custody.
Some are bright, shy children. Some come with significant emotional baggage and
behavioral problems. Some have physical or learning disabilities. Some are in
sibling groups and are desperate to stay together. Some are close to aging out
of the system but in dire need of loving guidance and support.
“Children that have the backgrounds of being abused and neglected do have
certain emotional issues dealing with that, of course,” said Debra Webb,
Children’s Network spokeswoman. “You have to be willing to open your heart
and home to a child in need of a lot of love and nurturing support. You can
really make a difference in a child’s life.”
Fort Myers parents Becky and Rob Watt did just that when they took in
15-month-old twins and their 4-year-old sister.
The road was not always easy. The children had some developmental disabilities
and a few physical problems.
One of the twins has had to have brain surgery because she was born with water
on her brain. Her brother is in special education classes and may always need
supervision.
But Kimberly, 16, Travis, 13, and operatic singer Cheyanne, 13, are bright,
well-nurtured children who are involved in community activities and growing
into healthy young adults.
Their parents are terribly proud of them.
“I wouldn’t have changed anything,” said Becky Watt, 53, who has grown
biological children and fostered several children before adopting her three
youngest.
“You fall in love with the kids and they’re your kids whether from birth or
you adopt them,” she said. “Yes, they come to you as ‘damaged goods.’
But if you have the love in your heart and you can give it to a child, then you
need to do it. It’s worth it.”
Vulnerable children wait for adoption
Older kids harder to place in homes
By ANDI ATWATER, aatwater@news-press.com
Published by news-press.com on November 3, 2003
George, 13, loves fishing.
Jessica, 12, enjoys church activities.
Duane, 14, is a straight-A student.
Despite their different interests, each of these bright, young children has one
tremendous burden in common: They don’t have parents and they need a loving
home.
Child advocates in Southwest Florida are hoping to pull the heartstrings of
potential adoptive parents this week during an annual Calling Out ceremony that
highlights 134 children in need of homes in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and
Glades counties.
WHO CAN ADOPT
Anyone who is:
• 21 years or older
• Financially self-sustaining
• Married, single, divorced or widowed
Other requirements:
• The state recommends anyone interested in becoming an adoptive parent take
a free 30-hour training course
• Extensive criminal and reference checks of potential parents are conducted.
They also undergo two home studies and a physical exam.
More details:
• Adoptive parents receive monthly subsidies averaging $336, depending on the
age of the child.
For more information:
• Call toll-free 1-800-89-FAMILY
• Visit news-press.com to learn more about adopting in Florida.
IF YOU GO
• What: Calling Out ceremony
• When: 10 a.m. Thursday
• Where: DCF Regional Service Center, 2295 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers
RELATED LINK
• Florida's Adoption Program
The majority of children — 78 percent of them — are older than 11. They are
the hardest to place in new homes and are at a vulnerable stage in their lives.
“It’s pretty easy to fall in love with a baby, but once they get to be
about 12, they’re not so cute anymore,” said Lorna Kibbey, operations
manager for foster care and adoption for the Department of Children & Families
in Southwest Florida.
“By the time they hit their teens, they have the whole puberty thing going
and a lot of changes physically and mentally — it’s a tough time for
someone to fall in love with a child and adopt,” she said. “But it’s hard
for these children who’ve been in our system and just want to go home, fit in
and be happy forever. They so much want to be loved and have a family.”
DCF, in partnership with the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida — the
agency taking over DCF services by 2004 — will call out the names and ring a
bell for each child in state care who needs a home.
Out of the 134 children awaiting adoption, 84 are from Lee County and 40 are
older than 12.
Children who’ve been abused, neglected or abandoned are typically the
children who fall under state custody.
Some are bright, shy children. Some come with significant emotional baggage and
behavioral problems. Some have physical or learning disabilities. Some are in
sibling groups and are desperate to stay together. Some are close to aging out
of the system but in dire need of loving guidance and support.
“Children that have the backgrounds of being abused and neglected do have
certain emotional issues dealing with that, of course,” said Debra Webb,
Children’s Network spokeswoman. “You have to be willing to open your heart
and home to a child in need of a lot of love and nurturing support. You can
really make a difference in a child’s life.”
Fort Myers parents Becky and Rob Watt did just that when they took in
15-month-old twins and their 4-year-old sister.
The road was not always easy. The children had some developmental disabilities
and a few physical problems.
One of the twins has had to have brain surgery because she was born with water
on her brain. Her brother is in special education classes and may always need
supervision.
But Kimberly, 16, Travis, 13, and operatic singer Cheyanne, 13, are bright,
well-nurtured children who are involved in community activities and growing
into healthy young adults.
Their parents are terribly proud of them.
“I wouldn’t have changed anything,” said Becky Watt, 53, who has grown
biological children and fostered several children before adopting her three
youngest.
“You fall in love with the kids and they’re your kids whether from birth or
you adopt them,” she said. “Yes, they come to you as ‘damaged goods.’
But if you have the love in your heart and you can give it to a child, then you
need to do it. It’s worth it.”
