Adopting a child out of foster care can be the most rewarding experience of a lifetime, both for your family and your new child. Legal adoption means that the child becomes a member of your family and is no longer a part of the foster care system. As an adoptive parent, you make all decisions for your adopted child, just as you would for your biological children. Almost anyone can adopt. You don’t have to be married. You don’t have to make a lot of money. You just need to be willing to love and provide for a child in need.

Adoptive parents go through the same training as a foster parent, but are ready to be matched with adoptable children once they are approved. Usually, the process takes about a year, from the time a parent begins training classes to final adoption. It is a thorough process that ensures the most desirable outcome for both the parents and child.

There is almost no cost to adopt a foster child. The state of Florida will reimburse you up to $1,000 in adoption costs such as attorney fees. You are eligible for a federal tax credit in the year that you adopt.

Children who are adopted from the foster care system are eligible for several benefits, even after their adoption is finalized. Some of these benefits include:

• Tuition waiver for any public vocational schools, colleges and universities within the state of Florida. The waiver is valid for four years from the time of graduation or GED attainment.

• If you adopt a child 16 or older and the child goes to college, the teen is also eligible for a Road to Independence scholarship which pays a monthly stipend for living expenses until graduation.

• Medicaid coverage until 18 (21 for Road to Independence recipients). If you would like to open your home and heart to a child or siblings, the right for step by step directions.