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Adoption news just for you.
March 2024
NEWSLETTER
Winter is behind us and it’s time to enter spring, a time of renewal, growth, and light. Just as spring breathes new life into the world, adoption brings hope, transformation, and the opportunity for a fresh start to families and children. Adoption offers a beacon of light to children who have faced darkness and uncertainty. It symbolizes the opportunity to create a loving and supportive environment where a child can thrive and grow.
Just as spring weather can be unpredictable, the journey of adoption is not without its challenges. The storms we weather remind us that even in the face of adversity, there is always the potential for transformation and new beginnings. After all, April showers bring May flowers!
We have reason to celebrate! 8 children in foster care are currently matched with our Hearts to Home families. We are excited to see these families grow and thrive together. As we celebrate these families, we're reminded of the transformative power of love and belonging.
Let's continue to build brighter futures together.
If you aren’t in our Search and Support program, reach out to learn how we can support you on your adoption journey.
If you are currently enrolled in the Hearts to Home program’s Search and Support phase, and haven’t attended a W.A.I. T. group yet, we strongly encourage you to join our staff and other waiting families to discuss your experience and support one another. Contact [email protected] to register.
Hoping to adopt from foster care?
Our recent virtual match event was a great success! Thanks to this event, three Hillsborough County children are potentially matched! We are grateful to the caseworkers and caregivers who attended the event and shared information about the children with home-study-approved families!
We have two more virtual match events scheduled in June. As we get closer to the event, details will be provided!
Thrive offers free virtual and in-person meetings to improve adoptive family functioning. For more information about this service, contact [email protected]
As we celebrate Social Work Month, let us express our appreciation to social workers everywhere!
Thank you, social workers, for your tireless efforts and profound impact on countless lives. Your work is nothing short of extraordinary, and we are honored to celebrate and acknowledge you this Social Work Month!
I Color Myself Different by Colin Kaepernick
“Why are you the only one brown in your family” and “why did you color yourself a different color?” in Kaepernick’s children’s book, I Color Myself Different, these are the words a transracially adopted student ponders. This book explores how family can look different for so many families, and that we should celebrate the beauty of our differences. This will be a great read for any family that has adopted or is open to adopting a child of a different race.
The Body Keeps the Score
Since January, Heart of Adoptions and Heart of Adoptions Alliance, Inc. staff have been utilizing the excellent research and insights found in “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk in biweekly training to significantly enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between trauma and the adoption process. Dr. Van der Kolk’s extensively researched exploration of the way traumatic experiences are stored in our bodies is enhancing our ability to support adoptive parents and children through the adoption journey, ultimately contributing to the well-being and successful integration of adoptive families.
If you are a Hillsborough County resident, you can borrow these books from us! Reserve your copy here
Birth Parent Pizza Meetups
Our Hope Program Pizza Meet Ups are support group meetings led by birth parents where you can meet and connect with other parents who have placed a child for adoption. Online support is also offered through private Facebook groups that connect birth mothers from all over the world in a supportive environment that allows them to speak freely about the joys and heartbreaks of adoption. Check our events page for dates and locations.
Podcast Pick of the Month
Don’t miss this Creating a Family podcast on Weekend Wisdom: What to Ask For In Adoption Assistance When Adopting From Foster Care. You will learn more about adoption subsidies and the benefits of adoption.
If you have any additional questions after listening, be sure to reach out to us. We’d love to tell you more about adoption benefits.
Only One Month Away!
Get your tickets for the Night of Champions Annual Gala & Silent Auction taking place on April 19, 2024!
This national event will include a virtual livestream beginning around 8 pm ET and an in-person event in Tampa, Florida.
Registration is free for the virtual live stream and silent auction; the online silent auction will open on April 14, 2024.
Tickets are required to attend the in-person event at the Tampa Garden Club on beautiful Bayshore Blvd. The reception on April 19th will include inspiring stories, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a live auction! General entry begins at 7 pm.
Positive reviews from birth parents and adoptive families help prospective clients feel confident about choosing our adoption services. Could you take 60 seconds to go to Google and share your happy experiences? We will be forever grateful and as a way to thank you, you will be entered in our 1st quarter raffle to win a prize. Thank you in advance for helping us out!