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"Once you meet the children and sibling groups available for adoption, your heart will be touched by their wish to experience love and permanency within a family."
- Governor Rick Scott and First Lady Scott
 Little did three-year-old Jadarius know, he was to meet his forever family at the opening of the Heart Gallery photographic exhibit held at the Children's Board on February 11, 2006. Jadarius' Heart Gallery photo captured the essence of his gregarious and friendly nature. Dressed in a suit, purchased by his care manager, Jadarius was hard to resist. Cheerful and bright, four-year old Jadarius is said to have a taste for french fries, trucks and big slides.
In April, the couple brought Jadarius home as a foster child. They filled out all the adoption paperwork, and he filled their lives with his energy and happy chatter. But, on his special day in September, in the presence of a judge, his new godmother and grandmother, two married schoolteachers officially made their union permanent.
In a packed courtroom with caregivers, caseworkers, and family, three happy teens, Erica, Raymond and Joseph, were adopted by their forever family. "We're glad to be able to provide a home and love, but they bring so much more to our family," said the teen's dad, "we get a lot more back than we give."
The close-knit siblings had lived separately in several different foster homes for the past 6 years. Raymond, Erica and Joseph finalized the day before Thanksgiving and two days before Raymond's 18th birthday. Raymond said he did not want to miss a chance to belong to a family.
"It feels like I'm at home again. It's like wow, someone out there actually loves me," said Raymond with a wide smile.
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"The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. "
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Kevin was 17 and had been in foster care for 9 years, when he decided not to give up on being adopted. "You always need a family. Who am I going to go to for help?"
Kevin met his adoptive parents in 2006 when they saw his photo in the Children's Board Heart Gallery exhibit. They had a son and daughter, but were about to be "empty nesters" when their faith, commitment to community and desire to give back prompted them to take a leap. They adopted Kevin in 2007. He now has his own room and his forever family.
The Newsome children were living in three separate placements waiting for their forever family. A single mother came forward and never gave up on the idea that she would become the parent for these little girls. The girls all had special needs and their new mom was great at recognizing the strengths and needs of each child. Being a first time parent, she worked hard through the transition process and persevered to make her new family successful. The children were adopted and have settled into their final placement - a forever home.
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