What Are the Main Steps in the Adoption Journey on Adopt Florida?

Adopt Florida (adoptflorida.org) outlines a four-stage adoption journey: contact Florida's Adoption Information Center, get matched with a child through an adoption specialist, build familiarity through visits, and finalize the adoption in court. The site presents this as a general roadmap for families considering adoption in Florida, and it also notes that post-adoption support services are available at no cost until the child turns 18.

Step 1: Contact Florida's Adoption Information Center

The first action the site describes is reaching out to Florida's Adoption Information Center at 1-800-96-ADOPT.

• Input: A phone call from a prospective adoptive family.
• What happens next: Within seven business days, you are connected with a local Adoption Specialist.
• What the specialist does: Provides information, helps assess your readiness to adopt, and guides you through the next steps.

This is the entry point for anyone "thinking about adoption," as the site puts it — you don't need to have decided yet to make the call.

Step 2: The Matching Process

Once you're working with a specialist, the site describes a matching phase built around fit rather than speed.

• You work closely with your adoption specialist.
• The specialist considers "the unique strengths and qualities of both your family and the child."
• The goal is a match that works for both sides, not just placement of a child.

The site frames this as a two-way consideration: your family's qualities matter, and so do the child's.

Step 3: Learning, Meeting, and Visits

After a match is made, the process shifts to gradual familiarization.

1. Learn about each other. You get the opportunity to learn more about the child, and the child learns more about you.
2. Visits begin. As the child becomes more comfortable, visits start and gradually increase over time.
3. Final move-in day. The adoption specialist guides everyone involved in determining when the child moves in permanently.

The site emphasizes that this pacing exists so both the prospective family and the child are "fully prepared to move forward" — adoption is described as a lifelong commitment, and the visit schedule is designed around that.

Step 4: Making It Official

The final stage is legal finalization.

• Your adoption attorney arranges a hearing before a judge.
• At that hearing, the child legally becomes part of your family.

After finalization, the site states that Post-Adoption Support Services are available to assist you and your family "during and after the adoption process at no cost until your child turns 18." The stated purpose is a smooth transition for the child and family.

Quick Overview

What the Site Does Not Specify

Adopt Florida's page describes the journey in general terms. It does not list costs, fees, eligibility requirements, or timelines beyond the seven-business-day contact window. For those details, the site directs prospective families to the Adoption Information Center and a local specialist, who can address individual circumstances.

If you're at the "just considering it" stage, the practical first move the site describes is the phone call — everything else follows from that connection.