Children in Foster Care who are Available for Adoption

Handsome, sweet and affectionate, Anthony is an absolute delight! Although he is often quiet and shy, Anthony is amiable. He loves team sports. Anthony wants to be a fireman or a police officer when he grows up. His heroes are Batman, the Incredible Hulk and his sweet teachers. He is athletic and enjoys playing football and basketball. He enjoys playing games such as checkers and video games. His favorite color is blue and he enjoys watching the Cartoon Network. He has a bubbly personality and enjoys one on one attention. Anthony would do well in a nurturing, patient, loving environment with a family who has time to devote to him.

Cody is a loving and affectionate child who tries very hard to succeed in everything he does. Shy at first, he warms up quickly and is very friendly and sweet. Cody loves cats and playing video games, and wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up. His favorite subject is science. He will need a family who will be able to assist him educationally as well as be an advocate for him in school. Cody would do best in a two-parent home able to provide lots of attention, love and structure. Cody's ideal family is affectionate and caring and, perhaps has a cat!

Deantae is an athletic young man, who is interested in football, wrestling, track, and a variety of other sports. Deantae currently is joining the track and field team. He deserves an energetic family who can be involved with all of his athletic interests. Deantae will shine in a family setting who will model strong, positive values in his life.

Meet Emmanuel, an energetic and curious young man.  Emmanuel is a budding outdoorsman.  He loves to explore nature, but beware all squirrels and lizards!  Emmanuel loves to chase these animals and discover their habitat.  Emmanuel loves all sports, but none as much as basketball and football.  You can always find Emmanuel on the ball court, shooting hoops with his friends.  Friendly and outgoing, he is well liked by his peers.  Emmanuel thrives with individual attention.  He would flourish with a single male or two-parent household who would give Emmanuel all the love and consideration that he deserves.  Emmanuel needs a strong role model that would help him to succeed in all his endeavors. Emmanuel would do well being the only child in the home or the younger siblings with mature older children.

Jeremiah has a lot going for him, but he needs the one thing most important to any child-a permanent loving family. Jeremiah is an African American child who loves playing with cars and playing outside. While Jeremiah has some developmental and behavioral challenges, his success depends on the right adoptive parents. Unconditional love and acceptance would do much to help this young man reach his potential.

Jose is a 15 year old Hispanic male who is an excellent student. He is helpful around the home. Jose would like to enter the medical field and pursue being a doctor. Jose enjoys attending school and does very well in his classes. Science is his favorite subject. Jose plans to join the soccer team this year at school and would also like to play football. He likes to play video games, listen to music, bowl, and go skating. Jose is quiet when he meets new people but has a great sense of humor once you get to know him. Jose has a strong bond with his siblings and wishes to remain in the Tampa Bay area. Jose is unsure about adoption but like all of us, needs a permanent family for life.

Joshua is a sweet and affectionate little boy. His caregiver describes him as being "cute as a button". Josh has big brown eyes and a smile that will melt your heart. Joshua is slow to warm up to others, but once he does he is a talkative and engaging little boy. He enjoys talking about what he wants to be when he grows up, which changes from firefighter, garbage truck driver to a police man depending on the day. Joshua enjoys being active and likes playing outside on the swingset, attempting to surf, shopping and spending time with his foster family. In addition to his foster family Joshua enjoys being with his older sister. The two child do not live together but try and see each other as much as possible.  Joshua is a very smart little boy and it was reported by teachers that he has excelled at his school work.

Landin is a very active young man. Landin loves to build things and loves to play outside. He enjoys playing with cars and building forts. Landin is constantly on the move! He does need a family who is very active and can keep up with him! Landin does have moderate behavioral issues in school and in the home. Landin has trouble staying on task and following directives. Landin also has a hard time with boundaries. Landin is very intelligent and does well in school academically. He does need extra supports in school for the behavioral aspects. Due to his history of trauma and loss, Landin has a hard time trusting and attaching to adult caregivers. Landin will need a family who can provide unconditional love, stability and routine. Landin also needs a family who has experience parenting a child with special needs and can allow him to stay in contact with his siblings.

Luis is very friendly, generous and sociable. He makes friends everywhere he goes and loves to learn he is especially interested in words and their meaning, so a dictionary is never far from him. Simply a joy to be around, Luis has such a positive worldview and is always focusing on the good in life. He derives pride and excitement from learning new skills and his goal this year is to become more independent. He considers himself unique because of his compassionate personality. Luis requires a loving home that can provide the encouragement and support he requires to meet his full potential.

Michael is an adventurous young man, who enjoys riding his bike, and playing basketball. Michael has taken an interest in card and board games. Like most teenagers, he enjoys playing video games. Michael is shy and quiet when you first meet him. However, once he gets to know you he is enjoyable and fun company. Michael would love to be a part of a family he can call his own.

Nicholas is a happy child who smiles and interacts appropriately with others, babbles, is very active, and can follow simple commands.  Opening and closing doors are favorite pastimes.  He is in a specialized school setting and receives speech therapy.  It is felt he is making progress socially.  He gives eye contact and responds to his name.  Nicholas is able to communicate through sign language.  He is a very affectionate child and enjoys laughing.  Nicholas enjoys playing with cars and trucks and likes to roll them along the floor.  He is a curious and inquisitive child with a good imagination.  This endearing child will need ongoing assistance.  Despite the medical challenges he was born with Nicholas has overcome many of these challenges and has made many strides in his development.

A terrific storyteller and a talented magician, Ronderik is a natural entertainer.  His lighthearted, upbeat personality and natural humor draw people to him.  Ronderik says his favorite place is Nickelodeon Hotel Suites and one of his favorite types of music is jazz.  Ronderik would like his future family to know that hes an artist.  Football and baseball are two sports Ronderik enjoys playing. A happy, tight-knit family would be a great fit for Ronderik.  A willingness to advocate for his education is a must.  Photography by: Kevin Whitcomb, Blue Planet Photo

Saddle up, Cowboy! If you're a country-lovin' kind of family then this is a buckaroo that will fit right in! Steven is a 15 year old Caucasian male with blue eyes, light brown hair with blonde highlights, and a fair complexion. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs approximately 135 pounds with a slender build. Steven is a happy-go-lucky child who has a deep love of the outdoors including fishing, hiking, animals, and working outside; he lived on a farm for several years! When he's not outside working, he loves video games, puzzles, and reading. He has also expressed an interest in learning karate. Steven is a very bright child who finds comfort in and excels in school. Steven has moderate behavioral and emotional needs that will require ongoing therapeutic services throughout an adoptive transition. Steven is excited about being adopted and expressed he would love a two parent family. An ideal family for Steven would be an active two parent household with no younger children in the home. If you would like more information, please fax an approved adoptive home study to Stephanie Evans at 813-901-3492.

"I'm just your average, likeable teen!". Zachary would describe himself as funny, smart, and artistic. "Zach" is a 15 year old Hispanic and Asian male in search of a family who will help him fit in. His ethnic and cultural background are very important to him and he enjoys spending his time learning about his culture and his history. Zach is a highly intelligent child who is fully capable of making honor roll and has prevsiouly been placed in gifted and advanced classes. He is incredibly versatile and gifted kid who likes everything from skateboarding, drawing, "djing" and listening to music, reading, and just hanging out with his friends. He also has a passion for cars. He is very social and makes friends where ever he goes. He is often seen as being "popular" and a good friend to others. He is friendly and well mannered and is liked by most people. Zach has moderate special needs that will require an understanding and sympathetic family who can provide consistent and firm rules. More than anything, Zach just wants to feel normal, wanted, and loved. Zach would do best in a two parent or single parent family that has a consistent and helpful male mentor. Zach would do okay with other children who are a positive influence but he can be a follower and would "follow" bad behaviors. Parents with experience dealing with teenagers is preferred. Local families will be considered first followed by out of county families. Out of state families are not being considered at this time as Zach has several ties to this community and has lived her for his entire life.