Foster or Adoption?

In the communities of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion or Sumter County, Florida, approximately 1,600 children are living in crisis every day. Kids Central recruits, trains, licenses, and supports foster parents and children who have suffered abuse, abandonment, and neglect. Resource parents provide nurturing, temporary homes to children during their greatest moment of need. Resource parents provide a loving refuge until the child is able to return home or transition to a permanent living arrangement. Kids Central’s caring foster parents are everyday heroes who make lifelong difference in just a short time.

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Give The Gift Of A Family

Many people recall their childhoods as a time of play, learning, and growth. But for hundreds of local children, this critically formative time has brought the suffering of abuse, abandonment, neglect, and trauma. They have a great need for caring homes now to love them, nurture them and show them a more positive way of life.

Foster and adoptive parents respond with compassion and love to fill this need. Foster parents provide caring temporary homes to children in need, creating a lifelong impact in a relatively short period of time. Adoptive parents become the legal parents to a child, providing a forever family. Both foster and adoptive parenting are vitally important and change the world—one child at a time.

Change A Life For Good

Hundreds of children in our own communities need safe, loving homes, and they need them now. In the Florida Counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter, over 1,600 children have experienced the trauma of abuse or neglect and been removed from their parents or caregivers. Less than half of these children are in licensed foster homes with loving families, and many are available for adoption. The need is great, especially for older youth, but so are the blessings for those who feel called to open their hearts and homes to children who have suffered.

Is Fostering Or Adoption Right For You?

Ask yourself the following questions to help decide if becoming a foster or adoptive parent is right for you. Will you be able to:

  • Love and care for a child with a challenging background and sometimes difficult behavior?
  • Help the child develop a sense of belonging and security in your home—whether on a temporary basis or as a permanent family member?

What Are The Requirements To Foster Or Adopt?

Foster and adoptive parent candidates must:

  • Be a Florida resident age 21 and older;
  • Be financially stable;
  • Be able to provide appropriate sleeping arrangements
  • Be able to provide support, care and stability

Importantly, foster and adoptive parents don’t have to be young, wealthy, or a married couple with a stay-at-home caregiver. The most important requirements are a heart for children and a willingness to make a difference for life…

Join Our Community of Care

call us at 352-873-6332 or use our contact form

WE’RE HERE

To Help

At Kids Central, our mission of service, excellence, and caring is reflected in everything we do. We are dedicated to achieving measurable, positive outcomes for children and families in the Central Florida communities we serve. Please join us in creating brighter futures for children and families.

Adoption Services

Many people recall their childhoods as a time of play, learning, and growth. But for hundreds of local children, this critically formative time has brought the suffering of abuse, abandonment, neglect and trauma. They have a great need for caring homes now to love them, nurture them and show them a more positive way of life. Our adoption services connect children who have suffered abuse and neglect with loving forever families.

Resource Parent Contacts

Important Contact Information for Resource Families.
Foster Training and Online Resources

Kids Central offers training on a variety of topics throughout the year. During the first two years of licensure, each parent must complete 12 hours of training per year. Eight of these must be face-to-face trainings.

Foster FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about Foster Care.
Adoption Forms

Below is a list of commonly needed forms for adoptive parents. Direct Deposit Form If you need to update your address, bank information or other details, please contact (352) 387-3431 or adoption@KidsCentralinc.org .
Foster Forms

Forms necessary to become a foster parent, regain custody, etc.
Foster Parents Associations

Local foster parent associations offer a supportive environment and fellowship for parents and children.

Have Questions?

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IN THE

Community

KCI Quarterly Service Awards — November 2024

KCI Staff, from both the Wildwood and Ocala office, enjoyed deconstructed smores and good company at the Quarterly Service Awards. Our Quarterly Service Awards honors and recognizes all employees who have been with Kids Central from one year, up to 20 years. Our dedicated employees are truly the heart of Kids Central!

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On February 23, 2024, Kids Central hosted our Boot Scootin’ Boogie Casino Night event at the Ocala Downtown Market. We enjoyed an evening of countrified casino excitement, and the funds the evening raised have benefitted abused and neglected children in our community. The event was a great success, and we couldn’t have done it without …

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KCI Quarterly Service Awards — “Pizza Palooza!”

KCI Staff, from both the Wildwood and Ocala office, enjoyed pizza and good company at the Quarterly Service Awards. Offices were able to join each other via Teams to honor and recognize all employees who have been with Kids Central from one year, up to 20 years. Our dedicated employees are truly the heart of …

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