Adoption Benefits

Section 110.152, Florida Statutes, provides that any full-time or part-time employee of the state who is paid from regular salary appropriations and who adopts a special-needs child whose permanent custody has been awarded to the Department of Children and Family Services or to a Florida-licensed child-placing agency is eligible to receive a monetary benefit in the amount of $10,000 per child. In addition, any employee of the state who adopts a child whose permanent custody has been awarded to the Department of Children and Family Services or to a Florida-licensed child-placing agency, other than a special-needs child, shall be eligible to receive a monetary benefit in the amount of $5,000 per child. Benefits paid under this subsection to a part-time employee must be prorated based on the employee's full-time-equivalency status at the time of applying for the benefits. The final order of adoption must have been awarded on or after October 1, 2000 (inception date of the program).

For more information please visit the website of the Florida Department of Children and Families Adoption Benefit Program.

2009 Explore Adoption Day

In an effort to promote Florida’s recent adoption successes and encourage more Floridians to consider adoption, Governor Charlie Crist has declared Wednesday, July 22, 2009, as Explore Adoption Day. 

Below you will find links to information on how to adopt, the benefits of adopting and the Governor’s proclamation declaring Explore Adoption Day.  For more information, visit http://www.adoptflorida.org or call 1-800-96-ADOPT.

Governor Crist’s Explore Adoption Day Proclamation

Adoption Day Brochure

Explore Adoption Op Ed by Governor Crist

Adoption Resources