Family Stories

The Pettus Family:

Parents: Michael and Alicia
Adopted Children: Arieanna, William and Johnny

Adoption is something that has always been a part of Alicia Pettus’ life and thoughts - she and her sister were adopted by their stepfather when they were very young. While she was still a child Alicia promised God that one day she would grow up and adopt a child.

Years passed and Alicia met Michael, they were high school sweethearts, got married and began their family. Michael was a navigator in the Air Force, and Alicia was a nurse. Michael eventually retired from the Air Force and became a civilian flight instructor. Alicia moved on to work in the school system, becoming a nurse for children with special needs. They raised their children, were active in their community and became leaders in their church. For a year they assumed guardianship of a relative’s child. Then Alicia’s sister adopted a sibling group of three sisters. Michael and Alicia decided it was time for them to also adopt, and they completed MAPP classes in 2008.

Soon thereafter the Pettuses adopted two year old Arianne from foster care. Arieanna thrived with her new family and within a couple years Michael and Alicia started thinking of adopting again. They started the reapplication process but then the unthinkable happened. Two of Michael’s friends, Johnny and William, suddenly lost their father in a terrible accident. The boys were already close to the Pettus family and since they did not have a strong connection to their mother or other relatives. Michael and Alicia were asked by the Department of Children and Families if they would take the boys in. They agreed immediately and the boys moved in during June 2010. Even though the boys’ 18 and 19 year old brother and sister were “too old” for services from the foster care system, Michael and Alicia voluntarily took in the older siblings. The Pettuses understand and strongly believe in the importance of keeping siblings together.

The four siblings previously had a chaotic background and Michael and Alicia decided they wanted to adopt Johnny and William to assure them they were always going to be a part of the family. Johnny was 17 and William was 14 at the time. The boys’ case progressed and on June 30, 2011, just five days before Johnny’s 18 birthday, they were formally adopted into the Pettus family.

The Solomon Family:

Parent: Ms. Solomon
Adopted Children: Sharon, Natalie, and Ruthie

A vivacious sibling group of seven was adopted on October 5, 2011 through Mental Health Resource Center (CMO) and its Community Based Care Lead Agency Family Support Services of North Florida. The children had been separated since May 2009.

The children were placed in three separate foster homes when they were removed. In October 2009, the foster home placement the three older girls were placed in did not work out. The three sisters were then placed with Ms. Solomon, their future adoptive mother. Unfortunately, through the years, the brothers were placed in five separate foster homes.

Fortunately, the youngest sibling remained in the same foster home placement.

Ms. Solomon fell in love with the three sisters and through the years she grew emotionally closer to all the children. She held weekend visitations at her home and welcomed the children with open arms. She knew that Family Support Services of North Florida and the Mental Health Resource Center wanted to reunite all the children. In April 2011, the two older brothers joined their sisters in the home with Ms. Solomon. She worked diligently to ensure the children had appropriate bedding, enough space and that their individual needs were met. In July 2011 the two youngest children joined the Solomon home, making it a full house. The adoption finalization on October 5, 2011 was a date long awaited for by the children, Ms. Solomon and all the agencies involved.

Though it was long overdue, the adoption date holds love, joy, stability and family for the vivacious sibling group of seven.