Our Partners

Become a Partner

The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science

The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, Tallahassee’s Smithsonian Affiliate, is a world-class educational and cultural organization that incorporates hands-on science activities with visual art exhibits that teach as well as entertain. With two floors of innovative science interactivity as well as an art gallery displaying the miraculous works from the likes of renowned historical artists to contemporary ingénues, The Brogan Museum instills culture and inspires patrons of all ages to “imagine the possibilities.”

The Florida Press Association

The Florida Press Association was founded in 1879 as a nonprofit corporation to protect the freedoms and advance the professional standards of the press of Florida.

Its purpose includes the promotion and encouragement of higher standards of journalism to the benefit of the industry and the public; the aid and advancement of the study of journalism; the encouragement of a better understanding between the public and the press; the encouragement of better business methods and practices within the industry; the encouragement of positive fraternal relations within the press, and the representation of the common interests of the press on issues of general welfare and mutual concern.

The Florida Press Association includes all of the daily and most of the weekly newspapers in the state in its membership.

The Florida Press Association is an important "Explore Adoption" partner and will be providing their members with "Explore Adoption" print ads, which will run for free on a space available basis.

The Florida Psychological Association

The Florida Psychological Association (FPA) is the primary organization dedicated to advancing the profession for licensed psychologists in Florida.  In existence since 1947, we are home to more than 1600 members both in Florida and out-of-state. 

Forever Family

Forever Family is a creative public-private partnership that combines child advocacy groups, local media and foster care programs for the important task of finding children in foster care loving, adoptive homes.

For videos of some of Florida's children awaiting adoption click
nbc6.net/foreverfamily

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend is a national youth-serving organization based on a one-to-one relationship between an adult volunteer and a child whose circumstances demonstrate the need for additional adult support. Volunteers serve as mentors and role models to help youth increase their self-confidence, reach their highest potential and lead them towards happy and successful futures. Programs offered by the organization include community-based mentoring, school-based mentoring and mentoring children of prisoners. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend provides services in eight counties including Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Liberty and Taylor. For additional information visit www.bigbrothers-bigsisters.org or call (850) 386-6002.

Florida Afterschool Network (FAN)

Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) works to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of statewide, high quality afterschool programs and policies. By promoting afterschool opportunities that are accessible, affordable, accountable and inclusive, FAN assists parents in choosing afterschool programs that enrich children’s lives, while keeping them safe and secure. FAN strives to create and sustain statewide infrastructure to establish collaborative public and private partnerships which connect local, state and national resources. Additionally, FAN aids in developing quality afterschool standards that are endorsed and promoted by statewide stakeholders and through Florida Afterschool Network. For additional information, visit www.myfan.org or call (850) 222-1340.

Florida Children’s Services Council

The Florida Children’s Services Council (www.floridacsc.org) is a statewide, non-profit organization representing children’s services councils (CSC) in counties throughout Florida. CSCs are countywide special districts created to fund primary prevention and early intervention programs that promote positive family functioning. Working collaboratively with agencies, officials and service providers, CSCs improve young lives by strategically investing in best-practice, evidence-based programs that enhance the well-being of Florida’s children. They are also recognized for providing innovative leadership and vision to community, state and national initiatives.

Florida Guardian ad Litem (GAL)

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program is a partnership of community advocates and professional staff providing a powerful voice on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. The Program advocates for the best interests of over 32,000 children in dependency court. Over 6,500 volunteers work with program attorneys and case coordinators to provide highly effective, proactive and results-driven advocacy.

Florida Nurses Association

We are proud to announce a partnership with the Florida Nurses Association to promote adoption of children with medical needs.

As part of the partnership, the FNA will run articles and features encouraging nurses to consider adopting medically complex children in FNA communication vehicles, including The Florida Nurse; Members Only; the FNA’s electronic newsletter, Ecommunicate and the FNA Web site, www.floridanurse.org.

The promotions will feature specific children available for adoption who have medical challenges, as well as the stories of nurses who have already adopted.

The FNA also has agreed to coordinate outreach to the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives, The Florida Deans and Directors of Nursing Schools and the Florida Nursing Students Association.

Heart Gallery of America ® Inc.

The mission of Heart Gallery of America ® Inc. is to facilitate and utilize the power of photography to capture the individuality and dignity of children living in foster care, in order to advocate for their permanency, raise public awareness about their needs, and obtain support to help meet those needs.

An integral part of honoring this mission is to provide assistance and resources to Heart Gallery chapters nationwide to help them achieve parallel goals for the waiting children they represent."

There are more operating Heart Galleries in the state of Florida than any other state. More than 500 children have found their forever families through the efforts of the Heart Gallery in Florida alone. Each Heart Gallery works with partnership agencies in their area to provide awareness to the general public of the needs of a population of children not generally in the spotlight, breaking down the old labels and stereotypes of children in foster care and bringing in support, foster parents, respite, mentors, volunteers and adoptive families. By photographing these children in their best light, capturing their hope, their vulnerability, their pride, we bring the cause of adoption into the hearts of millions of caring citizens each year. Typically, Heart Galleries provide recruitment specifically for difficult to place children: teens, children with medical and therapeutic sensitivities, large sibling groups, etc. A statewide initiative has been created to provide easier access for potential parents around the state and to help provide start-up support for areas without Heart Galleries. Both the President and Vice-President of the Heart Gallery of America, Inc. are Heart Gallery Directors of Florida galleries. All Heart Gallery websites provide profiles of waiting children and links to inquire about them specifically, as well as resources for foster and adoptive parents. Please visit www.heartgalleryofamerica.org

Family Network on Disabilities of Florida

Family Network on Disabilities of Florida is a grassroots organization for persons with disabilities, those who are at risk, and their families.  Family Network serves all disabilities and all ages. Founded by parents of children with disabilities, Family Network has been serving Florida families for over 20 years. Family Network covers the entire state, from Pensacola to Key West, providing support, information, training, and advocacy on a wide range of topics, from early intervention to education to independent living to planning for the future. Please visit www.fndfl.org or call 800-825-5736 for more information.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and supports for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential in their community. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities serves people with five types of developmental disabilities: spina bifida, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, and Prader-Willi syndrome. APD serves about 35,000 individuals a year. Most APD customers are provided services by private providers who are paid through a Medicaid waiver. For more information on the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES or visit www.apdcares.org.

Become a Public Adoption Partner

Every child deserves a lifelong, supportive family. That’s why Governor Charlie Crist has launched Explore Adoption, a historic public awareness campaign. The initiative will focus on finding loving homes for Florida’s children in care. On any given day, more than 1,000 children from varied backgrounds, circumstances, races and ethnicities are looking for a forever family and a permanent place to call home.

We can’t do this alone. We need the help of many partners to match these children to Floridians who can embrace them as their own, providing them with a permanent family and home. And that’s where your organization comes in.

Florida Dental Association

The FDA is a Tallahassee-based, statewide, professional association representing member-dentists in Florida. Founded in 1884 by 12 dentists, the FDA now has almost 7,000 members, representing about 70 percent of all Florida-licensed dentists. The FDA maintains three offices in Tallahassee and has 60 employees. A constituent society of the American Dental Association, the mission of the FDA is to improve the oral health of Florida residents through high practice standards, continuous professional education, public advocacy and improving the practice environment.

How You Can Help

Post a link on your Web page to the Explore Adoption Web site, www.adoptFlorida.org

Use your internal newsletters, newspapers, magazines or other publications to promote awareness of public adoption by featuring a child or sibling group available for adoption, running an article about the Explore Adoption initiative and/or regularly featuring the Explore Adoption logo, 800-number and Web site.

If your organization provides a financial stipend or parental leave to employees who adopt, promote awareness of these benefits and refer interested employees to Explore Adoption.

Email your employees to invite them to sign up to receive the monthly Explore Adoption e-newsletter.

Make Explore Adoption brochures available to your employee.

Hang posters featuring an adoptable child in your lobbies, cafeterias, lounges, and other areas visible to both employees and the public.

Sponsor or provide in-kind and/or monetary donations to extend the reach of the Explore Adoption initiative.

Host a public adoption orientation meeting for your employees in cooperation with your local community-based care provider.

For more information on becoming a partner contact:

Jennifer Stan Diaz
Program Coordinator
Office of Adoption and Child Protection
Executive Office of the Governor

The Capitol, Suite 2002
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: (850) 922-0082
Fax: (850) 921-0173
jennifer.diaz@eog.myflorida.com