PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A new state law, effective July 2024, increases protections to safeguard the privacy and personal information for foster children.

Online access to photo galleries and personal descriptions of children available for adoption will no longer be accessible to the public. 

However, child welfare agencies will make special provisions for potential adoptive parents to access information online.

What You Need To Know

  • Online access to photo galleries and personal descriptions of children available for adoption will no longer be accessible to the public. 

  • The Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco, a program of Gulf Coast Jewish Community Family Services, said it’s replaced all photo galleries with children’s artwork, which represents a more trauma-informed approach of featuring children.

  • With a record number of children in foster care, it’s been a challenge to find enough safe and loving homes for thousands of children across the state.

  • Family Support Services, along with other local agencies, is reaching out to the community and hoping more families and more individuals make the commitment to create safe and loving homes.

The Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco, a program of Gulf Coast Jewish Community Family Services, said it’s replaced all photo galleries with children’s artwork, which represents a more trauma-informed approach of featuring children.

“Our children are loving it.,” said Rosemarie Richardson, who serves as the program director for the Heart Gallery of Pinellas and Pasco. “They’re enjoying it. It is a trauma informed way for them to feature themselves. They can be expressive. It’s a 3-D piece of art. Some still like to write a poem or letter about themselves, or what kind of family that they’re hoping for, and then others will create a big 3-D piece of art. It’s really exciting,” Richardson continued.

Child advocates describe this new approach as a more effective and stronger introduction to the child, their heart and personality, instead of simply viewing how they look.

“We’ve actually been working on transitioning to what we call Heart Art over the past two years,” Richardson added.

With a record number of children in foster care, it’s been a challenge to find enough safe and loving homes for thousands of children across the state.

“There is still a critical need to keep our sibling groups together that are in out-of-home care, and we really need to identify quality foster parents for our teens,” said Jaclyn Citarella, the community engagement and foster parent recruitment manager for Family Support Services (FSS), the lead child welfare agency in Pinellas and Pasco counties providing foster care and adoption services.

FSS, along with other local agencies, is reaching out to the community and hoping more families and more individuals make the commitment to create safe and loving homes.

“Unfortunately, there are myths still out in our communities, and I don’t think it’s just in Pasco and Pinellas counties,” Citarella said. “I think it’s nationwide. The belief that I can’t foster or adopt a child if I live in an apartment or if I’m a single parent, which is not true. We have empty nesters that are fostering. We have retirees who foster, and we have members of the LGBTQ+ community fostering and adopting families. So, these are just old myths. However, there are age, safety and financial requirements that must be met,” Citarella continued.

John Ballard and Bradley Borsuk adopted their first son from foster care in 2015, but their love for family and children would lead them to adopt four more sons.

“Our journey began with our first son that we adopted at 14 and who is now 21,” said Bradely Borsuk. “Each one of the boys asked us in their own way and in their own time to become their parents,” Borsuk continued.

Ballard and Borsuk also spent several years caring for foster children in their home.

“You have to become an advocate for the children,” said John Ballard. “You have to be their fighter for them. They have fought up until the time they come into your house, and you have to help them. You have to give them the tools to help fight for themselves and give them a voice. Their voice has been taken from them,” Ballard continued.

Nyla Williams oversees adoptions for the Sixth Judicial Circuit covering Pasco and Pinellas Counties, and stresses there are requirements and a screening process.

“We do match the child to the family, not the family to the child, and that means we focus on the needs of the child first,” said Williams, the director of youth wellbeing and clinical support for Family Support Services.

“We’re looking for what’s going to be a long-term, long-standing relationship with the child,” Williams continued.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent or adoptive parent, contact the Florida Department of Children and Families.

For residents living in Pinellas and Pasco Counties, you can also contact Family Support Services.

Hillsborough County residents should notify the Children’s Network of Hillsborough.