Adoption St. Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg Adoption, Home Studies and More

Adoption Services for
Birth Parents and Adoptive Families

Please choose where you’d like to begin:

Information about placing
a child for adoption
or
Information about adopting a child

If you are interested in information about adoption in St. Petersburg, FL, call Lifetime Adoption Agency. When you contact Lifetime, you will find an adoption coordinator that is kind, caring, and experienced.

Lifetime Adoption has more than three decades of experience connecting birth mothers with loving adoptive families. As nationwide leaders in open, domestic adoption, our coordinators are ready to help. They will provide you with referrals, articles, webinars, one-on-one support, counseling, and much more.

Help for Pregnant Women in St. Petersburg, FL

Facing an unexpected pregnancy in the St. Petersburg area can be stressful. Lifetime Adoption coordinators can explain the adoption process and help you make a plan. Your adoption coordinators will walk you through the entire process and support you.

Lifetime has adoptive families who are financially and emotionally ready for a new baby. You can choose an adoptive family with the lifestyle and values you would like your child raised with. You can also choose how much contact you want with the adoptive family. You will even have a hospital plan that will make sure your stay in the hospital goes just the way you want.

If you are in need of help with your pregnancy expenses, your coordinator can assist with that as well. Birth mothers choosing adoption can receive help with rent, food, transportation, phone, clothes, and more. Your adoption coordinator will explain what resources are available to you!

If you are parenting a toddler, sibling set, or special needs child and feel adoption would be best for you and your child, Lifetime Adoption can help. We have adoptive families ready and approved to adopt sibling sets, toddlers, and special needs children.

We know that call can be hard, but just call or text about our Florida adoption services in St. Petersburg at 1-800-923-6784, and you will find a non-judgmental, kind voice on the other end.

Adoption Agencies in St. Petersburg

Lifetime Adoption Agency coordinators are here to help you place your child for adoption. You can call seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

At Lifetime Adoption, we will provide you with:

Many adoptive parents that all have had background checks and a home study completed.
Continued support after delivery
24-hour help and support
The opportunity for peer and professional counseling
The opportunity for assistance with pregnancy-related costs and expenses
Maternity clothes and other essential items you might need
And much more!

Adoption Counseling in St. Petersburg

Peer and professional are available at no charge through Lifetime Adoption. Adoption is a huge decision, and speaking with a professional counselor can help. Just let your adoption coordinator know you are interested in speaking with a counselor.

One option for counseling is peer counseling. Connecting with another birth mother who has been through the adoption process can be very helpful. Her story may be somewhat different, but she will understand what you are going through. For example, she can share how she told her family and friends and how she dealt with their reactions.

Maternity Hospitals in St. Petersburg

When the time comes to deliver your baby, having a plan is the best way to help ease any nervousness you might have. Your adoption coordinator is happy to help you get a hospital plan made. There are things to think of, such as:

Who would you like to be at the hospital with you?
When you give birth, who would you like to cut the cord?
Who would you prefer hold your baby or feed your baby first?
Do you want the baby to leave the hospital first, or would you like to be discharged first?

Your coordinator will make sure that everyone knows about your plan and wishes.

If you are in St. Petersburg, the hospitals with labor and delivery services are:

Bayfront Baby Place

St Petersburg General Hospital

More Helpful Resources for Pregnant Women in St. Petersburg

When a woman finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she may be struggling with other issues in her life. A Lifetime Adoption coordinator can provide help and resources so she can find the stability she needs to make the right pregnancy decision for herself and her baby. Life can feel overwhelming, so it is critical she makes a decision about adoption from a place of stability and peace, not one of crisis.

If you are facing homelessness or are in a domestic violence situation, it should be a priority to find safe housing. Here are some local resources for women’s shelters in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area:

St. Petersburg Free Clinic

Alpha House of Pinellas County

The WIC Program of Pinellas County is a resource if you are struggling with hunger. Pregnant women or mothers of young children are eligible for the WIC, which stands for Women, Infants, and Children, and provides an EBT card to purchase healthy food such as whole grains, milk, cheese, vegetables, eggs, and fruit. They also have referrals for local services. Learn more by visiting their website:

WIC – in Pinellas County, FL

Many people struggle with addiction, and getting into a treatment program is a brave step in the right direction. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop using drugs if you are pregnant. There are options through treatment centers if you are addicted to prescription drugs or opiates. Find a treatment center that offers counseling along with access to medications (like methadone and suboxone) that will help you slowly wean off the opiates. Here are a few resources in Pinellas County:

WhiteSands Alcohol & Drug Rehab St. Petersburg

Tranquil Shores

If you are looking for other resources, your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will provide confidential help, no matter what issues you are currently dealing with. We can help with pregnancy verification, prenatal care, maternity clothes, rent, transportation, and more. Call or text today.

The St. Petersburg Adoption Process

If you want to find out more about the adoption process, just call or text Lifetime Adoption or fill out the contact form. An adoption coordinator will contact you and provide the information you need to create an adoption plan. In addition, she will talk with you about how open adoption works and ask about any needs or concerns you might have. A Lifetime Adoption coordinator will always be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your coordinator will share how to view online profiles of our adoptive families and send you profiles she thinks you would like. You can view adoptive family letters, video messages, and information so you can get to know who they are. Click here to view adoptive family profiles online.

If you prefer a family that lives in Florida, you can view Florida families, or if you want a family from a different state, you can choose that option as well. Your coordinator will guide you through this process.

If you are in need of pregnancy resources in St. Petersburg, your adoption coordinator will help you connect with them. This may be prenatal care, maternity clothes, or other pregnancy-related expenses that you need help with.

Are you ready to start? Give us a call or text today.

Get In Touch

Other Paths to Adoption in St. Petersburg, FL

For some parents who are unsure if they can parent or not but are not sure adoption is the right choice or not, foster care can be an option. Sometimes, foster care may be mandated by the Florida Department of Children and Families if a baby is born exposed to substances. In these cases, the parent generally does not have a say in who the baby is placed with.

Another option is kinship or relative adoption. If you have a family member who is generally blood-related to the child who would like to adopt, they can petition to do so. This can be a solution, but it can also have some issues. If the relative thinks they are just stepping in for a period of time, it can cause an issue, or there can be boundary issues that need to be addressed.

Only you can decide which option is right for you and your baby.

Adoption in St. Petersburg, FL

Are you interested in adopting a baby in St. Petersburg, Florida? The adoption coordinators at Lifetime Adoption will guide you through this life-changing experience. They are ready to help your adoption dreams come true. Your coordinator will answer all of your questions and explain the entire adoption process. Lifetime Adoption in St. Petersburg focuses on open domestic adoption. Is it time to start your adoption journey today?

The Lifetime Adoption coordinators are dedicated to creating an adoption story that is best for everyone in the adoption triad. If you are interested in adopting a newborn or child up to the age of six in St. Petersburg, contact us at 727-493-0936 to ask any questions. There is a free online adoption application on our website as well as many other resources.

Lifetime will provide you with all the education, resources, referrals, and support needed for a successful adoption journey.

Begin the Adoption Process

“How do we get started?” is probably your next question. Fortunately, getting started is easy. Just fill out our online application. You are not obligated in any way, and to apply is free.

Once you apply and are pre-approved, a Lifetime Adoption coordinator will contact you to answer any questions you have. The entire St. Petersburg adoption process will be explained, and an adoption plan unique to you will be created.

Adoption Attorneys in St. Petersburg

In St. Petersburg, you will need to retain an adoption attorney, even when you are working with an adoption agency. This is because Florida Adoption laws must be followed completely and filed with the courts. Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will be happy to refer an adoption attorney to you in the St. Petersburg area.

Home Study Services in St. Petersburg

Home Study Services are available for adoptive families in the St. Petersburg area. Whether you choose domestic or foster adoption, a home study is required. Lifetime Adoption can provide home study services regardless of if you are using Lifetime for your adoption service. You can get started by filling out our free application for home study services for prospective adoptive families living in Florida.

Your home study will include employment and financial verification, a home visit, background checks, and the state requires mandatory education hours in Florida.

What are the steps you need to take to complete the home study? You will need to gather your required documents, and while this is not the most exciting part of the adoption process, it is necessary. In St. Petersburg, Florida, you will need to round up the following documents:

Five written references from personal friends, co-workers, or anyone that knows you well and can attest to your readiness to be an adoptive parent.
Health statements from a medical professional that show your mental and physical well-being
Financial Statements such as paystubs, tax returns, profit and loss statements
Autobiographical letters that spell out why you are adopting and your beliefs regarding parenting, marriage, and any other hopes and dreams
Background checks – everyone over the age of 12 in the home will need a local, state, and federal background check.

Your home study social worker will also visit your home and interview every adult in the home to gather information on your home environment. This is done to verify that you have a safe place to raise a child.

Education hours are required to complete your adoption. You can access classes, articles, webinars, and podcasts through Lifetime Adoption. Twelve hours of education are required to satisfy the state requirement in Florida.

Finalization of Adoption at Court in St. Petersburg

The finalization of your adoption in the courts is the last step of the adoption.

According to Florida mandates, this will take place no less than 90 days from taking custody of the baby. It will involve a home visit within one week of the placement from your home study social worker. You will then meet with your social worker once a month until three visits have been completed.

The legal paperwork will be filed with the courthouse by your adoption attorney. Then a hearing date will be set. In St. Petersburg, that will be at the Pinellas County Circuit Court. A judge will review all of your adoption documents and the home study. The final decree of adoption will then be issued. You can now celebrate!

Other Paths to Adoption

St. Petersburg International Adoption Agencies

Another path to adoption is international adoption. You may see some stories on the news of orphans in struggling countries and feel the call to help. It is important to consult with an adoption agency that has extensive experience in international adoption. Every country has its own individual laws and requirements to follow, and the current state of affairs can impact the adoption process.

The nations in Africa, China, and Eastern European countries are some of the most popular countries to adopt from internationally. Choose an international adoption agency that has experience with adoption in the country of your choice. Popular agencies that specialize in international adoption are:
Adopt International

Celebrate Children International

Foster Care Adoption

Foster Care Adoption in St. Petersburg

Foster to adopt is another path to adoption. In this instance, you will work with the Florida Department of Children and Families and complete what is needed to qualify as a foster family:

Start and complete the required foster parent education. Have fingerprint-based, criminal background check run to confirm there is no history of child abuse or neglect.
Attend the mandatory foster parent orientation.
Complete your home study to certify your ability to foster in your home.

AdoptUSKids is an additional way to adopt through the foster care system. There are waiting children from Florida and other states. Adoptive families must have a completed their home study and all other requirements the state mandates completely.

Foster care adoption generally involves children with special needs and older children.

Mardie Caldwell

Funding Your Adoption

Called To Adoption

Open Adoption Webinars

Accreditation