FLORIDA ADOPTION AGENCY –FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE— HEART TO HEART ADOPTIONS
Financial Assistance for Birth Mothers in Florida
Adoption is completely free for birth mothers in Florida. Heart to Heart Adoptions will also make sure you receive everything that is allowed by law in the way of financial help. This can include help for safe housing, food, access to medical care, even transportation to and from medical appointments and day care for other children you might be parenting while you are at medical appointments.
PREGNANCY SUPPORT OPTIONS
What Pregnancy Support May Include
Every situation is different. Any support provided must follow state laws and is handled carefully, respectfully, and confidentially through licensed professionals.
Housing & Utilities
Rent, mortgage payments, utilities (electric, gas, water), and temporary relocation if your current situation is unsafe or unworkable
Food
Grocery assistance and meal support for you and your other children throughout your pregnancy
Maternity clothing
As your pregnancy progresses
Phone
Help with your monthly phone bill so you can stay connected with your counselor and medical providers
Childcare
Babysitting costs for other children while you are at medical appointments or in the hospital
Other reasonable expenses
Support may include groceries, household items, and other basic needs during pregnancy.
Medical Care
All pregnancy-related medical costs not covered by insurance or Medicaid, including prenatal care and labor and delivery
Transportation Support
Rides to and from all medical appointments, agency meetings, and hospital visits
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- Confidential Support
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- Licensed Agency
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- No Pressure or Obligation
“I was barely scraping by, always running out of cash, but Heart to Heart Adoptions paid my rent and utilities while I was pregnant. I’d have gone crazy without them.”
— Destiny, Orlando, FL
“I was working at a restaurant in Miami Beach and couldn’t keep up with my bills while pregnant. Michelle from Heart to Heart helped me with rent and even helped me find a safer, better apartment.”
— Ashley, Miami Beach, FL
“Jodi even helped me get my AC fixed in my Tampa apartment during the hottest part of summer. I would have died without them.”
— Birth mother, Tampa, FL
Can I get financial help if I am not sure yet about adoption?
Yes. As you continue to decide about what the best direction for you and your baby, you can receive support. This support is designed so that your financial situation doesn’t force a decision on you. As the financial pressure is relieved, you can make decisions in a less stressful environment.
Many women receive help and counseling and some decide to parent rather than place. Regardless of your decision, you owe Heart to Heart Adoptions nothing.
How quickly can I start receiving financial help?
Help can be facilitated within a few days of contacting Heart to Heart Adoptions. If you call and Wendy or Michelle recognize that your situation is urgent or unsafe, we can help very quickly. Call 877-437-3424 right now and tell the counselor what is happening. Urgent situations move faster.
What does 'reasonable living expenses' mean under Florida law?
Florida Statute §63.212 governs what adoption agencies can provide to birth mothers. ‘Reasonable living expenses’ means expenses related to the pregnancy and adoption that the birth mother would not have incurred if she were not pregnant and making an adoption plan. This includes housing, utilities, food, maternity clothing, transportation for medical care, phone costs, and medical expenses.
What Florida law does not allow is payment for placing the baby. You cannot be paid a fee or receive compensation for the adoption itself. What you receive is support, not payment
LEGAL NOTE: Florida Statute §63.212(1)(c) — as amended by SB 1322 (2023), which removed the prior ‘medical needs’ limiting language for post-birth payments. Living expense assistance during pregnancy and for a short time after birth is legally permitted without needing to demonstrate medical necessity.
Does the amount of financial help depend on where in Florida I live?
It doesn’t matter where you live in Florida. The help is the same. But sometimes we pay more on housing or transportation or things like that depending on where you live, because local costs. Miami and Fort Lauderdale housing costs are very different from Jacksonville or Tallahassee. Your counselor will work with your actual situation, not a flat-rate formula
What happens to financial help if I change my mind about adoption?
If you receive support while considering adoption and then you decide that parenting your baby is a better option, you do not pay any thing back. The money or support you received was not a loan. It was not a payment for a baby. The support was so that you could take time to decide what was best for you.
What if I not sure that adoption is right for me and my baby?
If you find yourself takings walks in the Florida heat and wondering if adoption is right for you, know that this is actually what others in your situation do. It’s okay to take your time, To call Michelle again or if you have been working with Sharyn, call her and talk, or just realize that you have the right to make up your own mind.
Answers to your questions
Does adoption cost money for birth mothers in Florida?
No. Adoption is always free for birth mothers. Heart to Heart Adoptions covers all legal services, counseling, case management, and medical care coordination at no cost. All fees are paid by the adoptive family.
Can I get help with rent while I am pregnant and considering adoption?
Yes. Heart to Heart can help with rent and utility costs during pregnancy. This help begins as soon as you reach out and is available whether or not you have made a final adoption decision.
Choosing an Adoptive Family
As a birthmother, you have the opportunity to decide what you want in an adoptive family. You can tell us what is important to you and we will go through the hundreds of potential adoptive families and fine those that fit your desires. You can look through their family profiles. If you want, we can help you meet on a phone call or what feels comfortable to you. You can ask them whatever you want and you can meet as many as you want. This is your decision.
What medical costs does Heart to Heart cover for birth mothers in Florida?
Heart to Heart covers pregnancy-related medical costs not covered by your insurance or Medicaid, including prenatal appointments, labor and delivery, and any other pregnancy-related medical care you need.
Is the financial assistance from Heart to Heart a loan I have to pay back?
No. Financial assistance for birth mothers is never a loan. It is support, not debt. If you decide not to place your baby for adoption, you do not owe anything.
Can I receive help with transportation to medical appointments?
Yes. Transportation to and from all medical appointments, agency meetings, and hospital visits is covered
Can Heart to Heart help me find safer housing if my current situation is dangerous?
Yes. If your current living situation is unsafe, Heart to Heart can help you find and pay for alternative housing. Call 877-437-3424 and tell your counselor what is happening.
Do I get paid for placing my baby for adoption?
No. Florida law does not allow payment for placing a baby for adoption. What you can receive is help with legitimate pregnancy-related living expenses. You can receive support, but babies are not for sale. You can’t receive compensation for a child.
How is financial assistance different from agency fees?
Agency fees are what the adoptive family pays Heart to Heart for the full adoption service. Financial assistance is a different thing. and is not connected. You can have pregnancy-related support. The agency fees are to help pay for those who are there as qualified support.
Can I get help with food for myself and my other children?
Yes. Grocery assistance and meal support for you and your other children throughout your pregnancy are covered.
What if my financial situation is an emergency right now?
Call 877-437-3424 right now. Counselors are available 24/7. Tell the counselor your situation is urgent. Emergency situations are prioritized.
Does it matter what city in Florida I live in to receive financial help?
No. Financial assistance is available to birth mothers throughout Florida. The amount may reflect local costs, but the support program is statewide.
How soon after I call can I start receiving financial help?
Usually within days of your first conversation. Urgent situations move faster.
We're Here for You
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to talk, our compassionate team is here to listen and support you—without pressure or judgment.
You don't have to do this alone.
We're here to walk beside you—every step of the way.
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801-563-1000
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