Safe Children Coalition seeking additional adoptive families

Each year, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, child welfare organizations and family courts across the U.S. observe National Adoption Day. This event raises awareness for children in foster care who are waiting for permanent families, and is marked by courts across the U.S. finalizing adoptions in special ceremonies.

This year, National Adoption Day took place on November 22; local child welfare agency Safe Children Coalition marked the occasion on November 14. At the Manatee County courthouse, 19 children were legally bonded to their forever families at a celebration that included judges and families from Florida's Circuit 12 / SCC’s three counties of service (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties).

For Manatee County residents Jen and Tony Oteri, both 43, years of trying to have children resulted in heartache, let-downs, and many losses. They decided it was time to find “little souls” out there who needed to be loved.

After exploring the idea of infant adoption, the Oteris decided to look for older children in need of a safe and loving home. Peers recommended Safe Children Coalition (SCC) to pursue this course of action; the Oteris took the required adoption course and received approval of their home.

Almost immediately thereafter, the couple received an email alerting them to brothers in an “at risk” situation. They decided to foster to adopt and, on June 9th of this year, John, 9, and Wyatt, 8, were officially welcomed into their forever home. Jen Oteri notes that it hasn’t always been easy but that it has definitely been worth it.

“Kids with trauma don’t always show it. It might feel like everything is smooth sailing and then – ‘BOOM!’ – there is a complete breakdown. It’s so important not to take it personally and be ready for those moments,” she said. “My advice would be to be open, be observant, be prepared, give your entire heart even when it hurts, and show up – always.”

The top reasons that children may be removed from a home include drug abuse by a parent or caretaker, domestic violence in the home, physical abuse, neglect, inadequate housing, and abandonment. In fiscal year 2025, there were nearly 1,700 children of all ages in Circuit 12, who are not able to safely remain in their homes. SCC's primary goal is always to reunify families once the appropriate authorities have deemed that it is safe and healthy for the child(ren) to return home. In cases where it has been decided that it is not safe for the child(ren) to return home to their birth families, permanent adoptive homes are needed.

As the lead community-based care agency for Florida’s Department of Children and Families for Florida’s Circuit 12, Safe Children Coalition provides the training necessary for families to foster or adopt. In FY25, 171 children, from infants to teens, found their forever homes through SCC's Adoption Program.

To become an adoptive family, potential caretakers must participate in a (free) training and selection program called Adoption Parent Training Class. This involves 24 hours of curriculum (with topics including recognizing and working with grief/trauma, identifying family strengths to help guide finding the right match, parenting techniques to support special needs of children in foster care, and more). There is also a home study as well as a background screening process: all household members must undergo local law, FBI/FDLE and abuse registry clearance to be eligible.

Pre-adoptive parents signed up through SCC can research and seek out children to adopt and are also assisted by the agency through a match-making process when they are a good fit for children who are available for adoption.

Jen Oteri notes that there is a lot of support available to adoptive parents through Safe Children Coalition and encourages those considering opening their hearts and homes to a child or children in need to do it.

“These children need you,” she said. "If you feel it in your heart, it’s for a reason. It may stretch your heart but it also fills it in ways you never imagined."

The next eight-week virtual adoption class – which takes place on Mondays – begins on January 26, 2026. Anyone considering adopting a child or children is encouraged to call SCC’s recruitment line at 941-724-1101 or visit sccfl.org/adopt.

For more about Safe Children Coalition, visit sccfl.org.

About Safe Children Coalition, Inc.
Safe Children Coalition, Inc. (SCC) serves as the lead agency for community-based care for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. SCC is a collaboration between local community agencies who provide services to children and families in need. SCC is committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building community. The core functions provided by SCC include child welfare case management, foster care, adoption, independent living, prevention, diversion, quality management, and support services. Visit sccfl.org or call 941-371-4799.