Children’s Network of Hillsborough County: Growing Families Through Adoption Across the Tampa Bay Area

Every child deserves to thrive in a loving home, and as the lead agency charged with administering the child welfare system in Hillsborough County, the Children’s Network of Hillsborough County (CNHC) has been connecting kids with families, leading to more than 1,200 adoptions since July 2022.

A Strong Foundation

With child welfare at the core of the CNHC, the network partners with more than 70 community organizations all across the Tampa Bay region, including mental health professionals and business leaders.

By strengthening its system of care, the CNHC is consistently innovating pathways for a more responsive, coordinated and prevention-focused child welfare system.

Passport to Adoption Day: The Adventure Continues

 For their second year in a row, the CNHC, along with legislative leaders and the Junior League of Tampa Bay, came together at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to recognize National Adoption Day.

“We fostered a partnership with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay that allowed us to host our event here, creating a better experience for the families, because before this, it was at the courthouse,” Stuckey says.

The adoption festivities included breakfast for the families, provided by the Junior League of Tampa Bay, and a heartwarming story from Joel and Cesar Cruz, who are now loving parents to three children with the help of Children’s Network of Hillsborough County.

“This is the largest event that we’ve had here, and we’re so excited about that,” said Rosaline Stuckey, Director of Adoptions at Children’s Network of Hillsborough. “It has been a culmination of efforts between the Children’s Network adoption staff, with the support of our community partners and case management organizations, to make all of this possible.”

To recognize the network’s impact and commitment to finding every child a loving home, a special proclamation was made by the Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough County, declaring Nov. 14, 2025, as National Adoption Day.

This celebration, proclamation and its official proceedings, held on Nov. 14, finalized adoptions for 52 children, including 10 sibling groups, marking the largest Adoption Day event for the network. But the helping hands and loving support didn’t stop there.

After each official proceeding, the families were encouraged to visit booths from local post-adoption support providers in the pavilion, like Camelot Adoption Support and the Sylvia Thomas Center. “This helped remind these new families that we’re here if you need anything,” says Stuckey. Because every child deserves to thrive in a loving home.

For more information about the Children’s Network of Hillsborough County or for adoption support, visit childrensnetworkhillsborough.org.

Presented by: The Children's Network of Hillsborough County | Photo Credits: Ralf Gonzalez