Jacksonville, FL – Today, in honor of National Adoption Day, Florida Angels of Adoption is launching to celebrate those who have positively impacted the life of a child who has been adopted.  Formed by Kristin Welch-Scheurer, herself an adoptee, Florida Angels of Adoption accepts nominations from across the state in order to recognize professionals and families that exemplify the positives in adoption experiences and to inspire more families to adopt children.

Florida Angels of Adoption strives to meaningfully reduce the number of children in Florida awaiting adoption by fostering a community where every child finds a loving, permanent home.  To do so, Florida Angels of Adoption aims to recognize and celebrate persons contributing to the successful adoption of children in Florida.

“I want to recognize the people and families that selflessly helped positively impact someone’s adoption story.  Whether it is the loving adoptive parents, the foster parents, the community connectors, the Judge, the social worker, the doctors, the administrators, or any other role that is meaningful to a child,” said Kristin Welch-Scheurer.  “I know there are a lot of adoption stories that do not have happy beginnings and happy endings, but I know a lot of them do and I want to celebrate those individuals helping make a positive difference.”

The inaugural honorees of the Florida Angels of Adoption awards are:

• Honorable Russell S. Roberts, Circuit Judge, is the Florida Angel of Adoption recipient for Judicial Circuit 14. Judge Roberts works around the clock, sometimes on weekends and holidays, to finalize adoptions and celebrate the children, families, and case managers involved.
• Jacy Smith, Adoption Coordinator Supervisor at NWF Health Network, is the Florida Angel of Adoption recipient for Judicial Circuit 1. Smith works at Families First Network in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and facilitated more than 200 adoptions in the 2022-2023 fiscal year alone.
• Melanie Coats, Family Law Attorney, is the Florida Angel of Adoption recipient for Judicial Circuit 2. Coates facilitates more than 50 adoptions every year and participates in Christmas adoptions in the Tallahassee area.
• Juanita White, Adoption Coordinator at Kids Central, is a Florida Angel of Adoption recipient for Judicial Circuit 5. She has dedicated 40 years of her life to serving the most vulnerable children in Florida.  In September 2023 Ms. White retired, but one month later she rejoined the Kids Central team to work part-time, demonstrating her dedication.
• Matthew & Janna Bartoli, foster parents, are a Florida Angel of Adoption recipient for Judicial Circuit 5. In the last decade, the Bartolis have fostered many children and adopted 5, all while raising their biological children.  Bartoli is also a member of the Kids Central Board of Directors.

“If you know someone who has helped shape someone’s adoption story for the better, please go to our website at FloridaAngelsofAdoption.org and tell me more about their story.  I would love to honor and recognize them,” said Scheurer.