Adoption, a forever family.
Thank you for your interest in becoming an adoptive parent in Lubbock, Texas and surrounding areas. You have several options when choices what adoption agency to work with, through the entire adoption process. Whether it’s any private adoption agency or Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).
Below you will find information about Adoption as well as Requirements and FAQ information.
Adoption
Step 1: Choose an Agency
First you want to choose an local area agency that best suits your families needs. There are many great organizations to work with that will guide and handle your case threw the entire adoption process. Click links below to find out more about each local agency:
- Arrow Family Ministries
- Buckner Family Services
- Children’s Connection, Inc.
- Children’s Hope
- The Children’s Home of Lubbock
- DePelchin Children’s Center
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
- Lubbock Area Foster Parent Association
- Special Delivery Infant Adoption Agency
- Texas Boy Ranch
- The Bair Foundation
- Upbring
Step 2: Information Meetings
After choosing the agency of your choice, you will need to attend an information meeting. Click on Calendar below for meeting times and dates.
At these meetings, they will discuss the scope and requirements of being a foster or adoptive parent and give you basic information and answer any questions you have.
Preparation & Selection
If you can meet the basic requirements, you are invited to meet with staff to decide if fostering or adopting is right for your family. You will also be assessed by staff. This process furnishes you with information about the agency and the children who come into the foster care system.
Requirements
Basic Requirments
Additional Foster Care Requirements
Additional Foster Care Requirements
In addition to the basic requirements, foster parents must:
- have adequate sleeping space.
- allow no more than 6 children in the home including your own children or children for whom you provide day care.
- agree to a nonphysical discipline policy.
- permit fire, health and safety inspections of the home.
- vaccinate all pets.
- obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification.
- obtain TB testing as required by the local Health Department for household members.
- attend 20 hours or more of training each year.
Responsibilities of Adoptive and Foster Families
Responsibilities of Adoptive and Foster Families
Adoptive Parents:
- provide permanent homes and a lifelong commitment to children into adulthood;
- provide for the short-term and long-term needs of children;
- provide for children’s emotional, mental, physical, social, educational, and cultural needs, according to each child’s developmental age and growth;
- may become certified as a foster family and accept children who are not legally free for adoption, but whose permanency plan is adoption.
Foster Parents:
- provide daily care and nurturing of children in foster care;
- advocate for children in their schools and communities;
- inform the children’s caseworkers about adjustments to the home, school, and community, as well as any problems that may arise, including any serious illnesses, accidents, or serious occurrences involving the foster children or their own families;
- make efforts as team members with children’s caseworkers towards reunifying children with their birth families;
- provide a positive role model to birth families and
- help children learn life skills.
Training
Training and Class times may vary slightly from agency to agency, See links above to each agency to find which one may best suits your family’s needs.
Training Schedule
Every Agency has their own Information Meeting times. Please see calendar for upcoming meetings or click on the event link for All events and meetings.
Training Calendar
Upcoming Events
Little or No Cost
Adopting from the U.S. foster care system is generally the least expensive type of adoption, usually involving little or no cost, and states often provide adoption subsidies to adoptive parents to help with the expenses of raising a child.
Stepparent and kinship adoptions are also generally not very costly.
Additional Cost Resources
Defray cost for children with special needs
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has an adoption assistance program to help defray some of the costs associated with adoption of a child with special needs. The criteria:
- The child is at least six years old;
- the child is at least two years old and a member of a minority group.
- the child is being adopted with a sibling or to join a sibling;
- the child has a verifiable physical, mental, or emotional handicapping condition.
If the child meets the above special needs definition, they may also qualify for insurance and assistance with legal fees.
*The Texas Legislature passed a law in 2009 that provides ALL children adopted from foster care a state supported college tuition and fee waiver, including those who are not special needs.
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