FAQ

Can Foster Families Adopt?

Yes! Many families are interested in both fostering and adopting. They agree with the agency that the children’s needs come first. In most cases, this means helping prepare children for reunification with their birth family, mentoring the birth parents, or working toward a relative or kinship placement.

When termination of parental rights is in the children’s best interest and adoption is their plan, then foster parents who have cared for the children will be given the opportunity to adopt. Dual certification of parents to both foster and adopt speeds up the placement process, reduces the number of moves a child makes, and allows relationships to evolve with the initial placement process. Nearly half the adoptions of children in DFPS foster care are by their foster families.

Can adoptive families provide foster care?
Yes! Adoptive families who are willing to accept placement of children who are not yet legally free for adoption but have a plan for adoption can also become certified as foster families. This dual certification increases the opportunities for successful adoptions. In some areas of the state, a “buddy system” has been developed in which experienced foster families, who understand the challenges and rewards of foster parenting, are available to share experiences with new families and give support.

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.

 Do you need additional help and Resources:
Help with getting childrens clothes or other items: Caleb’s Closet
Special events for kids in the foster care system:One Heart, xyz

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:

1. The child is at least six years old;
2. the child is at least two years old and a member of a minority group.
3. the child is being adopted with a sibling or to join a sibling; 
4. 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.

Your first step: Visit your State Adoption Website for information on how to start the process to become a foster or adoptive family. Texas can only place children with families from other states if they have a current home study. You may also visit the national website at www.AdoptUSKids.org.
Note: U.S. families approved to adopt within their state and who have a current home study may fill out the interest form directly on the child’s photo/profile page.