 The Process of Foster Care Adoption
Congratulations for considering adoption and foster care. Before a foster or adoptive child can be placed in your home, the State of Texas requires certain steps to be followed. These include:
1. Information & Consultation
You can arrange a private consultation or attend a group information meeting. You will meet child welfare professionals, learn more about the children, the process and have an opportunity to ask all the questions you wish. If you decide to move forward, the next step is to complete an initial application.
2. Application & Training
After submitting an application, you will be scheduled to attend required pre-service training which is designed to equip you with the necessary information, tools and techniques to help you serve the children in care. Families are also required to attend CPR and First-Aid training. There are also a number of required documents we will obtain as we begin your background checks.
3. Home Study
Your home environment will be inspected to pass basic fire and health standards. We will also visit your home and your family to conduct home study interviews. These interviews helps us build your “family resume” which serves as a guide for matching you with the right child(ren).
4. Verification/Certification
Together we will decide how many children and what ages, race and behaviors you feel you can successfully accept into your family. Once all of the requirements are met, you become approved to receive children into your home!
5. Placement
When you are ready to receive placement of a child, we will call you to share their history, needs, and determine whether it is an appropriate match. You are under no obligation to take a child you do not believe is right for your family and in the case of adoption, you will meet the child several times before they come into your home.
Requirements
To become an adoptive or foster parent, you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Be healthy, mature and responsible
- Be financially stable
- Own or rent your own home
- Have appropriate space in your home for a child
- Attend required training
- Consent to various background checks
Responsibilities
Adoptive and Foster families must be willing to:
- Provide daily care and nurturing for children
- Advocate for the children in their schools and community
- Provide a positive role model to birth families
- Help the child(ren) learn life skills
- Meet the child(ren)’s emotional, mental, physical, social, educational and cultural needs according to each child’s developmental age and growth
- Attend ongoing training to learn about children’s needs and how to work with them
- Work with a Treatment Team towards reunifying children with their birth families when appropriate
This process takes time, commitment, and energy, but it's very little when compared to the lasting impact you will make in the life of a child.
If you would like more information, licensed professionals are available to speak with you - don't hesitate to contact us.
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