What are the eligibility requirements for adoptive parents in Texas?

Basic Eligibility Criteria

At the Law Office of Dana Baker, we believe every child deserves a nurturing home. Prospective foster and adoptive parents, whether single or married, must:

• Be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature individuals.
• Complete an application form with the option of staff assistance.
• Provide information about their background and lifestyle.
• Submit both relative and non-relative references.
• Present proof of marital status, including marriage and/or divorce certificates, if applicable.
• Consent to a home evaluation, which involves visits with all household members.
• Authorize staff to conduct a criminal history and abuse/neglect background check on all adult household members.
• Participate in complimentary training sessions that address the needs of abused and neglected children.
• This training also serves as a mutual evaluation period for the family and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) to decide whether foster care or adoption is the most suitable path. Families have the liberty to withdraw from the program at any stage without any financial implications. Training is conducted jointly for both foster and adoptive parent applicants.

Additional Requirements for Foster Care

Beyond the fundamental prerequisites, foster parents are expected to:

• Ensure adequate sleeping arrangements for each child.
• Maintain a household size of no more than six children, including their own and those under day care.
• Adhere to a strict non-physical discipline policy.
• Undergo home inspections for fire, health, and safety compliance.
• Ensure all household pets are vaccinated.
• Acquire and keep current on CPR/First Aid Certification.
• Comply with local Health Department mandates for TB testing for all household members.
• Attend yearly training sessions as mandated by their Child Placing Agency.
• Foster and Adoptive Family Obligations

Foster Parents are responsible for:

• Providing daily care and support to foster children.
• Advocating for the children in educational and community settings.
• Keeping the children’s caseworkers informed about any significant changes or incidents.
• Collaborating with caseworkers to work towards reuniting foster children with their biological families.
• Serving as positive role models for the biological families.
• Teaching life skills to the children in their care.

Adoptive Parents commit to:

• Offering a permanent home and lifelong support to adopted children.
• Addressing both immediate and future needs of the children.
• Catering to the emotional, mental, physical, social, educational, and cultural requirements of the children, tailored to their developmental stages.
• Potential certification as a foster family to accept children not legally cleared for adoption but are on a path towards it.
• Fostering with Intent to Adopt

Many families are open to both fostering and adopting, prioritizing the needs of the children above all. This often involves preparing the children for a possible reunification with their biological families, mentoring the biological parents, or facilitating a placement with relatives or kin. If the termination of parental rights is deemed in the best interest of the children and adoption becomes their plan, foster parents who have been caring for the children will be given priority for adoption. This dual certification approach streamlines the placement process, minimizes the number of transitions a child must endure, and fosters relationship continuity from the onset. Nearly half of the adoptions within the DFPS foster care system are by the foster families themselves.

Adoptive Families Providing Foster Care

Indeed, adoptive families willing to take in children who are not yet legally free for adoption but are on a trajectory towards it are encouraged to obtain foster family certification. This dual certification broadens the scope for successful adoptions. In certain regions, a “buddy system” is established where seasoned foster families share their insights and support with newcomers to foster parenting, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards it brings.

For further assistance or inquiries, please contact the Law Office of Dana Baker at 979-310-5507.