[sneall]

Hi, Wanted to ask if anyone out there has adopted thru the state of Texas? Just courious on how long the process took etc. Our home study has been complete since Sept and we have heard nothing? Knowing that Nov. is Adoption Month I was hopeful that we would have heard something. i am under the impression that there are 5600 children waiting in Texas? We are thinking about moving away from this route and signing with a private agency.
Any feed back would be appreciated. Thanks Stacie
http://stacieandgraham.hopetoadopt.com

[SLKing]

Stacie,
Good luck with your adoption. I haven't adopted through the State of Texas, but thought you might be able to give me some help. I need to have a home study done in Texas and I'm not sure where to start. The list of licensed social workers is huge. Any advice? - Linda

[sneall]

Linda, I may be able to help you. What city are you in? I have contacts in austin and Houston. Let me know.
stacie
http://stacieandgraham.hopetoadopt.com

[SLKing]

Stacie,
I am in Fort Worth. Any suggestions? Linda

[lucyjoy]

There are a lot of Texas kids listed on the web. Start calling about them. Check in with your worker a lot. You have to be proactive as the state workers get terribly over loaded. I know it seams like a long wait, but in most states, the system moves pretty slow. If your not politely bugging your worker, you get missed. Give it a little more time.

[jenna202]

I am currently adopting my daughter through the state of TX. I was on the waiting list for 4 months before we got her, but I was open to foster- adopt (which is what we're doing with my daughter), any race, up to age 4, with a certain number of background and developmental issues. My agency, Casey Family Programs, told me that couples waiting for white infants can expect to wait 2 to 5 years. And even if you want an infant of another race, it's a long wait. The only 'quick' state adoptions are if you want a minority sibling group, and you can handle developmental and medical issues. Other than that, it's a wait. If you've only been waiting since September, that's not long at all. You just have to have patience, and know that your child(ren) is out there. It's just a matter of time.
If you are wanting an infant, it would be best to work with an agency, OR to agree to foster an infant. You run the risk of them going back to the birth family, but your odds of adopting an infant go up dramatically if you foster. I know quite a bit about this, if you want to email me privately - jenniferdanvers@yahoo.com.

[sneall]

Hi Linda, Sorry this response took me awhile-tis the season! No I am sorry but I do not have a personal referral for a home study. But I did look in the Austin phone book and found Sandra Carlson, over 20 yrs exp in home studies-her number is 800-266-5004. Good luck!
Stacie
http://stacieandgraham.hopetoadopt.com

[SLKing]

Stacie,
Thank you. Good luck on your adoption, and I hope you hear something soon. Hope your holidays are wonderful!
Linda

[sneall]

Linda-your welcomed. Hope all goes well for you. Our home study was great. Even though she was here for 5 hrs! I was pretty stressed before hand-but quickly got over it.
A question for you-hope I have not already asked this one-I am full of questions these days! Do you know of any good-preferably small agencies in Texas? Do not want to use any of the big ones.
Thinking about changing directions a bit after the first of the year.
Thanks-Stacie
http://stacieandgraham.hopetoadopt.com

[SLKing]

Stacie,
I'm sorry I do not know a good agency in Texas. We are adopting a baby from a relative. We are very excited, but also somewhat concerned about the family aspect. We will see the birth parents several times a year at family gatherings.

You take care! If you have time, write and let me know your progress.
Linda

Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services has started a program with the state to place foster children, to my knowledge they are one of the only private agencies to be working with the state. We did an adoption through their infant program and it was wonderful. They are a large agency, but give you one on one service, always return phone calls and email, and they are reasonably priced. We were placed within 7 months and plan on adopting our third child through them in a couple of years. I have heard good things about Abrazo's in San Antonio also, but I don't know alot about them. Buckner's web site is www.buckner.org The dirctor of their domestic program is Adela Jones, she is GREAT! One note though, they only work with active Christian families.

[texasislander]

Check out the Depelchin Childrens' Center in Houston. We have worked with them for the adoption of our two daughters and are planning to adopt one more this coming year. Many of their children are in CPS custody but they also handle a few infant adoptions each year. The CPS adoptions and homestudies are free of charge and the infant adoption fees are on a sliding scale based on family income.

http://www. depelchin.org

[Lisaadopt]

I am currently adopting 4 children through CPS. It is such a wonderful experience. The kids SW is wonderful! I have heard story after story of horrible experiences with CPS..but all I can say is that my experience with CPS has been wonderful. Ther are a lot of children up for adoption, but what most people don't know is that to adopt children you need to foster them first. Most of the kids up for adopt get adopted through the foster care system... much of Luck, Lisa

[lucyjoy]

I never fostered before I adopted through DFS(or CPS depending on the state). I adopted two single children and a sib group of three through the state.

[sonadora]

You should check out www.marywood.org.
Marywood is a small agency in Austin, TX that has been around for quite a while and currently contracts with CPS for foster care and adoptions.