The Adoptive Family Process

1) You will need an application on file with our agency

If you received a printed adoption packet, an application is included in it.  You may also download an application from our web site under forms.  Complete and return it to our office with your check for the application fee. This will signal your entrance into our program and the first step towards a new baby.

2) You will need a home study

You must have a home study completed prior to being accepted into our program. If you live in Texas and have not identified a home study agency or licensed social worker, call our office.  We perform home studies, but can refer you to a reputable social worker in your area.

If you live out of state, fingerprint cards are required to do a FBI background check. The State of Texas’ adoption standards require that all adoptive families residing outside the state of Texas undergo a FBI background check.  You may have done the same for your home study agency, but Texas requires that we have it done through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. We will mail you the specific type of fingerprint cards required.  You will have your fingerprints put on the cards by the police department or other authorized fingerprinting agency and return the cards to us for processing through TDFPS.

3) You will develop your adoptive family profile

This usually includes a letter of introduction to the birth mother, stories and pictures. This is the tool we use to present your family to our birth mothers, so it needs to be done well.  We recommend double sided pages, but no more than 10 pages in length. It should be bound with spiral wire or similar and have laminated or thick cover paper.  We will need 10 copies and will return all that are not used.

After we have received your home study recommending you for adoption, your criminal background check and child abuse clearances or your FBI background check has been received by us and you have been accepted into our program, you should submit the appropriate Adoptive Family Documents found in our Forms Library.

1. Child Placement Contract signed by both parties
2. Fee schedule signed by both parties
3. Letter of Understanding that has been signed and notarized
4. Adoptive Family Worksheet
5. 10 Profiles for the purpose of matching you with a birth mother
6. Your check for the initial payment of the agency fee (this is found on the Fee Schedule)

Fam2Fam is here to help you through these documents.

4) You are now on our Active Adoptive Parent List
We do not work on a waiting list, only an active list.  When a birth mother meets your criteria as stated in the Adoptive Family Worksheet and you meet her criteria, we will present your profile to her for matching.

5) You are matched with a birth mother

When a birth mother chooses to consider your profile, we like to have you talk on the telephone and begin to determine if this is something which you and the birth mother want to continue.  If you both want to continue with the process, Fam2Fam will schedule a meeting and attend it with you. After the initial meeting, you and your birth mother will continue to develop a relationship prior to the birth of your child.  Be sure to take lots of pictures for your baby’s album.

6) You attend the birth of the baby

You will travel to where you child is being born and in most of our placements, the adoptive family is invited by the birth mother to be in the delivery room.

7) You will take your new infant home from the hospital

After the baby has been released from the hospital and its birth parents have relinquished their parental rights, you may take the child from the hospital.  A Fam2Fam staff member will accompany you.  At that time you will be given documents to sign that will enable your insurance company to cover the child as if you gave birth to her.  If you reside outside the state of Texas, or your child is born in a different state from which you reside, we will complete the Interstate Compact requirements and notify you when you may return home with your child.

8) Post Placement supervision

Fam2Fam will contact your home study agency as well as give you instructions about Texas requirements for post placement reports to be completed during the six (6) months wait before you can finalize your adoption as per Texas legal statute.

9) Finalization of your adoption

Texas has no residency clause in its adoption laws.  If you reside in Texas or even if you reside in another state, you are free to finalize your adoption in Texas after the child has been in your home for 6 months and your post placement supervision has been complete.