As we discussed in a recent article, second-parent adoptions are gaining attention as the way families are formed continues to evolve. For people who want to become parents and aren’t able to conceive, there’s an alternative that makes a world of difference: adopting a foster child.
We were intrigued by a recent Spectrum News story that talked about foster adoptions in Texas. The statistics are pretty startling; the report noted, “According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, there were 16,475 children in Texas removed from their homes as a result of abuse or neglect” during the department’s 2020 fiscal year.
As of Sept. 30, there were nearly 3,000 children waiting to be permanently adopted. While the state’s foster system has previously been able to help facilitate meetings between prospective adoptive parents and children, that’s been limited this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
One 16-year-old in the foster system interviewed for the story, Brian Warren, had caseworkers create an online profile for him, but he was able to find a home before that launched. Thanks to a Facebook post from the people who adopted his twin siblings, Brian was able to find his new family.
The story described several coronavirus-related hurdles that Brian’s new parents had to clear to adopt him, including hiring a fireman to do the CPR and first aid training required by the state for the adoption to take place. But they persevered, and as Spectrum News tells it, the family is happy.
Adoption is a legal process with specific elements outlined in the Texas Family Code. If you’re interested in adopting a foster child, the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange can supplement information from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.
But if you want to talk through all the legal ramifications of making this move, the Law Office of Lisa A. Vance is happy to do a consultation with you to go over the basics. Every family is different, and you want to make sure you’re fully equipped to move forward with a big step like adoption before you do it.