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DFPS Adoption Support Programs

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Adoption Support Services

Adopted children who have suffered abuse or neglect often need help coping with the effects of abuse and the loss of their birth family.

DFPS contracts with private agencies to provide post adoption services to adopted children and their families, including:

  • case management/service planning,
  • mental health,
  • therapeutic services to children and families,
  • parent training,
  • support groups, and
  • respite care for adoptive parents.

Adoption support is available to many families who adopt certain children with special needs to offset some of the costs of supporting and legally adopting and supporting these children. Assistance is available to help with the child's medical and financial needs.

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Eligibility

The child and placement must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive adoption assistance.

  • At the time of the adoptive placement the child must have been 6 years of age or older,
  • 2 years of age or older and
  • a member of a minority group, member of a sibling group being placed together for adoption or
  • have a diagnosed handicapping condition,
  • member of a sibling group or joining a sibling in adoption.

The adoption assistance agreement must be entered into and signed before the adoption is legally complete. You will want to discuss all the eligibility and application requirements with your adoption agency.

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Who can get assistance?

Assistance is available to both children in the care of the state and certain children in the care of private, nonprofit licensed adoption agencies.

In addition, some adoptive families may be eligible for federal income tax credits that help offset the cost of adoption. Check with IRS or your tax advisor to see if your adoption qualifies.

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Reimbursement Program

The non-recurring adoption expenses program provides a one-time payment to reimburse adoptive families for some of the costs of legally adopting children with special needs. A family's expenses may be covered as much as $1,500 for each child with special needs. Receipts are necessary to determine reimbursement. Reimbursement is only made after the adoption is completed by the court. There are other eligibility requirements, so you will want to discuss the criteria with your adoption agency.

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Post-adoption Services

Post-adoption services are available to families of children adopted through DFPS and for families receiving Title IV-E and state-paid adoption subsidies from DFPS. After consummation of the adoption, services are provided through contracts to help the child and family

  • adjust to the adoption,
  • cope with any history of abuse of the child, and
  • avoid permanent or long-term removal of children from the adoptive family setting.

Available services include information and referral; casework services and service planning; parent groups; parenting programs; counseling services; respite care; residential placement services in critical need situations; and crisis intervention. Availability of services is dependent on funding and the individual child and family situation.

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Regional Contacts

In which region is my county located?

Map of Texas showing DFPS regions
Region 1 Offices Region 2 Offices Region 3 Offices Region 4 Offices Region 5 Offices Region 6 Offices Region 7 Offices Region 8 Offices Region 9 Offices Region 10 Offices Region 11 Offices

Lubbock Region / Region 1

Kathy Justus
806-367-2982
Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Dallam, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley.Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, King, Lipscomb, Lynn, Moore. Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, and Yoakum counties		 Patty Wells
806-368-2611
Bailey, Crosby, Deaf Smith, Lamb, and Lubbock counties 		Jeannie Stephenson
806-742-9450
Potter and Randall counties

 

Abilene Region / Region 2

Charles Booz
325-691-8161

Arlington Region / Region 3

If your child's last name begins A-E, L O,Q,U-V & X-Z
Darlene Steinke
214-331-7700 ext. 3055		 If your child's last name begins with F-K & N & W
Lakisha Coleman
214-331-7700 ext. 3049		 If your child's last name begins with L,M,P,T
Barbara Gaddis
214-331-7700 ext. 3037

Tyler Region / Region 4

Betty Moseby
936-569-5302

Beaumont Region / Region 5

Betty Moseby
936-569-5302

Houston Region / Region 6

If your child's last name begins with A-6
Barbara Howard
713-394-4120 		If your child's last name begins with H-O
Beverly Yates
713-394-4169
 If your child's last name begins with P-Z
Nora Hamilton
713-394-4106

Austin Region / Region 7

If your child's last name begins with A-L
Ivette Santos
254-939-4290		 If your child's last name begins with M-Z
Joyce Welch
254-939-4291

San Antonio Region / Region 8

If your child's last name begins with A-K
Maria Longoria
210-337-3375		 If your child's last name begins with Gonzalez-Patnoe
Dona Westerman
210-337-3067		 If your child's last name begins with Patrick-Z
Ruth Riojas
210-337-3172

Midland/Odessa Region / Region 9

Charles Booz
325-691-8161

El Paso Region / Region 10

Irene Mijares
915-521-3739

Edinburg Region / Region 11

Mary E Lopez
361-878-3458

 

Post-adoption Services Providers

REGIONS 1, 2, 7, 9, 10 - LUBBOCK, ABILENE, AUSTIN, MIDLAND/ODESSA, EL PASO AREAS

Centers for Children and Families
1004 N. Big Spring Str., Ste. 325
Midland, TX 79701
(432) 570-1084

REGIONS 3, 4, 11 - ARLINGTON, TYLER/PARIS, CORPUS CHRISTI/EDINBURG AREAS

Spaulding for Children
8582 Katy Freeway, Ste 100
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 681-6991, ext. 108

REGION 5 - BEAUMONT/LUFKIN AREAS

DePelchin Children’s Center
4950 Memorial Dr.
Houston, TX 77007
(888) 730-2335

REGION 6 - HOUSTON AREA

Depelchin Children’s Center
4950 Memorial Dr.
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 802-3897
(888) 730-2335

Spaulding for Children
8582 Katy Freeway, Ste. 100
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 681-6991 Ext. 108

REGION 8 - SAN ANTONIO AREA

Family Counseling Services
1635 N.E. Loop 410, Ste. 501
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 821-5980