Adopting a Foster Child

FOSTER adoption

Gladney’s New Beginnings connects adoptive families with children in the foster care system who are ready for adoption. Gladney recruits, prepares, and supports families ready to provide permanent, loving homes for children— most often over the age of eight— who have experiences abuse, neglect, or trauma.

GLADNEY SUPPORTS FAMILIES

THE NEED FOR FAMILIES

Ensures families are supported through every step of their adoption journey. Our comprehensive services extend beyond typical post-adoption care and provide extensive pre- and post-adoption support, including:

• In-Person Trauma-Informed Training
• Adoptive Parent Support Groups
• Family Mentorship
• On-Site & Virtual Counseling Services
• Ongoing Caseworker Support & Advocacy
• Respite Care
• Free, Lifelong Clinical Services
• Camp Forge
• Free Gladney University Trainings

THE NEED FOR FAMILIES

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN THE TEXAS FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WAITING TO BE ADOPTED

At Gladney, we believe that all children deserve the love and care of a forever family. Gladney’s New Beginnings program serves families who share this belief and are able to open their hearts and homes to a child or children currently in state foster care, who are eligible for adoption. This program is adoption-focused; these children are ready for a new beginning in a forever family. These children are:

• Eight years and older
• Sibling groups
• Medically challenged

our training

People who are adopting children through Gladney’s New Beginnings State Adoption Program are required to attend training.

The New Beginnings Pathways Training is a required course for parents who wish to adopt a child from the state foster care system. This three day competency-based program is designed to prepare prospective adoptive parents for the challenges of parenting children that have experienced past trauma. The training covers parent and child attachments, developmental needs, behavior interventions, the effects of abuse and neglect, discipline techniques, separation grief and loss, family relations, agency relations, child safety, and CPR/First Aid.

Gladney offers the New Beginnings course six times a year, and each adoptive parent must attend. 

This training is by invitation only.

our Process

1. Attend a free virtual Information Session

Attending a free virtual information session is the first step in starting your adoption journey with the Gladney Center for Adoption. Please select a date that fits your schedule and register today online.

2. Fill out a pre-application form

We review new applications weekly and invite families into the program who are most likely to complete a timely, successful adoption.

3. Complete your application and home study

We’ll help you complete the application process, which includes background checks, paperwork, personal references, medical history and a home study.

4. Attend parent-training courses

Key to the New Beginnings process, our training courses will help prepare you to bring an older child/children into your home. The state requires extensive training for families adopting from foster care. Gladney offers the training 4-6 times a year in a concentrated program to make it more convenient for our families. 

5. Receive a match

Child Protective Services selects the Forever Family for each child. You will review the child’s case file and meet with Child Protective Services (CPS), Child Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and others on the child’s team to discuss it. After reviewing all available information about the child, you give your formal “yes” to adopting the child. The CPS worker will tell the child about you and show the child your photo book.

6. Meet your Child and finalize your adoption

Once you match with a child or sibling group, you’ll be giving the opportunity to meet your child/ren and start getting to know them.  That is often a series of visits as you get to know each other and start building a relationship, but a plan will be tailored to meet the child/ren’s needs.

Some Common Questions

Can we meet with the New Beginnings staff at any of the Gladney Offices?

All of the casework for this adoption program is handled from Gladney’s main location in Fort Worth, Texas.

If we don’t live in Texas, can we still work in this adoption program?

Gladney’s New Beginning program can serve eligible families who live in any of our licensed states that include: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri.

How much does the New Beginnings program cost?

Adopting a child in the state foster system does not require any agency or state fees. Families who live outside of Texas and Oklahoma will need to pay a home study fee. In addition, states may provide a monthly stipend and college tuition for these adopted children, and Medicaid pays for their medical expenses.

Can we adopt an infant?

Most children available for adoption through this program are 7 years and up. This is because children are in foster care on average for a total of 15–21 months before they are even available for adoption.

Can I adopt a single child from foster care?

Yes, although there are more sibling groups in foster care that are awaiting adoption than individual children.

Financial Info

Adoption Tax Credit – Individuals adopting a child through the state program are eligible to claim the adoption tax credit upon finalization of their adoption even though no adoption fees are paid by the family. Learn more by going to the IRS website at www.irs.gov. Contact your tax specialist to determine whether you qualify. 

Post-Adoption Services

To learn more about adopting from Gladney’s New Beginnings Adoption Program, please sign up for a free virtual Information Session or call 817-922-6000.