Adoption Process

PRE-APPLICATION

If you meet the eligibility requirements, the first step to adopting from Christian Homes & Family Services is to complete and submit a pre-application with a modest processing fee. Please mail your pre-application to P.O. Box 270, Abilene, TX 79604.

Once the pre-application is returned and the references have been verified, you will be asked to attend a two-day Adoption Orientation conducted at least twice per year.

ADOPTION ORIENTATION

So you likely have a laundry list of questions about adoption you would like answered. When you participate in the two-day adoption orientation you’ll get answers to questions such as:

• Why are adoptions open?
• How long will it take?
• What are the legal steps to adopting?
• How much will it cost?
• Do I get to be or have to be in the delivery room?
• Will I choose my baby or will Christian Homes choose for me?

The Orientation agenda also includes a review of all the paperwork — and the state requires a lot of it — needed to complete the adoption process.

For most couples, the highlight of the Orientation is a series of three panel discussions with couples who have adopted, grown children who were adopted and birth parents.

AFTER ORIENTATION

Once you have attended Orientation, the length of time to complete the next step is up to you because it’s determined by how quickly you complete and return the application forms and provide requested documentation. Interviews and home studies are scheduled after the complete application has been submitted. Then the process generally follows this path:

• Office interviews scheduled and completed
• Home visit scheduled and completed
• Dear Birth mother letter, family photos and other outreach information prepared
• Approval letter is mailed to adopting couple
• Couple’s information is posted to the website
• Birth parents choose adoptive couple
• Birth parents and adopting parents meet — most of the time
• Baby’s birth and placement occurs
• Baby goes home with new, forever family
• Each adoption is unique and from time to time the process varies.
• Described above is a typical adoption timeline.