Adoption Through Covenant Kids

Covenant Kids is a licensed contract provider for adoption services with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS), formerly the Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services (TDPRS). Covenant Kids completes “special needs adoptions” for children who have been removed from their family due to abuse or neglect and are not able to return to their biological families.

A Covenant Kids Adoption Case Manager works closely with all families who are interested in adopting. Adoption-motivated families are encouraged to create a “life book” or short photo album about themselves, their home, their interests, etc. that the Case Manager will provide to CPS to acquaint them with the family.

Families who are or may be interested in adopting may be verified as a foster-to-adopt family or may choose to be verified only for adoptions.

Foster-to-Adopt

These families are interested in adopting a child or children and are also verified as therapeutic foster families through Covenant Kids. Covenant Kids works closely with CPS and the family and attempts to place children in their home who have a high likelihood of becoming free for adoption. Because the child's case is still in progress at this point, there is no guarantee that the child will actually be adoptable. However, if the child is not able to return to his/her biological family and suitable relatives are not located, the foster family is likely to be able to adopt the child. A foster-to-adopt family receives the daily reimbursement rate for the child during the time when the child is in foster care. This method of adopting special needs children typically provides a better chance at adopting a younger child.

Adoption Only

These families are not interested in providing foster care, but would like to make one or more children a permanent part of their family. These families are verified through Covenant Kids as an Adoptive Family. This family will not receive a child into their home until he/she is free for adoption, and the family will not receive the daily foster care reimbursement rate for the child. There are two ways that adoptable children can be identified for a home. The family can search on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/Children_Waiting_For_Adoption) and contact Covenant Kids with any children that they are interested in. Also, Covenant Kids advocates on behalf of the family with CPS to locate children who match the family's criteria. In both cases, Covenant Kids communicates with CPS regarding the family's interest in the children and submits the family's home study and life book to the CPS worker. The decision is then with CPS to determine the most appropriate family for each child.

This method of adopting special needs children often provides a better chance of successfully adopting a child placed in the home. However, because this process cannot begin until the child's parental rights have been terminated and other options have been eliminated, the children are typically at least 1 year old when they become free for adoption.

Adoption Process

1. Initial Verification:

•  Family completes required training, paperwork and makes a family "life book" about themselves, their home, and significant people in their lives.

•  A home study is conducted to learn more about the family.

•  Family is verified by Covenant Kids.

2. CPS and Covenant Kids make the determination that a child may fit in the home.

3. Visits between the family and the child begin.

4. Placement occurs and papers are signed to mark the move from foster care to adoption.

5. For at least the next six months, the child is placed as an adoptive placement in the family's home. The Covenant Kids Case Manager visits the family and child to help with the adjustment.

6. The adoption is legally finalized!

Cost

Covenant Kids does not charge families to complete an adoption. However, the family is responsible for the attorney and court fees associated with finalizing the adoption (typically between $500 and $1,000). Covenant Kids will assist the family in locating pro bono attorneys, when possible. If the child qualifies for an adoption subsidy through the state and/or federal government, the attorney and court fees can be reimbursed as part of the subsidy.

Subsidies

Adoption subsidy money from the state and/or federal government is available for some adoptions. The subsidies can consist of a monthly payment of up to $545, continued Medicaid coverage until the child turns 18, assistance with legal fees, and free tuition to a state-funded college, university or vocational academy. Covenant Kids assists all adoptive parents in applying for the subsidies, however, subsidy workers through CPS determine the outcome of all subsidy applications.

The child must qualify as a “special needs adoption” to receive the subsidy funding, by meeting one or more of the following requirements:

•  Child is at least 6 years old, or child is at least 2 years old and is a member of a minority group

•  Child is being adopted as part of a sibling group

•  Child has a verifiable physical, mental, or emotional handicapping condition that has been diagnosed by a qualified professional

Covenant Kids will provide more detailed information at the time of adoption.

This information is merely a guideline and should not be considered legal advice or approval or disapproval of subsidy funds for a child.

Post Adoption Services

Post adoption services are available to any family who has legally finalized the adoption of a child under 18 who was in the custody of TDFPS. TDFPS views adoption as a lifelong process and provides post adoption services through providers in the community. An adoptive family may not need specific services at the time of finalization, but they should become familiar with post adoption services, should they need them in the future. Enrolling in post adoption services will ensure the adoptive family's name going on the post adoption mailing list for on-going training on adoption issues, support group activities, and other social events.

Post adoption services may include the following: Information and referral, Casework and service planning, Parent education and support groups, Counseling, Respite care, Day treatment, Residential placement services, 24-hour crisis intervention, and Therapeutic camps.