10 Fascinating Facts About Adopting Through Foster Care

Since I was not adoption-minded when I started fostering it wasn’t until I had my boys over a year (and decided to adopt them) that I learned so many wonderful benefits of adopting through foster care! Here are the fascinating facts about adopting through foster care in Texas.

1. Adoption through foster care is FREE if your foster child meets ONE of these requirements (this qualifies them for Adoption Assistance which includes many of the items listed further down):
   • 6 years of age or older
   • 2 years of age or older and a member of a minority group
   • Have a diagnosed handicapping condition
   • Member of a sibling group or joining a sibling in adoption
2. All legal expenses for the adoption are reimbursed. In fact, the state essentially paid ME to adopt! Read on….
3. I “hired” an adoption lawyer to handle all of the legal paperwork, but the lawyer is essentially provided for me. I chose someone who directly bills the State so I paid absolutely nothing, no reimbursements needed.
4. I get the honor of changing their names, if desired. Just like you chose the names of your kids, I got to do the same! I decided to slightly alter one of their first names, gave them new middle names, and of course their last name changed to mine.
5. They are issued new birth certificates with their new names and only me listed as the parent. Talk about a whole new identity!!
6. I will receive a monthly subsidy from the State of Texas until they each turn 18! The amount is approximately half of what I received for foster care.
7. They receive FREE health insurance through Medicaid so I don’t need to add them to my health insurance unless I want it as supplemental.
8. Because of Medicaid they receive free school lunch (depends upon your school district).
9. They will receive college tuition reimbursement to any state college in Texas! I see future Longhorns in our midst! This also includes advanced degrees.
10. The year in which the adoption is consummated you can file for an enormous adoption tax credit! Over $12,000 PER KID (it changes slightly each year)!
11. OK, so I’m over 10 now but a perk I discovered after I wrote this the first time is a FREE YMCA of Williamson County membership! Plus half off the member price for any additional programs. I never knew swim lessons or joining a soccer team could be so cheap!

See? Look at ALL THE PERKS of adopting through foster care!! ☺️🙌👏🙏 No need to wait. No need to spend tens of thousands of dollars or even book a flight anywhere! There are so many kiddos right here right now. Please refer to DFPS Adoption Assistance website for more information about this program.

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