Abstract
The need for adoptive families in Texas is great. On August 31, 2020, there were 2,749 children in Child Protective Services (CPS) Permanent Managing Conservatorship in Texas who were waiting for adoption and not in a placement intended to be permanent. In fiscal year 2020, there were 1,267 youth who aged out of foster care in Texas without a permanent home. Many children awaiting adoption in the foster care system are part of sibling groups or have special needs that make it harder for them to find permanency. It is also more difficult to recruit adoptive families for older children. Adoptive families play a critical part in the life of a child by providing a permanent, safe, and loving home. A stable and healthy family life is crucial to healthy child development and is associated with a variety of positive outcomes. Efforts taken to recruit prospective adoptive parents are critical to helping children in the Texas child welfare system find a permanent family. There are a number of current initiatives underway in Texas to recruit prospective adoptive families.
Toolkit
Help us spread the word about this research by using the Improving Adoption Recruitment Toolkit. In the toolkit, you’ll find email templates and social posts to boost with your network and state representatives.
Texas Adoption Process Simplified
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