Adoption Amarillo

Amarillo Adoption, Home Studies and More

Adoption Services for
Birth Parents and Adoptive Families

Please choose where you’d like to begin:

Information about placing
a child for adoption
or
Information about adopting a child

Are you interested in learning more about adoption in the Amarillo, TX area? The Lifetime Adoption coordinators are ready to answer all of your questions and provide you with all the information you need. If you are a birth parent, they will make sure you receive all the resources and support you need. If you are hoping to adopt, they are here to help you see your dream of having a family come true.

As a leader with three decades of experience in domestic, open adoption, Lifetime Adoption has a lot of experience connecting birth mothers with adoptive families. Whether you are an expectant mother, a parent hoping to place your child, or a family hoping to adopt, you will find kind and experienced adoption coordinators ready to help you navigate the adoption process. You will have access to webinars, podcasts, articles, referrals, counseling, and one-on-one support from our counselors.

Help for Pregnant Women in Amarillo, TX

Amarillo is a unique city full of fun activities. Enjoying all of these exciting outdoor activities may feel unimportant if you are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Adoption may be an option you will want to consider. We recently had a birth mother ask us “Do I need to use an adoption agency near me in Amarillo?” The answer is no, you can use an agency from anywhere in the United States. You can access adoption services through Lifetime Adoption. You can get all the help you need, get the information you are looking for, and answers to the questions you have to make an adoption plan. For help and guidance, just call or text our adoption coordinators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A Lifetime Adoption coordinator will help you create an adoption plan that puts you in charge of the choices for you and your child. You can find loving, adoptive parents that are financially and emotionally ready to raise a child. This may be the best thing to do for you and your child. You can pick the adoptive family you would like to adopt your baby, and you can even decide what kind of contact you want and how often with the family once they adopt your baby. You will even decide how everything will go at the hospital.

Pregnancy expenses are one of the many issues many women facing an unplanned pregnancy have to deal with. The extra money needed for some pregnancy-related expenses is often hard for some women to come up with. Adoption agencies in the Amarillo, Fort Worth area can help with those expenses. The state of Texas allows agencies to provide some assistance with pregnancy-related expenses when a pregnant woman chooses adoption until six weeks after the birth. Your adoption coordinator will work with you to find out your needs and help you find the resources you need!

Are you parenting a toddler or older child and struggling to provide them with a healthy and safe environment? An open adoption is also an option for older children through adoption agencies in Amarillo, Texas. You can find many adoptive family profiles at Lifetime that show they are interested in adopting toddlers, sibling sets, and special needs children.

When thinking about adoption, it can be hard to make that first call to an Amarillo adoption agency. When you call Lifetime, you will always find a kind, non-judgmental adoption coordinator ready to help. She will speak with you honestly and answer all of your questions. Your adoption coordinator will explain the adoption process thoroughly.

Call or text Lifetime Adoption now. We will be there for you.

Adoption Help in Amarillo, TX

So how does modern, open adoption work? Lifetime Adoption will help you find the perfect parents to adopt your baby. A caring and experienced adoption coordinator will be there to explain the adoption process and help you make the choices you need to make.

Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will make sure you have:

24-hour help and support
Peer and Professional Counseling
Adoptive parent profiles that you can choose from. All families have had background checks.
Additional support after you have given birth
Maternity clothes, toiletries, and a labor bag if you need them.
The opportunity to receive help with pregnancy-related expenses
And much more!

Adoption Counseling in Amarillo

Referrals to free professional and peer counseling are some of the most important resources your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will offer. Adoption is a choice that requires a lot of thought and soul-searching. A professional counselor will help you with the decision-making process.

Peer counseling is a very popular counseling option among our birth mothers. It helps to talk to another woman who has experienced the adoption process. Her story may not be exactly the same as yours, but she will understand how you feel and the emotions you are having. A peer counselor can give you advice on how to tell your family, how to discuss adoption with the birth father, and many tips for getting through the ups and downs of the process.

Maternity Hospitals in Amarillo

Sometimes the thought of labor and delivery can cause some expectant women to feel anxious. To ease those nerves, your adoption coordinator will help you make a hospital plan just for you. To create this plan, she will ask you questions such as:

Who would you like in the delivery room with you?
Do you want to hold your baby?
Where do you want the adoptive parents to be?
Would you like to go home before or after your baby?

Your adoption coordinator will work with the staff at the hospital so they know your wishes. She wants you to have as little stress as possible and wants to be sure you are comfortable during your stay.

In the Amarillo area, the hospital with labor and delivery service is:

Northwest Texas Healthcare System
BSA Health System in Amarillo, TX

When the day comes, if things don’t go as planned, don’t worry. Your adoption coordinator has worked with women who were out of state when they went into labor and birth mothers who have given birth at home.

More Helpful Resources for Pregnant Women in Amarillo

Are you struggling with some of life’s hardships and then find yourself unexpectedly pregnant? Reach out to Lifetime Adoption, where you will find a kind coordinator who will provide you with the information and resources you need to make the right decision about your pregnancy. It is important to understand all of your pregnancy choices and make a decision from a place of stability, not one of crisis when life feels so overwhelming.

If you are experiencing homelessness or find yourself in a domestic violence situation, finding safe housing is important. Here are some local resources for women’s shelters in Amarillo and the surrounding area:

Family Services of Amarillo

Martha’s Home

Faith City Mission

Are you experiencing hunger along with being pregnant or the mother of young children? Then, you may be eligible for the WIC program. WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and provides an EBT card to purchase healthy food, such as vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs, whole grains, and cheese. They also have referrals for local resources. Learn more by visiting their website:

WIC – in Amarillo, TX

If you are struggling with addiction, contact a professional treatment program for help. It is risky to just stop using drugs suddenly if you are pregnant. There are many treatment options, even if you are addicted to opiates or prescription drugs. A treatment center will provide counseling along with medications (like methadone and suboxone). These medications will help you slowly wean off the opiates safely. Here are a few resources in Amarillo:

West Texas Counseling and Rehabilitation Program of Amarillo

Esther’s House

Cenikor

If there are additional resources you are in need of, your Lifetime coordinator can offer confidential help and help you solve whatever issues you are currently dealing with. For example, we can help with transportation, rent, maternity clothes, prenatal care, pregnancy verification, and more. Call or text today.

How to Start the Adoption Process in Amarillo

So now that you have decided adoption is the right choice, how do you get started? First, call or text Lifetime Adoption or fill out our contact form. A Lifetime Adoption coordinator will help you create your adoption plan. She will make sure you have all of the resources you need and answer all your questions. You will always find a friendly and non-judgmental adoption coordinator available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for you.

Your coordinator will provide you with adoptive families, and you can view online profiles to learn as much about the families as possible. You can read about their lives. What jobs they have, what they value, what their day-to-day lifestyle is like. They will also have letters they have written and often video messages to view. As a birth mother, you decide what type of family you want to raise your baby.

To view adoptive family profiles online, just click here. You may be interested in a Christian family, a family who lives nearby in Texas, or you may prefer they live in another state. You may want a couple of a certain race, a family with children, or a family that has no other children. Once you choose a family, your adoption coordinator puts you in touch with the family. Then you can decide if you would like them to be part of your pregnancy experience or not.

In addition, if there are resources in the Amarillo area you are in need of, your adoption coordinator will also help you access those resources. You may need to find a doctor for prenatal care and transportation to get there, for example. Your coordinator will help you find solutions.

Give us a call or text today to get started.

Get In Touch

Other Paths to Adoption in Amarillo

What do you do if you are unsure about adoption but cannot parent at this time? Foster care is one option. Sometimes, CPS may make that decision for you if your baby is born with exposure to substances. The Texas Department of Families and Protective Services may have your baby placed into the foster care program. When this happens, you do not get to choose who your baby is placed with or whether you will have contact. It is never too late to choose adoption. Even if CPS is involved, you can still call an Amarillo adoption center such as Lifetime from the hospital and start the adoption process. This will give you the option of choosing who your baby is placed with and what contact you might have after the adoption.

Relative or kinship adoption is another avenue you can look into. This is when a family member who is usually blood-related to the child can apply to adopt your child. There can be challenges with this option. If the relative thinks they are just going to parent for a short time and does not realize this is a permanent thing, this can cause a problem. There may also be boundary issues that will need to be worked through.

Research all of your options and then decide which type of adoption is right for you and your baby. It is a good idea to talk with a counselor who can go over the pros and cons of each option.
One more option is relative or kinship adoption. This is when a family member, most often blood-related to the child, applies to adopt your baby. This option can have some unique challenges. Sometimes family members do not really understand that they are not just helping out short-term. Adoption is a permanent situation, and they will be responsible for raising this child. There can be some boundary issues, and these will need to be talked about and worked through.

These are all serious options to consider. Consider which type of adoption is the right one for you and your child. Talking with a professional counselor or peer counselor can be a great help. Your adoption coordinator can connect you with a counselor and make sure you have all the information you need.

Adopting in Austin

Adoption is such a life-changing decision. You will have a lot of questions and need a lot of information for this journey ahead of you. If you are planning on adopting in the Amarillo area, the adoption coordinators at Lifetime Adoption are here to help you during this amazing time. They are here to make your adoption dreams come true. They will answer all of your questions and explain the whole adoption process in detail. You will learn what to expect during your adoption process and all about open domestic adoption.

Creating a successful match between birth mothers and adoptive families is the most important task for Lifetime Adoption coordinators. If you are in the Amarillo area and are interested in adopting a newborn or child up to the age of six, contact us at 727-493-0933 to ask any questions. Fill out our free online adoption application to learn more about adoption. You will find an enormous amount of adoption resources and information available.

You will find all the resources, referrals, education, and support you need to make your adoption dreams come true at Lifetime Adoption.

How to Begin the Adoption Process

The adoption process can seem overwhelming but remember you don’t need to navigate this on your own. First, fill out our online application. There is no fee to apply, and applying does not obligate you in any way.

Once pre-approved, a Lifetime adoption coordinator will contact you. Your coordinator will explain the entire adoption process and get you started on your adoption journey.

Adoption Attorneys in Amarillo

To complete your adoption, you will need to have an adoption attorney. Adoption law can be complex and varies from state to state. All paperwork must be completed and filed with the courts. Your coordinator will be glad to refer an adoption attorney in the Amarillo area for you.

Home Study Services in Amarillo

In addition to an adoption lawyer, you will need a home study. Your Lifetime coordinator will refer a Home Study Service provider for adoptive families in the Amarillo area.

Included in your home study are background checks, employment information, financial verification, education hours, and a home visit. Your Lifetime coordinator will walk you through the entire home study process.

How does the home study process work in the Amarillo area? You will submit fingerprints for a criminal background check and will submit the following documents.

Verification of marital status
Medical Statement from your doctor or medical professional verifying your physical and mental well-being.
Financial and Employment Statements such as tax returns and paystubs.
Three written references from friends, family, or co-workers attesting that you are suitable to be adoptive parents

Your home study social worker will interview everyone who lives in your home and will compile all of this information into a home study report to be reviewed by the judge at your adoption finalization hearing. This visit is required by the court to make sure you have a safe and adequate home to raise a child in.

Finalization of Adoption at Court

What is adoption finalization? In Texas, the law mandates that a woman must wait 48 hours after the birth before being allowed to consent to the adoption. The child must also be in the custody of the adoptive parents for at least six months. Five post-placement visits will be conducted by your social worker during this time. When that process is complete, you will visit the courthouse for a hearing to finalize the adoption.

In the Amarillo area, you will go to the District Court in your county.

Potter County

Randall County

A judge will review all documents, including your home study, and will then issue the final adoption decree. Now your adoption is completely final!

Other Paths to Adoption

Amarillo International Adoption Agencies

Domestic adoption is not the only path to adoption. Some families may consider international adoption so they can help a child from another country who is in need.

With international adoption, a newborn is generally not an option. Some other things to consider when adopting internationally are the political climate of the country you are adopting from, what circumstances the children are in, and many other factors.

It is important to work with an agency that specializes in international adoption and has experience working in the country you are interested in because every country has its own laws and requirements. Some of the more popular countries to adopt from are in the nations of China, Africa, and Eastern European countries. Here are some agencies that specialize in international adoption:

Adopt International

Holt International

Foster Care Adoption

The foster care system is another path to adoption. The best way to do this is to reach out to the foster care program in your county. In Amarillo, you will reach out to the City of Amarillo Community Services and let them know you are interested in foster care adoption.

To qualify as a foster parent, you will need to: