Austin, Texas Adoption

Austin 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 adopting a child and are living in the Texas state capital, Austin? You probably have many questions, and the Lifetime adoption coordinators are here to answer all of your questions and get you the information you need. Our coordinators work with birth parents and adoptive parents. Birth parents are provided all the support and resources they need. They will view family profiles so they can choose the adoptive parents for their baby. Adoptive families will be guided through the adoption process to achieve their adoption dreams to grow their family.

Lifetime Adoption is prepared to guide you on your adoption journey and is a leader in domestic adoption. Our adoption coordinators are always ready to answer your questions and guide you through the adoption process. For over three decades, we have been matching birth families with adoptive families. We will provide you with articles, counseling, podcasts, webinars, referrals, and one-on-one support.

Help for Pregnant Women in Austin

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and live in the Austin area, we are here to help. If you do not feel ready to parent, you may want to consider adoption. Adoption services are available through Lifetime Adoption in the Austin area. Our adoption coordinators are a source of information and resources you may need. Reach out to receive assistance and guidance and to create an adoption plan. Just call or text our adoption coordinators 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through Lifetime Adoption, you can find adoptive parents who are excited to grow their families and are financially and emotionally ready to parent. You can view profiles of adoptive families and choose a family with the values and lifestyle you desire for your baby. An adoption coordinator will help you with your adoption plan, including a hospital plan and what kind of contact you would like after the final adoption.

Unexpected pregnancy expenses can be a part of an unplanned pregnancy. In Austin, adoption assistance with expenses is allowed. According to the state of Texas, a pregnant woman planning adoption for her child can receive help during her pregnancy and up until six weeks after the birth. Expenses can include help with phone bills, food, rent, clothes, transportation to the doctor, and more. Your Lifetime adoption coordinator will make sure needs are met, and you receive the support and resources you need!

Are you struggling to raise a toddler or young child? Adoption may be the key to a more stable life for your child and yourself. Lifetime Adoption coordinators are here for you and your child. View profiles of Lifetime families that are interested in adopting toddlers, sibling sets, older children, and special needs children.

Making that call to an Austin adoption agency can be difficult, but give Lifetime a call if you are considering adoption. You will find a non-judgmental, caring adoption coordinator available to answer your call or text. The coordinator will explain the process and answer all of your questions. In addition, she will discuss your options honestly and guide you through the adoption process and provide counseling if you would like.

Call or text Lifetime Adoption today.

Adoption Agencies in Austin

Lifetime Adoption is a nationwide agency and is here to guide you through the adoption process for your child. A caring adoption coordinator will walk you through the whole process.

Your Lifetime Adoption coordinator will provide:

24-hour help and support
Maternity clothes, assorted toiletries, and even a labor bag if you need them.
Assistance with pregnancy-related expenses
Peer and Professional Counseling
Additional support and resources after you have given birth
Adoptive parent profiles are available online and will be provided by your coordinator. All Lifetime families have had a home study, including background checks.
And much more!

Adoption Counseling in Austin

Referrals to professional and peer counseling are some of the most important resources your Lifetime Adoption coordinator can provide. The adoption option is a very big decision and needs to be thought through. A professional counselor can help you understand all of your options and help you work through your feelings during this emotional journey.

Peer counseling is also very helpful. It can be really helpful to talk with another birth mother who has faced a similar situation to you. You may not know anyone who has faced an unplanned pregnancy or placed a child for adoption. A peer counselor’s story may be different, but she will still understand how you feel and what you are going through. She will share her adoption experience and can advise you on things like telling family, talking about adoption with the birth father, and many other topics.

Maternity Hospitals in Austin

Do you feel anxious when you think about labor and delivery? To ease those nerves, you need a plan. Your adoption coordinator will help you create a hospital plan that will put you at ease. To make your plan, she will ask you questions such as:

At the time of birth, who would you like to be in the room with you?
Would you like to hold your baby first, or would you like the adoptive parents to be first?
Would you like the adoptive parents at the hospital when you go into labor?
Would you like to recover in the maternity wing or a different part of the hospital?
Would you like to leave the hospital before your baby or after?

Your adoption coordinator will make sure the adoptive parents and hospital are up-to-date on your choices. If any of your wishes change, just let your coordinator know, and she will make the changes. The goal is for you to have as little stress as possible and to be comfortable.

In the Austin area, the hospitals with labor and delivery services are:

Don’t worry if something unplanned happens! Our experienced adoption coordinators managed many different situations. They have worked with women who were traveling out of state when they went into labor and women who have even given birth at home. They are prepared for any situation and are just a phone call or text away.

More Helpful Resources for Pregnant Women in Austin

Are you unexpectedly pregnant and struggling with some of life’s hardships? Contact Lifetime Adoption, where you will find adoption coordinators who can get you the information and resources you need to make the right pregnancy decision for you and your baby. Life can be overwhelming at times, so it is important to consider your pregnancy options from a place of stability, not one of crisis.

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

The Safe Alliance

Casa Marianella

Austin Shelter for Women and Children

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

WIC – in Austin, TX

A professional treatment program will be helpful if you are struggling with addiction. It can be risky to suddenly stop using drugs if you are pregnant, so it is important to get the proper help. There are many options. Even if you are addicted to opiates or prescription drugs, a treatment center can offer counseling along with medications (like methadone and suboxone). These will help you slowly wean off the opiates. Here are a few resources in Austin:

Addiction and Psychotherapy Services

Community Medical Services

Integral Care

If you have a need for additional resources, Lifetime Adoption can offer confidential help, no matter what you are currently dealing with. We can help with transportation, rent, prenatal care, maternity clothes, pregnancy verification, and more. Call or text today.

How to Start the Adoption Process in Austin

Now you probably want to ask, “How do I get this adoption process started?” First, just call or text Lifetime Adoption, or fill out the contact form online. An adoption coordinator will contact you and help you create your adoption plan. Your adoption coordinator will make sure you have all of the resources you need. Your adoption coordinator will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

At Lifetime, all the adoptive families have their profiles posted online. You can view personal letters they have written, watch video messages, and read about their lives. As a birth mother, you get to decide what kind of family you would like your child to become a part of. If you prefer not to choose a family, your adoption coordinator can select one she feels is the best match for you.

Just click here to view profiles of adoptive families. You may be interested in Christian adoption in Austin, a family who lives near you or lives in a different state. You may want a couple of a certain race or a couple that lives on a farm. Lifetime Adoption will help you find just the right family. Once you choose a family, your adoption coordinator will connect you with them. You will get to know them better through phone calls, video chats or even by meeting in person. Your coordinator will assist everyone with this process.

You may find yourself in need of some help and resources in Austin. Your adoption coordinator will connect you with those resources. For example, your coordinator can help you get the prenatal care you need and a ride to get to the doctor.

Give us a call or text today to get started.

Get In Touch

Other Paths to Adoption in Austin

If you are unsure if adoption is the right choice for you but know parenting at this time is not good for you or your child, foster care may be an option. Some women who are dealing with addiction issues may have a baby born with exposure to substances. In these cases, the Texas Department of Families and Protective Services may decide to place the baby in foster care. When this happens, who the baby is placed with is up to the state and not the parent. There is another option at this point. Even from the hospital, a birth mother can call an Austin adoption center to begin the adoption process. The adoption choice allows you to choose who your baby is placed with. You get to choose the adoptive parents. You can choose parents open to the amount of contact you want after the adoption.

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 an exciting and life-changing journey. There is a lot of information you need to understand the adoption process. For adoption services in Austin, the coordinators at Lifetime Adoption are available to guide you to a successful adoption. The process will be explained in detail, and you will learn what to expect during the open domestic adoption process.

Matching birth mothers and their children with adoptive families that are a great fit for everyone is the priority at Lifetime Adoption. If you are in the Austin area and are considering adopting a newborn or child up to the age of six, give us a call at 727-493-0933. You can also fill out a free online adoption application on the Lifetime website. You will find a wealth of adoption resources and all the adoption information you need. You will also learn more about open adoption, and Lifetime Adoption will provide you with the support, resources, education, and referrals you need to fulfill your dreams of adoption.

Begin the Adoption Process

The adoption process has a lot of different aspects to it. This is not a process you need to navigate on your own, however. The first thing you need to do is fill out our online application. To apply is free, and filling out the form will not obligate you in any way.

Your information will be reviewed, and once you are pre-approved, you will be contacted by a Lifetime adoption coordinator. She will be ready to answer all of your questions. Your adoption coordinator will ask what your adoption dreams are and what your expectations of your adoption journey are. Your coordinator will collect all of your information to create the best adoption plan for you.

How to Begin the Adoption Process

To get started, fill out our Lifetime Adoption online application. To apply is free, and filling it out does not obligate you in any way.

Your application will be reviewed, and once you are pre-approved, a Lifetime adoption coordinator will contact you. You will be introduced to the program, and your coordinator will answer all of your questions. You can expect her to ask you some questions, such as what are your adoption hopes and what is your expectation of the adoption process. Your coordinator will collect additional information and will create the adoption plan for you.

Adoption Attorneys in Austin

An adoption attorney is needed to complete your adoption. All of the document filings, laws, and procedures must be carefully followed. Your adoption attorney will complete all of the court filings and will schedule your hearings. Your adoption coordinator is happy to refer an Austin area adoption attorney for you.

Home Study Services in Austin

When you choose to adopt, you must complete a home study. Your Lifetime coordinator can refer you to a Home Study Service in the Austin area.

Texas law requires the following to complete an adoption.

You must be at least 21 years old in Texas.
You must complete an application to adopt.
Have a complete home study.
References from family, friends, and coworkers are required.
You must show financial stability.
You must show that you are mature and responsible.
A completed background and lifestyle information must be provided.
Show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable)

How do you get started? First, you will gather the following documents and submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.

What does a home study consist of? A home study is a collection of financial and employment verification, background checks, financial and employment verification, education hours, and a home visit.

Financial and Employment Statements such as tax returns, paystubs, and profit and loss statements.
Verification of marital status whether single, married, or divorced.
Medical Statements from your medical professional that verifies your physical and mental well-being and ability to parent a child.
Three written references that verify you are suitable to be adoptive parents from friends, family, or coworkers.

Everyone who lives in the home will be interviewed by a home study social worker. There will be a home visit that is meant to confirm you have a safe and loving home to bring a child home to. Your home study provider will want to know your views regarding parenting, marriage, and family.

Finalization of Adoption at Court

Once you have been matched with a birth mother and have completed your home study, and your baby has been delivered, you are ready to begin finalizing your adoption.

The law in Texas requires a birth mother to wait 48 hours after the birth of her baby before she can sign adoption consent papers. Then the adoptive parents must have custody of the child for at least six months prior to the adoption being final. The social worker will conduct five post-placement visits during this time. When that process is completed, you will have a hearing at the courthouse to finalize the adoption.

All the necessary paperwork will be filed by your adoption attorney. In Austin, you will go to the District Court in your county.

Travis County

Williamson County

Hays County

Your home study and all adoption documents will be reviewed by a judge, who will then issue the final adoption decree. Now is the time for celebration!

Other Paths to Adoption

Austin International Adoption Agencies

Choosing a path to adoption is a very personal decision. Some families may consider international adoption. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as they hope to help a child from another country who is orphaned.

Deciding which country to adopt from is one of the choices when choosing international adoption. Several factors may influence your family’s decision, such as the political climate of the country, the needs of the children, and the current laws of a country. It is important to be aware that every country has its own requirements, laws, and bureaucracy.

Be sure to work with an adoption agency that specializes in international adoption and has proven success with adoption in the country you are interested in. Some of the more popular countries are in the nations of Africa, China, and Eastern Europe. Some agencies that specialize in international adoption are:

Adopt International

Holt International

Foster Care Adoption

Another path to adoption is Foster care adoption. In Austin, you will work with the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange.

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

Complete a foster parent application.
Be financially stable, responsible, and be at least 21 years of age.
Provide information about your lifestyle and background.
Provide references from relatives and non-relatives.
You can be single, married, widowed, or divorced and will need to show documentation of your marital status.
A home study must be completed, which includes visits with household members, and inspection of all parts of the home, grounds, and outbuildings must be completed.
A completed criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household must be submitted. (Adults are people age 14 and older who live at or who visit your household regularly.)
You must attend free educational training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children.

A great resource to view children hoping to be adopted in the Austin foster care system and in other states is AdoptUSKids.