Adoption Support Services
Adopted children who have suffered abuse or neglect often need help coping with the effects of abuse and the loss of their birth family.
DFPS contracts with private agencies to provide post adoption services to adopted children and their families, including:
- case management/service planning,
- mental health,
- therapeutic services to children and families,
- parent training,
- support groups, and
- respite care for adoptive parents.
Adoption support is available to many families who adopt certain children with special needs to offset some of the costs of supporting and legally adopting and supporting these children. Assistance is available to help with the child's medical and financial needs.
Adoption Support Services
Adopted children who have suffered abuse or neglect often need help coping with the effects of abuse and the loss of their birth family.
DFPS contracts with private agencies to provide post adoption services to adopted children and their families, including:
- case management/service planning,
- mental health,
- therapeutic services to children and families,
- parent training,
- support groups, and
- respite care for adoptive parents.
Adoption support is available to many families who adopt certain children with special needs to offset some of the costs of supporting and legally adopting and supporting these children. Assistance is available to help with the child's medical and financial needs.
Who can get assistance?
Assistance is available to both children in the care of the state and certain children in the care of private, nonprofit licensed adoption agencies.
In addition, some adoptive families may be eligible for federal income tax credits that help offset the cost of adoption. Check with IRS or your tax advisor to see if your adoption qualifies.
Reimbursement Program
The non-recurring adoption expenses program provides a one-time payment to reimburse adoptive families for some of the costs of legally adopting children with special needs. A family's expenses may be covered as much as $1,500 for each child with special needs. Receipts are necessary to determine reimbursement. Reimbursement is only made after the adoption is completed by the court. There are other eligibility requirements, so you will want to discuss the criteria with your adoption agency.
Post-adoption Services
Post-adoption services are available to families of children adopted through DFPS and for families receiving Title IV-E and state-paid adoption subsidies from DFPS. After consummation of the adoption, services are provided through contracts to help the child and family
- adjust to the adoption,
- cope with any history of abuse of the child, and
- avoid permanent or long-term removal of children from the adoptive family setting.
Available services include information and referral; casework services and service planning; parent groups; parenting programs; counseling services; respite care; residential placement services in critical need situations; and crisis intervention. Availability of services is dependent on funding and the individual child and family situation.
Regional Contacts
Lubbock Region / Region 1
Kathy Justus
806-367-2982
Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Dallam, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley.Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, King, Lipscomb, Lynn, Moore. Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, and Yoakum counties
Patty Wells
806-368-2611
Bailey, Crosby, Deaf Smith, Lamb, Lubbock, and Parmer counties
Abilene Region / Region 2
Charles Booz
325-691-8161
Child's last name begins with A-E
Meredith Bryant
214-331-7700 ext. 3055
Child's last name begins with F-J
Christopher Garner
214-331-7700 x3049
Child's last name begins with K-S
Meredith Bryant
214-331-7700 ext. 3055
Child's last name begins with T-Z
Qunitha Chambers
214-331-7700 x1291
Betty Moseby
936-569-5302
Betty Moseby
936-569-5302
Child's last name begins with A-J
Barbara Howard
713-394-4105
Child's last name begins with K-Z
Tracy E. Johnson
713-394-4169
Austin Region / Region 7
Child's last name begins with A-L
Ivette Santos
254-939-4290
Child's last name begins with M-Z
Joyce Welch
254-939-4291
San Antonio Region / Region 8
Child's last name begins with A-G
Ruth Riojas
210-337-3375
Midland/Odessa Region / Region 9
Diana Gomez
432-686-2338 or 432-686-2273
Child's last name begins with H-M
Maria Longoria
210-337-3067
Child's last name begins with N-Z
Ricardo Astorga
210-337-3501
Jill Horner
915-521-3739
Mary E Garza
361-878-3458
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FAQ about College Tuition and Fee Exemption
Q: I recently received a letter stating that my adopted daughter may be eligible for tuition and fees at state-supported colleges and universities. I would like to know the name of the law and where I can get a copy of the law.
A: The name of the law is Texas Senate Bill 1652. Go to section 54.2111 within the document to read the new law that went into effect September 1, 2003. The law pertains to Texas state-supported colleges and universities only.
Q: Is the State of Texas paying tuition for any state-supported University across the country?
A: No. The new legislation only applies to Texas state-supported colleges and universities.
Q: Is there a list of Texas state-supported universities?
A: Yes, for a complete listing see the list of Texas Institutions of Higher Education at CollegeForTexans.com.
Q: What year did Texas start entering into Adoption Agreements?
A: Adoption assistance first began in April of 1976 and was only available to AFDC foster care children. The program was then expanded to include all children in 1978.
Q: If a person did not receive a subsidy, does the person qualify?
A: No, if a person didn't receive a subsidy, the person does not qualify.
Q: What does adoption assistance encompass?
A: Adoption assistance consists of Medicaid coverage, reimbursement of non-recurring adoption expenses and a monthly payment amount if needed. The monthly payment is to help with paying for the child's special needs.
Q: What documentation will I need as proof that I received Adoption Assistance?
A: A copy of your adoption assistance agreement.
Q: Is there a rule stating that you have to enroll for one class within 3 months of HS graduation in order to be eligible to use the college tuition and fee exemption?
A: No.
Q: Does a child have to be the subject of an Adoption Assistance Agreement at the time the child turns 18 years old, or at anytime in that child's life?
I have a child who was receiving adoption assistance benefits for one year, and her father said he no longer wanted the benefits. The Adoption Assistance Agreement expired, as the father chose not to renew the benefits. Now, the child is calling about the college benefits. Would this child still be eligible?
A: The legislation does not prescribe a length of time or deadline for receiving adoption assistance. It only prescribes that the student was adopted and was the subject of an adoption assistance agreement.
Sec. 54.2111. EXEMPTIONS FOR ADOPTED STUDENTS FORMERLY IN FOSTER OR OTHER RESIDENTIAL CARE. A student is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees authorized by this chapter if the student: (1) was adopted; and (2) was the subject of an adoption assistance agreement under Subchapter D, Chapter 162, Family Code.
Q: Can the tuition and fee exemption be used to attend graduate school?A: The tuition exemption has no restrictions on it with respect to graduate school.
Q: Can parents/students request a refund for the fall/spring tuition that has just ended?
A: It is the student's responsibility to provide proof of eligibility in a timely manner. In general, institutions are under no obligation to make retroactive refunds.
Q: What steps can I take to ensure the future education of my child who is now 7 years old?
A: Because your child is approximately 11 years away from attending college, I would encourage you to maintain contact with an FPS employee in the region in which your child was adopted to help you stay connected with the system. Please be aware that this benefit may be terminated if the law is repealed for any reason. Therefore, I would encourage you to pursue or continue to pursue alternate methods for your child's college education.
Q: Whom can I contact if I have questions about the new law?
A: DFPS has designated a person in each of our five Districts to assist you with questions and utilization of the benefit.
- Identify the DFPS District in which the adoption was finalized;
- Use the list of Texas counties to look-up the District that corresponds with the county in which the adoption occured.
- Call the person (below) designated for that District.
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