Texas Home Studies

Eligibility Requirements for Texas Home Studies

Nightlight Christian Adoptions in Texas is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to select suitable families for children in need of adoption. The selection of adoptive parents is based on their eligilibility to meet state and agency requirements, foreign country requirements (if applicable), their capacity for adoptive parenthood, and the availability of children whose needs they can meet. Nightlight’s Texas office, with offices and staff in Waco, Austin, DFW, and Houston, can provide home study services for families around the state for Domestic, International, or Embryo adoption.

RESIDENCE

Nightlight’s Texas office can perform Agency Adoptions only for families living in Texas. Other Domestic adoption services are available to families throughout the United States. Please contact our office for specific details.

RELIGION

Applicants must be committed to providing their child with a constructive, wholesome and spiritual home environment.

HEALTH

Adoptive applicants must give evidence of good health, both physical and mental, which will be verified during the application process by medical examinations and psychological evaluations.

AGE

None; however, birthmothers tend to prefer families in their 30’s or early 40’s.

MARRIAGE

Adoptive applicants are encouraged to have been married long enough to provide the couple sufficient time to establish a home, financial security, and to adjust to the marriage as well as to each other. Married applicants must have a satisfying and secure marriage. Single parents are eligible to adopt if they meet the qualifications of a stable home environment, financial security and have a strong support network of family and friends. However, few birthmothers will choose single parents when married couples are available.

EDUCATION

Classes and reading are required of adoptive families pertaining to parenting skills and adoption issues. Our goal is to prepare you to be the best parents possible for your child.

FINANCES

Adopting parents must be able to provide a financially stable home, demonstrated by a solid credit history and ability to live within their means.

PREGNANCY

Before you begin the adoption process, you need to complete all your infertility treatments so you can truly be ready to be the best parent for your adopted child. If you become pregnant while in the adoption process, notify our office immediately. We will place your file on hold. When you are ready to consider adoption again – generally at least when your child is nearing their first birthday – call us to discuss re-activating your file.

ADOPTION OF SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN

In order to have adequate time for attachment and bonding, it is important to have a minimum of one year with the child/ren in the home before beginning another adoption.

HOME STUDY SERVICES GETTING STARTED CHECKLIST

We would love to see you at one of our free information seminars! These seminars are an excellent way to have your preliminary questions answered, get to know the Nightlight staff and meet other families beginning the adoption process. Seminars are held every 2-3 months. Visit our Adoption Seminars Page or call the office for more information and to RSVP for an upcoming seminar. You can also call to speak with one of our experienced staff members to get more information about any of our adoption programs or about our home study process.

How do we get started?

  1. Fill out an online Application – This is the first step in the process. All prospective adoptive parents considering a home study with Nightlight need to complete this online application. If you have questions or concerns, please call or email our office.
  2. Upon completion of your application, we will review it and contact you. We will provide you with initial documents by email that will need to be completed and uploaded through our secure online portal. You will also be billed for your Texas home study fee, which is $2000, whether it’s for a domestic or international adoption.
  3. In addition, there is an application fee of $500.  This fee is only paid once, whether you are adopting Internationally, domestically, with Snowflakes, or are just doing a home study.
  4. Once your initial documents have been received and reviewed, we will run your background checks and we will forward you another packet of information relating to the supporting documents that you will need to gather and submit to complete your home study.
  5. Once we receive all of your supporting documents, a social worker will reach out to you to schedule your home visit.

* If you would like additional information about Nightlight’s home study services or answers to some of our most frequently asked questions before you complete an online application, please call our Texas office at (254) 741-1633, we would love to answer your questions! You can contact Krista, our Home Study Coordinator by phone at the number above or by email at [email protected].