Foster-to-Adopt

Foster-to-adopt is the path most families take to adopt a child through Angelheart. A foster family takes a placement with the intent to adopt — caring for the child as a foster parent first, and adopting once the child becomes legally free for adoption. It is a journey that asks for patience and an open heart, and it is one of the most meaningful things a family can do.

How Foster-to-Adopt Works

When a child enters foster care, the first goal — shared by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and by Angelheart — is to safely reunify them with their birth family. As a foster-to-adopt family, you care for the child while that goal is pursued. If reunification is determined to be impossible and the court terminates parental rights, the child becomes eligible for adoption, and your family is positioned to make that home permanent.

What to Expect

It is important to go in with eyes open. Because reunification comes first, there is no guaranteed timeline, and not every placement ends in adoption — sometimes a child is reunified with their family or placed with a relative. That uncertainty is real, and it can be hard. What we can promise is that you will not navigate it alone: your Angelheart caseworker supports you at every stage, and the same support available to all our foster families — case management, training, 24-hour on-call help, and reimbursement — is there for you, too.

• You foster first. The child is placed with you while their case moves through the system.
• Reunification is pursued. Courts and caseworkers work toward returning the child home whenever it is safe to do so.
• Rights may be terminated. If reunification is not possible, the court can terminate parental rights, making the child eligible for adoption.
• You adopt. Angelheart helps you finalize the adoption, giving the child the permanent, loving home they deserve.

Getting Licensed

Families interested in adoption complete the foster-to-adopt licensure process — the same licensing path as becoming a foster parent. If you are just beginning, our Licensing Process page walks you through each step, and Foster Parent Requirements shows what is needed to qualify. When you are ready, you can complete the adoption application below.

How It Differs From Straight Adopt

If you are a relative caring for a child in the State's conservatorship whose parental rights have already been terminated, you may qualify for Straight Adopt — a less extensive licensure path that still makes your family eligible for available adoption subsidies. Foster-to-adopt, by contrast, begins before a child is legally free and involves fostering first. Not sure which fits your situation? We are happy to help you figure it out.

Children Waiting for a Family

There is a special need for families with a heart for older children, sibling groups, and children with special needs. You can meet children currently waiting for adoptive homes through the Texas Adoption Resources Exchange (TARE) and the Heart Gallery of Central Texas.

Ready to Talk?

Adoption questions are best answered by a real person. Reach out to Meghann Oldis at (512) 310-9857, or visit our Adoption FAQ for answers to common questions.