Should You Consider a Special Needs Adoption in Texas?

If you’ve been considering adopting a child in Texas, you know how exciting and difficult the process can be. It’s even more of a challenge for LGBT couples. Whether they like to admit it or not, private adoption agencies are more likely to approve a straight couple for an adoption than they are an LGBT couple.

The reason for this is that many adoption agencies are simply homophobic. They have certain ideas about LGBT couples that aren’t true. They claim that gay couples can endanger a child if they’re allowed to adopt. While there is absolutely no evidence of this, it doesn’t change the fact that many social workers discriminate against LGBT parents.

Some of the reasons given as to why LGBT couples don’t make good adoptive parents include:

  • They’ll expose the child to devious sexual acts in the home
  • The child will be bullied at school and other social setting for having LGBT parents
  • A child needs a mother and a father in order to grow up healthy
  • LGBT parents live an unhealthy lifestyle that could affect their children

Again, while there is no support for any of these beliefs, you can’t change someone attitude if they don’t want you to. Neither can your Texas LGBT adoption attorney. This is why it may be a good idea to consider a special needs adoption instead. There are plenty of children in the foster care system that need a kind and loving home.

 

What Exactly is a Special Needs Adoption?

If you ask someone in Texas what a special needs adoption is, they’ll probably give you the same answer. They believe this is when you adopt a child that has physical, mental or developmental disabilities. And while this is partially, true, it’s not entirely accurate.

A special needs adoption in Texas is when you adopt a child who meets any of the following criteria:

  • The child is non-white – Most couples in the U.S. hope to adopt a white child. This is because most of the people who do adopt children are white. They want their child to look like it could be their biological child.
  • The child is older than 6 – Most people want to adopt a child or infant. The State has a hard time placing children who are older than 6. It seems that once they are of school age, people don’t want to adopt them.
  • They have siblings – A lot of people don’t want to adopt a child if they also have siblings in need of a home. They do have the option of adopting the sibling group, but very few families can afford to do this. It’s a lot more expensive to raise two or three kids than it is one child.
  • They have a physical, emotional or developmental disability – Many prospective parents would obviously rather adopt a child without these types of disabilities.

Your Texas LGBT adoption lawyer knows how challenging it can be to adopt and raise a special needs child. However, there are a lot of resources available to LGBT couples who are willing to do so.

 

The State Offers Incentives and Resources for LGBT Couples Who Adopt a Special Needs Child

If you do decide to adopt a child with special needs, you won’t be alone. Whether you adopt through an adoption agency or foster care, there will be resources available to you. Some of these include:

  • Adoption expenses
  • Adoption subsidies
  • $1,200 credit toward adoption fees (non-recurring)
  • Federal adoption tax credit
  • Possible Medicaid coverage for healthcare while you’re waiting for your private health insurance to kick in

There are also many services available to LGBT parents of special needs in Texas, such as:

  • Case management and service planning
  • Support groups
  • Counseling
  • Outpatient therapy for the child
  • Respite care for the parents
  • Information and referral services

Your LGBT adoption lawyer in Texas can help you identify and locate these programs. Once your special needs adoption is complete, you can start to avail yourself of these services.

 

Contact an Experienced LGBT Adoption Lawyer in Texas Today

If you and your partner are considering adopting in Texas, you should think about a special needs adoption. Given the challenges LGBT couples face, your chances of being approved for a special needs adoption may be higher.

Call Eddington & Worley today and schedule your initial consultation with an experienced LGBT adoption lawyer in Texas. They can answer any questions you may have. They’ll also be there every step of the way.

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