Nearly 6,000 children are waiting to be adopted in Texas. 

Some have been waiting for years. Many are teenagers who need loving parents to walk alongside them and help them navigate the complexities of young adulthood. If these kids are not adopted, they will age out of the system at 18 years old.

Aging out of foster care

When teens age out of the foster care system they have no one to support or care for them, leaving them vulnerable to homelessness, human trafficking, abuse and more. Nearly half of the youth who age out of foster care in the U.S. will be homeless or incarcerated at some point in their life. In Texas, more than 1,000 youth age out of foster care each year. 

Learn more about adoption

Take the first step in your adoption journey this National Adoption Month by attending one of Buckner's virtual information meetings. During the information meeting, a Buckner foster care and adoption representative will walk you through the steps to become licensed and answer questions you have about our programs and/or the process. Buckner offers three different adoption options: Waiting Texas Children, Domestic Infant and Child Adoption, and Foster-to-Adopt.

Waiting Texas Children

This program provides permanent homes for children living in foster care whose parents’ rights have been terminated. Youth who are awaiting adoption range in age but 60% are 6 years old or older.  The longer kids wait for adoption, the more difficult it is to find a forever family to adopt them.  Every child deserves to belong to a loving family. 

Foster-to-Adopt

This adoption option provides permanent homes for children who, after residing in your foster home, become available for adoption. Like foster care, the primary goal of this program is the child’s reunification with their biological family. Adoption only becomes an option if the parents’ rights are terminated while the child is in your care. 

Domestic Infant and Child Adoption

Permanent homes are provided for infants or children whose birth parents have made a voluntary plan of open adoption and want to maintain a relationship with the adoptive family. Buckner's Domestic Infant and Child Adoption program has a waitlist. 

How you can make a difference