Raising a child may not have been in your plans for the near future, but in Fort Worth, your options for an unplanned pregnancy are limited. If you are considering adoption, start by exploring what “modern open adoption” means and what choices you’ll be able to make.
Adoption Advocates has more than 30 years experience helping women decide whether adoption is right for them. Our Fort Worth adoption specialist is available to answer your questions, explain the process and provide support through every step. If you decide that adoption is not right for you, we will support your choice.
Clients in Forth Worth and surrounding areas are served by adoption specialist, Shaelynn Wolfe from our Dallas office. Shaelynn regularly travels to clients throughout North Texas and is able to meet you where you are.
Call: (972) 284-0027
Text (Expectant Parents Only): (972) 914-8490
Email: [email protected]
Fort Worth Adoption Services for Expectant Parents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
No. Adoption Advocates offers all services for expectant parents, including counseling and legal services, free of cost.
As a licensed adoption agency in Texas, we may be able to provide financial assistance for pregnancy-related expenses while you make an adoption plan. Your adoption specialist can discuss your situation with you to see how much assistance you may be eligible for.
Yes, you can move forward with an adoption plan. Although things will move faster, you will still have the same rights and ability to make choices that an expectant mother does. An adoption specialist will visit you to answer your questions, help you complete paperwork, share waiting family profiles and discuss a post-placement plan. You will receive counseling and support after relinquishment as well, for as long as you choose.
Here’s a look at what to expect with the adoption process if your baby has already been born:
GET IN TOUCH: Reach out to us by calling (512) 477-1122 or texting (512) 270-8415. If you’re still in the hospital, you can ask the hospital’s social worker to help you get in touch with us. We already work with many hospital social workers throughout Texas.
MEET WITH A SPECIALIST: An experienced adoption specialist will visit you as soon as possible, usually within a few hours. She will explain your options, the different types of adoption and what comes next. After learning more about adoption, you’ll decide if you want to move forward with placing your baby for adoption.
MAKE CHOICES: If you’re ready, you’ll begin making choices for you and your baby’s future. You’ll need to decide if you want an open, semi-open or closed adoption. You can start looking at adoptive family profile books and choose one. If you do not want to choose the family, the agency can select for you. Remember, you are still in control of all of your choices.
SIGN PAPERWORK: If you’re sure about adoption and it’s been at least 48 hours since the baby was born, you’ll sign the relinquishment papers. Your chosen adoptive family will be able to take the baby home as soon as the hospital discharges him or her.
The adoption process moves quickly after a baby is born, and 48 hours may not be enough time for you to make a decision. Signing the relinquishment papers is permanent, so you need to be certain this is the right step for you. If you need more time, we can arrange for short-term interim care (also known as cradle care) after your baby is released from the hospital. You’ll be able to continue exploring your options and spend time with your baby before you make a final decision. Even though your relationship with Adoption Advocates began after your baby was born, we hope it doesn’t end there. Many women experience difficult emotions, including grief and sadness, after placement. We’re here to help you through those emotions with adoption counseling for as long as you need, at no cost to you.
It’s OK not to be sure about adoption right away. This is a really important decision! Take as much time as you need. Your adoption specialist will discuss all of your options with you — without pressure or judgment. Our goal is to provide support and answers, so that you can make an informed decision.
After speaking to an adoption specialist, you may decide that adoption is not right for you. That’s OK too. If you decide to parent, Adoption Advocates can direct you to resources to provide assistance during your pregnancy and your child’s early years.
An open adoption means that you get to choose the adoptive parents, and you can maintain some degree of contact with them. In an open adoption, you will always be honored as the child’s birth parent, because that’s who you are. In almost all adoption plans, the adoptive parents provide pictures and letters and exchange phone calls with birth parents. Depending on the relationship that develops between you and your adoptive parents, sometimes there is visitation. The most important thing to remember is that an open adoption is what the participants jointly decide that it should be. Open adoption is an informal agreement based on trust and respect.
Fort Worth Pregnancy Testing & Family Planning
Before you can even begin to consider your options, we recommend confirming your pregnancy and learning how far along you may be. There are many organizations in or near Fort Worth that offer low cost or free pregnancy tests.
Pregnancy Help Center of Fort Worth
7700 Camp Bowie West, Suite 120
Fort Worth, TX 76116
(817) 560-2226
Learn more
Women’s Choice Resource Center
324 S Rand St.
Fort Worth TX 76103
(817) 409-8849
Learn more
Planned Parenthood
6464 John Ryan Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76132
(817) 276-8063
Learn more
Fort Worth Prenatal Care & Hospitals
Viola Pitts-Como Health Center
4701 Bryant Irvin Road North
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 702-1100
Andrews Women’s Hospital at Baylor Scott & White
1400 8th Ave
Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Phone: (817) 926-2544
Southeast Community Health Center
2909 Mitchell Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76105
Phone: (817) 625-4254
Additional Resources for Pregnancy & Parenting
Texas Health & Human Services Benefits Office
1501 Circle Dr, Ste 110
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Phone: (817) 321-8000
Offers assistance with SNAP, TANF and family/children’s Medicaid
Apply online for benefits
Fort Worth WIC – Southside
1101 South Main Street Suite 1401
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: (817) 321-5400
Apply online for WIC
In My Shoes, Inc.
Fort Worth, TX
Phone: (469) 857-3264
Maternity home for homeless pregnant and parenting women
Get help
Tarrant Area Food Bank
2600 Cullen Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 857-7100
Food pantry
Get help
Safehaven
Serving Tarrant County
Phone: (877) 701-7233
24/7 hotline & emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence
Get help
Find additional North Texas resources to help with adoption and unplanned pregnancies in Dallas, Denton, Abilene and Wichita Falls.
WHAT OUR FAMILIES SAY
AAI truly looks at the big picture to support families wanting to adopt, prospective first moms and adoptees. I cannot imagine doing this with any other adoption agency.
KATE | ADOPTIVE MOTHER
Take the First Step Now
Ready to get started? Complete the form below and we’ll be in touch to discuss your situation and see how we can help. You can also reach out directly to our Forth Worth adoption specialist Shaelynn by calling (972) 284-0027.
