Brownwood News – On Thursday, November 16th, at the Brown County Courthouse in Brownwood, seven families adopted children into their forever homes. The proceedings began at 10 a.m.
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The following families were present at the courthouse to finalize their adoptions:
- Chris and Rhonda Louviere adopted Jayden with the assistance of New Horizons.
- Eric and Ada Green adopted Tessa with the assistance of New Horizons.
- Vyron and Crystal Funderburk adopted Samuel with the assistance of the DePelchin Children’s Center.
- Roberto and Lucy Medrano adopted Maya with the assistance of the Caring Hearts for Children agency.
- Jesse and Amber McLure adopted Jennifer with the assistance of New Horizons.
- Austin Adams and Amanda Ray adopted Aaron with the assistance of A World for Children.
- Michelle Blake adopted Macyn and Madalyn with the assistance of A World for Children.
Amanda Stuard with the Love Brownwood Ministry with Coggin Avenue Baptist Church was present to take photographs of the new families.
National Adoption Day is a collective effort to raise awareness of the more than 110,000 children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. A coalition of national partners – Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, The Alliance for Children’s Rights and Children’s Action Network – sponsor National Adoption Day.
On National Adoption Day courts and communities in the United States come together to finalize thousands of adoptions of children from foster care. More than 300 events are held each year in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to finalize the adoptions of children in foster care. In total, more than 40,000 children have been adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day.
About the local adoption agencies:
- A World for Children: 1-800-419-5603, located at 1309 Early Blvd in Early. Visit their website: www.awfc.org
- New Horizons: 325-643-2264, located at 2222 HWY 377, Suite 5 in Brownwood. Visit their website: www.newhorizonsinc.com
- DePelchin Children’s Center: 512-719-3222, located at 1812 Centre Creek Drive Suite 210 in Austin. Visit their website: www.depelchin.org
- Caring Hearts for Children: 325-356-3471, located at 7680 Hwy 67/377 in Comanche. Visit their website: www.caringheartsforchildren.org
For more information about additional adoption agencies in the area, visit: www.fosteringbigcountrykids.com
Q. What is required to become an adoptive parent?
A. You need to find a licensed child-placing agency in your state so that a home study can be completed. This will involve the completion of training, a check of your references, and a criminal background check. The cost is minimal with a public state agency. The cost varies with the private adoption agencies. In either case, there are federal income tax credits available for families who adopt children.
Q. When do you get too old to adopt?
A. There is no maximum age limit on adoptive parents. There is a minimum age requirement of 21, but many older parents make wonderful adoptive parents for older children.
Q. How long is the waiting list?
A. The waiting time involves completion of the home study and training, as well as the right match for meeting the needs of a particular child.
Q. I am divorced. Can I foster or adopt?
A. You may be eligible to become an adoptive parent if you are single, divorced, married, or widowed.
Q. We both work and can’t afford for one of us to quit to take care of an adoptive child.
A. Both parents may work and still adopt children.
Q. I am single and do not own my home. Can I still adopt?
A. Yes, single parent families can adopt and you do not have to own your home to adopt a child.
Q. We have children and we want to adopt.
A. Many families who adopt have birth children who are still living in their homes or who have grown up and moved out on their own.
Q. We want to adopt but we can’t afford it.
A. You do not have to be rich to become an adoptive parent. You need to be financially stable. Also, adoptive parents may receive an adoption assistance to defray the cost of adopting a child who may have special needs.