Adoption Services

While many of the children served by Casa de Esperanza return to their biological families, adoption services are an important component in the continuum of care. If parental rights are relinquished by the parents or terminated by the court while a child is in placement, Casa de Esperanza arranges for the adoption of that child.

Prospective adoptive families need to be aware that the experiences of abuse, neglect and pre-natal exposure to drugs, alcohol and violence often leave these children at high risk for ongoing physical and emotional problems. As the first children placed in adoptive homes by Casa de Esperanza reach young adulthood, all have faced one or more of these high-risk indicators. Yet, there are success stories of those who have overcome these obstacles to complete high school and college. Casa's experience has shown that an established relationship with the foster parents increases the chances of a successful adoptive placement. Thus, prospective adoptive parents are required to first become foster parents.

As of 2009, 2005, more than 250 children have been adopted through Casa de Esperanza. However, adoption services are not a primary function of the agency, and Casa de Esperanza does not place children in adoptive homes. While a child in foster care might later become free for adoption, children are seldom available for adoption at the time they are placed in a foster home. Foster parents often choose to adopt if and when that option becomes available. Casa de Esperanza has no prohibition against adoption by foster parents, as do many agencies.

Post Adoption Services

The Post Adoption Program was developed to support families who have adopted through Casa de Esperanza. This program provides educational, support, psychological, and crisis intervention services helping to create a community of adoptive families who can support and inspire each other in the challenges of raising special-needs children to adulthood.

Educational services include quarterly workshops to address issues of interest to families raising children with special needs, compilation of an adoption resource library specific to the needs of the children and families we serve, and a quarterly educational newsletter for adoptive families.

Support services include a monthly Parents' Night Out program, social opportunities for Casa's adoptive families to gather together, and a quarterly parent support group for families raising special needs children from Casa.

Psychological services offered include individual play therapy for the children, family therapy with children and their parents, consultations with families experiencing significant behavior problems, psychological testing and referral, developmental testing for educational placement, and school consultations.

Crisis intervention services include assistance with locating appropriate out-of-home placements, assistance with navigating the juvenile court system, and the development of a referral guide for psychological and respite services available to families in Harris County.

No adoptive family is charged for services provided by Casa de Esperanza.