Our goal is to build happy families and to assist all parties through the adoption process with professional, caring guidance.

Contact Us

How can we help?

Adoption Alliance offers round-the-clock availability, including weekends, with our team of adoption counselors ready to assist you at any time.

Info

7303 Blanco Road
San Antonio, TX 78216

Our Location

Frequently Asked Questions

There are often numerous questions that both birth mothers and adopted parents have, we are happy to offer answers to many of those common questions below.

I'm Pregnant

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What is adoption?

Adoption is a process whereby a person(s) legally assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Adoptions transfer all rights and responsibilities from the biological parents to the adoptive parents.

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What types of adoption do you do?

All of our adoptions are domestic and the majority are semi-open. Although, we can do fully open adoptions if both parties agree to it. Adoption Alliance’s goal is to assist all parties of an adoption plan with the best services to meeting everyone’s needs.

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Will the adoption plan cost me anything?

No. Adoption Alliance may provide financial assistance based upon your needs. We can make arrangements to help you cover necessary living expenses such as clothing, food, housing, phone service, pregnancy related transportation and utilities. Also, birth mothers without access to medical insurance or Medicaid are eligible for pregnancy related medical assistance. Contact us to learn more.

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How long will I receive financial assistance?

When you create an adoption plan with us, financial assistance may be provided during your pregnancy and up to eight weeks after the birth. Contact Adoption Alliance for more information regarding financial assistance.

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If I am a minor, do I need my parents’ permission?
No. However, in many cases, we find that the adoption process can be less stressful if you are open and honest with family and friends concerning your decision.
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How will I know my baby is in a good home?
As the birth mother, you absolutely may choose who raises your baby. Adoption Alliance has an extensive screening process for prospective adoptive parents to ensure that you have the best families to choose from. Every family has an adoption profile for you to review. If you want to know more about the adoptive family, we will arrange for you to meet and talk to the adoptive parents prior to placement.
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Can I help pick the adoptive parents for my baby?
Yes. You will have the opportunity to select the adoptive family based on your preferences for your child. Adoption Alliance will present you with profiles of families in waiting. If you are not comfortable selecting an adoptive family, we are happy to choose a family for you.

I Want To Adopt

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What types of adoptions do you do?

All of our adoptions are domestic and the majority are semi-open. Although, we can do fully open adoptions if both parties agree to it. Adoption Alliance’s goal is to assist all parties of an adoption plan with the best services to meeting everyone’s needs.

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Is there an age requirement for adoptive parents and their children?

Adoptive parents must be between the ages of 25-50 years old at the time of application. Families with children under the age of 2 years old are not eligible to apply until the child has reached age 2.

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Can a single parent or same-sex couple adopt?

Yes, non-traditional families can adopt through our agency.

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How long is the average wait to adopt a child?

The average wait time will vary, as it is the birth mother who selects the adoptive family for her child. An adoptive family may positively affect their waiting period by being flexible and open to different situations; such as race of child, prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs, etc. Please discuss the situations you may be comfortable with.

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Can adoptive parents create their own profile?

No. The agency has specific guidelines for our profiles. The agency’s Profile Specialist will create a beautiful profile with your input. This service is included as a part of the agency fee.

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Are adoptive parents able to talk to and meet the birth parents?

In most cases, the birth parents do want to talk to the adoptive parents during the pregnancy, as well as meet them. Some birth mothers may request an open adoption to include annual visits following placement. Others may be comfortable with a semi-open adoption in which photos/updates are shared following placement. Once the child is placed with the adoptive parents, the adoptive parents send pictures and letters for the birth parents through the agency. This is done once per month for the first six months and annually on the child’s birth date through 18 years of age.

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What are the birth parent relinquishment laws in Texas?

The birth mother cannot sign a relinquishment document until 48 hours after the birth in Texas. An unmarried birth father can sign prior to the birth, but his parental rights cannot be terminated until after the birth. A husband must also wait until 48 hours after the birth to sign a relinquishment document in the State of Texas. Once the relinquishment document is signed, it is irrevocable.

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What if the birth parents decide to parent before the relinquishment is signed?

The adoptive parents agency fee will be transferred to a new case and their profile will be made available for consideration for potential new case opportunities.

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What happens if we decide not to adopt through your agency and we have already retained you? What will we lose?

Any agency fee that has already been paid at the time of your decision, because all fees are non-refundable once paid.

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Is the Home Study included in the agency fee?
No. The Home Study is a separate cost.
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Will the agency accept a Home Study from another home study provider?
The Home Study must be reviewed by the agency to make sure it addresses all Texas requirements. If not, a brief addendum or Home Study update may be required. Some states require for a Home Study to be completed by a licensed agency versus a private social worker.
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How long is the Home Study valid in Texas?
In Texas, the Home Study must be updated every twelve months from the date of the last home visit.
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What happens after we are approved as Parents in Waiting?
You will receive an approval letter via email and a request for the non-refundable Parents in Waiting Fee. Once the agency receives funds, a member of the agency staff will conduct an introduction call with you. At this time, your profile will be added to our website and hard copies of your profile are prepared for presentation to birth parents. All active Adoptive Parents in Waiting will begin receiving emails when the agency has a birth mother to match with a waiting family. The birth mother’s essential information will be provided within the email and her de-identified Genetic, Social & Medical History form will be attached. The case details may not match the preferences selected in your Adoptive Parent Preference form. However, each case will be presented as an opportunity to have your profile considered. We understand that some of our clients’ preferences can change in time and with additional research. Therefore, we want to give our families the ability to consider each case. Clients are asked not to contact the caseworker to obtain further details as all pertinent information will be provided in the email. The information presented is only for Adoption Alliance Families in Waiting. Adoptive parents will have a given time frame (typically 24 hours or less) to reply to the email to indicate that they would like to have their profile presented in the given situation. This time should be used to conduct research and determine if you have a comfort level committing to the case if selected. There is no need to reply regarding cases which you are not interested in having your profile presented. Adoptive parents should check their email regularly due to the necessary short timeframe of a response. Also, please note that your profile may not be presented if your profile does not match the birth mother’s preferences. The family who is selected by the birth mother will be contacted by the agency caseworker.
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What information is provided to adoptive parents upon selection by a birth mother?

The adoptive parents will receive all available information regarding the case. This may include the birth parent(s) Genetic, Social & Medical History form(s), prenatal records if applicable and available pertaining specifically to the case presented. A photo of the birth mother may or may not be available and should not be expected in order to make a decision regarding the case. Adoptive parents are given 24 hours to make a commitment to the case or the agency must contact the birth parents’ second choice for an adoptive family. In most cases, prenatal records may not be immediately available as the agency must request the records. Obtaining medical records typically takes several weeks.

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Does the agency do a drug screen on the birth mother?
The agency will request that the birth mother’s OB order a tox screen. However, we cannot guarantee that the doctor will comply with our request. Unless there is reason to believe the birth mother is using drugs during the pregnancy, only one drug screen is requested. Drug screen results are typically not available at the time the case is presented to the adoptive parents as the agency must request the tox screen.
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Do most of the birth mothers have Medicaid?
Most of the birth mothers are eligible for Medicaid. The agency will assist them with this as much as possible.
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What is the adoption law related to absent birth fathers in your state?
We must address a birth father’s parental rights; even if the birth father is “unknown”. Specific methods will be addressed on a case by case basis. It is very common that few details are known regarding the birth father of the child. Adoptive families should be aware of this and have a comfort level with this type of circumstance.

I'm Pregnant/Already Delivered

If you’re feeling uncertain, remember that it’s okay to seek out advice and explore your options.

Waiting/Meet Families

Start your heartfelt journey to discover the ideal family that will cherish and provide your child with a loving home.

I Want To Adopt

Embark on a transformative path toward parenthood by welcoming a child into your family.

Adoption Alliance works directly with adoptive parents, attorneys, birth parents, social service agencies and social workers.

Post Adoption Resources

If you were adopted through Adoption Alliance and would like a copy of your adoption records, please click the below link. Please complete the form and return it to our office. The records will be de-identified, therefore there will be no identifying information about your birth family. The records you are requesting will likely be the same information your adoptive parents received at the time of your adoption. Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call our offices.

If you were not adopted through Adoption Alliance, we do not have access to your records.  You will need to contact the agency you were adopted through.

If you placed a child for adoption through Adoption Alliance, the records include information that you provided during your adoption plan. They do not contain information on your birth child.  If you are interested in reunification, please look into the Texas Central Adoption Registry (more information below) . We are happy to provide you with the information in your Adoption Alliance file.

There is a $75 processing fee to obtain your records.  The processing fee is used to cover the costs of researching, recreating and redacting your record. The processing fee does not cover the delivery of the record.