Adoption Knowledge Affiliates, Inc. in collaboration with Jewish Family Service, developed this directory as a means of providing information on the available open adoption resources in the Austin area for adopted persons, birth parents, adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, and professionals. This directory is not a complete listing of all adoption resources in Central Texas, but rather it is a directory of agencies and professionals that may support an open adoption policy. Inclusion in this directory does not imply endorsement by Adoption Knowledge Affiliates or Jewish Family Service. Contact the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services at 1-800-233-3405 for individual agency complaint records.

For more information about this resource directory, please contact Adoption Knowledge Affiliates at 512-442-8252 or aka@adoptionknowledge.org.

Adoption Agencies:

ADOPTION ADVOCATES, INC.
1215 Parkway
Austin, TX  78703
512-477-1122 (office)
Contact person:  Rory Hall
Email:  rory@adoptionadvocates.net
Hours:  9:00-5:00, Monday – Friday
Fees:  Standard agency fee $15,000; comprehensive fee $28,000
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, for children with special needs.
Community served:  All states except New York.
Eligibility requirements:  Two year marriage requirement; must be at least 25 years of age and no older than 55; single persons can adopt; emotionally and financially stable; flexible regarding openness in adoption.
Services provided:  Comprehensive adoption services, pre and post-placement counseling, counseling and financial assistance for birthparents, pre-adoption workshops 4 times per year, traditional placement services, termination of parental rights and finalization of adoption, some search assistance.

ADOPTION AFFILIATES
4804 Grover
Austin, TX  78756
512-454-1655 (office)
512-458-9769 (fax)
1-800-441-6695
Website: www.connectinghearts.org
Hours:  8:00-5:00 Monday – Friday and 8:00-12:00 Saturday
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, for families able to take a child with special needs.
Community served:  Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico
Eligibility requirements:  Applicants for adoption must be 21-45 years of age. Couples must have a stable marriage of at least two years, a medical reason for adoption, and not more than one child already in the home. Single parents are accepted who fit the age guideline and who do not have more than one child in the home. These requirements are waived for families able to take a child with special needs.
Services provided:  Adoption services, counseling services for birthmothers in association with Reproductive Services Ambulatory Care Centers, open adoptions available.

CASEY FAMILY SERVICES
5201 E. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX  78741
512-892-5890 (office)
512-892-7478 (fax)
www.casey.org or www.caseyfamilyprog_austin.com
Contact Person:  Marilyn Waters or Ashley Montague
Email:  mwaters@casey.org or amontague@casey.org
Hours:  8:30-5:30 Monday – Friday
Fees:  None
Community served:  Austin and surrounding areas
Eligibility requirements:  No discrimination based on religion, sex, marital status, race or sexual orientation.
Services provided:  Placement services for older, special needs children in state custody, pre-adoption training, certify families, supervision of placement, consummation, post-placement counseling, home studies (only if family will be certified to adopt through Casey.)

THE CHILDREN’S SHELTER OF SAN ANTONIO
625 N. Alamo
San Antonio, TX 78215
512-223-6281 (office)
1-800-229-5874
512-223-3142 (fax)
Website:
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Sliding scale based on family income. No fee for children with special needs placed through the Texas Department of Public and Regulatory Services.
Community served:  Bexar and surrounding counties. For African-American families and families wanting children with special needs, referrals are accepted statewide based on availability of children.
Eligibility requirements:  Must be at least 25, married 2 years, or single.
Services provided:  Adoption and placement services. CSSA specializes in the placement of African American children with families of similar background and other children with special needs. Families are trained in the Model Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP). CSSA offers maternity counseling; post adoption services for birthparents, adoptee, and adoptive parents; immigration studies; court appointed social studies; post-placement supervision for other agencies; circumstantial identified adoptions services; foster care program; and children’s emergency shelter.

DILLON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
PO Box 2785
Coppell, TX 75019
972-263-1539 (office)
972-624-8241 (fax)
Contact: Melanie Chung-Sherman, LMSW, LCPA
Website: www.dillonadopt.com
Email: DillonTX@dillonadopt.com
Hours: 8-5, Monday-Friday
Fees: vary by country, range $16-25,000 (including travel) plus home study and post placement
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Some waiting children have grants available
Community served: US citizens in all states and overseas
Eligibility Requirements: married 2 years, 25-50 years of age, $30k minimum income, singles may adopt from Vietnam, India or Haiti, requirements may vary by country
Services provided: Founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, Dillon International provides adoption placement from S. Korea, China, Vietnam, India and Haiti (children with special needs are also available); home study and post placement supervision; pre-adoption and post-adoption/parenting education; heritage camps and birthland tours; counseling; and search and intermediary services.

GREAT WALL OF CHINA ADOPTION
248 Addie Roy Road, A102
Austin, TX
512-323-9595 (office)
512-323-9599 (fax)
Website:  www.gwcadopt.org
Contact Person:  varies by state of residence
Email:  info@gwcadopt.org
Hours:  8:00-5:00, Monday – Friday
Fees:  $6000 Agency (TX and OK), $4500 outside TX/OK; total costs $18,000-$20,000
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  No
Community served:  American families interested in adopting internationally from China.
Eligibility requirements:  Single females (waiting list) or married couples, at least one parent a U.S. citizen, age 30-55 yrs; income:  base $20,000 with $10,000 per child in household including adoptive child, no more than 2 divorces each spouse or single applicant.
Services Provided:  International adoption program in China; pre and post placement counseling with social worker; referral to support groups.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES- HOUSTON
4131 S. Braeswood
P.O. BOX 20548
Houston, TX  77225
713-667-9336 (office)
713-667-3619 (fax)
Website:  www.jfshouston.org
Contact person:  Barbi G. Topek, LMSW-ACP
Email:  jfs@jfshouston.org
Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:30-5:30 p.m.
Fees:  Based upon services requested
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, for counseling services
Community served:  Serves any individual, couple, or family who would like to use services.
Eligibility:  No eligibility requirements.  An intake interview is arranged with Adoption Resource Specialist. 
Services provided:  Domestic and international adoption services, international placement services, pre and post-placement counseling and workshops, domestic and international home studies, support groups, search assistance in adoptions facilitated by JFS of Houston.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF TEXAS, INC.
8305 Cross Park Drive
Austin, TX  78754
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 140767
Austin, TX  78714-0767
512-454-4611 (office)
512-454-9385 (fax)
Website:  www.lsss.org
Contact Persons:  Domestic adoptions – Karalyn Heimlich, International adoptions – Konnie Gregg
Email:  karalynh@lsss.org or konnie@lsss.org
Hours:  8:30-5:00 Monday – Friday
Fees:  Depends on program
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, based upon program
Community served:  State of Texas
Eligibility requirements:  Domestic infant – under 45, married 2 years, no more than 1 child in the home, proof of infertility.  Older American or International children – based upon needs of child and/or native country requirements.
Services provided:  Domestic and international adoptions, placement services for children in state custody, pre and post placement counseling and workshops for birthparents and adoptive parents who are LSS clients, international program with Russia and work in conjunction with other international agencies for other countries.

METHODIST MISSION HOME
6487 Whitby
San Antonio, TX  78240
210-692-9585 (office)
210-699-1866 (fax)
Website:  www.mmhome.org
Hours:  24 hours/ 7 days a week through 1-800-842-5433
Fees:  No fees for birthparents.  Contact Mona Parks for adoptive parent fees
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, contact Mona Parks
Community served:  Southwest (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico) families facing an unplanned pregnancy.
Eligibility requirements:  Must be at least 4 months pregnant. Will work with any age, religion, race or marital status.
Services provided:  All legal adoption services including open adoption and older child adoption through TDPRS; international adoption in Kazakhstan and Russia (soon Romania); pre and post-placement counseling; counseling and some financial assistance for birthparents; open adoption services; Adoption Readiness (open adoption) and post-placement workshops; domestic and international home studies; placement services; legal services paid for by adoptive family; birthparent support group on Thursdays; adoption outreach and education services provided to clinics, schools, crisis pregnancy centers and the like.

THE MIRACLE FOUNDATION, INC.
1821 Westlake Drive, Suite 110
Austin, TX
512-633-2557
Website:  www.themiracle-foundation.com
Contact Person:  Caroline Boudreaux
Email:  love@themiracle-foundation.com
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes
Community served:  International, Indian adoptions
Services provided:  International adoption services, domestic and international home studies, international placement services, pre and post placement counseling.

TEXAS ADOPTION RESOURCE EXCHANGE
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AND REGULATORY SERVICES (TDPRS)
P.O. Box 149030
Austin, TX  78714-9030
1-800-233-3405
Website:  www.adoptchildren.org
Hours:  8:00-5:00, Monday-Friday
Fees:
Community served:  State of Texas
Services provided:  Provides adoption of children with special needs by families who are willing to adopt them. A child with special needs is defined as:  being at least 6 years old; being at least 2 years old and a member of a racial or ethnic minority; having a professionally diagnosed physical, mental, or emotional disabling condition; or belonging to a sibling group who needs to be placed together.

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Adoption Services:

ADOPT FOR THE LOVE OF A CHILD (AdoptTLC)
526 Kingwood Drive Suite 349
Kingwood, Texas 77339
281-507-7626 (office)
281-689-3084 (fax)
Contact: Catherine Richardson, ACSW,LCSW, LCPA
Website: www.adopt4tlc.org
Email: cathie@adopt4tlc.com
Hours: 8-5, Monday-Friday
Fees: vary by service
Community served: US citizens in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi
Eligibility Requirements: 25 to 50 years of age, income of $30,000 minimum income, requirements may vary by country
Services provided: AdoptTLC provides home study and post placement services and pre-adoption and post-adoption parenting education.

ADOPTION COUNSELING AND SEARCH
206 Lochaven
San Antonio, TX  78213 (Mailing address only)
210-341-2070
Contact person:  Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT
Email:  pdorner@msn.com
Hours:  Flexible
Fees:  Depends on service
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  No
Community served:  National
Eligibility requirements:  None
Services provided:  Private practice focusing on adoption and foster care issues through education, counseling support, and trainings and conferences. Services include pre and post - placement counseling with expectant mother/family/father and prospective adoptive parents, infertility counseling, education and counseling to support any member of adoption triad, will represent adoptee, birthparents, adoptive parents, and extended family as appropriate in search assistance and opening adoption.

ADOPTION DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
7102 Bill Hughes Road
Austin, TX  78745
512-535-4777 (office)
512-416-7788 (fax)
Contact Person:  Janie Cravens, LMSW-ACP
Fees:  Home studies $650, other services vary
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  No
Community served:  Texas
Services provided:  Pre and post-placement counseling and consultation for adoptive parents, counseling and referral for birthparents, adoption workshops on all topics for domestic and international adoptions, home studies, expert testimony for legal cases, consultation to agencies regarding policies and cases.

AFFIRMING SOLUTIONS
1800 NE Loop 410 #307
San Antonio, TX 78217
210-326-7447
Contact Person: Arlis FLaten Schmidt LCSW
E mail: arlis@affirmingsolutions.com or redraider238w@aol.com
Hours: Flexible
Fees: Home studies- $800.00.
Post placement supervision -$150.00.
Educational Seminars - costs depends on needs.
Sliding scale: No
Community served: South Texas
Elegilibity Requirements: None
Services provide: Home studies; domestic, international and step-parent. Post placement supervision. Counseling. Educational seminars.

BENITA RUBINETT, LMSW-ACP
4131 Spicewood Springs, H-2
Austin, TX
512-343-1560 (office)
512-480-0785 (fax)
Email:  brubinett@austin.rr.com
Hours:  Variable Monday – Friday
Fees:  $80.00 per session
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes, on a case by case basis
Community served:  No restrictions except children under age 8 (no real play therapy set up)
Eligibility requirements:  Self referrals – no particular requirements
Services provided:  Counseling, home studies, pre and post placement counseling, counseling for birthparents, infertility counseling for individual and couples, domestic and international home studies, placement services.

CANDACE SMITH, LCSW
1315 Sam Bass Circle
Round Rock, TX 78681
512-680-0425 (office)
Email: candace.smith@roundrocktherapy.com
Hours: Variable; Monday - Saturday
Fees: $80.00 per session, insurance accepted, call to get fees for Adoption Home Studies
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Not at this time
Community served: children, adolescents, adult and families
Eligibility requirements: Self referrals - no particular requirements
Services provided: Counseling, home studies, pre and post placement counseling, counseling for birthparents, placement services.

DILLON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
PO Box 2785
Coppell, TX 75019
972-263-1539 (office)
972-624-8241 (fax)
Contact: Melanie Chung-Sherman, LMSW, LCPA
Website: www.dillonadopt.com
Email: DillonTX@dillonadopt.com
Hours: 8-5, Monday-Friday
Fees: vary by country, range $16-25,000 (including travel) plus home study and post placement
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Some waiting children have grants available
Community served: US citizens in all states and overseas
Eligibility Requirements: married 2 years, 25-50 years of age, $30k minimum income, singles may adopt from Vietnam, India or Haiti, requirements may vary by country
Services provided: Founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, Dillon International provides adoption placement from S. Korea, China, Vietnam, India and Haiti (children with special needs are also available); home study and post placement supervision; pre-adoption and post-adoption/parenting education; heritage camps and birthland tours; counseling; and search and intermediary services.

JETTA TODARO, M.A.
512-477-2250
Services Provided:  Mediation and noncontentious problem solving, based on common interests of those involved, and facilitated by an impartial third party. Agreements on issues are reached between or among members of the triad (or it’s support system) and topics may include relationships, communication, family meetings to negotiate ground rules, parent/adolescent, blended, or extended family issues, and negotiating ongoing interfaith traditions.
Hours:  Weekdays; evenings and weekend appointments available
Fees: Depends on service
Sliding scale/reduced fees:     Yes
Email:  jettat@academicplanet.com

ROBYN L. GOBBEL, LMSW
Home Study Specialist
512-565-8357
Email:  TxHomeStudies@gmail.com
Website:  www.TexasHomeStudies.com
Hours:  Weekend and Evening Appointments Available
Fees:  Varies based on type of Home Study
Community served:  Texas, based in Austin
Services provided:  Robyn is a licensed master-level social worker who has completed over 150 home studies for families in Austin, Killeen, San Antonio, and Bastrop. Robyn has experience in all types of domestic adoption home studies, including private and agency adoptions, kinship adoptions, step-parent/second parent adoptions, as well as custody cases.

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Counseling Services:

ADOPTION COUNSELING AND SEARCH
206 Lochaven
San Antonio, TX  78213 (Mailing address only)
210-341-2070
Contact person:  Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT
Email:  pdorner@msn.com
Hours:  Flexible
Fees:  Depends on service
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  No
Community served:  National
Eligibility requirements:  None
Services provided:  Private practice focusing on adoption and foster care issues through education, counseling support, and trainings and conferences. Services include pre and post - placement counseling with expectant mother/family/father and prospective adoptive parents, infertility counseling, education and counseling to support any member of adoption triad, will represent adoptee, birthparents, adoptive parents, and extended family as appropriate in search assistance and opening adoption.

AFFIRMING SOLUTIONS
1800 NE Loop 410 #307
San Antonio, TX 78217
210-326-7447
Contact person: Arlis FLaten Schmidt LCSW
Email: arlis@affirmingsolutions.com or redradier238w@aol.com
Fees: Most insurances accepted. Private Pay basis - $75.00 per session.
Sliding fee: No
Community served: Children and Adults; Birthparents, Adoptive Parents or Adoptees in the San Antonio area.
Services provided: Counseling for issues such as infertility, attachment, search, reunion and aftermath, sensory integration, grief and separation, how to talk to your child about adption, and the how to's of the adoption process.

AUSTIN ATTACHMENT AND COUNSELING CENTER
512-206-0260
Contact person: Dr. Stephen J. Terrell
Website: http://www.austinattach.com/
Austin Attachment and Counseling Center specializes in the treatment of Early Developmental Trauma and it affect on bonding and attachment. Stephen Terrell is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist, and is in his final year of training for Somatic Experiencing.

AUSTIN CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER
810 W. 45^th Street
Austin, TX  78751
512-451-2242 (office)
512-454-9204 (fax)
Website: www.austinchildguidance.org
Email: staff@austinchildguidance.org
Hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00am- 8:00pm; Friday 8:00am – 6:00pm
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  Yes
Services provided:  Provides mental health evaluation and counseling services to children under 18 years old who are experiencing emotional, behavioral or social problems. Individual, family and group therapy; experiential activities; parent education.

BENITA RUBINETT, LMSW-ACP
4131 Spicewood Springs, H-2
Austin, TX
512-343-1560 (office)
512-480-0785 (fax)
Email: brubinett@austin.rr.com
Hours: Variable Monday – Friday
Fees: $80.00 per session
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes, on a case by case basis
Community served: No restrictions except children under age 8 (no real play therapy set up)
Eligibility requirements: Self referrals – no particular requirements
Services provided: Counseling, home studies, pre and post placement counseling, counseling for birthparents, infertility counseling for individual and couples, domestic and international home studies, placement services.

CANDACE SMITH, LCSW
1315 Sam Bass Circle
Round Rock, TX 78681
512-680-0425 (office)
Email: candace.smith@roundrocktherapy.com
Hours: Variable; Monday - Saturday
Fees: $80.00 per session, insurance accepted, call to get fees for Adoption Home Studies
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Not at this time
Community served: children, adolescents, adult and families
Eligibility requirements: Self referrals - no particular requirements
Services provided: Counseling, home studies, pre and post placement counseling, counseling for birthparents, placement services.

CARL B. GACONO, Ph.D.
4131 Spicewood Springs Rd., H-2
Austin, TX, 78759
512-472-4348 (office)
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:00-7:00, Special Appointments Friday & Saturday
Fees: Full Fee $125
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes
Community served: Adults, children, adolescents, couples, families. Services Provided: Psychotherapy for individuals, couples, or families. Psychological and therapeutic assessment. Dr. Gacono has written or edited over 60 articles and book chapters, and four books. Dr. Gacono is an adopted person with an expertise in working with adopted persons, birth parents, and adoptive parents.

FOR KID’S SAKE
805 Rio Grande, Suite #2
512-476-9490 (office)
512-476-7235 (fax)
Website: www.for-kids-sake.com
Contact Person: Claire Flynn, Gail Allen, or Leslie Kerr
Hours: By appointment
Fees: Varies depending on service.  Workshops are $35 a person
Sliding scale/reduced fees? No
Community served: All are welcome
Eligibility requirements: Registration form for workshops; phone intake for consultations.
Services provided: Workshops and private consultation for parents on normal child developmental areas; family, child and individual therapy services; books on parenting topics; children’s books also available.

JOELLEN M. PETERS, Ph.D.
4101 Medical Parkway, Suite 101
Austin, TX
512-627-1308 (office)
Hours: Varies, currently Monday and Thursday, 8:00-6:00
Fees: Full fee $110
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes, sliding scale to $75
Community served: Adults, children, families, couples, all ethnicities, religious affiliations, sexual orientations.
Services Provided: Psychotherapy for individuals, couples or families. Group therapy for adopted children. Academic and Psychological Assessment and Testing. Dr. Peters is an adoptee who has searched for and found her birthparents. Has worked with a number of families and children 7 – 15 years post adoption.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE– AUSTIN
512-250-1043 (office)
512-257-7179 (fax)
11940 Jollyville Rd., Suite 110 South
Austin, TX  78759
Hours: By appointment
Fees: $75/hour individual/family.  $95/hour couples
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Based on income
Community served: All are welcome
Eligibility requirements: Registration form for workshops; phone intake for consultations.
Contact person:  Nicole Gollis, LMSW
Email: nicole.gollis@jcaaonline.org
Website: www.jcaaonline.org/jfs

LYNNE A. GACONO, Ph.D.
4131 Spicewood Springs Rd., H-2
Austin, TX, 78759
512-472-4348 (office)
Hours: Varies, Tuesday & Thursday (afternoon/evening), Appointments Friday
Fees: Full Fee $125
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes
Community served: Adults & adolescents.
Services Provided: Psychotherapy for individuals. Groups for adolescent girls. Dr. Lynne Gacono specializes in the psychological treatment women's issues. She sees women and adolescent girls with health problems including eating disorders. Dr. Gacono works closely with a treatment team including a dietician, when working with persons with eating disorders.

PATRICIA AXSOM O'BRIEN, M.Div., LCSW
4131 Spicewood Springs, D-4
Austin, TX
512-699-8347
Email: axsomobrien@yahoo.com
Fees: $110 per session
Sliding scale? yes
Community served: Individual adults, couples, children, families, adoption professionals.
Eligibility requirements: All welcome
Services: Psychotherapy, pre- and post-placement counseling, infertility counseling, child play and family therapy, healing reproductive loss, education, consultation, home studies.

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Legal Services:

SUZANNE BRYANT, ADOPTION ATTORNEY
611 West 15^th Street
Austin, TX  78701
512-476-4760 (office)
512-479-4087 (fax)
Hours: 8:30 – 5:30, Monday – Friday
Fees: Flat fee for most services
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes
Community served: All
Services provided: Legal services for all types of adoptions; pre-adoption consultation for those considering adoption. Member of JCAA and Temple Beth Israel. Works with many gay/lesbian clients.

CARLA MARIA CRISFORD, ATTORNEY AT LAW
512-442-3430 (office)
512-447-5442 (fax)
P.O. Box 3446
Austin, TX  78764-3446
Fees: Vary according to complexity of case (example, CPS cases $700, private $1000-2000).  Some public adoptions are reimbursed by the state for adoption costs.
Community served:  Will travel to any county within a few hours drive of Austin.
Services provided: Legal services for adoptions.  Will also do criminal cases and Child Protective Service abuse cases.

THE LAW OFFICES OF ROBERT P. HOFFMAN, P.C.
812 San Antonio #100
Austin, TX 
512-453-1871 (office)
512-469-2951 (fax)
www.texasadopt.com
Contact person: Robert Hoffman
Email: rphoffmanlawofc@aol.com
Hours: 8:00 – 5:00  Monday – Friday
Fees: Reduced at $200.00 an hour
Community served: State of Texas
Services provided: Legal services

MARK W. SIMS, ATTORNEY AT LAW
606 W. 11^th Street
Austin, TX  78701
512-476-7787 (office)
512-476-9918 (fax)
Website: www.austinmediation.com
Email: texaslaw@quin.com
Hours: 9:00-5:00 Monday – Friday
Fees: $150.00 an hour
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes
Community served: Austin, Travis and Williamson counties
Intake requirements: $50 consultation fee
Services provided: Legal services in Texas, interstate and international adoptions, mediation, family law.

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Search Assistance:

ADOPTEES’ LIBERTY MOVEMENT ASSOCIATION (ALMA)
P.O. Box 14089
Austin, TX  78761
Website: www.almasociety.org
Email: manderson@almasociety.org
Services offered: Search assistance through a national reunion registry data bank.

ADOPTION COUNSELING AND SEARCH
206 Lochaven
San Antonio, TX  78213 (Mailing address only)
210-341-2070
Contact person: Patricia Martinez Dorner, MA, LPC, LMFT
Email: pdorner@msn.com
Hours: Flexible
Fees: Depends on service
Sliding scale/reduced fees? No
Community served: National
Eligibility requirements: None
Services provided: Private practice focusing on adoption and foster care issues through education, counseling support, and trainings and conferences.  Services include pre and post - placement counseling with expectant mother/family/father and prospective adoptive parents, infertility counseling, education and counseling to support any member of adoption triad, will represent adoptee, birthparents, adoptive parents, and extended family as appropriate in search assistance and opening adoption.

ADOPTION KNOWLEDGE AFFILIATES (AKA)
P.O. Box 4082
Austin, TX  78704
512-442-8AKA
Website: www.adoptionknowledge.org
Email: aka@adoptionknowledge.org
Fees: $48 membership fee. You do not have to be a member to attend meetings and support groups.
Sliding scale/reduced fees?  $30 membership fee for students
Community served: Adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, professionals, and anyone whose life has been touched by adoption.
Services provided:  Educational meetings for all triad members followed by support groups the third Monday of each month. Search assistance for family members disconnected due to closed adoption the first Monday of each month. ($10 fee for non-members) All meetings are held at 8332 Mesa Drive at 7:00 p.m. Members also have access to extensive lending library with books, audio and video tapes and receive a quarterly newsletter. AKA also holds an annual conference with nationally recognized adoption experts.

CENTRAL ADOPTION REGISTRY
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS
P.O. Box 140123
Austin, TX 78714-0123
512-458-7388 (office)
512-458-7783 (fax)
Website: www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/adoptionregistry.shtm
Contact person:  Patricia Molina
Email: Patricia.Molina@dshs.state.tx.us
Hours: 8:00-5:00, Monday – Friday
Fees: $30
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Yes
Community served: Adoptees, birth parents, siblings, courts, other interested parties
Eligibility requirements: The adoptee must be born and/or adopted in Texas.
Services provided: Social, genetic history reports; defunct child placing agency records, updated histories, adoption information in regards to the Texas Family Code; Search assistance through adoption registry.

DILLON INTERNATIONAL, INC.
PO Box 2785
Coppell, TX 75019
972-263-1539 (office)
972-624-8241 (fax)
Contact: Melanie Chung-Sherman, LMSW, LCPA
Website: www.dillonadopt.com
Email: DillonTX@dillonadopt.com
Hours: 8-5, Monday-Friday
Fees: vary by country, range $16-25,000 (including travel) plus home study and post placement
Sliding scale/reduced fees? Some waiting children have grants available
Community served: US citizens in all states and overseas
Eligibility Requirements: married 2 years, 25-50 years of age, $30k minimum income, singles may adopt from Vietnam, India or Haiti, requirements may vary by country
Services provided: Founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, Dillon International provides adoption placement from S. Korea, China, Vietnam, India and Haiti (children with special needs are also available); home study and post placement supervision; pre-adoption and post-adoption/parenting education; heritage camps and birthland tours; counseling; and search and intermediary services.

SEARCHLINE OF TEXAS
1516 Old Orchard
Irving, TX  75061
972-445-7005 (office)
972-721-1712
Contact Person: Pat Peme
Hours: 10:00-5:00, Monday – Saturday
Fees: Varies
Community served: Mainly Dallas-Fort Worth area
Services provided: Search assistance

TxCARE (TEXAS COALITION FOR ADOPTION RESOURCES AND EDUCATION)
Website: www.txcare.org
Email: txcare@txcare.org
Community served: Texas
Services provided: Search assistance, online support groups, online reunion registry

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Support Groups:

ADOPTION KNOWLEDGE AFFILIATES (AKA)
P.O. Box 4082
Austin, TX  78704
512-442-8AKA
Website: www.adoptionknowledge.org
Email: aka@adoptionknowledge.org
Fees: $48 membership fee.  You do not have to be a member to attend meetings and support groups.
Sliding scale/reduced fees? $30 membership fee for students
Community served: Adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents, prospective adoptive parents, professionals, and anyone whose life has been touched by adoption.
Services provided:  Educational meetings for all triad members followed by support groups the third Monday of each month. Search assistance for family members disconnected due to closed adoption the first Monday of each month. ($10 fee for non-members)  All meetings are held at 8332 Mesa Drive at 7:00 p.m.  Members also have access to extensive lending library with books, audio and video tapes and receive a quarterly newsletter. AKA also holds an annual conference with nationally recognized adoption experts.

AUSTIN COUNCIL ON ADOPTABLE CHILDREN
P.O. Box 14932
Austin, TX   78761
Website: www.austin-coac.org
Contact Person: Shane Stoddard
Fees: No fee. If joining then $10 per year per family
Community served:  Austin and surrounding area
Eligibility requirements:  Interest in adoption and waiting children. Support for adoptive families.
Services provided:  Support groups twice a month for adults and children, mostly for families with special needs children; pre and post placement counseling in group meetings; adoption workshops with speakers on adoption topics.

FRUA-AUSTIN (FAMILIES FOR RUSSIAN AND UKRANIAN ADOPTION)
512-372-8898
Website: www.frua-austin.org
Contact person: Debbie Gold
Email: debbiegold15@yahoo.com
Fees: $35 annual dues
Sliding scale/reduced fees? No
Community served: Families who have adopted or are in the process of adopting from Russia, Ukraine and neighboring countries in Eastern Europe.
Services provided: Support network, cultural events, resources.

FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM CHINA – AUSTIN
Website: www.main.org/fccaustin
Contact Person: Abby Turner at 512-733-2268
Fees: $25 annual dues
Community served:  Families adopting from China.  Single parents, married or unmarried couples, waiting parents, grandparents, friends of adoptive families and people who are exploring adoption are welcome.
Services provided: Support for families who have adopted in China through post-adoption and Chinese culture programs, quarterly newsletter, organized celebrations of Chinese festivals and holidays as well as playgroups.

RESOLVE OF CENTRAL TEXAS
P.O. Box 49783
Austin, TX  78765-9783
512-453-2171
http://resolvecentraltexas.org/ or www.resolve.org
Contact Person: Elizabeth McKenzie
Fees: Annual Memberships starting at $45
Community served: Austin and surrounding area through the chapter and nationally through the corporate office.
Eligibility requirements: None
Services provided: RESOLVE’s mission is to provide timely, compassionate support and information to individuals who are experiencing infertility and to increase awareness of infertility issues through advocacy and education. The volunteer run chapters provide support groups, newsletters, HelpLine services, pre-adoption workshops and general meetings. 

TxCARE (TEXAS COALITION FOR ADOPTION RESOURCES AND EDUCATION)
Website: www.txcare.org
Email: txcare@txcare.org
Community served: Texas
Services provided:  Search assistance, online support groups, online reunion registry