Foster Care & AdoptionINFORMATION PACKET

One more child’s life you

forever changed.

the blair family

Kinsley, age 8, enjoys spending time with her mom—whether they are cooking, watching a movie or doing “girly”

things—while her little brothers hang out with dad. Kinsley spent time in foster care before being adopted by her forever

family. DePelchin Children’s Center supports Kinsley and her family with post-adoption services.

Every child deserves to have a loving family—to live

in a home that provides stability and opportunities

to grow. Tragically, in the Greater Houston area,

hundreds of children are removed from their homes

each year due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Many of these children have experienced trauma

and desperately need the care and support of a

loving foster or adoptive family.

The foster care and adoption programs at DePelchin

Children’s Center provide you with the opportunity

to make a lasting difference in the life of a child.

For more than 100 years, DePelchin has been

partnering with families and individuals who have

answered the call to foster or adopt. We invite you to

join us in caring for these children and become a part of

the DePelchin family.

the espey family

FOSTER CARE

There are more than 3,000 children currently in foster care in the Greater Houston area,

and this number continues to grow each year. DePelchin’s foster care program offers parents

the rewarding opportunity to share their homes—and lives—with children in need of temporary care.

These children are in the custody of Child Protective Services, having been removed

from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. In most cases, the ultimate goal is

to reunite these children with their birth families once situations at home have stabilized.

ADOPTION

Of the 3,000 children currently in foster care in the Greater Houston area, more than 1,700 are

waiting for permanent, loving homes. As a provider of both foster care and adoption services,

DePelchin is uniquely equipped to help families and individuals adopt children who are in the care

of Child Protective Services. DePelchin also offers a private infant adoption program.

BECOMING A FOSTER OR ADOPTIVE PARENT WITH DEPELCHIN

Foster and adoptive parents are everyday people from every walk of life. They share a genuine

desire to care for children and the ability to provide a safe, nurturing home. To foster or adopt

a child, prospective parents should meet the following minimum requirements:

> be at least 21 years of age> be in good physical health> pass a criminal background check

> be able to financially provide for a child

At DePelchin, we understand that the commitment to foster or adopt comes with great rewards—

and great challenges. That’s why we’re here to support our foster and adoptive families every step

of the way. We offer a wide range of services to our families, including specialized training,

therapeutic counseling and in-home support.

Devin, age 9, is an avid boy scout, bike rider and board game champion. He was adopted as an infant by his loving

forever family. Years later, Devin became big brother to his spunky twin sisters who were adopted out of foster care

with support from DePelchin Children’s Center.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it expensive to foster or adopt?

No. Foster parents receive monthly financial support to help care for each child in their home,

and in many cases funds are available to help adoptive families cover costs as well. DePelchin

does not charge any fees to adopt a child from foster care.

Do you have to be married or own a home to foster or adopt?

No. Foster or adoptive parents can be married or single, young or retired. Even if renting a

house or an apartment, you are eligible to foster or adopt a child if you can provide a safe,

nurturing environment with adequate space for children.

What types of children need loving homes?

Children of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds need loving foster and adoptive homes.

The majority of the children DePelchin serves are:

> members of a sibling group

> children 8 years and older

> members of an ethnic minority group or

> infants with the goal of returning to their families

How can I handle the emotional or behavioral issues these children may have?

DePelchin provides foster and adoptive families thorough and on-going training on how to best

care for children with special emotional needs. We also offer families a wide range of support

services through our caring team of social workers, therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists.

As a foster parent, what if I grow attached to the child in my care?

Bonding with a child in your care is a good thing! The love and support you show a child can

make a lasting difference in his or her life. Yes, letting a child go may be difficult, but ultimately

you will find comfort in knowing you forever changed the life of a child in need. If a foster

child is available for adoption, DePelchin is uniquely equipped to help families through the

adoption process.

How long is the process of becoming a foster or adoptive parent?

The length of the process will vary based on circumstances unique to fostering or adopting

each child. The process typically lasts between three and five months and includes:

> attending an informational orientation

> submitting a complete application

> completing the required training program

> participating in a home study

> receiving approval to be a verified foster or adoptive home

> welcoming a child(ren) into your home

Ian, age 7, is always smiling—whether he is at ice hockey practice or playing video games with his big sister, Sydney.

Ian spent his infant years in foster care before joining his forever family through DePelchin Children’s Center.

Now complete, Ian’s family could not imagine life without his joyous spirit.

the wladyko family

DIRECTIONS TO MAIN CAMPUS

FROM NORTH HOUSTON

Take 45 or 59 SOUTH to I-10 WEST.

Take the Shepherd/Durham exit.

Turn LEFT on Durham. Continue past

Washington Avenue. Turn RIGHT on

Feagan (the first light after Washington).

Turn LEFT on Sandman and go down

three blocks. Our parking lot is on the left.

FROM SOUTHWEST HOUSTON

Take 59 NORTH. Then take 610 NORTH

to the Woodway/Memorial Exit.

Exit and turn RIGHT on Woodway.

Woodway will merge with Memorial.

Stay on Memorial until you see the

Shepherd exit. Exit Shepherd (Exit is on

the Right) and turn LEFT on Shepherd.

Turn LEFT on Feagan (the first light

after Memorial). Turn LEFT on Sandman

and go down three blocks. Our parking

lot is on the left.

FROM SOUTHEAST HOUSTON

Take 45 NORTH. Take the Allen Parkway

Exit (on the left). Turn RIGHT on Shepherd.

Turn LEFT on Feagan (the first light after Memorial).

Turn LEFT on Sandman and go down three

blocks. Our parking lot is on the left.

FROM WEST HOUSTON

Head EAST on I-10. Take the Shepherd/

Durham exit. Turn RIGHT on Durham.

Continue past Washington Avenue.

Turn RIGHT on Feagan (the first signal

after Washington) Turn LEFT on Sandman Street

and go down three blocks. Our parking lot is on

the left.

FROM DOWNTOWN HOUSTON

Take Prairie (which turns into Memorial) or

Allen Parkway WEST to Shepherd. Turn RIGHT

on Shepherd. Turn LEFT on Feagan (the first

light after Memorial) Turn LEFT on Sandman Street

and go down three blocks. Our parking lot is on

the left.

DIRECTIONS TO OTHER DEPELCHIN LOCATIONS

STAFFORD (FORT BEND COUNTY)

10435 Greenbough Drive, Suite 101

Stafford, Texas 77477

Our Stafford/Fort Bend County location is

near Murphy Road and Highway 90 at

10435 Greenbough Drive, next to the United Way

Service Building. From US 59, exit West

Bellfort/Wilcrest and turn SOUTH on Murphy

Road to Stafford Centre Drive. Turn LEFT on

Stafford Centre Drive to Briarside. Turn RIGHT

on Briarside to Greenbough Drive, then LEFT on

Greenbough Drive. Our parking lot is on the right.

THE WOODLANDS (MONTGOMERY COUNTY)

1600 Lake Front Circle

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Our Woodlands/Montgomery County location

is in the Montgomery County United Way

Service Building. From I-45, take exit 77,

Research Forest Drive and U-turn to head

South on the feeder road. (Those coming from

the North will not need to U-turn.) Turn RIGHT

on Lake Front Circle which is just past

Luby’s. Go through two stop signs. Turn RIGHT

into the second driveway after Six Pines Road.

We share a parking lot with Montgomery

County Courthouse. Once you are in the

parking lot, the United Way building will be

straight back and on the left. Our office is

on the second floor.

CONTACT US

If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life and joining the DePelchin family, we invite you to attend an informational orientation session at our main campus or at one of our satellite locations.

Main Campus4950 Memorial DriveHouston, Texas 77007 Clear Lake1300-A Bay Area BoulevardHouston, Texas 77058 Stafford (Fort Bend County)10435 Greenbough Drive, Suite 101Stafford, Texas 77477 The Woodlands (Montgomery County)1600 Lake Front CircleThe Woodlands, Texas 77380

You may also call our main number at 713.802.6200 or email us at fosteroradopt@depelchin.org.

MAIN CAMPUS4950 Memorial Drive Houston, Texas 77007

If you are using a GPS to look up directions to our main campus, the best address to use is 100 Sandman Street.

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If you are interested in making a difference in the life

of a child and joining the DePelchin family, we invite

you to attend an informational orientation at our

main campus or at one of our satellite locations.

You must attend an orientation to begin your journey

of fostering or adopting a child.

Due to the similar nature of the foster care and

adoption application process, these orientations are

combined. Registration is not required to attend.

Special orientations for churches, organizations

or other groups are also available. Contact us

for more details.

Please note: There are no childcare services

provided during orientation.

FRONT COVER:

The Landry siblings, ages 7-13, are an energetic bunch with enough players to start a basketball team. With four boys and one

girl, the Landry children are always on the go, and their adoptive parents could not be happier about it. DePelchin Children’s Center

helps keep this family thriving with post-adoption services.

BACK COVER:

Jacobi, age 6, is always up for an adventure and loves racing his dad to the park on his bike. Jacobi was in foster care before

being adopted by his forever family at age 2. His big sister Lauren, age 12, was also adopted out of foster care a few years earlier.

DePelchin Children’s Center provided the support to make this beautiful family complete.

All of the families featured in this packet are DePelchin families.

They have all experienced the joy of adding to their family through foster care or adoption. They have also all experienced the joy of making a difference in the life of a child.

One more child’s life you

forever changed.

4950 Memorial Drive, Houston Texas 77007713.802.6200 | www.depelchin.org

©Copyright 2014 DePelchin Children’s Center. All rights reserved.