The purpose of the Support Adoption Grant Program is to provide funds as described in Chapter 402 of the Government Code. 

Support Adoption Grant Program Purpose Areas: 

  • Provide for the material needs of pregnant women who are considering placing their children for adoption, including the provision of clothing, housing, prenatal care, food, utilities, and transportation, 
  • Provide for the needs of children who are awaiting placement with adoptive parents, 
  • Provide training and advertising relating to adoption, 
  • Provide pre-adoption counseling, and 
  • Provide post-adoption counseling. 

Eligible Applicant Organizations 

An Applicant Organization must be a Non-Profit, as well as either an 1) adoption agency, 2) as defined by Family Code Section 162.402; an authorized agency, as defined by Family Code Section 162.402; or 3) be an eligible organization, as defined by Government Code Section 402.036(g)(1), to apply for the Support Adoption Grant Program. Non-profit Applicants with 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) status must be in good standing with the Comptroller of Public Accounts and “in existence” with the Secretary of State. 

  • An adoption agency is a person, other than a natural parent or guardian of a child, who plans for the placement of or places a child in the home of a prospective adoptive parent. See Texas Family Code section 162.402(4). 

  • An authorized agency is a public agency authorized to care for or to place children for adoption or a private entity approved for that purpose by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) through a license, certification, or other means. The term includes a licensed child-placing agency or a previously licensed child-placing agency that has ceased operations and has transferred its adoption records to the vital statistics unit or an agency authorized by the DFPS to place children for adoption and a licensed child-placing agency that has been acquired by, merged with, or otherwise succeeded by an agency authorized by the DFPS to place children for adoption. See Texas Family Code section 162.402(7). 

  • Other eligible organizations must meet all of the following requirements: 

    • An organization that provides services in this state and is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of that code;  

    • Provides counseling and material assistance to pregnant women who are considering placing their children for adoption or to prospective adoptive parents; 

    • Does not charge for services provided, except for adoption-related costs or fees; 

    • Does not provide abortions or abortion-related services, or make referrals to abortion providers; 

    • Is not affiliated with an organization that provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals to abortion providers; and 

    • Does not contract with an organization that provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals to abortion providers.