Abrazo is the Spanish word for "embrace," and at ABRAZO, we embrace both the concept of adoption and those people whose lives are touched by it. At ABRAZO we're committed to simplifying the process while making the dream of adoption more readily accessible to people of all backgrounds. We are a private, nonprofit adoption center licensed by the State of Texas and specializing in open adoption placements nationwide.

National statistics suggest the wait for a healthy infant to adopt is currently averaging 5-7 years. At ABRAZO, most of our adoptive families can generally anticipate placement opportunities within 6-12 months, with many happy homecomings occurring in six months or less for those with no children and flexible placement expectations.

At ABRAZO, we carefully screen our applicants to ensure "goodness of fit" between the agency's services and the adopting families' needs. ABRAZO's full-service program is geared to couples with infertility, 25 years of age or beyond, married a year or more, with emotional stability and financial security. (Designated and special needs programs are available to those without medically-indicated inability to conceive.)

All of ABRAZO's families begin the process with an inspiring educational weekend, our "Parents of Tomorrow" event, which helps to better ready them for openness, enhances their comfort level with birthparents, and empowers them to prepare their future child to understand and accept the adoption decision. Furthermore, ABRAZO honors birthparents' rights by going the extra mile to ensure they are aware of their options, have carefully prepared for the adoption decision and have the support they need before, during and after, so it stands to reason that birthparents and adopting families consider ABRAZO the agency of choice.

Talk to attorneys, facilitators and agencies across the country and you'll hear estimates that run over $25,000 per case! At ABRAZO, we think adoption should be available to everyone who is committed to parenting and ready to put a child's needs first.

Abrazo offers four alternative programs with differing fee options:

• Our designated program (in which proactive adopting parents locate their child's birthparent via outreach and networking efforts) entails an agency fee of $5,500.
• Our full service program (agency locates placement opportunities for the adopting parents) charge is $6,500.
• Our special needs program fee (for African-American placements, medically-disabled cases and adoptions of older children) is $3,500; and
• Our independent service fee (counseling and private consultation only) runs $150 per hour.

Case-specific expenses (legally-approved maternity expenses, legal fees and court costs, finalization and travel expenses, etc.) are additional, of course. Abrazo's typical cases generally fall within a range of $12,000-18,000, including agency fees.

ABRAZO believes that the specific terms of openness for any particular adoption plan are best decided on the basis of the participants' needs, but we do encourage full disclosure of identifying information, and advocate openly for direct and ongoing adoptive parent-birthparent contact throughout the child's lifetime. A minimum of annual updates via the agency are expected, through the childÆs 18th birthday. We know everyone comes to this process with varying needs and expectations, so we work with birthparents and adopting parents to negotiate agreements which honor individual concerns and yet are in keeping with the best interests of the children involved.

Adopting families begin their journey to parenthood at ABRAZO with the completion of an "inquiry" (or preapplication) form. This is followed by the full application. Upon receipt of the completed application, eligible applicants attend one of ABRAZO's popular and inspiring "Parents of Tomorrow Orientation Weekends." The agency then grants acceptance, and you're on your way to bringing your baby home! (Some lucky graduates have become ABRAZO parents within literally weeks or even days of completing the orientation weekend.)

Yes, although we don't encourage it. Gender preferences are likely to decrease your placement opportunities and may slow down the adoption process dramatically, since birthparents generally choose their child's adoptive family before the baby's sex is confirmed, and sonargrams are often incorrect.

In Texas agency adoptions, birthparents have full rights to renege on an adoption plan up until the time that relinquishment documents are completed (a minimum of 48 hours after birth), at which point the decision is irrevocable (unlike many states, which give birthparents a "grace period" during which they may reclaim or revoke consent). However, at ABRAZO, we feel that what is most important isn't that our birthparents cannot legally change their minds but that they are so certain of their decisions that they wouldn't choose to disrupt the placement even if they could. Statistics show that 15-20% of birthparents fail to place nationwide; at ABRAZO, with our strong commitment to birthparent counseling, we seek to help birthparents better understand their decision in advance and to be more prepared for it if and when it happens.

At ABRAZO, we place primarily American-born newborns of Anglo-Caucasian, Hispanic and/or African-American descent. (Toddlers and sibling groups are also available, on occasion.)