Military Families and Adoption

Does American Adoptions work with military families?

Yes!

American Adoptions has helped many military families realize their dreams of parenthood. As these families serve our nation, it is our pleasure to serve them and aide them as they begin their adoption journey.

While working with military families does come with special considerations, our staff is fully qualified to answer and address any of these situations as they arise.

What if a spouse is deployed during the adoption process?
The deployement of a spouse does not stop the adoption process. The spouse being delpoyed will simply need to grand a power of attorney to the other spouse, thus allowing them to make all legal decisions regarding the adoption for the other spouse while they are away.

What if we are transferred to another state during the adoption process?
Many families, both civilian and military, need to move during the adoption process due to job relocation or other reasons. The waiting family will need to get a home study update, which may postpone the adoption process. Once the home study is updated, the family will be "active" once more.

What resources within the military are supportive of families in general and/or might assist families in their adoption pursuit?
Adoption Reimbursement Policy U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1341.9, issued by the DoD Washington Headquarters Services' Directives and Record Division, is posted online. This instruction outlines the policy and responsibilities for the reimbursement of qualifying adoption expenses. Up to $2,000 per child (or up to $5,000 per year) for qualifying expenses is available to military families whose adoptions were arranged by a qualified adoption agency. Benefits are paid after the adoption is complete. The National Military Family Association (NMFA) has a fact sheet, DoD Adoption Reimbursement Program (PDF 35 KB), with further information on allowable expenses. A child is considered a dependent in determining travel and transportation allowances (Public Law No. 102-190, section 621, reference (d)). Check with your Judge Advocate General (JAG) if there is a question about this instruction as interpretation varies from installation to installation.

Child Development Programs are available at approximately 300 DoD locations, including 800 centers and approximately 9,000 family child care homes. The services may include full day, part-day and hourly (drop-in) childcare, part-day preschool programs, before- and after-school programs for school-aged children, and extended hours care, including nights and weekends. Not all services are available at all installations.

Deployment Deferment or Extension of Assignment are options military families may request if they need to remain in one State to finalize an adoption. According to DoD Instruction 1341.9, commanders are encouraged to approve requests for ordinary leave once a child is placed in the home of a member. The instruction states that single members or one member of a military couple shall receive a 4-month assignment and deployment deferment immediately following the date a child is placed.

The Exceptional Family Member Program within the military provides many services, including assisting families who need to be stationed in areas that provide for specific medical or other services that might not be available in remote locations. It should be noted that the military definition of special needs is more narrowly defined to mean "persons with physical or mental disabilities or severe illness." This differs from what adoption professionals often refer to as children with special needs - more broadly defined to include children who may be healthy but are older, in sibling groups, or members of a minority group.

Family Service Centers located on every major military installation can provide military families with information regarding adoption reimbursement and other familial benefits.

Medical Care is available to military families at military treatment facilities, and health care benefits are provided under TRICARE in civilian medical facilities if access to care is not available at an installation. TRICARE is the military medical benefits program that replaced CHAMPUS. An adopted child, including a child placed in the home of a service member by a placement agency, is eligible for benefits after the child is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS)—phone: (800) 538-9552. The patient affairs personnel at a specific medical treatment facility may have information. Specific information on access and eligibility is available on the TRICARE Web site or by calling the DoD Worldwide Tricare Information Center at (888) 363-2273.

Family Advocacy Program provides individual and family counseling services for military families. Most of the programs are geared toward prevention and the development of a healthier lifestyle. The New Parent Support Programs available at some military installations are one component of the Family Advocacy Program. These programs are available to all families (birth or adoptive) with children ages 3 or under. The MFRC has a New Parent Support Programs in the Military (PDF 107 KB) fact sheet that provides more information.

Tax Benefits for Adoption (PDF 64 KB), Internal Revenue Service Publication 968, is available online. A tax benefit is available for all adoptive families. While military families do not qualify for services under the Family Medical Leave Act, they do qualify for this tax benefit.