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FACTSHEETS FOR | JUNE 2021

Military Families Considering

Military families who adopt primarily go WHAT'S INSIDE through the same processes as civilian families. Military OneSource, a program The adoption process for the military funded by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), provides and support on adoption to help Military adoption issues your family navigate procedures common to all prospective adoptive as well as Welfare Information Gateway resources some that are unique to military families. for more information This factsheet provides an overview of adoption processes that are specific to families with one or more service members.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 1 THE ADOPTION PROCESS ƒ Adoption – The Essentials includes information about qualified adoption expenses, primary The adoption process varies depending on caregiver leave, and eligibility for military whether you are currently stationed in the benefits for military families. or overseas. In either case, you ƒ Defense Finance and Accounting Service can begin by speaking with a Military OneSource – Adoption Reimbursement outlines adoption consultant about your family's desire requirements and limitations for adoption to adopt. They can help you understand the reimbursement and provides useful links for adoption process specific to your family, locate an further information. agency that works with military families, identify resources to help defray the costs of adoption, ƒ of Residence vs. of Record: What and direct you to benefits and support services Does It All Mean? details the significance of available before and after an adoption is finalized. State of residence for military members and how to change it. RESOURCES ON ADOPTION SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MILITARY FAMILIES Basic steps in the adoption process depend on whether you are stationed in the United States ƒ Adoption Resources for Military Families or abroad. provides links to information about free assistance to military families stationed in the 1. Understand applicable laws. Laws governing United States or overseas who are seeking to your adoption depend on where your family adopt children from , additional is stationed and where the child you wish to assistance for military families, and other useful adopt lives. For example: information about adoption. NOTE: Families stationed in countries party ƒ Adoption Options for Members of the Military to on Protection of (also available as a webinar) answers common Children and Co-operation in Respect of questions military families have about adoption, Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) should such as "Where do we begin in the adoption consult the country's Central Authority for process?" and "Can we adopt while one specific details involved in the adoption of a is on active duty?" child in the United States. If the Convention ƒ National Military Family Association – does apply to such an adoption, requirements Adoption contains helpful suggestions and regarding adoption agencies and home studies information on reimbursement, leave, and referenced below would change. Information health care for military families who are on processing a Convention adoption of a child beginning the adoption process. in the United States to another Convention ƒ Wherever My Family Is: That’s Home! Adoption country is available on the U.S. Department of Services for Military Families State's Intercountry Adoption website and its offers a detailed guide for quality and country-specific web sections. timely adoption services available for military families and much more information, including specific steps in the adoption process.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 2 3. Complete a home study. Your adoption agency will help you complete a home study, Stationed in the Stationed which involves educating and preparing your United States Overseas family for adoption. If adopting a child If adopting living in a State while stationed other than the overseas, you will one where you use your State of Stationed in the Stationed are stationed, the legal residence. United States Overseas Interstate Compact ICPC applies as if It must be conducted It must be on the Placement you are stationed by a social worker or completed and of Children (ICPC) in the United agency licensed in approved by a applies. If you States, that is, if your State. social worker adopt a child from you adopt a child licensed in the your State of legal who lives in a United States. residence, even if it State other than It may require If documents is different from the your State of legal criminal background require a notary, State where you are residence. checks for every you may need stationed, ICPC does State in which you to the not apply. have lived. issuing State or county to get them. 2. Find an adoption agency. When locating an agency, take into account the adoption services your family needs. Military 4. Prepare for matching and placement of OneSource adoption consultants can your child. The time it takes for a child to be help you find agencies that specialize in matched with your family and placed in your military . When choosing an home depends on the type of adoption and adoption agency: agency you select and on the country where you and your child live.

Stationed in the Stationed United States Overseas Stationed in the Stationed Choose a public Choose an United States Overseas or a licensed agency that works Preplacement visits Families may need private agency specifically with may help a child to travel to the or an attorney U.S. citizens living adopted from foster home State of the (“independent abroad. care transition into child to meet and adoption”). your family. visit with them.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 3 move the child and complete the adoption. The child welfare professional you're working Working With Child Welfare with will help you understand and fulfill the Professionals ICPC requirements. After you have legally Depending on your child welfare adopted your child, your family will be free to professional’s knowledge of military move to different States. culture, you may encounter questions about how often your family moves or how you will provide a stable environment Support for Military Families With for a child. Refer the social worker to Special Needs

Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Many children eligible for adoption have bulletin, Working With Military Families special needs. The DoD’s Exceptional as They Pursue Adoption. Inform them Family Member Program (EFMP) helps that the military provides a high level of families with a member who has particular consistency and family support, including medical or educational needs—before, access to the same health insurance and during, and after transfer or PCS orders. health care, regardless of where they live. EFMP also helps you navigate health-care and educational systems by providing information and referrals. Your family must MILITARY FAMILY ADOPTION first enroll in this program for your child’s ISSUES special needs to be considered. Military families may face unique issues Use EFMP & Me, an online tool for military that could affect the adoption process, such families with special needs, to find services as a permanent change of station (PCS) or deployment overseas. or resources for your family.

PCS ORDERS

If your family receives orders for a PCS during DEPLOYMENT DURING THE ADOPTION PROCESS the adoption process, some of your home study documents may transfer to an agency If you are deployed during the adoption near your new home or installation. Many process, keep your command informed about agencies, however, require a new home study your adoption process to ensure essential using their forms and protocols. documents are completed and delivered in a timely way. The (or other family If your family has already been matched with member) remaining at home also should have a child in the State where you are currently a mailing address for the military member stationed, but you have received orders to during deployment as well as a method for move out of State, you will need approval to reaching them in an emergency.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 4 Some parts of the adoption process can be CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION facilitated by granting power of attorney GATEWAY RESOURCES FOR to your spouse (or other family member). MORE INFORMATION However, your home study will require at ƒ How to Adopt least one personal interview. If you know you will be deploying, you may with your ƒ Adopting as a social worker to schedule an interview before ƒ Frequently Asked Questions From LGBTQ+ leaving. Another possible predeployment Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents step includes completing fingerprints for ƒ Adopting Children From Other States or background checks. Jurisdictions A single parent or one member of a military ƒ Intercountry Adoption: What Do I Need to couple who is close to finalizing an adoption Know? may request a deployment deferment or ƒ National Foster Care & Adoption Directory extension of assignment. This deferment is ƒ State Statutes Search more likely to be granted after a child has been placed in your home. ƒ The Impact of Adoption ƒ After Adoption

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2021). Military families considering adoption. Department of Health and Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau. https://www.childwelfare. gov/pubs/f-milita/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, and Families Children’s Bureau

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f-milita/.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov 5