Adoption

Your heart is open to having a child in your lives or adding to your family. You’ve talked about it and agreed that adoption is the route you want to take. Arm yourself with information before you even call an adoption agency. There is a lot to learn about the adoption process. Read up on the process first by visiting  the Child Welfare Information Gateway. This site, run by the Department of Health and Human Services, provides non-biased information about the process, different types of adoption, different agencies, and a glossary of terms.

Search out other military families in your community who have adopted. Ask lots of questions:

  • Should we try a domestic or foreign adoption?
  • What agency or law firm did you use? Who should we avoid?
  • What did it cost?
  • What would you have done differently or smarter?
Hig
Your installation family center might know about an adoption support group on your installation or in the community outside the gate. You’ll be surprised once you start asking how many families have adopted. While you are at the center, ask where new parent support classes are provided. You may be able to use these classes as part of your training once you are in the process. Also check with the chaplain’s office, a religious center, or the legal assistance office to see if they have a list of local resources for adoption.
Same sex marriage

Military Adoption Benefits for Active Duty Families Include:

  • Up to $2,000 reimbursement for adoption expenses
  • Up to 12 weeks of adoption leave to bond with your new child
  • Health care benefits before the adoption is final

Reimbursement

Military service members who adopt a child under 18 years of age, including stepchildren, may be reimbursed for qualified adoption expenses up to $2,000 per adoptive child (up to a total of $5,000 if more than one child is adopted) per calendar year. In the case of a dual military couple, only one member may claim expenses for each adopted child.

Expenses incurred through the adoption of a service member’s children by a civilian stepparent do not qualify for reimbursement.

To claim reimbursement for an adoption, be sure to submit a DD Form 2675 no later than one year after the adoption is final.

The service member must be on active duty when filing for the reimbursement. You cannot get paid twice for the same expense by different programs. A separate form must be submitted for each child adopted. If you have questions as you are completing the form, you can email the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) office in charge of reimbursement at CCL-Adoption-reimbursement@dfas.mil.

For more information about reimbursement of adoption expenses, visit Military OneSource.

Veterans with service-connected infertility are also eligible to receive reimbursement of adoption expenses. The reimbursement rates and covered expenses are the same as those offered to active duty families. The application for reimbursement must be submitted no later than two years after the adoption is finalized. For more information, visit the VA’s website.

Leave

Adoptive parents are eligible for the Expanded Military Parental Leave Program. This benefit provides 12 weeks of non-chargeable, paid parental leave to service members who welcome a child into their family through birth, adoption, or long-term foster care placement. Leave may be taken in multiple non-consecutive increments.

Health Care

Children under the age of 18 placed in the home of a service member by a placement agency for adoption are considered dependents. With a court order for the placement, an adopted child may be eligible for military health benefits. Required documentation for IDs and information about enrolling your child in TRICARE can be found here. 

For comprehensive information about foster care and adoption, and to schedule a specialty adoption consultation, visit Military OneSource.