Adoption and foster care can be great ways to start and grow your military family, but there are some aspects to both adoption and fostering that are unique to military life. Whether you’re just starting to think about adoption and foster care or have completed the process and have questions, you can depend on Military OneSource for both the guidance and information you need to make the process go more smoothly and for ongoing support of your new family.
-
-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- National Guard
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Support Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Book/Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters
- Popular Products
- Steps to a Smart Move Infographic
- Spouse Ambassador Network Fact Sheet
- Military Teen Adventure Camps Flyer
- A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits
- Go Read Children’s Book
- I am a…
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
MilLife Guides
Adoption and Foster Care
Overview
Adoption
Military families have six adoption options, including agency adoption, independent adoption, identified adoption (a blend of agency and independent adoption), open adoption (where there is communication between adoptive parents, the birth parents and the child,) intercountry adoption and foster care adoption. You’ll want to know the ins and outs of each option so you can think carefully about what kind of support you’ll need in the process.
Military OneSource adoption consultationsAdoption consultations are available to answer your questions during every stage of the adoption process. Specially trained adoption consultants can help you understand your adoption options, locate sources of military-related financial assistance, learn about state-specific requirements, and identify agencies and resources to help you with your family’s specific needs. Learn more about adoption specialty consultations.
Intercountry adoptionAdoption can be more complicated when living overseas, but there are agencies and support groups to guide you. Many military families in the same situation successfully adopt every year. If the timing’s right for you to grow your family, living overseas won’t be an obstacle to adoption. Learn more by visiting the U.S. Department of State Intercountry Adoption web page.
Financial benefits of adoptionThere are a number of available financial benefits for military families considering adoption, including reimbursement for eligible adoption expenses and a tax credit. You can claim up to $2,000 per child and $5,000 per calendar year in reimbursement for certain adoption expenses and may be eligible of a tax credit of no more than $14,400 per child. Learn more in the following resources, and ask your adoption consultant for additional information:
Adoption home studyAdoption involves a lot of steps, one of which is a home study. It’s a standard part of the adoption process. Working closely with a social worker or counselor, a home study can take several months. Try to be patient. Understand that a thorough home study is in the best interest of you and the child you plan to welcome into your family. Learn more in this downloadable form The Adoption Home Study Process from the Child Welfare Gateway.
Foster care
Foster care provides temporary homes to children who are removed from their homes due to health, safety or other circumstances. Foster care is designed with the goal of reuniting families once the crisis or situation leading to foster care has been resolved. When reuniting children with their families is not possible foster children may be placed for adoption. An estimated quarter of a million children are placed in foster care in our country each year and there are not enough foster homes to meet the need.
Military families can play a critical role in helping foster children overcome challenging life experiences by providing a stable and supportive home environment through the foster care program in their state. There are a variety of different resources to assist military families who are exploring foster care opportunities.
Military OneSource adoption consultationsAdoption consultations are available to answer your questions during every stage of the adoption or fostering process. Specially trained adoption consultants can help you understand your fostering options, locate sources of military-related financial assistance, learn about state-specific requirements, and identify agencies and resources to help you with your family’s specific needs. Learn more about adoption specialty consultations.
AdoptUSKids foster care informationFoster care is a great way to start or grow your family. Child welfare community members are increasingly viewing fostering as an important step toward adoption as many of the children who are not reunified with their birth families are adopted by their foster parents. For information about foster care programs and how to become a foster care parent, visit the AdoptUSKids website.
Benefits enrollment information for new family members
TRICARE information on adopting a child
Visit the TRICARE website for more information about how to secure TRICARE coverage when adopting a child.
DEERS Enrollment and ID Card Issuance
Learn more about how to enroll your pre-adoptive, adopted or foster child in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS.Learn about available benefits for family members with special needs, including TRICARE Extended Care Health Option, durable medical equipment, and home and mental health care. You can also find information and contacts for government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance and more.
Parenting support
The Military Family Readiness System offers an array of parenting and family support for the military community from in-person resources, like the New Parent Support Program and installation Military and Family Support Centers, to the wide variety of online resources, such as the Thrive parenting program and more. For an overview of parenting resources to support you at every stage, visit the Military OneSource Military Parent Resource Center.
Parents can also learn about the expanded military parental leave program. Service members may be eligible for 12 weeks of non-chargeable, paid parental leave to welcome a child into their family through adoption or long-term foster care.
Still have questions?
Military OneSource consultants are available 24/7 to help answer your questions and connect you with the adoption and foster care resources you need.
Contact a Military OneSource consultant.
Call 800-342-9647, use international calling options, or set up a live chat.
Resources, benefits and support services for Adoption and Foster Care
RESOURCES
ARTICLES AND EXTERNAL RESOURCES
- Considering Military Adoption or Foster Care? 8 Things Service Families Should Know
- Child Welfare Information Gateway – Adoption
- Child Welfare Information Gateway – Foster Care
- AdoptUSKids.org
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau Adoption Information
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau Foster Care Information
- FOCUS: Resilience Training for Military Families
Featured MilLife Guides
Installation Program Directory
Find programs and services at your local installation.Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.