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Office of Work-Life Programs -
Adoption Reimbursement
Who is Eligible for this Program?
The Adoption Reimbursement Program is available to the
following members of Team Coast Guard:
- Active Duty Coast Guard
- Coast Guard Reservists on active duty for at least 180 days
Note: All other member of Team Coast Guard, while not eligible for reimbursement, are encouraged to use the National Adoption Directory and other web sites provided below to assist them in obtaining adoption information.
Purpose of Program
The Adoption Reimbursement Program is intended to subsidize
the adoption of children under 18 years of age for members of the Coast
Guard.
Program Confidentiality
Discussions of the Adoption Reimbursement Program are used
for reviewing, approving, accounting, and disbursing of adoption
reimbursements. All discussions between a member using the Adoption
Reimbursement Program and the Adoption Reimbursement Program Manager are
confidential, with the exception of government audits, to determine
appropriate use of government funding.
Definitions
The following definitions apply to the Adoption
Reimbursement Program:
- Adoption: The legal procedure by which a person or couple takes a child that is not their biological offspring into the family and raises the child as their own. Legally, the adoptee has the same status with respect to his or her adoptive parents, as do any biological siblings.
- Inter-Country Adoptions: The legal adoption of a child coming from a country other than the U.S. and its territories.
- Qualified Adoption Agency: A State or local government agency, which has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption.
- Qualifying Adoption Expenses: Reasonable and necessary expenses directly related to the legal adoption of a child, but only if such adoption is arranged by one of the following procedures: (1) By a State or local government that has responsibility under State or local law for child placement through adoption; or (2) By a nonprofit, voluntary adoption agency authorized by State or local law to place children for adoption.
- Non Qualifying Adoption Expenses: Does not include any expenses incurred for the following: (1) Any travel performed by an adopting parent. (2) Any adoption arranged in violation of Federal, State or local law. (3) For carrying out any surrogate parenting arrangement. (4) The adoption of your spouse’s child, (5) Reimbursement for funds already received from any federal, state, or local program.
- Reasonable and Necessary Expenses: Public and private agency fees, placement and legal fees, and medical expenses.
Services and Resources Available
The following service and resource is available within the Adoption
Reimbursement Program:
- National Foster Care & Adoption Directory (formerly the National Adoption Directory) - The National Foster Care & Adoption Directory provides national adoption resources along with adoption related information specific for each State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Program References
The following reference provide details of the Adoption
Reimbursement program:
- Reimbursement of Adoption Expenses - COMDTINST 1754.9B
Related Program Information
The Coast Guard does not endorse the web sites listed below. They are
provided to help in your search for adoption information. It is important to
check references and to research programs found on the web. DO NOT send
monies to unidentified sources. Please email links that you find not working
or services not appropriate for members of Team Coast Guard to the point of
contact listed below.
Related Web Sites
The following web sites provide information related to the Adoption
Reimbursement Program:
- About Adoption - www.adoption.About.com
- Adopting.com - www.adopting.com
- Adoption Agency Guide (International) - www.theadoptionguide.com
- Adoption Assistance Information Support - http://www.adopting.org/
- Adoption.com - www.adoption.com
- Adoption Network - www.adoption.org
- Adoption Search - www.adoptionsearch.com
- American Academy of Adoption Attorneys - www.adoptionattorney.org
- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption - www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org
- Directory of State and International Adoption - Photo listings of children who wait for adoption - http://www.comeunity.com/adoption/waiting/photolists.html
- Federal Adoption Guide - OPM's Adoption Benefits Guide for Federal Employees
- Intercountry Adoption - Office of Children's Issues, Department of State - http://adoption.state.gov/
- International Adoption - http://www.angelfire.com/ab/adopt/
- National Adoption Center - www.adopt.org
- National Military Family Association - www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reus_adoptionintro
- National Qualifying Adoption Agencies (search by State) - http://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/
- National Resources Center on Special Needs Adoption - www.spaulding.org
- Northwest Adoption Exchange - http://www.nwae.org/
- PACT, An Adoption Alliance - www.pactadopt.org
Point of Contact
Please contact the Family Resource Specialist (FRS) on your
Regional Work-Life Staff
at 1-800-872-4957. If additional assistance is needed, please
contact the Headquarters Family Support Services Specialist, Ms.
Mitchia (Shay) D. Tull-Cook at
HQS-SMB-FamilySupportServices@uscg.mil.
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