Adopting a Child With Special Needs As a Military Family

Finding your child

Children with special needs are available for adoption domestically and internationally. Whichever option you choose, you’ll probably work with an adoption agency to help you find a child and guide you through the process.

• Domestic adoption — Domestic adoptions are often handled through specialized public or private agencies, and both types work with special needs children. Public agencies are run by states, usually through a department of social, human or family services. Children adopted through state agencies are often school-age and have been in foster care. Generally, private agencies have younger children available for adoption. Agencies often require would-be parents to go through counseling, which can help address any questions about adoption.
• International adoption — International adoption laws are more complicated and vary from country to country. Most international adoptions are handled through an agency specializing in international adoption. Visit the U.S. Department of State Intercountry Adoption page for basic information. Parents who adopt internationally must meet guidelines set by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security.
• Choosing an agency — Your agency will be your main contact from the beginning of the adoption process until long after completion, so it's important to choose carefully. If you're adopting internationally, you can find agencies that represent certain countries. You should have a general idea of which countries you're interested in before starting your search.
• Your home study — A home study will be required for both domestic and international adoptions. A social worker will assess your family's ability to care for a child. This process will help you decide if you're ready to adopt and what kind of child you feel you can handle as parents. Home studies usually take one to six months to complete.

Financial considerations

The costs associated with adoption can be high, though fees are often reduced or eliminated when adopting children with special needs. Some states provide subsidies for families who adopt children with disabilities. You should also consider the added costs of caring for a child:

• Adoption fees — Domestic adoption costs will include fees for your attorney and the home study. International adoption costs include travel and immigration application fees. Costs can vary widely, so be sure to ask your agency for a full breakdown of fees in writing before you start the process.
• Medical and other costs — Your health insurance may cover many, but not all, of the medical costs of caring for a special needs child. For example, you may have to pay for therapies that aren't covered, or make accessibility modifications to your home.

Medicaid may be available without income requirements for children adopted domestically. The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 allows children who received Medicaid benefits before the adoption to continue receiving them after adoption until age 18. Your child will still be eligible if you move to another state, but you may need to reapply for benefits. Here are some programs and other resources that can help you financially and with needed services:

• Aid to Families with Dependent Children and Supplemental Security Income — A child who was eligible for these program's benefits (monthly stipends, Medicaid and social services) before adoption continues to be eligible to receive them until age 18. Your income won't affect your eligibility, but each state's programs, benefits, and eligibility requirements differ. You'll have to reapply if you move to another state.
• Tax credit — You may qualify for the adoption tax credit for qualified adoption expenses. Adopting a child with special needs domestically may let you to take full advantage of the tax credit, even if you didn't incur qualified expenses.
• Adoption Reimbursement Program — A subsidy of $2,000 per child (up to $5,000 per calendar year for multiple adoptions) is available to military families once the adoption is finalized and only if it's arranged through a qualified adoption agency. Read about the Adoption Reimbursement Program for more information.
• TRICARE eligibility — Adopted children are eligible for TRICARE as soon as the adoption is finalized. Be sure to enroll your child in the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System, or DEERS, within 60 days of the adoption so your child can receive full TRICARE benefits.
• Extended Care Health Option — TRICARE ECHO provides financial assistance for services and supplies not available through basic TRICARE programs. Qualifying conditions include moderate or severe mental disability, serious physical disability, or an extraordinary condition that makes it necessary for the child to be homebound. For more information, visit the TRICARE ECHO website.
• Case management — Available through TRICARE for chronic or high-risk health issues, case management organizes and integrates services to improve the quality of care, control costs and support patients through catastrophic medical services.
• Beneficiary Counseling and Assistance Coordinators — These coordinators are available at TRICARE regional offices and many military treatment facilities. They are advocates, and they provide information about the TRICARE system and help with benefit options, enrollment questions, status of claims, referrals and appointments. Find a listing of BCACs at the TRICARE website.

The military community is strong, and families in the process of adopting work hard to support each other. It can be encouraging and helpful to read the experiences other families share.