Sally Anne Bowen is in the middle of packing
for her family. She is used to this routine.
Her husband Kevin, an Air Force major and
squadron commander in North Carolina, is being
transferred. Like most military families,
they have moved before. This time they are
moving a few more pounds than usual--the Bowens'
adopted son, 3-year-old Bradley.
This is the second time the Bowens are moving
with an addition to their family through adoption.
When they were stationed in Arizona, they
adopted a toddler named Ashley, now 6. Major
Bowen also adopted Mrs. Bowen's daughter Layla
at that time. "We're not through yet," says
Mrs. Bowen. They are hoping to add yet another
child to their family. The Bowens are registered
with the National Adoption Exchange in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and are waiting to be matched
with one of the 100,000 children across the
country who needs a permanent home.
Harold and Ernestine Davis, who are stationed
at an Army base in Germany, have not been
as fortunate. After consulting infertility
specialists for years, they decided to pursue
adoption as a way to build their family. They
have been trying to adopt for 6 years. During
that time they have faced a problem experienced
by many military families—finding an
agency that is willing to work with them knowing
how often many military families move. The
Davises are never stateside longer than 24
months at a time. Unfortunately, they have
been stationed in States that have long residency
requirements in order to complete an adoption
and strict rules about both prospective parents
attending orientation and training meetings.
"We've tried to explain to the agencies that
my husband can't just call and say he can't
come to work," says Mrs. Davis. "I don't think
they understand that we have to live by different
rules than the civilian world."
According to Jodi Nyalko of the National Military Family Association
in Alexandria, Virginia, many military families
find themselves in the same situation as the
Davises, rather than the Bowens. Through her
work and as an adoptive mother and a military
spouse, she has seen many families desperately
wanting to adopt but unable to find an agency
willing to work with them. As a result, a
valuable resource of families willing and
wanting to adopt is not being tapped.
But the environment is changing. As the number
of waiting children continues to grow, some
social workers are beginning to reexamine
their beliefs and to look for ways to accommodate
military families.
[back to top]
Obstacles Facing Military
Families
Adoption has never been easy for those in
the military. Traditionally, only the most
persistent and resourceful families have been
able to adopt. Because many military families
move often, most agencies have been reluctant
to begin the adoption process with anyone
in the service. Likewise, knowledge of social
workers' attitudes and agency policy has kept
military families from applying to adopt.
"The issue of relocation is one of the major
problems our families have faced when they
are considering adoption," confirms Al Smith,
Deputy Director of the Family Service Center
at the Naval Development Station in South
Weymouth, Massachusetts. Smith stresses that
although the Interstate
Compact for the Placement of Children (ICPC)
allows a child from one State to be adopted
by a family who moves to another State, some
agencies are still uneasy about placing a
child who will move across State lines. ICPC
is an informal agreement between certain States--one
that an individual agency may or may not choose
to implement. "Strong advocacy has to come
from the families," says Smith. "They have
to prove that their new agency in California
is just as thorough and stringent in its homestudy
and follow up processes as their original
agency in Massachusetts."
[back to top]
Breaking Down the
Barriers to Adoption
Until recently, military families have been
hindered by adoption agency rules and stringent
criteria that they are not able to meet, such
as lengthy residency requirements, mandatory
meetings that conflict with work schedules,
and home ownership. Realizing the negative
effects these rules have created, a few agencies
have changed their procedures in order to
encourage the adoption of children with special
needs by families in the military.
With the support of a federal grant, Welcome
House, an adoption agency based in Perkasie,
Pennsylvania, sponsors information nights
on military bases in the Delaware Valley to
talk about adoption, and more specifically,
to describe the types of children who are
waiting to be adopted. They have instituted
a 6-week homestudy program for military families
that accommodates the families' schedules
and takes place on the military base, making
it convenient for families who live in or
around the area to attend. Other innovative
federally supported projects have been started
by adoption agencies in Virginia, Arizona,
Alaska, Tennessee and Washington, DC, to break
down the barriers that military families face
when wanting to adopt. These agencies see
military families as a neglected resource
with many of the attributes of successful
adoptive families.
[back to top]
Pluses of Military
Families
Agencies that work with military families
find in them many of the positive attributes
they are looking for in adoptive families.
Among these are ethnic diversity, access to
adoption benefits, and availability of medical
resources.
Ethnic Diversity
Military families are prime resources for
the large number of waiting children who come
from minority cultures. Forty percent of military
families are families of color; three-fourths
of these are African-American. Military bases
and civilian neighborhoods where military
personnel live tend to be ethnically diverse,
providing ideal settings for the many children
of color waiting for permanent families.
The Bowens, whose son is biracial, are especially
thankful for this aspect of military life.
"Military communities are so accepting of
different cultures," explains Mrs. Bowen.
"I never realized how accepting until recently.
We've begun looking for a new home since my
husband will retire soon. We've noticed that
some communities are not as welcoming as the
military community. We have to be very careful
to make sure that in the community we ultimately
select, Bradley will not be the only child
of African-American heritage at the school
or in the neighborhood."
Access to Adoption Benefits
Military families are entitled to adoption
benefits of up to $2,000 a year for reasonable
and necessary expenses associated with adoptions
finalized after October 1, 1990, whether they
are infant adoptions, intercountry adoptions,
or adoptions of children with special needs.
The benefits cover the following:
- Public and private adoption fees charged
by an agency in a foreign country;
- Placement fees, including fees charged
to adoptive families for counseling;
- Legal fees, including court costs, in
connection with services that are unavailable
to military personnel through their legal
assistance office;
- Medical and hospital expenses of a newborn;
and
- Medical expenses incurred by a birthmother.
- Benefits are paid after an adoption is
finalized, and apply to both singles and
couples.
Currently these benefits do not cover travel
costs, either foreign or domestic, nor in
some cases do they cover medical expenses
for the child after placement in the home
and before the adoption is finalized. However,
there are legislative efforts underway to
get this changed, if not in fiscal year 94,
then hopefully in fiscal year 95.
Availability of Medical Resources
Military personnel and their families are
eligible for free care at any military medical
facility. If treatment is not available through
a military hospital, the patient is referred
to a civilian hospital. The cost at a civilian
hospital is covered under CHAMPUS, a health
insurance program that, like many civilian
plans, requires a copayment. But, unlike other
medical insurance carriers, the military does
not have a waiting period for preexisting
conditions, a barrier that frequently prevents
civilian adoptive families from adopting children
with special medical needs.
There is a special option that military parents
can exercise so that their adopted child can
receive medical benefits during the period
before an adoption is finalized. They can
apply to the Secretary of their branch of
the service for the child to be a "Secretary
designee." They should inquire about this
process with their commanding officer. Also,
if they are adopting a child with special
needs, just because they are in the military
it does not mean they should turn down any
benefits that may already come with the child,
such as eligibility for medical services under
Medicaid.
[back to top]
What About All That Moving?
The Bowens have moved 4 times in their 12-year
marriage. The Davises have moved 8 times in
16 years. They, like all military families,
accept this as part of their job. They try
to accentuate the positive impact of moving.
"I was an Air Force `brat'," says SallyAnne
Bowen. "During my childhood, we moved back
and forth between the United States and Europe
every 3 years. When you move so often, you
realize that you can't waste time being shy
or stand-offish. You soon realize, since most
of the other kids in school are also military
brats, that if you want to have any friends,
you need to accept everyone regardless of
their race, sex, or religion. As an adult
I've found that the same is true of spouses.
Now, if we could only get the rest of the
world to be so understanding."
Master Sergeant Bob Cornyn and his wife,
Linda, who have adopted many children with
special needs, also believe that the mobility
of military families should not be seen as
a disadvantage when raising children. "We've
lived in France, Germany, Belgium, and Korea,"
says Cornyn, "and in the States we've lived
in Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington.
Our children are more aware of the diversity
of cultures both in the United States and
overseas than children who stay in one town
throughout their childhood."
[back to top]
What if a Family Is
Transferred Overseas?
For many adoption agencies, it's the overseas
issue that perplexes them. Most agencies are
unsure of what to do when a family contacts
them from overseas or is transferred overseas
while in the process of adopting. Adoption
agencies need to be aware that families living
on military installations can adopt children
from the United States through the ICPC
because U.S. military bases are considered
U.S. soil. Therefore, these are not international
adoptions; they are interstate adoptions.
"There's a misconception about military families
adopting while overseas," says MariAnne Clarke,
Deputy Executive Director of the National
Adoption Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"Many people don't realize that it's really
as easy as any other adoption between States."
The Interstate Compact is completed between
the State where the child resides and an agency
in the State of legal residency for the prospective
parents.
Agencies can also train military personnel
to complete homestudies for families. "We've
trained base social workers and clergy in
the past," says Clarke. "They have proved
to be very thorough. They can also supervise
the family from the time the child arrives
until the adoption is finalized."
There are some agencies that have bureaus
abroad to help Americans who are waiting for
an adoption to be finalized when their transfer
comes through. The Pearl
S. Buck Foundation in Perkasie, Pennsylvania,
has worked with military families in Asia
for years. It has bureaus in countries with
large U.S. military populations, such as Japan,
Korea, and Guam. These branches employ qualified
social workers who have developed a working
relationship with the military personnel stationed
in these countries. The foundation is now
using its experience to help families who
are stationed throughout Europe and want to
adopt.
Agencies that do not have such resources
abroad can call on the services of International
Social Service, American Branch (ISS/AB) in
New York City. ISS/AB is an international
network of professional social work agencies
working in more than 13 countries, including
Germany, France, and other countries where
U.S. military personnel are often stationed.
ISS/AB can help agencies monitor families
who have been transferred before an adoption
has been finalized. See the resource section
at the end of this article for the address
and telephone number of ISS/AB.
There are a number of agencies that are very
willing to place children with U.S. families
living abroad. The resource section also provides
the names, addresses, and telephone numbers
of these agencies.
Social workers who are concerned that a child
with special needs may not receive necessary
services if the adoptive family is sent to
some remote part of the world need not worry.
Smith explains that "the Navy has a policy
that prevents personnel from being transferred
to remote areas that cannot provide the support
needed for children with special needs, including
adopted children." Under the "Exceptional
Family Member Program,"no member of the military
can be transferred to a duty station where
specialized medical care is not available
for a family member who needs it.
Smith also points out that transfers do not
occur as often as in past years. The end of
the Cold War has brought about changes in
the priorities of the Department of Defense,
allowing families to stay in one place longer.
"One of the peace dividends that has paid
off for military families is that they will
now be able to comply with adoption agency
residency requirements that have prevented
them from adopting in the past," Smith says.
Conclusion
There are nearly 100,000 children in the
United States waiting to be adopted. More
than 60 percent are African-American. Many
have physical, mental, or emotional challenges
or are brothers and sisters who want a home
together. Agencies cannot afford to shun all
military families, simply on the basis of
their being in the military. Each family should
be looked at individually. Many military families
have demonstrated that they are excellent
resources for waiting children.
In fact, military families have attributes
that make them especially desirable as adopters—
ethnic diversity, access to adoption benefits,
and availability of medical resources. Although
adoption agencies traditionally have been
reluctant to work with military families because
of their frequent moves, they are beginning
to recognize that military families have advantages
to offer children.
"We were skeptical when we first began to
work with military families in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey," says Kelli Harris, Program
Coordinator of Welcome
House. "But we have found that they have
a good sense of community, and that the well-being
of their families is a high priority. Military
communities are racially and ethnically mixed,
and there is a built-in support system."
"Additionally, military families do not seem
to be scared off by the 'special needs' label
that many of our kids have," continues Harris.
"Most of the families I have worked with are
interested in adopting older children or sibling
groups. Most have parenting experience and
realize that the resources available to military
families will allow them to accommodate a
child with a disability."
Smith echoes those thoughts. "Military families
have as much viability as civilians when it
comes to parenting adopted children. We just
have to educate social workers about the positive
aspects of families in the armed forces if
we are to break the myths that follow us from
base to base."
Postscript
What happened to Ernestine and Harold Davis?
Once they were armed with the correct information,
they contacted an agency in Pennsylvania--their
State of legal residency--and completed their
paperwork. Soon, they flew to Pennsylvania
to visit with a sibling group with whom they
were matched. Recently, 3-year-old twins Brittany
and Brandon moved to Germany with their new
family. According to Mrs. Davis, "Everything
went smoothly once the agencies found out
how it was done."
Be sure to find out the rules and regulations
of your official U.S. State of residence (where
you vote) and satisfy them.
A.M.O.R.
12 Grenoble Court
Matawan, NJ 07747
(908) 583-0174
NY: (718) 967-0262
Adoption Advisory Council
2448 Stuart Street
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 332-4163
Adoption Alliance
859 Stirrup Lane
Warrington, PA 18976
(215) 343-0758
Adoptions Unlimited
PO Box 462
Chino, CA 91708
(714) 621-5819
(619) 435-4114
Aloha Adoption Services
591 Industry Drive
Tukwila, WA 98188
(800) 682-2678
(206) 575-9900
1406 Hoa Koa Pl.
Honolulu, HI 96821
(800) 642-3678
(808) 261-0630
American Adoption Agency
1228 M Street, NW
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 638-1543
Americans
for African Adoptions
8910 Timberwood Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46234
(317) 271-4567
Associates in Adoption Counseling
PO Box 15231
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 746-4279
Bay Area Adoption Vices
465 Fairchild Drive
Suite 215
Mountain View, CA 94043
(415) 964-3800
Cambridge Adoption and Counseling Associates,
Inc.
Mailing address: PO Box 190
Cambridge, MA 02142
Street address: 80 Mt. Auburn Street
Watertown, MA 02172
(617) 923-0370
Casa Del Mundo, Inc.
44 Main Street
Flemington, NJ 08822
(908) 782-9393
Children's
Home Society of Minnesota
1605 Eustis Street
St. Paul, MN 55108
651-646-6393
China's Children
PO Box 700101
Tulsa, OK 74170
(918) 481-9822
Christian World Adoption, Inc.
270 W. Coleman Boulevard
Suite 100
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(803) 856-0305
Chrysalis
House
4025 N. Fresno St.,
Suite 106
Fresno, CA 93726
(559) -229-9862
Creative Adoptions, Inc.
10711 SW 104th
Miami, FL 33176
(305) 596-2211
Dillon
International, Inc.
7615 E. 63rd Place So.
Tulsa, OK 74133
(918) 250-1561
Families For Children
10 Bowling Green
Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada H9S 4W1
(514) 697-7296
Family Network, Inc.
Main Office: 284 Foam Street
Suite 103
Monterey, CA 93940
(800) 888-0242
Branch offices:
Suite 10
Edwardsville Prof. Park
Edwardsville, IL 62025
9378 Olive Street Road
Room 320
St. Louis, MO 63132
(314) 567-0707
811 Cherry
Room 319
Columbia, MO 65201
(314) 449-3231
Family Partners Worldwide
1254 Piedmont Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 872-6787
(404) 874-3280 for Latin America
Florida Adoption and Children's Center
11410 N. Kendall Drive
Suite 306
Miami, FL 33176
(305) 274-2811
Friday's Child
580 Middletown Boulevard
Suite 101D
Langhorne, PA 19047
(215) 752-8031
Holy Cross Child Placement Agency, Inc.
929 Olive Street
Shreveport, LA 71104
(318) 222-7892
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 332-1367
International Families
5 Thomas Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 667-5779
Limiar
2373 Brunswick Lane
Hudson, OH 44236
(216) 653-8129
Lutheran
Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
3200 W. Highland Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53208
(414) 342-7175
(414) 342-2933
New Families, Inc.
15959 S.W. 172nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33187
(305) 887-1898
New
Hope Child and Family Agency
2611 N.E. 125th
Suite 146
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 363-1800
Option of Adoption
504 E. Haines Street
Philadelphia, PA 19111
(215) 843-4343
World Child-Frank Adoption and Assistance
1400 Spring Street
Suite 410
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-3271
Rainbow
House/Friends of Children of Various Nations
19676 Highway 85
Belen, NM 87002
(505) 865-5500
Small Miracles International, Inc.
1380 S. Douglas Boulevard
Suite 101
Midwest City, OK 73130
(405) 732-7295
550 S. Oliver
Wichita, KS 67218
(316) 686-7295
Voice
for International and Domestic Adoption (VIDA)
354 Allen Street
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 828-4527 or
(518) 758-7300
For more information, contact the National
Adoption Information Clearinghouse at naic@calib.com.
