Military families: additional DOD actions could better support military foster and adoptive families : report to congressional committees.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Department of Defense--Rules and practice--Evaluation.

United States.

United States. Department of Defense.

Military dependents--Services for--Evaluation.

Military dependents.

Families of military personnel--Services for--Evaluation.

Families of military personnel.

Adoptive parents--Services for--United States.

Adoptive parents.

Foster parents--Services for--United States.

Foster parents.

Adoptive parents--Services for.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 57 pages) : color illustrations

Other Title:

Additional DOD actions could better support military foster and adoptive families

Military families: additional Department of Defense actions could better support military foster and adoptive families

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, 2021.

Summary:

Active-duty servicemembers in the U.S. military may expand their family by fostering or adopting a child from the foster care system, or through a private adoption. This report examines (1) the number and characteristics of military foster and adoptive servicemembers, (2) what foster- and adoption-related supports federal, and selected state and local agencies provide to military families and families' use of supports, and (3) challenges these families face. GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance and analyzed data on active-duty servicemembers. GAO is making three recommendations to DOD: to centralize information on available supports, revise guidance on enrolling a foster child in its benefits system, and promote awareness of guidance on enrolling foster and pre-adoptive children.

Contents:

Background.

DOD data suggest that few servicemembrs foster or seek to adopt and their characteristics were generally similar to other active-duty servicemembers.

Federal, state, and local agencies offer some assistance targeted to military foster and adoptive families, but families may lack awareness of all available supports.

Families reported challenges, including with enrollment in the military benefits system, which may be partially due to inconsistencies between DOD guidance and regulations.

Conclusions.

Recommendations for executive action.

Agency comments and our evaluation.

Appendices.

Notes:

"August 2021."

"GAO-21-438."

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource, PDF version; title from cover (GAO, viewed on Oct. 26, 2022).

OCLC:

1264484356