All regular full-time and extended part-time employees become eligible for the Adoption Assistance Program upon employment. Eligible employees will be reimbursed for up to $2,000 for expenses incurred in the placement and adoption of a child. See below for allowable and excluded expenses.
Refer to the following links to various adoption information and assistance sites.
Expenses eligible for reimbursement include the following:
- Fees of a private or government adoption agency that is accredited or licensed.
- Placement fees including professional evaluation through home studies, interviews with prospective adoptive and natural parents, physical exams and private placement fees by a doctor, lawyer or other appropriate professional.
- Temporary foster care fees including foster care required immediately before placement of a child in your home.
- Legal and court fees including court supervision, termination of natural, parental rights, final adoption procedures and birth certificate preparation.
- Traveling expenses including costs for meals and lodging.
This policy excludes, but is not limited to, the following expenses related to adoption.
- Professional counseling for the natural parents.
- Institutional living expenses such as an orphanage, children's home or unwed mothers home for the child or natural mother.
- Fees related to establishing legal guardianship.
- Fees related to the adoption of children over the age of 18 unless the child is physically or mentally incapable of caring for themself.
- Fees related to surrogate parenting arrangements, illegal adoptions or adoption of a spouse's child.
- Contested legal actions to establish parental rights before adoption.
- Maternity fees for the natural mother, including pre and postnatal care, obstetrical fees and related hospital charges.
Full or partial payment may be requested any time after the child is placed in the home. This policy does not require that the employee wait for reimbursement until the final date of adoption has occurred. In cases of multiple adoptions, the adoption of each child will be considered separate, however a maximum of $4,000 will be paid under this policy to any family during any twelve month period.