Lisa Johnson, Family Support Services Program Manager –
This year, National Adoption Month’s theme is “Engage Youth: Listen and Learn.” Communities are urged to remain steadfast in their commitment to achieving permanency for older youth, even when they appear resistant or hesitant to consider their options.
National Adoption Month is recognized annually in November throughout the nation as a time to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for children and youth in foster care.
While COVID-19 has caused illness, stress, and fear within the nation, it also brought many positive aspects, including the importance of family. The following Coast Guard families have adopted during this challenging year and share their personal stories.
To learn more about how to support National Adoption Month, visit the website.
Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher R. Cauble, a marine science technician at Marine Safety Unit Texas City
“I adopted my step daughter "Lucy Pearson" who is now "Lucy Cauble". I met her mother through the Coast Guard while living in New Haven, Connecticut. As our relationship grew I began to spend more and more time with Lucy and started to fulfill that father role in her life. Once we were married on December 2nd 2018 she had officially become my step daughter. It was after getting married that my wife, Rani Cauble, had asked if I wanted to formally adopt Lucy to which I happily agreed. Lastly, this adoption and our future would not have been possible without the assistance that the Coast Guard was able to provide through their adoption reimbursement program. I couldn’t be happier and I look forward to my life with Lucy and Rani!”
“Mike and Stephanie Cortese, stationed at Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, welcomed Baby Charlotte to their home on December 2, 2019. The adoption was finalized in April of 2020. The big sister, Savannah, and big brothers, CJ and Cole, love the new addition!”
Lt. Cmdr. Michael Cortese
"We wanted to start a family and began the adoption process in 2019. We were very lucky and quickly adopted our daughter in January 2020 and had a biological daughter just seven months later. The Coast Guard was very supportive with both the time required to navigate the adoption process, financially through the adoption reimbursement program and CGMA home study grant."
 |
 |
 |
| “My son and I. Adopted 27 Feb 2020," Lt. Cmdr. Ray Jamros, Aviation Training Center Mobil, Alabama. |
“2020 has brought a lot of hardship but we celebrated the arrival of our daughter. We adopted 12 year old Takmina from Ukraine after two years of adoption paperwork. Our family is now complete.," Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Irion, Icebreaker, Buoy & Construction Tender (IBCT) Product Line, U.S. Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC)
|
Chief Petty Officers Kelly Dunn and MKC Steven Dunn and their family.
|
Resources
The below resources can provide assistance with the Adoption Reimbursement process:
- Adoption Reimbursement Program: Coast Guard Active Duty members and Reservists on Active Duty for at least 180 consecutive days are eligible for reimbursement of up to $2,000 per child, per year, and a maximum of $5,000 in any calendar year.
- Coast Guard Support Program or CG SUPRT: Assists Coast Guard personnel and their families with adoption resources. They can be contacted at 855-CGSUPRT or 855-247-8778.
- Coast Guard Mutual Assistance for adoption: Coast Guard Mutual Assistance offers two types of assistance directly related to the legal adoption of a child: an interest-free loan up to $6,000 for qualified expenses relating to the adoption; and a grant, not to exceed $3,000, for the cost of a home study fee.
- Visit the Health and Human Services website to learn more about adoption and the history of National Adoption Month. To locate the Work-Life staff at your Health, Safety and Work-Life Regional Practice, call 1-202-475-5100.