Why Adoption Competency Matters Across Healthcare Here’s an article from New England Children’s Behavioral Health Network that explores why adoption competency is essential across healthcare settings and how a deeper understanding of adoption-related experiences can...
Leadership Perspective: Moving From Collaboration to Connection Strong outcomes for children and families depend on more than collaboration in name. They require meaningful connections across child welfare, behavioral health, education, and other family-serving...
For families involved with child welfare, maternal mental health support may also need to address trauma, separation, loss, changing caregiving relationships, and permanency. An adoption competent lens helps professionals respond to these interconnected experiences.
The Value of Adoption Competent Therapy Isabel S., Lived Experience Advocate I was eight the first time I sat across from a therapist. I don't remember the room, only what was outside it: my family living in an old camper with no heat, no water, no electricity, and...
The National Center reflects on NAMICon 2026, highlighting adoption competent mental health, workforce development, and cross-system collaboration.
Finding adoption competent mental health care isn’t easy. Explore why access gaps exist, why specialized training matters, and how stronger systems can better support adoptive, foster, and kinship families.
Ashley Garcia-Rivera, Policy Advisor (C.A.S.E.), explores how mental health support helps sustain permanency and that recognizing the need for counseling is only the first step. For many families, the harder challenge is finding adoption-competent care in the first place.
Learn how cross-system partnerships in Navajo Nation are expanding adoption-competent, culturally responsive mental health services to support healing, permanency, and long-term well-being for children and families.
Behavioral health capacity is critical to achieving permanency in child welfare. Learn how mental health and substance use services, workforce development, and cross-system collaboration impact outcomes for children and families.
Caregiver Mental Health Support Guide Being a caregiver for a child or youth isn't easy. However, caring for children who have experienced trauma, loss, and identity disruptions can be especially challenging. Caregivers of children and youth with child welfare...
Building Trust After Trauma: Supporting Children in Adoptive and Foster Families Placement, no matter how well-intended, is a significant transition. Children and youth who have been impacted by child welfare often experience early trauma, loss, disrupted...
Evidence in Action: How Adoption Competency Is Strengthening Mental Health Services Findings from the effectiveness study confirm that adoption‑competent care is essential. When mental health professionals are trained in adoption competence, outcomes...
Interested in contributing to our blog? We welcome perspectives from professionals, systems leaders, policymakers, advocates, and youth and families working to advance adoption competent mental health. If you’d like to contribute to a future blog, please reach out to us at bader@adoptionsupport.org
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