The development of adoptive parenting competencies are foundational to “parents as agents of healing.” These competencies can be used when assessing potential adoptive parents but can also apply to resource parents in general. We know that many children in foster care are adopted by their foster parents so it can be equally as important to assess for these competencies at the front end. Adoption competent mental health providers can work with parents to develop and strengthen these competencies as part of the family-focused treatment.
