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Building Access Through Partnership: Centene Invests in Illinois TAC Cohort for 2026

Building Access Through Partnership: Centene Invests in Illinois TAC Cohort for 2026

by | Feb 26, 2026 | Adoption Competent Services, Adoption Competent Trainings, Child Welfare Competent MH, For Professionals, Mental Health

Building Access Through Partnership: Centene Invests in Illinois TAC Cohort for 2026

 

The National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services is proud to partner with Centene to facilitate a Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) cohort in Illinois in 2026 which will launch in April 2026.  TAC is the nation’s premiere assessment-based certificate program for training mental health practitioners and developing adoption competency skills. Through classroom and remote instruction, as well as clinical case consultation, TAC students master key clinical skills that support adopted children and their foster, adoptive and kinship families.   

Centene Corp. LogoCentene’s investment in TAC is well-timed. The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) released two landmark research reports in December 2025 that provide the strongest evidence to date that adoption-competent mental health services deliver measurably better outcomes for adoptive families—and that far too few families can access them. 

 

“Birth parents, adoptive parents, adoptees, and kinship caregivers—engage in mental health services at rates 2.5 to 3 times higher than the general U.S. population.”

 

The new data, collected through a nationwide survey and a multi-state effectiveness study, show that families who engaged with TAC-trained clinicians—clinicians who have completed C.A.S.E.’s rigorous evidence-based, accredited Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program—report stronger therapeutic alliances, higher satisfaction across all dimensions of treatment, more adoption-relevant care, and improved family outcomes. 

At the same time, the national survey reveals that families across the adoption kinship network—including birth parents, adoptive parents, adoptees, and kinship caregivers—engage in mental health services at rates 2.5 to 3 times higher than the general U.S. population, but face significant barriers to adoption-competent care. Just 21.84% of respondents rated their clinicians as adoption competent, with adoptees facing the steepest access challenges.

 

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Centering Lived Experience: Oklahoma Launches Lived Experience Competent Care Advisory Council

Centering Lived Experience: Oklahoma Launches Lived Experience Competent Care Advisory Council

by | Jan 20, 2026 | Adoption Competent Trainings, Child Welfare Competent MH>Adoption Competent Services, for Caregivers and Families, Lived Experience, Mental Health, Parenting, Special Event, Support Groups

Centering Lived Experience:

Oklahoma Launches Lived Experience Competent Care Advisory Council

 

The National Center, in partnership with our co-sponsor, the OU Center for Adoption and Family Well-Being, was proud to celebrate the successful launch events for the Oklahoma Lived Experience Competent Care Advisory Council. These gatherings marked a significant milestone in Oklahoma’s commitment to elevating lived experience as a driving force in bridging the gap between mental health services and child welfare, strengthening adoption competency, and advancing family well-being. 

This council is the first statewide body of its kind in Oklahoma to be fully led by Lived Experience Champions. Each council member brings direct experience connected to foster care—whether as a current youth or alumni of foster care, an adult adopted from foster care, a biological parent, a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or a kinship caregiver. This intentional structure ensures that the voices shaping policy, practice, and support systems are those who they most impact. 

To kick off this work, we hosted two launch events—one in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa—on January 12 and 13, 2026. Across both events, 33 individuals with lived experience participated, representing a powerful group of people directly impacted by the foster care system. Their presence, insights, and leadership set the tone for what this council is designed to be: a space where lived expertise is centered, respected, and used to drive meaningful change. 

The events were moderated by Bonni Goodwin, Ph.D., a mental health expert whose leadership created a welcoming, reflective, and energizing environment. The heart of both gatherings, however, came from our three Lived Experience Champions, who guided conversations, facilitated activities, and modeled what it means to lead with authenticity and courage. Their leadership helped participants explore how lived experience can inform policy, strengthen practice, and shape support systems across the state. 

Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in thoughtful dialogue, reflected on their own experiences, and explored both current initiatives and new ideas for Oklahoma. These conversations highlighted the strengths within Oklahoma communities and the opportunities ahead to build mental health and child-serving systems that truly listen to and respond to those they serve. 

The energy across both events was powerful. Participants expressed excitement, hope, and a shared belief that this council can become a catalyst for long-term, sustainable change. The turnout and engagement demonstrated how ready Oklahoma is to build a future where lived experience is not only included but centered. 

This launch was just the beginning. The council’s official formation was on March 31, 2026, when members began setting priorities, establishing a structure, and identifying key areas where lived experience can have the greatest impact. As the council grows, it will serve as a model for how states can meaningfully integrate lived expertise into their systems—not as an afterthought, but as a core component of adoption competent, compassionate, and effective care. 

We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated in the launch events and to all who continue to champion the importance of lived experience in Oklahoma and beyond. The work ahead is significant, but the passion and leadership demonstrated at these events give us confidence that the council will make a lasting difference for children, youth, families, and communities for years to come. 

Together, we are building a future where lived experience is recognized, respected, and centered in every conversation about adoption competent and trauma-informed care, support, and community wellbeing. The momentum is strong, and we are excited for what comes next. 

 

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NTI Training: What I Learned Could Have Saved My Career in Counseling 

NTI Training: What I Learned Could Have Saved My Career in Counseling 

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Adoption Competent Trainings, Child Welfare Competent MH>Adoption Competent Services, For Professionals

NTI Training: What I Learned Could Have Saved My Career in Counseling 

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to help people, and becoming a mental health counselor felt like the perfect way to do that. After graduating from college, I stepped eagerly into the field. I was wide-eyed, hopeful, and ready to make a difference. I believed my undergraduate and graduate coursework had prepared me for anything I might encounter. But very quickly, I lea ed that wasn’t true. 

Within my combined 180 credit hours of education, I spent roughly one hour lea ing about child welfare. Even then, that hour was focused on the history of the system, not how to effectively treat children, youth, and families touched by foster care, adoption, or kinship care. As a counselor who frequently worked with clients connected to the child welfare system, that single hour left me profoundly unprepared.  

Without that foundation, I often felt like I was guessing. I cared deeply about my clients, but I didn’t understand the complex layers of trauma, attachment disruptions, identity development, and relational loss inherent in their experiences. I didn’t know how these factors shaped their behaviors, their relationships, or their healing process. Over time, the weight of feeling ineffective, despite my best efforts, took a toll. 

After five years of wrestling with burnout, frustration, and self-doubt, I made a heartbreaking decision: I left the counseling field entirely. 

Discovering NTI 

I encountered the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) after joining the National Center. As I began working through the modules, I felt a mix of excitement and grief. The material was everything I had been missing as a counselor. It was comprehensive, practical, and deeply rooted in the lived realities of children and families with child welfare experience. I found myself thinking back to former clients. I visualized their faces, reflected on our sessions, and wondered how different things might have been if I’d had this training years earlier. For the first time, concepts that once felt confusing or out of reach became clear. 

As I moved through the training, one question kept echoing in my mind: “How much more effective could I have been if I’d known all of this?” And the honest answer is much more. 

 

What NTI Gives Professionals That Traditional Training Does Not 

NTI provides exactly what so many mental health providers never receive in school: adoption-competent, trauma-informed, child welfare-specific training. 

It covers topics such as: 

  •  Understanding trauma and attachment through a child-welfare lens 
  • Supporting identity formation and addressing grief, loss, and loyalty conflicts 
  • Strengthening caregiver capacity and therapeutic partnerships 
  • Navigating system dynamics with child welfare professionals 
  • Providing effective, culturally responsive, adoption-competent mental health care 

NTI training goes beyond just increasing knowledge; it can also build confidence, reduce bu out, and help providers show up for children and families in meaningful, practical ways. The National Center couples NTI training with coaching and lea ing communities to help professionals continue their growth and competency beyond the course.  

Every professional deserves access to training that prepares them for the realities of this work, and every child and family deserves a provider who understands their story, needs, and unique jou ey. 

 

Looking Back to Looking Forward 

If I had NTI earlier in my career, I might still be a counselor today. But I also know that my experience isn’t unique. Many professionals enter the field with passion and dedication, but lack the training needed to serve this population effectively. NTI fills that gap. It empowers the workforce and, most importantly, ensures children, youth, and families receive the adoption-competent mental health care they deserve. 

No counselor, social worker, or mental health provider should have to navigate this work feeling unprepared. NTI makes sure they don’t have to. 

 

Asia Huggins Content Specialist, National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services

 

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The Invisible Divide in Youth Mental Health Care 

The Invisible Divide in Youth Mental Health Care 

by | Jan 13, 2026 | Access to Mental Health Services, Adoption Competent Services, Adoption Competent Trainings, Child Welfare Competent MH, Mental Health

The Invisible Divide in Youth Mental Health Care: 2025 Trends and Their Impact on Children in Child Welfare 

 

“Statistics are important, but the stories behind them are what drive our mission. Every child’s behavior tells us something about their experience.” — National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services

Across the nation, 2025 offers hopeful signs for youth mental health. Rates of major depressive episodes, substance use, and suicidal ideation among youth are decreasing for the first time in several years (Mental Health America, 2025). In the midst of these positive trends, however, some children, especially those experiencing the child welfare system, continue to face trauma, loss, and instability that increase their risk of mental health challenges. While the general youth population shows signs of recovery, those experiencing the child welfare system still have mental health needs that are higher than those of their peers. Although progress in youth mental health deserves recognition, equal attention must be given to young people whose experiences in the child welfare system have too often resulted in unmet mental health needs.  

The National Picture: Gains and Gaps 

According to recent national data, the percentage of youth experiencing a major depressive episode decreased from 18.1% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024, and youth substance use dropped to its lowest level since 2017. Even more promising, suicidal ideation among young people fell from 12.3% to 10.1%, indicating that expanded crisis services and increased public awareness are beginning to have a positive impact (Mental Health America, 2025). 

There are still gaps in youth mental health care for young people. Over half of the youth with depression receive no treatment, often because of stigma, fear of involuntary commitment, or lack of access to qualified providers. Additionally, schools have reported that they cannot effectively address students’ mental health needs due to limited funding or staffing. Despite these obstacles, the overall outlook for youth mental health remains hopeful.  

The Invisible Divide 

Behind the promising national statistics are children whose early losses, transitions, and traumas shape their emotional worlds in unique ways. As youth mental health trends improve across the country, we must recognize that the healing and well-being of children experiencing the child welfare system relies on the competence and compassion of the adults and systems around them to provide the most effective mental health care and conditions for them to thrive. Data continues to show increasing need, and for system-involved children and youth, the stakes are particularly high. The gap between their mental health needs and the support they receive remains too great.   

However, the movement toward adoption competent, trauma-informed, relationship-centered systems presents a powerful opportunity to close the invisible divide, increase permanency, and continue to further the progress that has been made in youth mental health in recent years. Adoption competence extends beyond general clinical training by equipping mental health professionals with a deep understanding of how early adversity, complex trauma, and attachment disruptions influence emotional regulation, behavior, and relationships throughout development. When systems are adoption competent, services better reflect the lived experiences of children and families and respond not only to symptoms but also to the full context of a child’s history and needs. 

Signs of Hope 

Despite the apparent challenges in providing equitable access to youth mental health care, there are clear signs of hope:  

  • There is a growing awareness and use of adoption-competent and trauma-informed care. Specialized training programs, such as the National Center’s National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) and the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Program, help clinicians, caregivers, and educators lea to respond with empathy and patience, understand the story behind the behavior, and respond appropriately.

  • Cross-system collaborations between schools, child welfare agencies, and behavioral health systems are increasingly recognizing that youth mental health requires intentional coordination, especially for children in the child welfare system.

  • There is more of a focus on relationships, connection, and stability regarding youth mental health. Increasing evidence suggests that validated interventions, such as stable placement, nurturing relationships, and consistent support, can positively shift a child’s life trajectory.

Conclusion 

Although there have been significant improvements in certain areas of youth mental health, gaps still exist that prevent every child from accessing the most effective mental health care, especially for children in the child welfare system. More work remains, and the focus is shifting from solely addressing behaviors to establishing strong foundations for youth to flourish. The growing evidence suggests that there is a shift in beliefs and practices in youth mental health services, and adoption competent mental health services will be a contributing factor to the continual progress of youth mental health.  

Reference 

Mental Health America. 2025. The State of Mental Health in America. Retrieved from: https://mhanational.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/State-of-Mental-Health-2025.pdf 

Looking for Additional Resources?

Visit the Knowledge Hub to access models of intervention, training resources, and practical tools to strengthen cross-system collaboration and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. 

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Webinar: Helping Mental Health Providers Achieve Outcomes that Matter Most

Webinar: Helping Mental Health Providers Achieve Outcomes that Matter Most

by | Jul 25, 2025 | Access to Mental Health Services, Adoption Competent Trainings, Child Welfare Competent MH>Adoption Competent Services, Cultural Competency, for Caregivers and Families, For Professionals, Mental Health, Webinars

WEBINAR:

Helping Mental Health Providers Achieve Outcomes that Matter Most

Join us for a deep dive into what youth and families truly want from behavioral health services and how the National Center is helping providers meet those expectations.

Grounded in findings from national focus groups led by FREDLA and other family-run organizations, this session explores real-world outcomes that matter most to youth and caregivers: respect, cultural responsiveness, individualized care, accessible services, and meaningful collaboration.

Learn how adoption competent, family-informed approaches can drive better care experiences and outcomes across mental health and child welfare services.

Watch the Webinar:
Helping Mental Health Providers Achieve Outcomes that Matter Most

Presenters:

Millie Sweeney
Milley Sweeney

Director of Learning and Workforce Development, FREDLA

Millie Sweeney
Stacy Morgan
Executive Director, Mental Health Transformation Alliance

Looking for Additional Resources?

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How Adoption Competency Supports Young People: Alex’s Perspective 

How Adoption Competency Supports Young People: Alex’s Perspective 

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Access to Mental Health Services, Adoption Competent Services>Trauma-Informed Care, Adoption Competent Trainings, Foster Care

How Adoption Competency Supports Young People: Alex’s Perspective 

Adoption is often celebrated as a new beginning, but for many youth, it’s a complex jou ey filled with layered emotions and experiences. Part of the process is working with providers who understand adoption competency. Adoption competency refers to the skills, knowledge, and understanding that professionals—like social workers, therapists, and educators—need to effectively support children who are adopted or in foster care, as well as their families.    

The Importance of Permanency and Respect 

Alex Oleson, a Lived Experience Leader, was adopted into a multi-racial family and has navigated this jou ey. In his experience, he lea ed a great deal about the importance of adoption competency—both for adoptive parents and for the youth themselves.    Alex shares, “I am a 22-year-old Black man adopted into a multi-racial family including white, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian siblings. My family has taught me the importance of permanency and to respect and love others that don’t look like me.”    Growing up in a diverse family has not only enriched Alex’s life but has also instilled a strong sense of identity. Permanency is crucial for any child, especially those who have experienced instability in foster care. It’s not just about having a roof over your head; it’s about having a consistent environment where love and respect flourish. This foundational support allowed Alex to thrive, encouraging him to embrace his individuality while also appreciating the diverse backgrounds of his siblings.   

Misconceptions About Adoption 

Alex explains “oftentimes going into foster care there is a misconception that a youth starts a new life with a new family…”    This idea that adoption equates to a fresh start can be misleading. While it is a new chapter, it often comes with the weight of unresolved feelings about one’s birth family and past experiences. The phrase “adoption means starting a new life” can be misleading because it oversimplifies the complex emotional jou ey that adopted children and their families experience.     While adoption certainly offers the opportunity for a fresh beginning and a loving home, it often comes with the weight of past trauma, loss, and identity struggles. Many adopted children carry memories or feelings about their biological families, which can impact their sense of belonging and self-worth. Additionally, the transition to a new family can be filled with challenges, as children may need time to adjust, build trust, and navigate their emotions. Instead of a clean slate, adoption is more about integrating past experiences into a new narrative, emphasizing the need for understanding, patience, and ongoing support as families work together to heal and grow.   

Supporting Identity and Connections 

Alex recommends “enacting strategies young people have identified such as identity training…”    Identity training focuses on helping individuals, particularly youth, understand and explore their personal identity, including aspects like culture, ethnicity, gender, and life experiences. Identity is a critical aspect of any young person’s development, especially for those in the adoption constellation. Adoptive families should prioritize understanding the unique cultural and emotional backgrounds of their children. By doing so, they empower youth to explore and express who they are while acknowledging their past.    Additionally, Alex shares “I would encourage all adoptive or resource parents to support any young person they adopt in feeling confident in themselves…”    Maintaining connections with birth families can significantly contribute to emotional stability. For many young people, these relationships are lifelines, providing a sense of belonging and continuity. It’s essential for adoptive families to facilitate and encourage these connections, allowing youth to engage with their kin and preserve their history.   

Cultivating Emotional Stability 

While some may believe that it’s better for a youth to have a fresh start without contact with their birth families—thinking that biological relatives might sabotage the adoption or that staying connected could be too painful—fostering an environment that values permanency, supports identity exploration, and encourages connections with birth families can truly make a difference in the field of mental health. This perspective overlooks the potential for healing and understanding that can come from maintaining those connections.     For many adopted youth, knowing their roots and having access to their biological families can provide a sense of belonging and help them navigate their identities, ultimately supporting their emotional well-being and resilience. Alex shares, “existing relationships with kin are incredibly important for young people’s emotional stability when being adopted. As I reflect on my own jou ey, the support I received from my adoptive family in maintaining ties with my birth family has been invaluable. These relationships can serve as a source of comfort and identity, reinforcing the idea that one’s past does not need to be erased but can be integrated into a new narrative.”    Adoption competency is more than just a concept; it’s a commitment to understanding the multifaceted experiences of youth in the system. By creating a nurturing environment that prioritizes permanency, supports identity exploration, and fosters connections with birth families, adoptive parents can significantly impact the field of mental health. Ultimately, it’s about equipping young people with the confidence to embrace who they are while navigating their unique jou eys. In this way, we can transform adoption into a powerful story of resilience, connection, and love.    

Looking for Additional Resources?

Visit the Knowledge Hub to access models of intervention, training resources, and practical tools to strengthen cross-system collaboration and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. 

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