As part of its ongoing Intensive Technical Assistance (TA) work in Illinois, the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services recently hosted a virtual event with several of the State’s leading family-run organizations to build healing-centered, family-informed systems of care. The convening was designed to deepen partnerships and explore how adoption competent services can support families who have experienced child welfare, regardless of whether adoption is part of their story.
The session included an overview of the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) and a walk-through of the National Directory of Adoption Competent Professionals, a tool designed to connect families and providers to qualified mental health professionals nationwide. Participants reflected on how these resources could be expanded to meet the unique needs of Illinois’ children, youth, and caregivers.
An important conversation stemmed from a question raised by a meeting participant: How can adoption competent services benefit all families impacted by child welfare, not just those who have experience with adoption? This question sparked a thoughtful dialogue about the broader value of adoption competent care in addressing trauma, grief, and the complexities of identity for all children who have experienced separation or loss.
A representative of an Illinois family organization using the NTI-school based curriculum shared how their organization is using the NTI School-Based Curriculum to train educators across the State to better meet the needs of children from kinship, foster, and adoptive families. iCARE4’s Connection Kits and training initiatives are helping schools become more inclusive, responsive, and trauma-informed spaces for children navigating system involvement or family transitions.
This event is one of many efforts underway in Illinois to build a healing-centered, family-informed system of care. The National Center will continue its technical assistance work with the state through training, cross-system collaboration, and resource development that uplifts lived experience and community wisdom.
For more information about the National Center’s TA work, visit our website.
