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New post-adoption center enhances support to adoptive and guardianship families 

A man and woman discuss post-adoption issues at a desk.

A new federal center has been launched to help agencies and staff develop, implement, and sustain post-permanency services that are comprehensive, culturally responsive, and accessible.  

Founded last fall, the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support offers a variety of services, including a resource library, webinars, trainings, technical assistance, events, and more. Read more below and at the Center’s website to learn about the specific benefits and services you can access to inform your efforts to support adoptive and guardianship families.   

Resource library 

The Center’s resource library already has hundreds of highly curated articles, webinars, videos, curricula, and other resources to help child welfare professionals enhance their post-permanency support services. New resources will be added regularly. 

Resources are organized by such topics as:  

  • outreach and family engagement 
  • post-permanency programming 
  • serving diverse adoptive and guardianship families 
  • workforce development 
  • evaluation of post-permanency services 

Webinars, Center chats, and peer groups 

Through the Post-Adoption Center, child welfare professionals have access to chats, trainings, webinars, and other events designed to inform their approach to post-permanency services. Upcoming options are listed on an event calendar, accessible here. Past events have covered such topics as mental health needs of teens, preparation training for adoption and guardianship, and when to share parenting in kinship families who have adopted or obtained guardianship.   

Additionally, child welfare professionals can gather virtually to share information about specific topics of interest in peer group discussions. You can learn more on the Center’s peer group page about future conversations.  

On-site technical assistance 

The Post-Adoption Center is also providing on-site technical assistance to states, tribal nations, and territories to ensure they have a comprehensive, post-permanency continuum for children, youth, and families who need more intensive support. Services provided through these partnerships include a comprehensive assessment of the existing post-permanency program, an action plan to enhance the continuum of services, and support with implementing the plan. You can learn more on the Center’s technical assistance page.  

Stay in touch with the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support by joining the Center’s email list

Mary Boo

Mary Boo

Mary Boo has worked in child welfare for almost thirty years, primarily at the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), where she served as executive director from 2015 to 2022 and assistant director from 2001 to 2015. At NACAC, Boo led the agency’s efforts to support adoptive, foster, and kinship families; advocate for policy and program changes to ensure better outcomes for children and families; and engage caregivers and young people who experienced foster care and adoption in advocacy and program implementation. Boo is an experienced researcher and writer, with particular expertise in child welfare policy, supporting families during and after placement, and achieving permanency for all children and teens in care. Now an independent consultant, she specializes in helping child welfare organizations communicate their priorities to varied audiences, including funders, parents, and professionals.