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.
Relationship-building isn’t always instinctive, especially when trauma and loss shape a child’s worldview. When parents and youth struggle to connect, the right guidance can make all the difference. In this blog post, child welfare expert Mary Boo shares actionable strategies to help families embrace trauma-responsive parenting, focus on connection before correction, prioritize cultural competence, and nurture authentic bonds.
Children and youth with trauma often require special parenting approaches. Fortunately, there are support services available to help parents navigate their options. Unfortunately, many families do not know about available support services or may be reluctant to access them. We offer strategies to ensure families are both aware of services and understand that needing support is common.
A new resource center recently debuted with the goal of building bridges between child welfare systems and mental health systems.
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.
Melissa Fleurio investigated how families could benefit from post-adoption services when encouraged to seek them out before they encountered a crisis.
Children and youth who have experienced trauma can benefit from trauma-informed parenting methods. Use this article to learn ways to help families incorporate trauma-responsive parenting techniques into their everyday care routines.