CENTER FOR ADOPTION SUPPORT AND EDUCATION INC

Programs

1. National initiatives - the national adoption competency mental health training initiative (nti) (#90co1144) aims to enhance the capacity of child welfare professionals and mental health practitioners to better understand and address the mental health and developmental needs of children moving to or having achieved permanency through adoption, kinship, or guardianship. Through this initiative, child welfare professionals and mental health practitioners in all states, tribes, and territories will have access to two state of the art, evidence-informed, standardized web-based trainings to provide the casework and clinical practices to promote child well-being and family stability. Nti was established in october 2014 through a five year, $9 million cooperative agreement with the children's bureau, administration of children and families, department of health and human services. The cooperative agreement was extended through september 2022 with additional $1 million/year senate appropriations funding to continue the implementation nationally. The cooperative agreement was refunded in october 2022 for five years, $10 million, to continue nationwide infusion and implementation within…

   $7,211,011 spent
   60% of program spending

2. Counseling - as a private, nonprofit mental health support center for adoptive, kinship, and foster youth and their families, each year c.a.s.e. Provides adoption competent mental health services to over 1,300 foster, kinship, and adoptive families and adoptive youth/teens, adult adoptee's and their families, in maryland, northern virginia, and washington, d.c. C.a.s.e. Addresses common developmental issues and social-emotional challenges frequently shared by foster/kinship youth, adoptee's, and their families. Post-adoption care involves early intervention measures to ensure that children and families can thrive. C.a.s.e. Staff are a multi-disciplinary team trained in c.a.s.e.'s accredited evidence-based training for adoption competency (tac) training bringing together expertise in the field of social work, family therapy, trauma informed care, expressive therapy, and education to address the unique needs of this population. C.a.s.e. Combines best practices and innovation to provide premiere counseling services to advance permanency for children and the healthy growth and development of families. Wendy's wonderful kids, the dave thomas foundation for adoption has awarded c.a.s.e.…

   $3,380,077 spent$342,959 earned by the program
   28% of program spending

3. Training for adoption competency (tac) - tac is a national evidence-informed, accredited, rigorously evaluated, manualized training program, developed and owned by c.a.s.e. To provide licensed mental health professionals with the clinical skills they need to provide quality clinical services to adopted persons, birth families, prospective adoptive parents, and adoptive families and kinship families. Tac curriculum is based on 18 clinical competencies vetted nationally with a national advisory board of experts with lived and professional expertise. These competencies also provide the foundation for the definition of an adoption competent mental health professional. In 2025, tac received re-accreditation by the institute for credentialing excellence. Tac remains the only assessment-based adoption competency program. Tac training has been replicated with 225 cohorts, training 3,083 professionals. In 2025, 19 cohorts of tac were provided by c.a.s.e. And its 19 partner agencies throughout the united states for a total of 233 students enrolled. Refer to www.adoptionsupport.org for specific localities.

   $696,002 spent$429,718 earned by the program
   6% of program spending

4. Education resources and trainings - c.a.s.e.'s training programs and educational forums integrate theory, research, and best and innovative practices designed by our experts as well as national experts and those with lived experience in pre- and post-adoption support to meet the specific needs of local, national, and international foster, kinship, and adoption communities. In 2025, 6,396 registrants signed up for 10 strengthening your family webinars and three additional webinars. 273 individuals participated in 12 customized trainings, workshops, and presentations provided by c.a.s.e. Staff to parents or professionals via contracting and community organizations. 87 individuals in the association of tac professionals participated in four trainings. One wise up! Train the trainer workshop was offered with three new organizations becoming licensed wise up! Sites for a total of 17 licensed sites. C.a.s.e. Also offered five support group series for parents and adult adoptees with 353 individuals participating. C.a.s.e. Delivered 390 in-demand educational webinars to support families and professionals. School-based mental health professionals training - in 2024, c.a.s.e. Adapted the…

   $676,979 spent
   6% of program spending

5. Publications - c.a.s.e. Publications educate families, professionals, and the community about a wide range of topics to support the foster, kinship, and adoption communities. C.a.s.e. Staff members continue to author books, articles, and fact sheets to further educate parents and professionals. C.a.s.e. Publications include a monthly e-newsletter, beneath the mask: understanding adopted teens, beneath the mask: for teen adoptees, the whole me, w.I.s.e. Up! Powerbook for adoptees and foster care, and 52 ways to talk about adoption.

   $19,457 spent$346,195 earned by the program
   0% of program spending

The 5 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $11,983,526.