November is National Adoption Month, an opportunity to recognize the experiences of adopted individuals, birth families, adoptive families, and the professionals who support them. Adoption can bring joy, connection, and a sense of belonging. It can also involve complicated questions about identity, family relationships, grief, and loss. These experiences may emerge at different stages of life, sometimes long after an adoption has been finalized.
For social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other helping professionals, understanding these complexities is an important part of providing compassionate, individualized care. Adoption-informed practice means recognizing how adoption may shape a client’s experiences without making assumptions about what adoption means to that individual.
In recognition of National Adoption Month, we’re highlighting four organizations offering resources to help professionals deepen their understanding and better support individuals and families touched by adoption.
Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.)
The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) provides educational resources and specialized training for professionals working with adopted individuals and their families. Its resources address topics such as attachment, identity development, trauma, grief, and family relationships. C.A.S.E. also offers the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) program, designed to strengthen mental health professionals’ knowledge and clinical skills.
Why explore it: C.A.S.E. offers a useful starting point for clinicians interested in developing adoption-competent practices, with articles and educational materials addressing common challenges and clinical considerations.
Boston Post Adoption Resources (BPAR)
Founded by an adult adoptee and licensed social worker, Boston Post Adoption Resources (BPAR) emphasizes the importance of specialized support throughout the adoption experience. Its Professional Resources Center includes educational materials, recommended readings, and tools addressing adoption-related concerns. BPAR’s approach recognizes the needs of adopted individuals, birth parents, and adoptive families, with attention to the lifelong nature of adoption.
Why explore it: BPAR combines clinical knowledge with lived experience, offering professionals perspectives and resources that can inform their work with clients of different ages and family backgrounds.
Therapy with Adult Adoptees: A Guide for Clinicians
Created by Dr. Amy Geller, a licensed clinical social worker, researcher, and adult adoptee, Therapy with Adult Adoptees is a free online guide designed specifically for mental health professionals. The guide explores clinical considerations related to identity, relationships, adoption-related loss, and the therapeutic process. One particularly valuable feature is its Adoptee Voices section, which includes videos of adult adoptees discussing their experiences, including what they wish therapists understood about adoption.
Why explore it: Hearing directly from adopted adults can help clinicians challenge assumptions, recognize diverse experiences, and approach adoption-related conversations with greater sensitivity.
National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support
The National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support focuses on strengthening services for families after adoption or guardianship. Its Resource Library includes hundreds of articles, guides, webinars, videos, and other materials for child welfare professionals. Topics range from direct family support to program development and improving access to post-adoption services.
Why explore it: This resource is especially relevant for social workers, case managers, and professionals who help families navigate challenges and connect with appropriate support services after adoption.
Continuing the Conversation
Adoption is not a single event, but an experience that can influence individuals and families throughout their lives. There is no universal adoption story, and effective support begins with listening to each person’s unique perspective. National Adoption Month offers an opportunity for helping professionals to expand their knowledge, explore new resources, and reflect on how adoption-informed approaches can strengthen the care they provide.
Disclaimer: The resources highlighted in this article are provided for informational purposes only. Their inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of the organizations, their representatives, or their policies and positions. Neither CEU Creations nor its parent company, Level Education Group, is affiliated with these organizations or has received compensation for featuring them.