Resource Library

Discusses how agencies can help to prevent adoption and guardianship disruption and dissolution. Shares strategies to proactively address risk and protective factors that relate to adoptive placement stability.

Presents results of a large survey of adoptive parents and secondary data analysis of federal adoption data. Provides descriptive statistics describing who is adopting and who is being adopted. Includes information on meeting children’s needs after adoption and children’s educational experiences, which can help programs seeking to support adoptive families.

Discusses the importance of openness with a child’s birth family members. This article dispels some of the common misconceptions about open adoption and provides information about post-adoption contact agreements. A link to state specific statutes related to post-adoption contact agreements as well as links to resources related to maintaining family relationships post-adoption are also included.

Provides an overview of five protective factors: building parental resilience, seeking social connections, learning about parent and child development, concrete support in good times and in bad and developing social and emotional competence in kids.

Draws from available literature and practice knowledge to summarize key issues related to providing effective services to support the stability and permanency of adoptions. Supports professionals in addressing adoptive parents’ and children’s needs for services, recognizing key considerations in providing services, addressing emerging issues, and meeting common challenges in delivery.

Outlines how various forms of peer support—such as mentoring, support groups, peer liaisons, and direct support—can reduce isolation, provide encouragement, and help families access other helpful services. Describes seven successful peer support programs.

Explores how Catawba County, North Carolina, implemented the Reach for Success outreach program. Enables sites to determine if the outreach intervention would work for their jurisdiction and prepare for implementation.

Discusses the evolution of kinship care arrangements for foster children, highlighting changes in legislation and practices over time.

Delves into the deficiencience in the fundamental needs of custodial grandparent-headed households.