Resource Library

Explains burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma and provides suggestions for ways to prevent vicarious trauma, including by teaching providers about it. Discusses screening and self-assessment tools and developing a more supportive culture.

Provides Virginia’s policies and practices related to Post-Adoption Services. This manual covers the purpose of Virginia’s post-adoption services, service models, types of special services, adoption assistance and changes, educational and postsecondary support.

Reports findings from conservations with 129 young people adopted from foster care, including information on the importance of adoption preparation and support for the entire family.

Emphasizes the critical need for post-adoption support for families caring for children who have experienced trauma. This article outlines the challenges adoptive families and provides suggestions for systemic changes.

Builds the case for why adoptive families need support post-permanency. This article highlights six factors that adoptive parents believe positively impact their adjustment after adopting.

Provides an easy-to-understand explanation of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and how ACEs can lead to toxic stress. Offers tips to reduce the impact of toxic stress.

Details the role and significance of kinship navigator programs and highlights examples of evidence-based kinship navigator programs in various states.

Explains why child protection agencies should treat youth with lived experience as essential partners in improving the child welfare system. This article outlines how to value youth as assets through fair compensation, flexible and youth‑friendly payment practices, and support for travel and participation. It also emphasizes preparing young people for life beyond advocacy by helping them build professional skills, explore careers, and access long‑term opportunities. Examples from organizations like FosterClub illustrate how investing in youth leads to stronger systems and better outcomes.

Provides behavioral and mental health professionals with an overview of child welfare, describes how these practitioners and child welfare workers can support each other, and offers additional information resources.

Discusses Tennessee’s Post-Permanency program, Adoption Support and Preservation|Guardianship Support and Preservation (ASAP|GSAP). Tennessee has supported families who provide permanency to children in the state’s foster care system for nearly 30 years.  This robust program offers services that include training for parents transitioning to adoption or guardianship, in-home counseling services (including crisis intervention), support groups, educational advocacy, coaching for parents, training for parents and professionals related to key issues in adoption and guardianship, social and recreational events for children and parents, and information and referral. Readers will learn more about the ASAP|GSAP program, successes and values.