CASE:Special Events

Free Summer Camp for Adoption Youth and those in Kinship Care.
August 9th- August 20th 2010. (Restrictions Apply)

The Center for Adoption Support & Education, along with its partners The Montgomery Department of Recreation and Through the Kitchen Door, are thrilled to announce this 2-week Summer Camp opportunity for Middle School Youth from select areas within Montgomery County.

Click Here for details and eligibility requirements. Submit your Referral form today, spaces limited.

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English Version Referral Form

Beneath the Mask: A Celebration of Art & Adoption Gala

Saturday May 1st 2010 will always be a night to remember. The evening marked a unique fundraising and awareness-raising collaboration between two trailblazing non profit organizations; The Center for Adoption Support & Education and The Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts. “Beneath the Mask: A Celebration of Art and Adoption”, was not only an elegant Gala in Rockville attended by nearly 140 guests, but a collaboration between the community and families, partners and supporters, and friends and colleagues. The event raised more than $30,000, that will further the mission of both organizations.

The evening began with passed hors d'œuvres catered by Through the Kitchen Door, and a silent auction that featured an array of 50+ fun items ranging from a roof top event at Seska Lounge, a tour of historic Williamsburg, and a fused glass sculpture to a summer football camp, fine jewelry, and a beauty and pamper and beauty baskets. Guests mingled while experiencing ambiance, eclectic artwork of foster and adopted youth, and live jazz and swing music.

Guests place competitive bids on an array of items during the silent auction

The Finest: IMPACT (Inspiring Mentoring, Positive Activists Called Teens!) Dance Troupe showcased their talent through an inspirational and eye-opening dance performance. The Finest! Youth Performance Troupe is a multicultural youth performance group of actors, dancers and steppers. This group of Middle and high school teens, explore and tackle real world issues in a theatrical setting, fostering thought-provoking audience discussion while building resiliency skills.

The Finest: IMPACT Dance Troupe

C.A.S.E. and VisArts were grateful to have Carol Trawick, president of the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation at the event to provide some inspiring words about the value and power of collaboration. Her foundation was responsible for bringing these two organizations together one year ago, as C.A.S.E. and VisArts are two of four local nonprofits who partnered and together received the Trawick Foundation's first TeamUp grant, a grant which funds the Leadership Empowerment and Action Program (LEAP), a youth development program for foster and adopted youth in the county and their families.

Carol Trawick of The Jim & Carol Trawick Foundation

On behalf of The Center for Adoption Support & Education (C.A.S.E.) and The Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts (VisArts) at Rockville, we would like to thank all of our dedicated donors and supporters for making this event a success and allowing us to achieve our mission.

Sponsored By

C.A.S.E. Honors Senator Benjamin Cardin and Congressman Chris Van Hollen

"Many adoptive families have a very unique set of challenges and C.A.S.E. has the experience and training to address their needs. Children who have been in foster care and adopted often have mental health and other needs and C.A.S.E. provides Maryland families with a unique resource that can help make adoptions successful."- Senator Benjamin L. Cardin

On Monday, April 26th 2010, The Center for Adoption Support & Education Inc., its staff, Board of Directors, community dignitaries, partners, and families served, recognized the support given by Senator Benjamin Cardin and Congressman Christopher Van Hollen to secure a FY 2009 Appropriation for $250,000 to expand the array of adoption competent mental health and education services to adoptive children and their parents. "C.A.S.E. is committed to ensuring children from foster care and adoptive backgrounds have the support they need to grow into productive adults, and their success is evident in the stories of the teens and families who are here with us today," said Congressman Van Hollen. "C.A.S.E. has served hundreds of families in our community and all across Maryland, and I'm proud to join Senator Cardin here today to honor their important work."

C.A.S.E. CEO, Debbie Riley, Senator Ben Cardin and C.A.S.E. Founder, Kathleen Dugan

C.A.S.E. CEO, Debbie Riley, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and C.A.S.E. Founder, Kathleen Dugan

Over 65 guests attended to show their support and gratitude including special guest speakers County Executive Isiah Leggett, Secretary Brenda Donald, Maryland Department of Health and Human Resources, three young adult adoptees who had received services through C.A.S.E., Delegate Jolene Ivey, Steve White and Kim Smith from Frederick County Department of Social Services, Uma Ahluwalia, Director of Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth & Families, Foster Care Alumni of America, and Adopt US Kids.

C.A.S.E. CEO, Debbie Riley and County Executive Isiah Leggett

Awards ceremony attendees

Zoe Crawford shares her personal adoption story and what C.A.S.E. means to her

Debbie Riley, C.A.S.E. CEO, passionately expressed that "At C.A.S.E no child or family is alone to cope with the complexity of early life experiences including deprivation, separation, abuse and or neglect or to just understand their personal adoption story. Today marks a monumental step, the ability to expand our services within the state of Maryland – for too long many families have had to at times drive three to four hours to obtain the support they need. We now have additional services here, as well as, an office in Frederick Maryland –reaching those in Northern Montgomery County, Baltimore, Cecil, Carroll and Washington Counties". As a result of the funding, C.A.S.E will be able to maintain its provision of services in Montgomery County and serve an additional 50 families at the new site. "This expansion would have never been possible without the open mind and hearts of two men, Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen. They heard testimonies of youth and families some of which are here today, articulating why C.A.S.E needs to be here, why C.A.S.E needed their help and what the specialized services meant to them. Both Senator Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen communicated their commitment to Maryland's adoption community and knew the value of the array of services C.A.S.E had built. At a time with competing needs and reduced funds, they kept the voices of our youth vibrant by submitting our appropriation request" said Debbie Riley.

Kathleen and Michael Dugan, Founders of C.A.S.E, presented the awards to Senator Cardin and Congressman Van Hollen. "We thank both of you for helping to carry our dream forward. Your validation of our work and the importance of adoption competent services will have far reaching benefits to adoptive families in Maryland." Approximately 770 children were adopted through the State's child welfare system with hundreds more internationally last year. As the needs grow to support families beyond finalization, the accessibility of C.A.S.E services are critical to ensuring long term positive outcomes for Maryland's adoptive families and their children. The new expansion will be an answer to the critical needs of our community.

C.A.S.E Founders Kathleen and Michael Dugan

We thank Senator Cardin, Congressman Van Hollen, County Executive Isiah Leggett, Secretary Brenda Donald, and Frederick County Department of Social Services, and many other partners, throughout the State of Maryland as we all strive to achieve greater impact on the important concerns facing adoptive families in Maryland. It is the mission of The Center for Adoption Support & Education to strengthen the well-being of children and families from all foster and adoptive experiences.

** A Special thank you to our event catering sponsors "Whole Foods" of Silver Spring, MD and "Giant Food" of Burtonsville, MD.

Beneath the Mask: A Celebration of Arts and Adoption
Presented by The Center for Adoption Support and Education and VisArts
Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 8:00pm

On May 1, 2010, C.A.S.E. and VisArts will join together at VisArts for a fundraising and awareness-raising event, called Beneath the Mask: a Celebration of Art and Adoption. This spectacular evening will be held at VisArts, sponsored and catered by Through the Kitchen Door, and it will feature live jazz, silent auction, performance by The Fianest: IMPACT Dance Troupe, and art work of foster and adopted youth.