Making Permanence Possible

At the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), we work across every level of the permanence ecosystem to ensure families stay together and thrive.

See Our Impact

Mental Health Services

Offering adoption-competent therapy, case management, and support that sustains permanence to children and families in the adoption, foster, and kinship care community.

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Training + Education

Providing adoption-competent trainings to professionals nationwide so they can respond to the unique needs of adoptive, foster, and kinship families.

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Systems Change

Building bridges between the child welfare and mental health systems - removing barriers that stand between families and the care they need.

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At the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), we work across every level of the permanency ecosystem to ensure families stay together and thrive.

Harris K. Leonard Memorial Scholarship Recipient with the Leonard Family

Mother and Son in Adoption Competent Therapy

C.A.S.E. 2026 Gala
Empowered Voices. Brighter Futures.

Sponsorships & Tickets Now Available!

Join C.A.S.E. on April 11, 2026, 6:00-10:00pm at National Housing Center, Washington D.C. to support the adoptive, foster and kinship families we serve.

Get Involved

SYF WEBINAR: Recovery and Repair After Conflict

Join us on Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST as Dr. Gwen Bass Leslie Hales, LCSW, PIP, will help us reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth and walk away with practical steps for repair, empathy, and rebuilding trust after difficult moments.

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New Research Confirms Power of Adoption-Competent Mental Health Care

Two landmark reports provide the strongest evidence to date on what works—and what families still need.

New research from C.A.S.E. confirms that adoption-competent mental health care makes a measurable difference in family outcomes, yet access remains limited. Explore our national survey and multi-state effectiveness study to see what families are saying, and why it’s time for bold systems change.

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Now Accepting 2026 Nominations for HKL Memorial Scholarship

The Harris K. Leonard Scholarship will be awarded to a student who is currently in, has aged out, or was adopted from foster care and is pursuing post-high school education in a college, university, or trade school. Nominations MUST be submitted by 12:00pm EST on Friday, February 27, 2026.

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What is Adoption-Competent Therapy?

C.A.S.E. therapists provide specialized adoption-competent therapy to children, teens, adults, and families throughout MD, VA, D.C. Metro Area. Live outside of the D.C. Metro area? Search C.A.S.E.’s Adoption Competence National Directory

Schedule an Initial Appointment

What is Adoption Competence?

Adoption-Competence is a pursuit of deep skills, values, and knowledge rooted in being understanding of the complexities of adoptive, foster, and kinship care to address loss and grief, identity formation, sense of belonging, and more.

This specialized adoption-competent lens is our foundation. It’s what families deserve, and it’s what we work to build and preserve – every day.

Adoption Competence National Directory

Search for Adoption Competent Trained Mental Health Therapists Nationwide!

Search our National Directory

Trainings for Professionals

Backed by 25+ years of clinical expertise, the C.A.S.E. Training Institute equips child welfare, mental health, and school professionals with evidence-based, trauma-informed training programs.

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Counseling Services

We offer specialized, adoption-competent therapy, case management, and support that helps ensure permanence to children and families in the adoption, foster, and kinship care community.

Access Counseling at C.A.S.E.