In recognition of Counseling Awareness Month, we want to share two excellent training programs to assist mental health professionals to enhance their adoption competency u2013 that is, the knowledge, skills and abilities that enable therapists to understand and effectively address the complex and differing needs of youth and their foster, adoptive and kinship families. This includes a focus on strategies to address loss and grief, trauma, and identity challenges, as well as promoting attachment.
Adoption from foster care is one of the most common types of adoption in the United States, with more than 63,000 adoptions occurring in 2018 u2013 the last full year data is available (AFCARS 2020). Prior to being adopted, most of these children have experienced trauma u2013 including abuse and neglect. Many have had multiple placements and severed relationships and attachments. This lack of stability combined with adverse early experiences often leads children to experience mental health and behavioral challenges.
The American Academy of Pediatricians has identified mental health as the greatest unmet need of children in foster care. This unmet need has serious consequences as it frequently impacts the stability of the family and may even lead to further disruption for the child. An endless cycle of impermanence and instability may result in additional trauma, furthering mental health and behavioral difficulties. The good news is youth can do well when they have a committed, loving, and stable family as well as professionals with the right training respond effectively to the myriad issues that may arise.
Therapists may think that the same tools and strategies they use with other families are adequate or appropriate for children with these early adverse experiences but that is rarely the case. Some families report that services are ineffective while others share that unskilled services have, at times, been harmful to their families.
TAC Curriculum focuses on clinical practice of therapists working with adoptive families experiencing public, private, kinship and inter-country adoption.
Approach: Advanced presentations on critical adoption issues, emphasizing clinical implications and current evidence-based/-informed clinical practices. Opportunities for discussions with transfer-of-learning to practice examples and practical
applications for clinical case consultations.
NTI Mental Health Curriculum focuses on clinical practice with emphasis on work with children and youth in foster, adoptive, and guardianship families.
Approach: Foundational content based on most current research and practice knowledge. Includes tools and practical strategies that promote healing, healthy development, permanency, family stability and emotional well-being.
For more information, download the Which Training is Right for me: TAC or NTI Training Flyer here.
Written by Dawn Wilson, MSW, Director, C.A.S.E National Training Institute
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Due to traumatic life experiences and compromised beginnings, many children who are adopted, who are being raised by relatives (kinship care), or have experienced foster care have higher risks for developmental, health, emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges.
Of therapy clients were children under the age of 18 in 2021.
Served in 2021 through therapy, case management, post-adoption services and Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruitment program.
Registrants for our monthly Strengthening Your Family webinars and parent support groups featuring a wide array of topics for the adoptive, foster and kinship community.