Many foster, adoptive and kinship parents/caregivers struggle to meet their children’s mental health challenges. This free, 5-session virtual support group will provide emotional support information, resources, and strategies to support parents and caregivers around the following topics:

• loss and grief
• implications of mental health challenges
• special issues in transcultural families
• importance of honoring birth families and culture
• navigating relationships with the birth family

This virtual support group will meet Wednesdays (Feb. 1st, Feb. 8th, Feb. 15th, Feb. 22nd, Mar. 1st) at 6:30 – 8:00pm. 

To ensure equitable access to all families, we will loan tablets to families needed to engage in the sessions. Internet access is required.

Facilitator: 

Mari J. Itzkowitz, LCSW has over 25 years of experience working in the areas of loss, healing, trauma, and adoption. Ms. Itzkowitz graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in Education and received her Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America. Ms. Itzkowitz is an Adoption Competent Therapist and Training Specialist at the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) in Annandale, VA. Ms. Itzkowitz provides clinical services to families who have adopted through foster care or internationally and works closely with individual counties to provide pre-adoption services working with foster children and families as they move toward finalization. In addition, Mari provides individual, family, and group therapy to adopted children, families, and adult adoptees. Ms. Itzkowitz is a Certified Training for Adoption Competency trainer and has provided trained clinicians across the country. Ms. Itzkowitz has been providing Consultation Supervision both at C.A.S.E. and privately for the last 15 years.