Adoption Competency Matters: Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)
Adoption Competency Matters: Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)
Published on:
Dec 12, 2025
Category
For Professionals
Adoption Competency Matters to Families
What does working with adoption competent mental health clinicians mean for adoptive families?
Two recent studies conducted by PolicyWorks comparing parents’ views regarding treatment with Training for Adoption Competent Professionals (TAC)-trained vs non-TAC-trained clinicians showed that families treated by TAC-trained clinicians were significantly more satisfied with the services received and the outcomes of those services. These studies released on Dec. 10, 2025 were made possible by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
It has been clearly shown that the TAC 72-hour instructor-led training makes a difference to families. TAC, developed by C.A.S.E., is the nation’s only accredited adoption competency assessment-based certificate program for mental health practitioners. The 72-hour instructor-led training includes clinical case consultation, and the evaluation efforts show that TAC participants gain knowledge and strengthen key clinical skills that support adopted children and their families.
Adoption Competency Matters to TAC Participants, TAC Partner Sites, and Our Communities
In the words of one of our TAC site partners, from a recent survey of TAC sites:
We continue to be a TAC partner organization because we believe in the effectiveness of the curriculum in increasing clinicians’ competency in adoption, kinship, and foster care. We have also received strong community support for continuing to offer TAC. Not only does our organization value the program, but our community does as well.
Welcome to Our Newest TAC Site!
The Center at the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, in partnership with the Heart Galleries of Texas, is thrilled to be the official TAC training site for the State of Texas. The team is excited to be a resource in Texas that provides adoption competent training for clinicians working with adoptive families. Contact the training team lead, Nelkasia Graves, ngraves@tacfs.org, to inquire.
The Association of TAC Professionals
The Association of TAC Professionals is a national network of clinicians dedicated to advancing adoption-competent care. Through free continuing education events, resources, and peer connection, the Association helps TAC-trained professionals stay informed, supported, and connected as they serve adoption, foster, and kinship communities.
Collaboration Matters
We love collaboration!! The National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services is partnering with our Oklahoma TAC site to sponsor a TAC class in Oklahoma. Twenty-one professionals registered for the class. Early feedback from the class highlights some of the learning that participants found most relevant:
“An adoption competent clinical lens understands and addresses how adoption impacts the varying roles across the adoption/kinship constellation.”
TAC Learning Participant
“Information surrounding ‘unhelpful help’ vs ‘helpful help’ was really impactful as I move forward in this process.”
TAC Learning Participant
Learn More About TAC!
The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) and its partner sites offer TAC trainings regularly and serve as TAC sites to fulfill the TAC mission of expanding access for families to adoption-competent mental health professionals across the nation.
If you are a licensed mental health professional who is interested in taking TAC or have any questions about TAC, we welcome you to submit a TAC inquiry or reach out to Brock Sellers or Leslie Wright.
