News Release – C.A.S.E. receives supplemental funding to expand NTI

Center for Adoption Support and Education receives $1M supplemental funding to continue expansion of National Training Initiative

For Immediate Release, February 10

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BURTONSVILLE, Md.- The Children’s Bureau approved supplemental funding of the Cooperative Agreement allowing the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) to continue its work to implement the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI). The NTI has developed two free, state-of-the-art, standardized, web-based trainings to build the capacity of child welfare and mental health professionals in all states, tribes and territories to effectively support children, youth, and their foster, adoptive and guardianship families. To date, 8 states and 1 tribe have piloted the trainings with over 9,000 child welfare and mental health professionals. In 2020, with this renewed agreement, C.A.S.E. anticipates providing technical assistance to 12 more states to infuse the trainings into their child welfare and mental health workforce, as well as enabling continued updates and evaluations of the training curriculums. Learn more about NTI at www.adoptionsupport.org/nti.

C.A.S.E. is grateful to Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for his work to ensure that the NTI was extended with appropriated funding for FY 2020. ‘For decades, C.A.S.E. has provided services that have changed the lives of children and families in the adoption and foster community across the country. We’re proud that C.A.S.E. calls Montgomery County home, and I’ve been pleased to support their mission over the years. This year, I was especially pleased that we were able to secure $1 million in federal funding for C.A.S.E. to continue its National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative, which provides trauma-informed training to State child welfare and mental health professionals. These funds will help C.A.S.E. continue to do their good work and support better outcomes for foster and adoptive families,’ said Senator Van Hollen.

C.A.S.E. CEO, Debbie Riley, stated, ‘NTI is essential in building a workforce nationally that can more effectively respond to the complex behavioral health issues of our most vulnerable children. I am deeply appreciative that Congress chose to take action to ensure that states will have the support to infuse these trainings into their systems of care.’ An NTI State Pilot Site Representative stated, ‘Imagine, with our new workers taking NTI along with their foundation training, just imagine what our workforce will look like in 5 years.’ A former NTI participant stated, ‘I have never seen anything like this, having a comprehensive training and body of knowledge all in one place.’

C.A.S.E. is a nationally recognized leader in mental health services for the adoption and foster care community. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to improve the lives of children who have been adopted or are in foster care and their families through counseling, lifelong education, and a growing national network of trained professionals. With seven offices across Northern Virginia, Maryland and New York, C.A.S.E. has provided clinical services for more than 6,200 clients and their families since its founding in 1998. Visit www.adoptionsupport.org/ to learn more. ####