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Kelley Cooper’s career in child welfare began by chance, but her impact has been anything but accidental. The Tennessee foster care professional was nominated as an outstanding caseworker by a family who praised her approach to ensuring smooth transitions and long-term success as she helped them adopt their 17-year-old son.

Forging a strong relationship doesn’t happen overnight. Rather, it requires showing up consistently and with compassion. In this blog post, adoption expert Mary Boo unpacks potential challenges when creating bonds and delves into the art of building trust through gestures like embracing differences, adjusting expectations, and prioritizing connection before correction. Whether you’re starting fresh with a new placement or navigating a rocky patch, this post is packed with practical strategies for helping your family grow stronger together for life.

This article explores how and why the holiday season can be a time of emotional ambivalence for those experiencing foster care or adoption. Families can learn how to provide meaningful comfort and joy to those in their care by exploring this list of resources from child welfare experts who offer strategies and techniques for effectively meeting these needs.

Two fathers, Brian and Jarrod, initially planned on adopting a young child. But with the encouragement of their family worker and their network of friends, they decided to welcome 13-year-old Logan into their home. This decision changed their lives, and they now all serve as vocal advocates for adoption of older youth.

You deserve to feel supported and informed as you grow your family, and our recently released Navigating Adoption podcast and accompanied discussion guide are designed to help you confidently traverse the adoption journey.

Child welfare experts offer tips and strategies for creating a successful return to school for your foster or adoptive student.

Kendra Morris-Jacobson with the Oregon Post-Adoption Resource Center Library discusses the benefits of bibliotherapy, which promotes healing through reading. Plus, she offers her recommendations for the best books to read with your child or youth to help process difficult emotions.

Children and youth who have experience trauma benefit from trauma-informed parenting methods that specifically address their needs.

May is National Foster Care Month. Join us in celebrating the system that reaches more than 368,000 children and youth annually.

Drema Neely has worked with families for 16 years, most of that time as a case manager. She
first joined the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services four months after adopting a baby
through kinship care because she wanted to help other parents like her.

Kayla Moffitt will always remember the moment that she shared her desire to adopt a child from foster care with her husband, Jerad, in the fall of 2018.

Ann Marie Root and her husband, James, became foster and adoptive parents to a teen who was friends with their daughter.

Hear from three families as they share their stories of growing their families through sibling group adoptions.

Adoption Excellence Awardees Brian and Josie have written, illustrated, and published more than 20 children’s books, many of which include themes of adoption with the goal of better representation of lead characters of color.

Many youth in foster care experience the holidays as stressful. Foster care alum Jamerika Haynes-Lewis shares her perspective and offers six tips for making youth feel included.

How might adopting or foster parenting affect your relationship?

How can you demonstrate your trustworthiness to a teen who has experienced foster care? Here’s advice from three sets of foster and adoptive parents.

Discover Nikki and Mike’s greatest joys and the biggest misconception about adoption from foster care.

Real parents and youth share about their adoption journeys—In. Their. Own. Words.

I’m sharing my experience so that current foster families understand how important it is to keep siblings connected to each other.

Melissa is the adoptive mother of three children and continues to foster many more. Here’s her advice.

Trauma-responsive parenting should be used for children with any type of trauma history. Here’s why.

Discover how adopting from foster care has brought more love and fulfillment to this family than they could have imagined.

There is a lot to gain when we understand our grief and look at it head-on.

Maintaining contact with birth families is important to a child’s sense of belonging and well-being. And there are a lot of approaches that can work, depending on your family’s circumstances.

Surf’s up! Here’s how to make this summer a great one.

Tyler Hunter Boards shares how being in the child welfare system impacted his life.

Every day, children across the country—including those in foster care—can suffer deeply from mental illnesses. Here’s how to help.

Learn about post-adoption support for adoptive parents.

As a foster parent, here’s what you can do to help the children and youth in your care.

Are you caring for children or youth of another race or culture? These resources will help you support your child’s well-being.

How can foster parents form close bonds with children in their care? It comes down to this important thing.

ACEs can have far-reaching consequences for children. Here are the ways that adults can step in.

A Rhode Island social worker helps foster families and birth families connect. Here are her insights about adoption and foster care.

Learn about kinship care and how it can benefit children and youth in foster care.

Lissa and Corey took the deep dive into becoming foster parents a decade ago. Discover the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

This year’s theme is “Small Steps Open Doors.”

I went into foster care at the age of five years old. When I meet foster and adoptive parents, here are the pieces of advice I share.

Each year, almost 20,000 young people age out of care before being adopted. That’s why AdoptUSKids is shining a spotlight on teen adoption.

Victor was adopted when he was 12. Now an adult, he shares what made his adoptive family so right for him.

A single father shares what he has learned after adopting his son from foster care.

As the school year begins, learn how to advocate for your child or youth and help them succeed.

Jamerika Haynes-Lewis is the former USA Ambassador Ms. 2021. Having been in foster care as a child, she uses her platform to empower youth and advocate for families.

What makes a great foster parent? That’s a question we’ve asked dozens of caseworkers over the years. Here’s what they’ve said.

Michael and Shay were moved to adopt a pair of siblings. Now, the boys really complete their family!

Nominated as an outstanding caseworker, Noel Weber works with children with high needs and foster families.

Assess your ideas about birth families, be supportive during visits, and more.

Reunification is the primary goal of foster care. Learn more about it with these resources.

Kandice Harmon spent most of the first eight years of her life in foster care. And she has a message for prospective families.

“I make it through every day and wake up and do it again because when we are able to get brothers and sisters back together to finish growing up, that success keeps me going for a long time.”

While you prepare for your first placement, you may feel anxious, impatient, and hopeful—all in a single day. These six actions can help you as you wait.

Jeanmarie Moore and her husband, Greg, never planned to adopt. Today, they are the parents of 11 children—seven by birth and four through adoption.

“I believe in you. When my seventh-grade teacher said those words to me, it clicked. And so, I’m saying them to you. There are people in the world who see potential and greatness in you.”

Hear from outstanding caseworker Antonio Fannin. “It’s my goal to help the children settle in and ensure that they—and the parents—get the support they need.”

When armed with knowledge and understanding about trauma, families can understand the root causes of their children’s crises, respond to them, and help their children build skills for managing stress.

Meet a single dad who adopted two teenage siblings he found on AdoptUSKids. “I really feel like this is just what I envisioned our family to be.”

“Has being a family of 12 been easy? No! Our journey has been full of ups and downs, like a roller coaster ride. But roller coasters are full of adventure too!”

In this outstanding caseworker interview, Maddie Dulle helps families gain a new perspective and learn what it takes to be successful.

As single woman with a successful career, Heidi Kaplan first imagined herself adopting a girl who was elementary-aged. Her sweet spot turned out to be very different.

“I help families learn as much as they can about the child’s background, the reasons behind their actions, and therapeutic ways to respond to them.”

As the parent of a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Barb Clark shares thoughtful insights and vital information to help others become better parents and happier families.

Today, they’re the proud parents of a son who’s off to college. And they’re ready to do it all again.

An adoptive mother and educator shares strategies to help family members advocate for children.

A foster care alum writes about the friends, colleagues, and strangers who helped her succeed after aging out of care.

Now in its seventeenth year, the national campaign highlights the rewards of adopting a teen from foster care.

“I want to be a voice for Native kids and help families get the support they need to stay together.”

This year’s theme is “Every Conversation Matters” and focuses on the thousands of teenagers and young adults in foster care who need unconditional commitment, love, and support from a family.

Rebecca Lahue aged out of foster care when she was 19 years old. Since that time, she’s fostered more than 60 children and adopted a teen from foster care.

“I’ve seen kids who’ve been through unspeakable things become healthy adults living lives that blow me away!” A social worker and adoptive mother talks about working with families for two decades.

Do your homework, connect with the Down syndrome community, and know what your resources are and how to access them.

A single mother of three living in South Carolina fulfills a dream by adopting two daughters from Alabama.

Advice for prospective parents who are searching for a child to adopt from foster care.

“Like a good social worker, a good foster parent is passionate about helping kids. They don’t give up when things get hard. They can continue to love, no matter what happens.”

“I think we need to approach ‘normal’ differently…I’m glad to be able to play a part in readjusting how people view adopting older kids or adopting siblings…It can make a big impact.”

A Mississippi social worker talks about the qualities of a good foster parent, including honoring a child’s culture and working toward reunification.

A mother writes about how a cross-country move in the middle of their adoption proceedings almost disrupted their plans.

“I love working with the teenage kids and seeing their potential and encouraging them… I’ve seen how a caring adult can help turn a child’s life around.”

A mother who was adopted as a baby reflects on raising six children she and her husband adopted from foster care.

Insights from a digital forensic detective and other experts about the dangers posed to children online and techniques to help you protect your children.

A Mississippi licensing specialist talks about how she supports foster parents and what’s kept her doing this job for the last 10 years.

“Torjia works for the very best outcome for the children and helps the parents along the way… Our two-year-old has even named her baby dolls after Torjia! As foster parents, we would be absolutely lost without her….”

Catherine Monet was adopted by her foster parents when she was 21. We talked with Catherine about her experience and her advice for parents, social workers, and other youth in care.

This month—and every month—we celebrate the foster parents, volunteers, and others who are helping to create success and lasting connections for children in foster care.

Lindsey Cox understands the challenges and rewards of adopting from foster care, because she’s both a caseworker and a foster mom: “It’s one thing to be trained; it’s another thing to live your job.”

In this guest post, a mother writes about finding her daughter on AdoptUSKids: “The process that I thought would be quick took more than four years, but if I had been matched sooner, I wouldn’t have been matched with Cora.”

“I’d say that working with children is a calling more than a career… The Bible tells us that we’re responsible for the orphans and the widows. Those are my marching orders.”

A therapist discusses some of the neurological causes of children’s behavior, sensory “triggers,” and ways of calming an upset child.

A young woman reflects on her adoption after eight foster placements: “I realized that they really loved me, that they weren’t going to give up on me.”

“Organization is huge. And working weekends is inevitable.” A caseworker whose service area is the entire state of Minnesota talks about matching children and families.

In this guest post, an adoptive parent and social worker offers suggestions for how to help children of all ages understand their past and the circumstances that brought them into care.

A single father talks about why he ensures that the children he adopted stay connected to their birth families.

Being authentic, positive, and “comfortable in every situation” are three keys to this Mississippi caseworker’s success when working with children and parents.

In this guest post, a mother who has been fostering for more than three decades describes the ways that she and her husband have worked hard to remain good friends and partners who “love each other, like each other, and respect each other.”

“Having a permanent home laid the foundation for my success. It also inspired me to pay it forward, because it’s up to each of us to share the opportunities we’ve had with the next generation.”

An adoption worker talks about finding a forever family for a little girl with medical needs who was photolisted on adoptuskids.org.

A couple who almost abandoned their adoption plans and three siblings who spent their lives in care become a family.

Inspired by real families, our new campaign highlights the heartwarming moments that adoptive parents share with teens.

Amber Scott ensures that Indian Child Welfare Act standards are applied to Choctaw children in 12 states. She talked with us about her work.

For children who are in foster care or were adopted, Christmas and other holidays can be a reminder of the family that they’ve lost. Here are some suggestions for navigating the season.

When Tim Young set out to adopt two teens with special needs, he was presented with a lot of potential pitfalls. Luckily for Summer and Raymond, Tim was determined.

Join us in celebrating the families that have been created through adoption and raising awareness of the 122,000 children in foster care.

A Pennsylvania case manager talks about how she helps children open up and work through past traumas.

“Use humor!” and other parenting tips from a young woman who was adopted when she was 15.

A foster care supervisor talks about adopting as a single mother and helping her daughters overcome past traumas.

According to this Florida adoption specialist, successful adoptive parents are fierce advocates who understand trauma and never give up hope.

How to help children share their adoption story in safe and beneficial ways.

Lissa and Tim Bowen became experts in trauma-informed care and made new plans for their future after adopting a son from foster care.

An adoption specialist and adoptive mother talks about how to help children heal.

Sometimes what looks like lying is a type of distorted thinking called confabulation that’s beyond children’s control and is particularly common in children who’ve experienced trauma.

A couple looks beyond a teen’s rebellion to see her strengths and desire to be adopted.

“It’s amazing to me that you can go from being a stranger walking through the door to someone a child looks up to in a month’s time.”

Advice from experienced foster parents and social workers who train and support them.

A Minnesota social worker talks about the process of adopting her daughter.

“Sometimes when your heart is telling you to get to know a child, the message might be to not overthink it, and to take it a step at a time.”

Understanding the causes and effects of grief and loss and how you can help your child heal.

In less than a year, this Oklahoma permanency worker has inspired a family and a CASA volunteer to sing his praises for the support he provides to foster parents and birth families.

As with many crises, this one is hitting vulnerable people the worst. And it’s possible that more children will be in need of safe, loving homes as we move toward a “new normal.”

“Many times I’ve thought: Why do I come back every single day? Ultimately, I keep coming back because I know that I am making a difference.”

Sofia and DaShoan Olds adopted seven siblings from foster care two years ago. Today, Sofia reports, they are doing great! Sofia shared some of her parenting tips with us.

Five traits and supports you’ll want as an adoptive parent and tips for acquiring them while you’re waiting for a placement.

When Helen Cotton and her husband decided to adopt a teen, she never imagined that it would be the “sweet, smart, caring little troublemaker” who had been a student in her third grade class.

We’re talking with child welfare workers, collecting information from families, and working with trusted national and local organizations to bring you resources as we have them.

This Ohio caseworker sometimes thinks of himself as a tour guide, because he asks children and teens where they want to go and what they want their future to look like.

Getting to know a teenager is a journey. Being thoughtful and considerate of their life experiences and needs when communicating with them is a great first step.

Shannon Pinkerton adopted children with Down syndrome and other special needs. She says: “I never saw people with disabilities as being different.”

Expert tips for maintaining stability in the midst of transition and helping all members of your family bond and find a new normal.

Flexibility, patience, and “being comfortable with being uncomfortable” are a few qualities of a successful foster parent, according to this veteran foster care recruiter.

A Georgia family adopts their son days before his 18th birthday.

In this guest post, two child welfare experts offer nine tips for smoothing a child’s transition into your family.

An Ohio caseworker talks about her 14-year career and how her team connected a little girl from Ohio with a family in Kentucky.

A mother talks about overcoming her fears and doubts to adopt four siblings from foster care.

The majority of children in foster care are reunified with their birth family, and foster parents must support that outcome. In this post, we offer suggestions for smoothing the transition.

Don’t take things personally, know that children will heal, and other thoughts from a West Virginia caseworker.

Parents who foster and adopt share what they are most thankful for this holiday season and throughout the year.

When the Hatla family adopted a son of a different race, they expanded their world in unexpected ways.

A Louisiana mom who works with kids in need adopts a daughter.

Parents and teens describe how adoption has changed their lives

In our new national campaign, “You can’t imagine the reward,” parents and children share the meaningful moments that make a family.

Deb Lowe’s friends encouraged her to adopt from foster care. Now she’s working to inspire others.

“As a caseworker, there are good days, and there are bad days. But there are seldom boring days!”

A mother shares her story of adopting four siblings in this guest blog post.

Advice to help you make an informed decision when choosing a foster care and adoption agency.

A Nevada adoption worker says: “there is a lot of growing to be done in this job.”

Responses to the question: What is the most surprising thing you learned about being a foster parent during training?

When Terri and Paul Ross adopted two daughters, they also welcomed the girls’ grandmother into the family.

We asked workers who use our photolisting what advice they would give families who are registering on an adoption site like ours. This is what they told us.

Anna Wood says that a big part of her job is doing what she can to make foster parents’ lives easier, because “they have a really hard job, and they do it 24/7.”

Gigi Kean didn’t think that teenagers wanted to be adopted. Then she got to know Maci.

A man from church helped James Owen when he was a teen. He is committed to doing the same for other children today.

When Mason and Victoria Amon decided to adopt siblings, they didn’t realize that they would soon become a family of eight! Mason shares their experience in this guest post.

We convened a panel of five dads to share their perspectives about adopting—and specifically about adopting teens.

Here are a few things we often talk about with people who are wondering if fostering or adoption from foster care is right for them.

We asked families who follow us on Facebook to share a few of their favorite firsts with us. This is what they told us.

In this guest post, a woman who had planned on fostering writes about her path to parenthood.

A nursing student talks about bonding with her new family after being adopted as a teen.

We asked five veteran caseworkers what families should think about before pursuing fostering and adopting and what makes families successful. This is what they told us.

In this short video, a family talks about the many firsts they’ve experienced together since adopting a teen.

This Illinois caseworker says that being organized and having empathy for birth families are two keys to success.

Nicole Barlow wants people to know that she’s not a hero, she’s an average person who took a leap of faith when deciding to adopt five siblings.

A mother of three children with special needs who is also a pediatric nurse shares her advice with other parents.

The movie, about a couple who adopt three children from foster care, is based on the director’s experience.

When you enter the world of fostering and adopting, it helps to learn the language.

In 21 years of social work, Joy Nyhuis-Wing has learned the importance of educating foster parents, getting them the resources they need—and letting them vent.

Parenting advice from five families who adopted children and teens from foster care.

After living in more than 13 foster and group homes, Joshua Christian got an offer he couldn’t refuse: a family.

A Tennessee caseworker credits faith, flexibility, and organization for her success in working with children and teens.

A North Carolina mother talks about adoption and fostering, from newborns to teenagers.

A Colorado caseworker shares what she enjoys about working with families in a small town.

A mother who had given up on becoming a parent talks about the path to adopting four children.

Parents of three adopted children talk about teens and making room for the unexpected.

A church presentation set a Georgia woman down a path to adopting four siblings.

Daddy’s Home director shares his family’s adoption story.

Tracy talked with us about her work and why she loves it.

A Vermont family of teens keeps growing—and going.

Finding a forever family for a 12-year-old boy included accompanying him on a 1,600 mile flight to his new home.

A teacher reconsiders her life plan when a new student joins her class.

A mother shares her experience of adopting five children over the last 15 years.

A mother talks about doubling the size of her family after a six-year search.

A couple learns about the need for families willing to adopt siblings—and takes action.

A New York State caseworker shares some of what she’s learned while serving families for 23 years.

A mother talks about adopting two school-aged boys shortly after she turned 50.

A mother talks about helping the daughters she adopted from foster care thrive.

A licensing specialist in Miami talks about what makes a great foster parent and common misconceptions people have about fostering.

A 20-year-old foster care alum talks about how her family supported her success.

Justin and Marcie Cholewinski’s commitment to keeping siblings together led them to AdoptUSKids.

A father who saw what can happen when children age out of foster care talks about adopting five children—including four teens.

Parents who hadn’t considered adoption step up when their son’s friend needs a family.

A South Carolina caseworker reflects on the rewards and successes of a 15-year career.

A young woman who was adopted as a teen talks about how having a family changed her life.

A mother talks about keeping children connected to their culture.

The Boldings searched for a child for two years. Then a caseworker found them.

A Pennsylvania caseworker talks about preparing teenage girls to age out of foster care.

A father talks about how his own experience in foster care make him a better parent.

A mother talks about how adopting older children was a good fit for the entire family.

Jamie and Josh Procknow opened their homes and their lives to 20 children in foster care—and their families.

A New Mexico caseworker talks about why, in her work, wearing rose-colored glasses can be a good thing.

Melanie Evans is quick to point out that hers is far from the “typical” family. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

A father talks about adopting six children over the last 40 years.

A Georgia caseworker talks about the benefits and challenges of working in a small rural community

Brittany Matz is not sure exactly when it happened. But at some point in her life, she realized that her calling was to help children in foster care.

Focusing on families’ needs, maintaining boundaries, and having a person to call when things go wrong are three of this St. Louis caseworker’s keys to success.

A couple and their three daughters bond over art and dinner.

A father who provides therapeutic foster care shares his advice with other parents.

A father who almost gave up on adoption writes about finding his son.

A mother realizes her dream of becoming an adoptive parent to teens.

A father who grew up in foster care talks about the value of hope.

A mother talks about the experience of adopting two sons—and of losing one.

A couple’s consistency, commitment, and game-planning turned a teen’s life around.

Why adopt a teen? We asked—and our Facebook followers responded!

A mother who adopted a 14-year-old boy shares advice and lessons learned.

A family adopts five children from foster care, and the community pitches in.

A couple who adopted a 16-year-old girl describe the rewards and challenges of their first year together.

A shared interest in community service brought this mother and teen together.

A young woman describes how her adoptive parents’ love and support gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams.

A North Carolina caseworker talks about giving youth the tools they need to age out of foster care.

A pastor and his wife share the gift of family.

A young woman vows not to repeat her parents’ mistakes.

No empty nest for Amy and Richard Gill. With four adopted sons, their house is full of fun and energy.

An Oregon caseworker talks about working with a foster parent to support a child’s reunification with his mother.

The Pooles adopted four children with special needs.

A caseworker describes her keys to success when working with families.

Thomas lived in 11 foster homes. Today he is advocating for other young people in care.

For Peggy Manley, raising two birth children was just the beginning

A single mother talks about adopting seven children from foster care.

A video series provides a behind-the-scenes look at one family’s adoption journey.

Rick and Rachel DeLeon have adopted three groups of siblings from foster care.

A mother found the information and inspiration she needed through AdoptUSKids.

The death of their son inspired Adam and Karen Owens to adopt four medically fragile children.

A Tennessee caseworker describes her work with a Virginia family who adopted four siblings.

A mother in Virginia talks about adopting four siblings from Tennessee.

A Washington State caseworker says that exercise—and sometimes chocolate—keep her going.

A woman who grew up in foster care thanks her former foster parents.

A Texas couple talks about how adopting two teens enriched their lives.

A teenager talks about the experience of being adopted on her 17th birthday.

Sandra Santiago-Zayas jokes that she did not adopt her daughter: her daughter adopted her.

A North Carolina social worker says empathy and communication are two keys to her success.

An Arkansas couple talks about adopting siblings—twice.

“Who doesn’t need people who truly love them?”

A couple with Native American heritage responds to the need for families for native children.

Nicole Hayward says her son was “everything we never knew we wanted.”

“Our job is to make our kids the good people of tomorrow.”

Barry Farmer says that parenting is about compassion, managing expectations, and working hard.

Being adopted gave Michael Davis a stable foundation and encouragement to pursue his dreams.

After fostering 40 children and adopting 2, the Hrabovskys are leading a foster ministry.

Reginald and Wesley relocated to Washington, DC, to marry and adopt.

Retirement was in sight when Lynne and Santiago Class hit the reset button on their lives.

Adopted from foster care after suffering abuse, today this teen is working to make life better for other children.

This 12-minute video offers a glimpse into one family’s life.

The Granger family moved into an intergenerational community of foster and adoptive families.

Randee Logan’s journey to becoming an adoptive mom began when she was 17.

A mother of four and disability-rights advocate shares her story and advice.

“I want to help dispel the myth that youth from foster care can’t be successful.”

The Alvarez family has opened their home and hearts to more than 100 children.