Washington, DC, post-adoption support
Below are post-adoption support services available to families who live in the District of Columbia. Services may not be available in all areas and/or may be dependent upon the circumstances of the placement. Please check with your post-adoption services provider about the availability of specific post-adoption or guardianship support services for your family. You can also visit Child Welfare Information Gateway for information on Adoption and Guardianship Assistance, as well as additional information on post-adoption support.
On this page:
Post-adoption/guardianship support services
In Washington, DC, adoptive families have access to the following services through a post-adoption support program:
- Information (websites, fact sheets, articles, etc.)
- Navigation/referral to services
- Birth family mediation
- Peer support for parents
- Peer support for children/teens
- Mentoring for parents
- Mentoring for children/teens
- Case management
- Educational support
- Community-based therapeutic services
- Crisis intervention
The following services may be available as part of an adoption/guardianship subsidy agreement based on the needs of the individual child:
- Respite care
- Financial/material support
Who is eligible for these services?
- Families who have adopted from the district’s foster care system
- Families who have adopted from another state’s foster care system
- Families who obtained guardianship of a child from foster care
Who provides these services?
The District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency provides some services directly and contracts with Paths for Families for other services. To learn more about available services, contact the Child and Family Services Agency.
Parent support groups
Below are support groups for adoptive, kinship, and foster families. Support groups may be offered as part of a state’s post-adoption/guardianship support program, through a statewide or regional foster or adoptive parent association, through specific agencies, or may be run independently. If we have additional information about the group’s purpose or the community served, it’s provided under the group’s contact information.
To add a group or make a suggestion, email the AdoptUSKids family support team.
Citywide associations
D.C. Metropolitan Foster & Adoptive Parent Association
info@dcmfapa.org
Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center
info@dcfapac.org
202-269-9441
Parent groups
Adopolis, Inc.
constanzacardoso@usa.net