Recognizing the need for adoption competent professionals to assist families after adoption, and the fact that schools of social work and clinical training programs often do not include adoption-specific training, some States and universities have developed postgraduate adoption certificate programs with training on adoption-related issues. In this section find links to postgraduate adoption certificate programs throughout the country.
Adoptive and Foster Family Therapy Certificate Program (PDF - 554 KB)
Portland State University
Provides training to mental health professionals that combines online tools and resources with face-to-face instruction. Instructors are national, regional, and local experts in adoption therapy.
Adoptive and Foster Therapy Post-Graduate Certificate Program
Portland State University
Offers a program to help practitioners develop clinical skills for treating mental health issues of children and families involved with foster care and adoption.
Certificate Program in Adoption
Rutgers University School of Social Work
Focuses on increasing the knowledge of mental health practitioners regarding the core issues of adoption and helps them enhance their skills in attachment-based, family-focused, therapeutic interventions.
Post Graduate Certificate Program in Adoption Therapy
Hunter College School of Social Work, City University of New York
Provides non-credit-bearing advanced education and training for mental health professionals, particularly those working to promote adoption from public foster care, in specialized theories and practices for working with all members of the adoptive triad, including birth mothers and fathers, adoptive mothers and fathers, and adopted people.
Seneca Family of Agencies
Provides clinical training for professionals, including an 8-day curriculum that covers a variety of clinical issues in adoption, permanency, and kinship care.
Child Welfare Information Gateway encourages States and localities to submit information on their postadoption initiatives for inclusion in the Information Gateway library and website to share with their peers across the country. Send information to nfcad@childwelfare.gov.