Foster Care & Adoption
Ensuring the proficiency and expertise of all individuals caring for adoptive children and those in foster care is integral to improving the overall quality of life for those children. The University of Massachusetts Medical School's Commonwealth Medicine division offers extensive training and education programs specifically designed to address the unique needs of the foster care and adoption populations.Through the Center for Health Policy and Research's Center for Adoption Research, medical and mental health professionals, educators, legal professionals, and child welfare and social workers can access specialized professional development, education and training programs in this field. Our programs cover a wide range of timely and important issues facing this population, including permanency for adolescents, working with kinship families, health considerations and adoption as an option in medical practice.
Because much of a foster or adoptive child's support comes from within the home, we also train foster and kinship care families to improve parenting skills, including remote trainings and online programs. Through these programs families are better prepared to communicate effectively, develop strong supports, and create stable, safe environments for the children in their care.