Adoption Competence: A Guide to Developing an Adoption Certificate Program for Mental Health Practitioners

This resource is a foundational toolkit designed to help mental health providers build adoption‑competent practice when working with children, youth, and families formed through adoption or guardianship. Developed by the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption at Spaulding for Children, the toolkit outlines the knowledge, values, and skills needed to effectively address adoption‑related issues such as loss, trauma, attachment, identity, and family dynamics. It also provides guidance on developing adoption‑competency training and certificate programs, supporting clinicians in delivering more responsive, trauma‑informed, and family‑centered mental health services.