Center for Adoption Support and Education Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CENTER FOR ADOPTION SUPPORT AND EDUCATION, INC. (C.A.S.E.) PROVIDES PRE- AND POST-PERMANENCY COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, CHILD WELFARE STAFF, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN THE MARYLAND, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AREAS. C.A.S.E. COMBINES BEST PRACTICE AND INNOVATION TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED THERAPY, TRAINING, AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN AND PROMOTE THE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILIES, BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.
- Income
- $11.8 million
- Spending
- $11.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 65%
- Employees
- 75
- Volunteers
- 74
- Highest pay
- $296,059, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 45% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $5.8 million spent. NATIONAL INITIATIVES - THE NATIONAL ADOPTION COMPETENCY MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING INITIATIVE (NTI) (#90CO1144) AIMS TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS AND MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN MOVING TO OR HAVING ACHIEVED PERMANENCY THROUGH ADOPTION OR GUARDIANSHIP. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS AND MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS IN ALL STATES, TRIBES, AND TERRITORIES WILL HAVE ACCESS TO TWO STATE OF THE ART, EVIDENCE-INFORMED, STANDARDIZED WEB-BASED TRAININGS TO PROVIDE THE CASEWORK AND CLINICAL PRACTICES TO PROMOTE CHILD WELL-BEING AND FAMILY STABILITY. NTI WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 2014 THROUGH A FIVE YEAR, $9 MILLION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU, ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WAS EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2022 WITH ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION/YEAR SENATE APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE IMPLEMENTATION NATIONALLY. THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WAS REFUNDED IN OCTOBER 2022 FOR FIVE YEARS, $10 MILLION, TO CONTINUE NATIONWIDE INFUSION AND IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS AND INCREASE UTILIZATION BY MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ALONG WITH UPDATING THE CURRICULUM AND CONTINUING THE EVALUATION. SINCE 2019, 31 STATE CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES ARE EITHER HOSTING OR ACTIVELY PROMOTING NTI WITH THEIR STAFF AND ANOTHER 23 LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE OR MENTAL HEALTH PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE INTEGRATED NTI INTO PRACTICE. IN 2024, AN ADDITIONAL 2,322 PROFESSIONALS ENROLLED IN NTI WITH MORE THAN 24,722 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLING IN NTI SINCE 2017.C.A.S.E. WAS AWARDED A NEW FIVE YEAR INITIATIVE FOR $20 MILLION IN SEPTEMBER 2023, TO CREATE THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADOPTION COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THIS INITIATIVE WAS FUNDED THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (#90CO1145) WITH THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU, ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADOPTION COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AIMS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCED CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE ADOPTION COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NEED. C.A.S.E. WILL WORK WITH NATIONAL LEADERS AS WELL AS PARENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. C.A.S.E. WILL OFFER SERVICES RANGING FROM ARTICLES, WEBINARS, AND PEER LEARNING COMMUNITIES TO HANDS-ON, TAILORED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) TO DELIVER NEW AND ENHANCED SUPPORT AND TRAINING TO STATES, TRIBES, TERRITORIES, AND PROFESSIONALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. C.A.S.E. HAS ENGAGED FIVE NATIONAL PARTNERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO HELP LEAD THIS INITIATIVE. CURRENTLY, C.A.S.E. IS PROVIDING INTENSIVE TA TO THREE NATIONAL SITES AND ONE TRIBAL NATION. C.A.S.E. IS A PARTNER WITH SPAULDING FOR CHILDREN, THE LEAD AGENCY, ON A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO CREATE A NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENHANCED POST-ADOPTION SUPPORT. THIS INITIATIVE WAS FUNDED THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU, ADMINISTRATION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN OCTOBER 2023. THE POST-ADOPTION CENTER WILL SERVE AS A HUB FOR POST-ADOPTION EXPERTISE AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT STATES, TRIBAL NATIONS, AND TERRITORIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AS THEY DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT RESPONSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND ACCESSIBLE POST-ADOPTION SERVICES.
- $3.3 million spent. COUNSELING - AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CENTER FOR ADOPTIVE, KINSHIP, AND FOSTER YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, EACH YEAR C.A.S.E. PROVIDES ADOPTION COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO OVER 1,706 PROSPECTIVE FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND ADOPTIVE YOUTH/TEENS, ADULT ADOPTEE'S AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN MARYLAND, NORTHERN VIRGINIA, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. C.A.S.E. ADDRESSES COMMON DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES FREQUENTLY SHARED BY FOSTER/KINSHIP YOUTH, ADOPTEE'S, AND THEIR FAMILIES. POST-ADOPTION CARE INVOLVES EARLY INTERVENTION MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN THRIVE. C.A.S.E. STAFF ARE A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM TRAINED IN C.A.S.E.'S ACCREDITED EVIDENCE-BASED TRAINING FOR ADOPTION COMPETENCY (TAC) TRAINING BRINGING TOGETHER EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL WORK, FAMILY THERAPY, TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, EXPRESSIVE THERAPY, AND EDUCATION TO ADDRESS THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION. C.A.S.E. COMBINES BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATION TO PROVIDE PREMIERE COUNSELING SERVICES TO ADVANCE PERMANENCY FOR CHILDREN AND THE HEALTHY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILIES.WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS, THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION HAS AWARDED C.A.S.E. A GRANT TO IMPLEMENT THE WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS EVIDENCE-BASED PROACTIVE, CHILD-FOCUSED RECRUITMENT MODEL IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND TARGETED EXCLUSIVELY ON MOVING THE LONGEST-WAITING CHILDREN FROM FOSTER CARE INTO ADOPTIVE FAMILIES.C.A.S.E. HAS CONTRACTED WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO HELP CHILDREN AGED 18 AND YOUNGER WHO HAVE BEEN ADOPTED FROM FOSTER CARE TO GROW IN PERMANENT, STABLE, LOVING FAMILIES. THIS STATE-WIDE PROGRAM DELIVERS SPECIALIZED POST-PERMANENCY MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORT. IN 2024, 98 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN SERVED.C.A.S.E. IS LEADING THE NORTHERN POST ADOPTION CASE CONSORTIUM INITIATIVE, PARTNERING WITH CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA, ENCIRCLE THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO OFFER POST-ADOPTION CASE MANAGEMENT AND CLINICAL SERVICES TO HELP ADOPTIVE FAMILIES IN VIRGINIA ACCESS APPROPRIATE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED LINKAGE AND REFERRAL, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY. IN 2024, 224 FAMILIES HAVE BEEN SERVED.
- $723,581 spent. EDUCATION RESOURCES AND TRAININGS - C.A.S.E.'S TRAINING PROGRAMS AND EDUCATIONAL FORUMS INTEGRATE THEORY, RESEARCH, AND BEST AND INNOVATIVE PRACTICES DESIGNED BY OUR EXPERTS AS WELL AS NATIONAL EXPERTS AND THOSE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE IN PRE- AND POST-ADOPTION SUPPORT TO MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL FOSTER, KINSHIP, AND ADOPTION COMMUNITIES. IN 2024, 8,645 REGISTRANTS SIGNED UP FOR 10 STRENGTHENING YOUR FAMILY WEBINARS AND FOUR ADDITIONAL WEBINARS. 978 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN 30 CUSTOMIZED TRAININGS, WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS PROVIDED BY C.A.S.E. STAFF TO PARENTS IN PROFESSIONALS VIA CONTRACTING AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THREE WISE UP! TRAIN THE TRAINER WORKSHOPS WERE OFFERED WITH 10 NEW ORGANIZATIONS BECOMING LICENSED WISE UP! SITES FOR A TOTAL OF 28 LICENSED SITES. C.A.S.E. ALSO OFFERED SEVEN SUPPORT GROUP SERIES FOR PARENTS, OR ADULT ADOPTEES WITH 283 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING. C.A.S.E. DELIVERED 442 IN-DEMAND EDUCATIONAL WEBINARS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TRAINING - IN 2024, C.A.S.E. ADAPTED THE NTI TRAINING FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO ASSURE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, THERAPISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS, WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES OF STUDENTS WITH EXPERIENCES OF ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND KINSHIP CARE IN PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND CHARTER K-12 GRADES. MANY OF THESE STUDENTS EXPERIENCE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL/PEER CHALLENGES DUE TO THEIR EARLY ADVERSE EXPERIENCES COMBINED WITH INTERRUPTIONS IN LEARNING RESULTING FROM MULTIPLE MOVES AND PLACEMENT CHANGES. THIS TRAINING WAS LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2023. IMPLEMENTATION IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES ARE FUNDED BY PRIVATE FUNDING. TO DATE, 1,277 SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE ENROLLED IN THE TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALISTS WORKED WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN ILLINOIS, OKLAHOMA, AND MARYLAND TO IMPLEMENT AND RECEIVE COACHING TO INTEGRATE THE TRAINING INTO PRACTICE.ACADEMY FOR ELEVATING CLINICAL PRACTICE IN PERMANENCY (THE ACADEMY) - THE ACADEMY WAS CREATED IN 2021, THEN KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AND TEACHING CLINIC (DTC), TO ADDRESS THE COMBINED NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND NATIONAL WORKFORCE SHORTAGE BY PREPARING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO SERVE THE ADOPTION, FOSTER CARE, AND KINSHIP CAREGIVING COMMUNITY MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. AT THE ACADEMY, THERAPISTS OF ALL LEVELS GROW AND DEEPEN IN ADOPTION SPECIALTY PRACTICE THROUGH A RANGE OF SUPPORTS. THESE INCLUDE: - NEWLY CREATED ADVANCED COURSEWORK PROPRIETARY TO THE ACADEMY - PARTICIPATION IN LEARNING COHORTS WITH THEIR PEERS AND ADVANCED CONSULTANTS - ACCESS TO C.A.S.E.'S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH A UNIQUELY CREATED INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO COLLECTION, PROPRIETARY TO THE ACADEMY - OPTIONALLY TRAIN IN THE SIMULATION LABORATORY (CURRENTLY OPERATED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA)AUDIENCES OF THE ACADEMY INCLUDE INTERNS, MID-LEVEL MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, AND ADVANCED CLINICIANS. THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN PILOTING WITH THE INTERN AUDIENCE AT C.A.S.E. FROM 2022-25, THROUGH A COLLABORATION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 2023-25, AND WITH THREE COURSES FOR ADVANCED AUDIENCES IN THE FALL OF 2024. DEMONSTRABLE OUTCOMES ON VARIOUS MEASURES ARE SHOWING PROMISING RESULTS.
- $580,867 spent. TRAINING FOR ADOPTION COMPETENCY (TAC) - TAC IS A NATIONAL EVIDENCE-INFORMED, ACCREDITED, RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED, MANUALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM, DEVELOPED AND OWNED BY C.A.S.E. TO PROVIDE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH THE CLINICAL SKILLS THEY NEED TO PROVIDE QUALITY CLINICAL SERVICES TO ADOPTED PERSONS, BIRTH FAMILIES, PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND KINSHIP FAMILIES. TAC CURRICULUM IS BASED ON 18 CLINICAL COMPETENCIES VETTED NATIONALLY WITH A NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EXPERTS WITH LIVED AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE. THESE COMPETENCIES ALSO PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFINITION OF AN ADOPTION COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. IN 2020, TAC RECEIVED ACCREDITATION BY THE INSTITUTE FOR CREDENTIALING EXCELLENCE MOVING TAC TO THE ONLY ASSESSMENT-BASED ADOPTION COMPETENCY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. SINCE 2009, TAC TRAINING HAS BEEN REPLICATED WITH 208 COHORTS, TRAINING 2,864 PROFESSIONALS. IN 2024, 22 COHORTS OF TAC WERE PROVIDED BY C.A.S.E. AND ITS 19 PARTNER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES FOR A TOTAL OF 293 STUDENTS ENROLLED. REFER TO WWW.ADOPTIONSUPPORT.ORG FOR SPECIFIC LOCALITIES.
- $16,467 spent. PUBLICATIONS - C.A.S.E. PUBLICATIONS EDUCATE FAMILIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE UNIQUE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF ADOPTION. C.A.S.E. STAFF MEMBERS CONTINUE TO AUTHOR BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND FACT SHEETS TO FURTHER EDUCATE PARENTS AND PROFESSIONALS.C.A.S.E. PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE A MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER, BENEATH THE MASK: UNDERSTANDING ADOPTED TEENS, S.A.F.E. AT SCHOOL, THE WHOLE ME AND W.I.S.E. UP! POWERBOOK, 52 WAYS TO TALK ABOUT ADOPTION, AND THE NEWEST PUBLICATION RELEASED IN 2019, BENEATH THE MASK: FOR TEEN ADOPTEES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.