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On-Demand Explore Adoption Webinar poster
Webinar
Ongoing
On-Demand Explore Adoption Webinar
Join Liz Joyal, Director of Family Support Services, for a recorded webinar. This engaging presentation that will tell you what you need to know about the adoption from foster care process in MA and direct you on next steps to take to move forward ...
LIVE Explore Adoption Webinars poster
Webinar
Ongoing
LIVE Explore Adoption Webinars
Join Emily Goldberger, Family Support Services Coordinator, for an engaging LIVE presentation that will tell you what you need to know about the adoption from foster care process in MA and direct you on next steps to take to move forward in the ...
Love & Locks: Hair Care Workshop poster
Webinar
Mar 27, 2025, 7:30 PM - Mar 27, 2025, 8:30 PM
Love & Locks: Hair Care Workshop
Has hair time been stressful for you and your child? Nervous you may be using the wrong product? No need to worry anymore. The Love & Locks webinar will help you understand how to best care for your child's hair, how to select the right ...
Pasta & Possibilities poster
Matching
Mar 30, 2025, 1:30 PM - Mar 30, 2025, 4:00 PM
Pasta & Possibilities
Are you hoping to have your lives enriched by being matched with a teen aged 12 and up? If so, then please join MARE on Sunday, March 30th from 1:30 – 4:00 PM to meet and connect with teens from the Northern Region while cooking and eating delicious ...
Spring 2025 TBRI Trainings poster
Training and Support
Ongoing
Spring 2025 TBRI Trainings
The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) invites pre/adoptive and recently placed families to a series of Trauma Informed Parenting virtual trainings facilitated by Fostering Hope’s TBRI® practitioners. Click through each event below to ...
Worcester Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption  poster
Community
May 3, 2025, 9:30 AM - May 3, 2025, 1:00 PM
Worcester Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption
Join us in Worcester for a day of community, connection, and fun—all in support of adoption from foster care. Whether you’re running for a personal best or walking with family and friends, your participation brings hope to waiting children. Learn ...
Springfield Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption poster
Community
May 10, 2025, 9:30 AM - May 10, 2025, 1:00 PM
Springfield Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption
Lace up your sneakers and hit the course in Springfield! This event is a great way to get active while supporting the mission to find loving, permanent families for children in foster care. Every step counts—join us and be part of the impact! Learn ...
Holden Meet & Greet poster
Matching
May 17, 2025, 10:00 AM - May 17, 2025, 1:00 PM
Holden Meet & Greet
The DCF Central Region Adoption Collaborative and the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) invite you to an In-Person Adoption Meet & Greet! Please join us to meet waiting, school-aged children and sibling groups from the Central ...
16th Annual Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption poster
Community
May 18, 2025, 10:00 AM - May 18, 2025, 1:00 PM
16th Annual Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption
Join the thousands of walkers, runners, volunteers, and supporters from across Massachusetts in participating in the 16th Annual Jordan's Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption! This family-friendly includes festivities, food, games, and lots of fun! ...
Falmouth Road Race poster
Community
Aug 17, 2025, 9:00 AM - Aug 17, 2025, 1:00 PM
Falmouth Road Race
The MARE team is thrilled to be an Official Charity for the 2025 ASICS Falmouth Road Race, which takes place on Sunday, August 17, 2025 at 9 AM. This amazing race follows a scenic, 7-mile route along the Cape Cod shoreline and draws over 11,000 ...

Caregiver Training

Participation in the Massachusetts Approach to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP) curriculum is required of all prospective foster and adoptive families in Massachusetts. Caregiver Training is offered both by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and contracted adoption agencies. MARE does not offer Caregiver Training. After a prospective family’s application has been submitted to an agency and preliminary screenings are met with approval, families will be invited to attend the ten week training.

The training curriculum prepares adults to adopt a child from foster care who has experienced neglect and abuse. The training covers such topics as communication, building self-esteem, child guidance, understanding behaviors, and working with agencies and courts. The training will also include discussions about the children who are waiting to be adopted and resources and support available to you as an adoptive family.

Learn More
Current Caregiver Training
Children’s Friend Caregiver Training Meetings
Feb 6, 2025, 11:00 PM - Apr 11, 2025, 1:00 AM

Every Thursday evening for 10 consecutive weeks, 6:00pm-9:00pm

February 6, 2025

February 13, 2025

February 20, 2025

February 27, 2025

March 6, 2025

March 13, 2025

March 20, 2025

March 27, 2025

April 3, 2025

April 10, 2025

Registration is required. Please contact Veronica Listerud at vlisterud@sevenhills.org to register. Space is available.

Bridges Homeward Winter 2024 Caregiver Training
Mar 25, 2025, 10:00 PM - Mar 26, 2025, 1:00 AM

Tuesdays from 6pm to 9pm

Session 1: January 7, 2025

Session 2: January 14. 2025

Session 3: January 28, 2025

Session 4: February 4, 2025

Session 5: February 11, 2025

Session 6: February 25, 2025

Session 7: March 4, 2025

Session 8: March 11, 2025

Session 9: March 18, 2025

Session 10: March 25, 2025

Call Sarah Medrano-Palmer, Director of Family Services at 857-500-7312 to request an application, or email familyservices@bridgeshomeward.org


Partner Hosted Events

The following informational or training events are hosted by agencies that work in partnership with MARE, listed by region. Contact the host for additional information or registration.

Bridges Homeward (Cambridge) One-on-One Information Call
Ongoing

If you are within a 45 to 60-minute drive of Cambridge, consider working with Bridges Homeward who licenses families for adoption from foster care and MARE’s Weekend Family Connections Program. You can book a one-on-one info session with a member of their family services team by clicking here.

Adoption/Foster Care Information Sessions
Ongoing

This event occurs every third Thursday of the Month. Learn more about the foster care and adoption process through the Department of Children and Families from the comfort of your own home! These meetings will be held virtually through WebEx on the third Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:00 PM

Please RSVP via email to Carolla Sanderson at carolla.sanderson@mass.gov and you will receive the call in details.

For questions, please contactcarolla.sanderson@mass.gov

DCF Information Event
Ongoing

This event occurs every second Wednesday of the Month. The Central Regional ADLU hosts a virtual Informational the second Wednesday of every month from 6:00 -7:00 pm. The Informational requires pre-registration. Once registered, an applicant will be sent the WebEx link to participate.

For registration please email Heather Whitcomb at heather.whitcomb@state.ma.us