Learning Center

Trauma-Informed Parenting: Your Complete Guide

Financial Supports

There are no fees to adopt from foster care in Massachusetts - the process for application, training, and licensing is 100% free to families. We all know that the care and support for a child extend l...

Understanding Racial Disproportionality in Foster Care

Explore the issue of racial disproportionality in foster care, its impact on marginalized communities, and how you might take steps to making a difference.

Legal Status: Understanding legal risk, legally freed, and adoption from foster care

In a legal risk adoptive placement, the rights of the child's birth parents have not yet been voluntarily or involuntarily terminated.

Building a Strong Bond with Your Adopted Child

Discover effective tips to strengthen the bond with your adopted child and nurture a loving relationship that lasts a lifetime.

Maintaining Sibling Connections for Adopted Children

Explore the importance of maintaining sibling connections for children adopted from foster care and learn strategies to support these relationships.

Helping Trauma-Affected Kids: Emotional Regulation Through Sensory Activities

Discover emotional regulation through sensory fun!

Understanding Trauma & It's effects on Children in Foster Care

*This article is re-published from AdoptUSKids, a national resource on adoption and foster care. You can view the original article here.*

Types of Adoption

The road to adoption as a way to create or add to your family is different for everyone. One of the first decisions is which type of adoption best suits your family. There are three types of adoption:...

How to Prepare Your Child for the World as a Transracial Adoptive Parent

Isaac Etter, a social entrepreneur and transracial adoptee, shares his unique perspective on his adoption experience to assist adoptive parents in preparing their children for the world. As the founde...

How to Maintain Contact With Your Child's Birth Family

Discover how open adoption and continued contact with birth parents and kin can greatly benefit adopted children.

Post-Adoption Support Resources

Adoptive Families Together (AFT): A program of MSPCC, is a network of adoptive families who understand the benefit of peer support while raising children with complex issues. Their parent support meet...

Navigating the Matching Process

Matching is the heart of the adoption process.

What is TBRI? How Can it Help with Trauma-informed Parenting?

Trauma-informed parenting is an approach to raising children that acknowledges and addresses the potential effects of past traumatic experiences on a child’s development, behavior, and emotional well-...

Adopting from Foster Care When You Already Have Children in the Home

Adopting a child from foster care can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. However, if you already have children in the home, it's important to consider how this will impact your family dynamics....

Understanding Open Adoption

Open adoption refers to any type of contact between the child and his/her birth family after the adoption legalization. This ranges from annual cards and letters to occasional face-to-face contact. Op...

Understanding Disparity in Foster Care and Adoption

Explore the issue of racial disparity in foster care and adoption, its impact on certain groups of children and youth, and how MARE is taking steps to making a difference. ----------------------------...

How MARE Supports Families on the Path to Adoption

The journey to adoption can be complex, and Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) is here to make that process as smooth and supportive as possible. Whether you’re just starting to explore a...

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Child From Foster Care?

There are no costs involved with foster care adoption in Massachusetts!

Transracial Adoption: Tips and Tricks for Families

When planning to adopt, many people say that the child’s race or ethnicity does not matter.

Autism And Adoption

In this virtual presentation and Q&A, author and activist Morénike Giwa Onaiwu speaks about her experiences with being an autistic parent and raising their autistic children.

Mindful Parenting in Foster Care

Entering the world of foster care is a journey that unfolds with unique challenges and profound moments of connection. It's a path where the principles of mindful parenting find a poignant intersectio...

Beginner's Resources for Parenting Youth with Disabilities

Special Books Special Kids https://sbsk.org/

Basic Supports: Organizations That Can Help on Your Adoption Journey

Local Support Organizations:

Embracing Your Child's Crown

The goal of this interactive and informative virtual session is to educate adoptive and foster parents on the importance of hair care in the development of a healthy racial-ethnic identity and how to ...

Can I Adopt from Foster care?

Children do not need perfect parents! They need loving individuals who are fully committed to supporting them on their life’s journey, whatever that holds. The most important “requirements” for adults...