Post-Adoption Services

Casey Family Services Post-Adoption Services (PAS) program grew out of our experience providing assistance to foster families who adopted the children in their care. Recognizing that the emotional and psychological challenges foster children face did not end when they were adopted, the agency concluded that adoptive families needed continued contact with social workers and access to services to be able to stay together. Because very few public or private agencies offered services to families after their adoptions were finalized, Casey's PAS program began offering post-adoption services in 1992 to any adoptive family in the community.

The program model included the following five core components:

• Information and referral
• Counseling
• Support groups
• Education and training
• Advocacy

The program was conceived as a common ground where adoptive families could come together and connect with other adoptive families and professionals. The intent of the program was to build networks of support for adoptive families among each other, within the professional fields and within their communities.

PAS programs operate in six Casey Family Services divisions, including Bridgeport and Hartford, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In 2001, the Massachusetts Division will launch its own PAS program. As with all of its child welfare activities, the ultimate goal of Casey's Post-Adoption Services Program is a safe, stable home where children can have the opportunity to grow up into healthy, productive adults who are supportive parents.

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