9am - 5pm (hybrid); phones 9am - 5pm to reach a staff member; phones after 5pm go to operator
Purpose
Paths for Families builds and supports healthy lifelong connections for every child and advocates for continuous improvement of systems that strengthen family well-being.
Service
Foster Care Adopt This program connects older youth in foster care ages 821 to permanent families in the D.C. metro region. We recruit, screen, and train families, and then match them with waiting children from across the country. After placement, we provide trauma-informed support servicesincluding counseling, case management, and crisis interventionto help families thrive and prevent reentry into care. Family Finding Program Since 2010, we have partnered with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services to provide intensive, permanency-focused Family Finding services for children and youth in foster care. The programs core purpose is to reduce the time young people spend in care and to increase stability and permanency by identifying, engaging, and strengthening enduring connections with family members and other supportive adults. Pregnancy, Parenting Adoption Support We offer non-directive, all-options counseling to expectant parents navigating complex decisions around parenting, adoption, or termination. Services include case management, doula referrals, access to mental health care, peer support, and advocacy. For birth parents who make an adoption plan, we provide long-term post-placement counseling, reunion services, and a secure platform to facilitate open adoption contact with adoptive families. Domestic Infant and Special Needs Adoption We facilitate infant and special needs placements with permanent families, ensuring ethical and inclusive practices that honor the voices of all parties involved. Our team provides ongoing education, cultural humility training, and post-placement services to support healthy family formation. Post-Adoption Counseling and Support Recognizing that adoption is a lifelong journey, we offer individual and family therapy, search and reunion support, and specialized support groups. These services are available to anyone touched by adoption, including birth families and adoptees, regardless of how long ago the adoption occurred. Training We train over 1,000 professionals annuallychild welfare workers, educators, healthcare providers, and therapistson trauma-responsive care, racial equity, and best practices in adoption. We also consult with public agencies to strengthen family preservation, kinship care, and permanency planning.
