New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

Need help with career advice, navigating resources, or just want to connect? This space is here for you!

When?

Starting December, join us every 2^nd Thursday of the month from 6 PM-7PM (EST}

Where?

Virtually on zoom! Zoom link will be shared

Who Should Attend?

• Experienced foster care or are currently in foster care
• Been adopted
• Been impacted by the criminal justice system
• Experienced human trafficking
• Had an incarcerated parent during their childhood

Why attend?

• Get answers to your questions
• Receive guidance and support
• Connect with someone who understands your journey

This is voluntary and unpaid. It is designed to support and empower eligible youth in achieving their goals

FREE!

The virtual group will be held the 3rd Monday of the month from April 21, 2025 – March 16, 2026.

Meeting Dates: 1/19/2026, 2/16/2026, 3/16/2026

The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) is excited to launch the Lunch Break – Parent Support Group for adoptive, foster, and kinship parents and caregivers! *

Topics covered include relationship building, grief and loss, birth family relationships, coping skills and self-care, and so much more.

In this monthly group we will engage in thought provoking, honest conversations, receive support and guidance, and leave better equipped with expanded knowledge, skills, and confidence – knowing you are not alone. We look forward to seeing you there!

This is a drop-in group and participation at every session is not required. *

FREE!

Join the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support for the AGPT-Train the Trainer Series. This training equips child welfare professionals working with adoptive and guardianship families with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to effectively deliver the AGPT curriculum. This Train the Trainer consists of four sessions, one and a half hours in length-all of which need to be attended to receive the certificate of completion.

• Session I: Feb 5, 2026 01:30 PM
• Session II: Feb 12, 2026 01:30 PM
• Session III: Feb 19, 2026 01:30 PM
• Session IV: Feb 26, 2026 01:30 PM

Join us at The Learning Brain Exchange — ATN’s NEWEST Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference.  This 5-track conference gives educators the neuroscience-based background and tools needed to help students learn and thrive.  Come explore the Science of Learning and the Importance of Connected, Resilience-Focused, Hopeful Leadership in our schools.

Early bird pricing now through December 15, 2025.  Group discounts of 7 or more available.

Helping Children Heal from Sexual Abuse is a Free, virtual Parent Support Group for adoptive, foster, or kinship families raising children who have previously suffered sexual abuses.

WHEN: Scheduled to meet monthly on the third Tuesday at 7 PM

WHERE: Exclusively in the in the AFFCNY.Network

Please join us to learn more about contemporary domestic infant open adoption and the work we do here at Open Arms! This free 90-minute information session is where the entire domestic adoption process is discussed at length. We cover the most commonly asked questions, including wait time, fees, laws, statistics regarding race/ethnicity of babies, substance exposures, mental health risk factors, etc. and any additional questions not covered can also be answered at this time. Open Arms is a non-profit adoption program licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Our International Team is excited to host this webinar and to share information about adopting from South Africa. Spence-Chapin is proud to have the longest history of any US-based agency of facilitating adoption from South Africa and we work with adoptive families living across the entire United States. The South Africa program welcomes adoptive applicants regardless of marital status or sexual orientation. In this webinar we will discuss common medical and developmental needs of children who are currently living in South Africa and waiting for their forever families. We will provide an overview the adoption process. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about adoption in general and specific questions about adoption from South Africa.

Join Pact’s Executive Director and fellow adoptive parent, Beth Hall, to find community and talk about parenting adopted and foster teens and young adults of color, including challenges, helpful strategies and how to support yourself and your loved ones.

This call is free and open to current Pact members only. If you have not purchased a Pact membership (or your membership is not current) you can join at pactadopt.org.

Join us to learn about our Colombia Adoption Program. Our Colombia Adoption Program is open to singles, married couples, unmarried couples, and welcomes LGBTQ+ parents. In this webinar, we will detail the pathways to adopt from Colombia, including pathways available to individuals without Colombian Heritage as well as pathways available to individuals who hold a Colombian Cedula. We will share information about the system of child protection in Colombia and will share photos of some of the children’s homes where children reside while in protective care. We will discuss common medical and special needs of children who are awaiting adoption in Colombia. We will speak about eligibility factors for prospective adoptive parents in Colombia. Bring your questions – we’ll save time for Q&A.

These free support groups provide safe space where LGBTQ+ adoptive and foster parents of children of color can find community and talk about their parenting joys and challenges, intersections with our own queer identities and helpful strategies.

Registration closes at 7 pm PT on the day of the event

Each year, thousands of immigrant and refugee youth arrive in the United States seeking safety, stability, and a better future. Many of these young people come from regions affected by war, violence, persecution, or extreme poverty, and some arrive unaccompanied—without a parent or guardian to care for them. Once in the U.S., they face the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, language, and legal system while coping with the trauma of their past. These youth are incredibly resilient, and with the right support—such as placement in safe, loving foster homes—they have the opportunity to heal, thrive, and build meaningful lives in their new communities.

Please join Diakon Foster Care & Adoption for a look at our Pasos Program – long term foster care for immigrant and refugee youth.  During this one-hour session, you will learn who these children are, how foster care works, how the licensing process works and what support is provided to you, and information on cultural, legal and trauma informed care.

Join us for a no-obligation information session to explore how you can become a licensed Diakon foster/adoptive family for an immigrant or refugee youth. Pre‑registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Are you ready to open your heart and your home for a youth who has been separated from their family?

Overview: Step into the next chapter of NAA membership! This dynamic interactive session is designed to refresh your knowledge of member benefits while showcasing the reignited online community — a vibrant hub to connect, collaborate, and grow. Whether you’re a longtime member or just getting started, you’ll leave inspired, equipped, and ready to tap into the full power of your NAA network.

Learn about Spence-Chapin’s innovative host-to-adopt program that prioritizes adoption for children from Colombia, ages 10-13 years old. For families who are open to older child adoption, this pathway provides both you and the child an opportunity to get to know each other and commence the bonding process during a multi-week hosting period in your home. Two different hosting periods are available – a five-week opportunity over the summer, or a three-week opportunity in December. Host families need to complete a home study with Spence-Chapin prior to being matched with a child for hosting, so now is the right time to learn more and get underway with your home study!

This program is open exclusively to families residing in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and Florida, so that our local social work team can fully support you and the child during the hosting period.

•  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern Time
•  5:00 pm – 6:00 pm AZ Time

Do you have a high school student with an intellectual or developmental disability who will need support after graduation?

Caregivers of New Jersey is a DDD-approved Support Coordination provider. We know the transition out of high school can feel overwhelming, and we are here to help your family every step of the way.

At this event, you will learn about the transition process to access DDD services after graduation, as well as how Support Coordination works and why it matters for families. Our Support Coordinators partner with you to make sure your student has access to the resources they need to thrive.

You will also meet local providers in Somerset County and see firsthand how CNJ can be your partner in navigating this transition with confidence.

The CUB Zoom Peer Support Group is a safe, peer-led space created by and for birth/first parents. We understand the unique challenges of adoption loss, and this group is a place to step out of isolation and find community. This is a volunteer-run group where you can check in, share experiences, and learn from others who truly understand, regardless of where you are in your adoption journey.

Join us for an informative session learning about adoption & foster care options in Pennsylvania.

The information session can help you decide whether you are comfortable taking the next steps to become a licensed Diakon foster family. Sessions are offered without obligation; participants are not required to proceed following the presentation.

Pre-registration is required so that the ZOOM link can be shared.

Free monthly virtual support calls provide a safe space for adoptive parents of color to connect and share their experiences.

This is a group intended to meet the needs of people of color who have built their families through domestic adoption, kinship adoption, international adoption, foster care, same race and transracial/interracial adoption.

This programming is for adoptive parents of color.  Please be respectful of their space.

Spence-Chapin’s Birth Parent Support Group is a virtual meet-up for individuals who made an adoption plan (with Spence-Chapin or elsewhere) and are in any stage in their placement journey. This group is a safe place to get support and know that you are not alone. Topics will include coping with feelings of grief and loss, sharing challenges and successes with open and closed adoption, and improving communication with friends and family around your adoption plan.

There is no cost to attend.

Just Adoptees: A Monthly Virtual Support Group JUST for Adopted Adults

Have you ever been told or made to feel like you’re Just an Adoptee? If so, then have we got the space for you! The fourth Wednesday of the month is, currently, set aside for Just Adoptees.

“Just Adoptees” is a peer led adoptee-centric support group just for adopted adults. We believe being adopted can come with complexities that only another adopted adult can understand. Our goal is to let every adopted person know they aren’t alone and the way they feel is normal for a not normal situation. This isn’t therapy – it’s better! It’s a group designed to be a “safe space” for adopted adults to gather and share experiences regarding their adoption experience without judgement or expectations.

February 25, 2026; March 25, 2026; April 22, 2026; May 27, 2026; June 24, 2026; July 22, 2026; August 26, 2026; September 23, 2026; October 28, 2026; November 24, 2026; December 22,2026