Adoption is a beautiful and life-changing journey—but it doesn’t end on the day papers are signed. For families built through adoption, especially those navigating complex trauma, the road ahead can bring both incredible joy and unique challenges. That’s why trauma-informed adoption support and ongoing care after adoption aren’t just helpful—they’re essential.
At Children’s Home Society of Virginia, we believe every family deserves to feel equipped, empowered, and supported long after the finalization. We know that strong families are built over time, and with the right tools and guidance, they can thrive together through every stage of life.
That’s why we’re excited to introduce our newest initiative: Family Check Up®. This innovative program is designed to help families strengthen relationships, improve communication, and address challenges early, before crises occur. Whether you’re a newly adoptive parent or years into your journey, Family Check Up® offers the personalized support you need to keep growing together.
Introducing Family Check-Up®: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Supporting Adoptive Families
To meet the evolving needs of adoptive families, CHSVA is proud to offer Family Check-Up®, a trauma-informed, evidence-based program designed for families with children ages two to 17. Available in person or virtually, this flexible one—to four-month service empowers parents to become mindful, confident caregivers through strength-based strategies and assessment-driven support.
Built on more than 30 years of research, Family Check-Up® has been proven to improve child and adolescent behavior, reduce substance use, and support better mental health outcomes. It helps families strengthen communication, improve limit-setting, and navigate behavioral challenges tied to stress and trauma, reducing the risk of disruption and helping children heal.
Notable Outcomes Include:
- 50% reduction in school absences
- 2.7x lower rates of clinically significant depression in adolescents
- Lower risk of early adulthood arrest
Family Check-Up® is part of CHSVA’s ongoing commitment to trauma-informed adoption support that doesn’t stop when the adoption is finalized. It’s about walking alongside families, every step of the way.
To qualify for FCU, families must live in Virginia, have a finalized adoption, and the adopted youth must reside in the home and be at imminent risk of removal. For more information, contact Amber Bumbry at 804-353-0191 ext. 200.
The Family Check-Up® Model: A Proven Framework for Strengthening Families
The Family Check-Up® model, on which we based our program, is a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach designed to enhance family well-being and child development. Developed over three decades ago, this model focuses on empowering parents through tailored assessments and collaborative strategies that address each family’s unique strengths and challenges.
Core Components of the FCU Model:
- Strength-Based Assessment: The process begins with a comprehensive evaluation that identifies both the strengths and areas for growth within the family dynamic.
- Motivational Interviewing: Trained professionals engage parents in a collaborative dialogue, fostering motivation and commitment to positive change.
- Customized Intervention: Based on the assessment, families receive personalized support and resources aimed at improving parenting practices and enhancing child outcomes.
Impact and Effectiveness:
Extensive research involving diverse populations has demonstrated the FCU model’s effectiveness in achieving long-term positive outcomes, including:
- Enhanced parenting skills and family relationships
- Reduced behavioral problems in children
- Improved academic performance and school engagement
- Decreased risk of substance use and delinquent behavior in adolescents
The FCU model’s adaptability allows it to be delivered in various formats, including in-person sessions and digital platforms, ensuring accessibility for families across different settings.
By focusing on collaboration and individualized support, the Family Check-Up® model serves as a robust foundation for programs like our Family Check-Up, providing families with the tools they need to thrive.
How Our Family Check Up® Program Works
FCU supports families in strengthening positive functioning and overall well-being through mindful parenting strategies. It is family-driven and short-term in nature, with most services lasting between one to four months.
- Once the online referral form is completed, a CHSVA Program Manager will contact the family to review the referral details and discuss next steps.
- FCU services include family interviewing, assessment and goal planning, interventions and coaching, including a parenting curriculum called Everyday Parenting.
CHSVA’s goal in offering this service is to reduce adoption dissolutions across the state of Virginia.
Children’s Home Society of Virginia Adoption Support
Adoption is not a one-time event—it’s a lifelong journey. For many children, that journey begins with trauma. Youth enter foster care through no fault of their own, often due to neglect, abuse, or unsafe living conditions. While foster care provides temporary safety, adoption brings the promise of permanence. But with that promise come challenges related to identity, loss, grief, and attachment.
That’s why post-adoption support is essential. At Children’s Home Society of Virginia, we offer personalized, high-quality services starting at placement and continuing well beyond finalization. Our goal? To build strong, stable families equipped to meet the complex needs of their children.
Through our partnerships with the Virginia Department of Social Services, UMFS, C2Adopt, and others, we serve adoptive families across Central and Northern Virginia. Our services include:
- Basic Support – Education, referrals, and advocacy
- Enhanced Support – Peer connections, clinical services, and planned respite
- Intensive Support – Crisis intervention and emergency respite
No matter when or how you adopted, CHSVA is here to help. These services are available to all adoptive families in Virginia, not just families who adopted through CHSVA.
A Lifeline for Adoptive Families
Adoption is a beautiful and life-changing journey, but it can also come with complex emotional and behavioral challenges rooted in early trauma. That’s why trauma-informed adoption support is so critical—it helps families not only respond to their child’s needs with empathy and understanding but also grow stronger together.
At Children’s Home Society of Virginia, we believe that support shouldn’t end once an adoption is finalized. Whether a family needs guidance, connection, or crisis intervention, our post-adoption services are here to help every step of the way. By offering free, personalized support through our partnerships across the state, we’re helping adoptive families thrive—not just survive.
No matter how long ago your adoption took place, you are not alone. We’re here for you—today, tomorrow, and for the lifelong journey of adoption.
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