This session explores the fundamentals of adopting older children and teens by answering common questions and offering guidance to support the adoption journey. Adopting older children brings both unique opportunities and considerations. Older children and teens joining families through adoption carry with them a range of life experiences, often including histories of trauma, multiple placements and transitions, and other factors that can shape their emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs. This webinar will provide an introduction to the needs of adopted teens and offer recommendations for promoting long-term success and stability in the adoptive home.
Saara McEachnie, LICSW, LCSW-C - Director of Adoption Programs, The Barker Adoption Foundation
Marilyn Rippetoe, LICSW, LCSW - Adoption Clinical Manager & Placement Support Specialist, The Barker Adoption Foundation
Course length: 90 minutes
Course level: Beginning
Certificate type: This course offers a Social Work CE certificate
Credit type: 1.5 General CE
After attending this recorded webinar, professionals will be able to:
- Describe the common emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs of older children awaiting adoption.
- Identify supports and services that help older children and teens successfully transition into adoptive homes.
- Demonstrate strategies for promoting long-term stability for older children and teens joining families through adoption.
Recorded 11/4/25
National Council For Adoption, #1804, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 04/13/2023 – 04/13/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 general continuing education credit.
This course does not offer credit for NJ or NY social workers. More information on continuing education credits is available here.
