Post-Adoption Resource Center (PARC)

After an adoption is finalized, the formal support provided to the adoptive parents typically ends. This reality negatively impacts not only adoptive families, but the entire community as adopted children and their newly formed families sometimes struggle to adjust. Those particularly affected are families who adopt children with special needs—both physical and mental.

PARC was created to provide supportive services to adoptive, kinship and guardianship families and offer the following services:

Information and assistance

We offer supportive listening and encouragement, problem solving guidance, referrals to community resources, and a lending library specific to adoption issues.

Referral to local resources

We refer to counseling services, family and child screenings, and developmental therapies, as well as offer information on school advocacy.

Parent training curriculum

We provide parent training for alcohol-related disorders, drug exposures and other neurological compromises. The “Parenting Your Porcupine” series is presented in an 8-week parent training and support group format.

Lending library

Our ever-expanding library includes materials for adults and children on topics related to adoption, relative placement, parenting, child development and special needs.

Parent support group

The parent support group, Parents Learning About Youth: Training, Informing, Mentoring, Encouraging, also known as PLAYTIME at the PARC, meets the first Thursday of every month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Foster parents may earn 1.5 training credit hours at most meetings.