Child Welfare

COG works with local and state child welfare agencies to bolster foster and adoptive parent recruitment and retention initiatives. COG's child welfare technical committees provide a platform for this work, supporting local governments in the region through technical assistance and providing a place to discuss and track trends in foster care and adoption.

For youth who have aged out or are at risk of aging out of foster care, COG launched the Trailblazer Project, which provides critical support to students attending college, university, or trade school. Previously, COG  partnered with NBC-4 Washington on Wednesday’s Child, a television segment that featured children who are waiting in foster care to be adopted. Hundreds of children in the region found an adoptive family after appearing on Wednesday’s Child.

Interested in becoming a foster parent? Check out these resources from area jurisdictions. 

2024 Foster Parents of the Year

Child Welfare Resources

City of Alexandria

Arlington County

Charles County

District of Columbia

Fairfax County

Frederick County

Loudoun County

Montgomery County

Prince George’s County

Prince William County