In 1998, Kathy and Mike Dugan, parents of eight children adopted from the Prince George’s County foster care system, struggled to find a family therapist who understood the impact of trauma and adoption on children’s lives. So the Dugans became unintentional philanthropists: they created CASE, and their vision has since helped thousands of adoptive, foster, and kinship families in the region. Some three-quarters of school-age children in foster care experience abuse, and one-quarter experience PTSD – exacerbated by the trauma of multiple placements. Depression, anxiety, aggression, and fear are common and can challenge a family's survival. CASE offers adoption-competent therapy for children, parents, and families; therapy and case management for children whose age or circumstances create added challenges in finding permanent homes; and training and education for hundreds of professionals about the unique challenges of adoption, foster, and kinship care. If this is your cause, you have found your home.

Headquarters: MD-Montgomery County

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Statewide; MD-Montgomery County; MD-Prince George's County; MD-Frederick County; MD-Howard County; VA-Statewide; VA-Arlington County; VA-Fairfax County; VA-Loudoun County; VA-Prince William County; VA-City of Alexandria; VA-City of Fairfax; VA-City of Falls Church

Age Groups Served: Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); Seniors (50+); All

Population(s) Served: All


  • Number of counseling and case management clients and participating family members served in 2023:   2,044
  • Number of mental health and child welfare professionals trained (17.5 to 72-hour curricula) to better serve adoptive, foster, and kinship families in 2023:   5,361
  • Percent of professionals trained to be adoption competent who report improvements in how they serve clients:   100%
  • Number of participants registered for C.A.S.E. webinars, presentations, and trainings in 2023:   14,090
  • Percent of clients served who respond to survey and agree they are satisfied with C.A.S.E. services in 2023::   86%

Awards & Recognition

2024 - Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency

2024 - Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating

2021 - Career Achievement Award presented by American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)

2020 - Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE) accreditation for C.A.S.E.'s Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)

2019 - Adoption Excellence Award for Business Contributions and Initiatives for National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

2019 - National Angel in Adoption, Congressional Coalition on Adoption, awarded to C.A.S.E. National Training Director Dawn Wilson, MSW

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for Center for Adoption Support and Education is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

Spur Local looks to friends like you to keep our services independent and entirely free of charge. Consider a small contribution to Spur Local to cap off your gift and help the causes you care about get the full support they deserve!

If you like Center for Adoption Support and Education you might also like



This organization collaborates with