Permanency Is a Milestone. Support Is Lifelong.

Some moments in this work stay with you forever.

For me, they’re the conversations with parents who feel alone after finalization. The children still navigating loss, identity, and belonging long after the court date has passed. And the families who quietly say, “We didn’t know where to turn.”

These moments are powerful reminders that while permanency is a milestone, the need for support does not end there.

Why Post Permanency Support Matters

Adoption, custody, and guardianship are not endpoints—they are beginnings. Families continue to grow, heal, and face challenges long after legal permanency is achieved. Without access to the right resources, families can struggle with stability, connection, and emotional well‑being.

At Paths for Families, we were founded on the belief that adoption is lifelong. That belief guides our work every single day and is reflected in our tagline: Every child. Every family. Every step of the way.

Supporting families beyond permanency isn’t optional; it’s essential.

Expanding Support Across Maryland

I’m filled with gratitude and hope to share that we are expanding our post permanency support services beyond adoptive families in Maryland to now include families with finalized custody and guardianship.

This expansion means that families across the entire state—from Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore—can now access FREE, healing ‑centered, adoption and permanency‑competent care, including:

• Therapy for individuals, families, and parents
• Support groups
• Book clubs
• Parent and caregiver trainings
• Professional trainings
• And more!

Why? Because every family deserves to feel seen, every parent deserves someone to walk beside them, and every child deserves the chance to thrive in a stable, enduring connection.

The Power of Collaboration

This milestone is the result of extraordinary collaboration and dedication.

My heartfelt thanks to Lisa Dominguez and Audra Hurd—your partnership means everything. And to our incredible Maryland Post Permanency Program Team—Weberlyn Dossen, Sarah Haimanchandra, Jennifer McLeod, Delois Pearsall, Cynthia Rivers, and Megan Wills—your compassion and commitment to families shine in every interaction.

We are also deeply grateful to the Maryland Social Services Administration and the many social workers across the state who work tirelessly to ensure families are connected to the support they deserve. Your advocacy is changing lives.

I am honored to be part of a team that stands with families—not just through the journey to permanency, but for everything that comes after.