- To read an article about Professional Parenting in Appalachian Today click here
- To read an article about Professional Parenting in the Asheville Citizen-Times click here
- For more information about becoming a Foster Parent click here
- To apply to become a Foster Parent click here
- To hear a recorded radio program about preventing child abuse click here
- To hear a recorded radio program about Foster Care Month featuring Carrie Lauterbach click here
- To hear a recorded radio program about Professional Parenting featuring Adam Justen click here
- To watch a video about Adoption click here

Mission Statement:
To do whatever it takes to meet the specific needs of children within family settings, thus enhancing their ability to live fulfilling lives.

Established in 1979 with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, Professional Parenting established itself as a specialized foster care program providing quality care for special needs children in the custody of county departments of social services. Over the years, the original program expanded to accommodate children with specific treatment needs and varying placement requirements. These include:

Professional Parenting 
Specialized Foster Care: Specialized foster care is provided by Professional Parents (foster parents) who have been carefully selected, licensed, and specially trained to meet the needs of difficult-to-place children, with the age range of birth to 21 years old, referred by county departments of social services. An array of continuous support services are available to the Professional Parents.

Intensive: This is a unique treatment foster care program serving children aged 12 and under who have a history of sexually reactive behavior towards other children. Professional Parents are specially prepared to work with these children and an extensive support system is in place to meet the needs of both parents and the children placed with them.

Sexual Abuse Intervention Services: This program serves clients referred from Buncombe County and provides community and home-based services for adjudicated juvenile sex offenders and their birth families.Adoption Plus (A+): This program is dedicated to the placement of adoption-eligible children with special needs including older children, sibling groups, and medically and or mentally fragile youth. A complete array of pre- and post-adoptive support services are provided to adoptive parents.