For adoptive families, love is abundant, but the process can bring unique challenges. The Adoption Support and Preservation (ASAP) Program at Lutheran Social Services
of Illinois (LSSI), when needed, helps families strengthen relationships, heal from trauma, and thrive together.
ASAP offers home-based counseling and support for families raising adopted children under age 18 in these counties: Bureau, Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Tazewell, Warren, and Woodford.
“We’re here to help anyone who’s been adopted, no matter who handled the adoption,” said ASAP Counselor Dominick Mucciante. “If you’re in our service area, we’re here for you.”
ASAP counselors visit homes and schools to understand each family’s environment. “We get to see how siblings interact, how parents respond, and what life looks like day to day,” Mucciante said. “That helps us guide families toward positive change.”
Using a trauma-informed model called ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency), ASAP helps children process their adoption stories, manage emotions,
and build trust with their families. “Sometimes healing starts with simply helping kids feel safe enough to talk,” he said.
ASAP also provides respite services, connecting families with trusted caregivers so parents can take a much-needed break and recharge.
The work is rewarding for ASAP counselors. “It’s bittersweet when families graduate from the program,” Mucciante said. “You’ve seen a family’s struggles, but also
their growth—a child sleeping through the night again, the laughter returning to the home.”
For more information on Adoption Support and Preservation, visit LSSI.org/ASAP.
Photo Caption: ASAP Counselor Dominick Mucciante.
