About Us

COG is the one place in metropolitan Washington that regularly brings leaders together to develop solutions to the region's major challenges. COG prepares plans enabling the region to receive federal funding, provides members with research and data to inform decision-making, and offers a wide range of programs, including commuter services, cooperative purchasing, technical assistance and grants, and public outreach campaigns.

Transportation

Through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), area officials, planners, and engineers ensure a well-managed and maintained transportation system. The TPB, which is staffed by COG, conducts the federally mandated transportation planning process for the region and ensures the uninterrupted flow of federal transportation funds that area jurisdictions receive.

Environment

COG's work engages leaders in various environmental fields from water quality experts to climate scientists. Together, they are advancing regional efforts to restore local waterways, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, promote recycling, and enhance and preserve green space and agriculture.

Community & Economy

Area officials and experts, including planning and housing directors and child welfare and health officials, work together with their counterparts at COG to help shape stronger communities throughout the region.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together as part of its work to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.

Community & Economy

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.

Previously, COG partnered with NBC4 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.

2025 Foster Parents of the Year

Child Welfare Resources

Prince George’s County

Prince William County

News & Multimedia

News

PicMe Project Joins in Celebrating November as National Adoption Month

November 3, 2014

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is re-launching a photo project to highlight and find loving homes for teenagers in foster care across...
News

COG Child Welfare Program, Foster Parents featured on NBC4's Viewpoint

June 6, 2014

COG’s Child Welfare Manager Kamilah Bunn and Arlington County Foster Parents of the Year, Ben and Shira Simon, appeared on NBC4’s public affairs talkshow,...
News

COG Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Fund Documentaries, Events Honoring Region’s Outstanding Foster Parents

May 15, 2014

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) today launched a fundraising campaign through the on-line crowd-funding site Kickstarter, Inc. to...
News

2014 Foster Parents of the Year Honored by COG Board, Local Agencies

May 14, 2014

The 2014 Foster Parents of the Year for metropolitan Washington were honored at the Council of Governments May Board meeting for their commitment to their...
News

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to Lead Region's Wednesday's Child Program

January 3, 2014

On January 1, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption began its sponsorship of the Wednesday’s Child program to find adoptive homes for children in foster care...

Results: 41 found.

Child Welfare

2025 Foster Parents of the Year

News & Multimedia

PicMe Project Joins in Celebrating November as National Adoption Month

COG Child Welfare Program, Foster Parents featured on NBC4's Viewpoint

COG Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Fund Documentaries, Events Honoring Region’s Outstanding Foster Parents

2014 Foster Parents of the Year Honored by COG Board, Local Agencies

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to Lead Region's Wednesday's Child Program