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

'Heart Gallery' on Display in COG Lobby

January 15, 2009

The Freddie Mac Foundation Heart Gallery is on display in the lobby of the COG building until January 30.
News

Outstanding Foster Parents Honored

May 19, 2008

COG and the Freddie Mac Foundation honor region's foster parents at 6th annual gala.
News

Foster Families Honored at Third Annual Gala

May 9, 2005

COG and the Freddie Mac Foundation honored nine outstanding foster families at the third annual Foster Parent Appreciation Gala.
News

New Regional Programs to Help Area's 6,000 Foster Children

March 30, 2005

D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona and Freddie Mac Foundation President Maxine Baker joined COG to introduce new programs that...
News

Region Pays Tribute To Foster Parents

May 1, 2004

COG and the Freddie Mac Foundation honored hundreds of foster parents from the metropolitan Washington region during its second annual gala tribute to Foster...

Results: 41 found.

Child Welfare

2025 Foster Parents of the Year

News & Multimedia

'Heart Gallery' on Display in COG Lobby

Outstanding Foster Parents Honored

Foster Families Honored at Third Annual Gala

New Regional Programs to Help Area's 6,000 Foster Children

Region Pays Tribute To Foster Parents