News

Beloved toddler makes it home for the holidays

The situation In Henry County, a 2-year-old child faced an uncertain future after being separated from their maternal family. Despite being in a nurturing foster home, the ultimate goal was to reunite the child with their biological family while preserving the strong bond with the foster parents. The facilitation Michelle, our KTF Specialist, was determined…

Young girl in group home finds loving family

The situation A Belmont County Kinnect to Family (KTF) Specialist began working with a 13-year-old girl residing in a group home because her mother needed support and could not care for her. Recognizing that returning to her caregiver was not an option, the KTF Specialist worked closely with the young girl to identify individuals in…

A Grandparent Found Support Through OhioKAN

The situation A grandparent found themselves suddenly raising their 11-year-old granddaughter and needed immediate support. Unsure of where to turn, they contacted OhioKAN for help, hoping to connect with someone who could guide them through the overwhelming situation of becoming a full-time caregiver. The facilitation After calling OhioKAN, the grandparent was connected with a Navigator…

KTF Specialist reconnects child with biological father

The situation A mother and child had been traveling to multiple states and ended up in a homeless shelter in Lucas County. The mom was struggling and was not able to care for her child, leading to the child entering foster care. There were no relatives in Ohio, as the mother and child were not…

Teen finds permanent home with family

The situation A Kinnect to Family Specialist was diligently working to move a teenage youth from foster care back to their family. The young person had experienced multiple moves between different placements, making it challenging to find a permanent home. The facilitation The KTF Specialist organized a barrier meeting with ten family members who knew…

Grandmother finds funds to send her grandson to summer camp

The situation Our OhioKAN Navigator in Southeast Ohio assisted a grandmother who wanted her 7-year-old grandson to attend a summer camp he had previously enjoyed. However, since the grandmother was retired and had a fixed income, she couldn’t afford the camp fees on her own. The facilitation To address this challenge, our OhioKAN Navigator and…

14 year old reconnects with family after 7 years

The situation A 14-year-old boy spent over 7 years in foster care, moving between residential treatment centers, group homes, and foster placements. During this period, he lost contact with his biological family, who believed he had been adopted, leaving him without essential familial support and stability. The facilitation Our Kinnect to Family (KTF) Specialist intervened…

Kinnect Featured in Casey Family Programs 2024 Signature Report

We are thrilled to announce that Kinnect has been highlighted in the prestigious Casey Family Programs 2024 Signature Report! This recognition underscores the impactful work our team is doing to redefine kinship and support children and families within the child welfare system. The report highlights Kinnect’s core values of belonging, connection, bonds, identity, and love—principles…

7 children placed with family within 3 weeks

The situation Our Kinnect to Family (KTF) Specialist recently received a referral involving seven children. The Public Child Welfare Agency aimed to place these siblings with relatives to maintain their familial bonds. The facilitation With urgency and care, our KTF Specialist worked to identify and contact multiple family members. Through home assessments and dedicated efforts,…

6-month-old baby placed with grandmother

Success story The situation Trudy, our Kinnect to Family Specialist, recently stepped in to assist a family with a 6-month old baby facing serious medical issues. Through her efforts, she discovered the baby’s father had passed away. Trudy devoted herself to finding a relative who could provide the love and support the baby desperately needed.…