Kinnect to Family
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…
Read MoreTeen 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…
Read More14 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…
Read More7 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,…
Read More6-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.…
Read MoreChild Returns After Two-Year Separation
Success story The situation A school-age child came to Ohio from Georgia with his mom for what was to be a short trip. A crisis arose and due to system barriers, the child was brought into foster care. The young person was scared and worried about his mom and wanted to see his family back…
Read MoreBaby Boy reunited with Half-Sister
Success story The situation A Kinnect to Family Specialist was working to ensure that a 3 month old baby boy remained within his family as his parents were being supported with care, resources, and services to mitigate the struggles they were experiencing as a result of poverty. The facilitation The Kinnect to Family specialist found…
Read MoreKinnect Team Members Published in Children and Youth Services Review
Members of our own Kinnect team, Stephanie Beleal, Alyse Almadani, and Cait Proctor-Frazier, along with our partners at Kaye Implementation & Evaluation, Emily Smith Goering, Sarah Kaye, Lucia Reyes, and Elisa Rosman, recently collaborated to write an article titled, “Increasing the likelihood of kinship placements: Testing the effectiveness of an intensive family search and engagement…
Read MoreWith support, Grandma is able to care for three siblings
Success story The situation William, James, and Brooklyn entered foster care because their parents were unable to care for them. They were among the 75% of children who enter foster care due to neglect, which is strongly correlated with a lack of financial resources. Their Kinnect to Family specialist began reaching out to the priority…
Read MoreBaby Boy leaves NICU to live with uncle
Success story The situation Theodore, a baby boy served by Kinnect to Family, was born with a congenital heart defect and had languished in the hospital for months while the agency worked to identify a foster home that could provide for his medical needs. The facilitation Kinnect to Family specialist Mary Lee began an exhaustive…
Read MoreKinnect to Family presents to California Center of Excellence.
The Kinnect to Family (KTF) team was invited to give an overview of the program on July 5 by the newly launched Center of Excellence (COE) in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). The California Department of Social Services launched the COE at UC Davis last fall to…
Read MoreKin-first Culture in the Courtroom
Nearly 50 judicial stakeholders from across the state came together in Columbus on January 11 to build community and explore strategies for reducing judicial barriers to kin and relative caregiving. First, attendees began the day by reflecting on the requirement that agencies and courts prioritize family relationships. It is not an afterthought. Services and medications…
Read MoreKinnect to Family Statewide Joint Learning Community
Kinnect to Family (KTF) teams from around the state came together for the Statewide Learning Community on December 6. Participants engaged in a day of program updates, sharing experiences, and building meaningful connections. Program Updates During program updates, KTF staff asked teams to reflect on their agency’s relationship with the courts. KTF is embarking on…
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