Blog
Welcome to the official OhioKAN Blog, The Navigator. Please find entries from our OhioKAN staff and leadership with insights on navigating kinship and adoptive life.
LATEST POSTS FROM The Navigator
Managing Feelings Through Creative Expression
*Names have been changed to protect privacy Noah*, age 5, was having a difficult time adjusting to his new family dynamic. Before his mother met his new stepfather, Noah lived…
The Many Emotions of Kinship Caregiving
I want to take a moment to celebrate and recognize you, the kinship caregiver, and to reflect on the incredibly important work you do each day. I also want to ask you to think about taking the best care of yourself that you can in this challenging and rewarding role.
What’s the Deal with Kinship Care?
I want to take a moment to celebrate and recognize you, the kinship caregiver, and to reflect on the incredibly important work you do each day. I also want to ask you to think about taking the best care of yourself that you can in this challenging and rewarding role.
How to Support Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Exploration
Research shows that there are certain behaviors that can protect LGBTQ+ youth against physical and mental health risks. The more often and more emphatically these accepting behaviors are practiced, the greater the impact to youth well-being. As a parent or caregiver, you play a key role in preventing many of the negative outcomes faced by these vulnerable youth in your care.
5 Things Your Transracially Adopted Young Person Wants You to Know
Transracial adoption is defined as “placing a child who is of one race or ethnic group with adoptive parents of another race or ethnic group.” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 1994).
Kinship Heroes Have a Sidekick in Support Services
Doing the work of kinship care or post-adoptive parenting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are lots of support services that can help with everything from financial resources and physical goods to emotional self-care and community-building. Find out how you can find services relevant to your family’s needs with OhioKAN.