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.

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LATEST POSTS FROM The Navigator

Building a Resilient Family

The pandemic has impacted us in ways we could never have predicted, with the entire globe experiencing dramatic short- and long-term changes in our physical and social environments, illness and…

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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