WELCOME TO OHIOKAN
Region 5
Please learn about our region, our partners and services, and all of the resources we have available for you.
REGION 5 STAFF
Sandy Honigford
DIRECTOR
Sandy Honigford
Director, Region 5
Sandy joins Kinnect with 26 years of experience in child welfare. Most recently, she was Assistant Director of Delaware County Job and Family Services, and previously held the role of Co-Director of Van Wert County Job and Family Services. Sandy was appointed to the Central Ohio Children Trust Fund Board. She has served on the Westwood Mental Health and Life Links Charter School boards, where she had tenures as President and Vice President, and the NorthWest Ohio Community Action Board (NOCCA). Sandy has also served Van Wert County as the FCF Coordinator and the Vice President of its board. Sandy is a licensed social worker with a bachelor’s in Human Services Administration from Indiana Institute of Technology and a Master of Social Work from the Ohio State University. She is ecstatic to serve Kinnect as the Director of Regions 5!
Erin Thompson
COORDINATOR
Erin Thompson
Coordinator, Region 5
Right before joining Kinnect, Erin worked at the University of Findlay as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of University Advancement. There she did a bit of everything, including managing multiple calendars, meeting with donors, and planning over 15 university events each year, She has also operated her own business, Errands by Erin, and worked as an executive assistant in the music industry in Nashville, TN. While in Nashville, she volunteered as a wish granter for the Make-a-Wish Middle Tennessee. Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis on print journalism and public relations from Wright State University. She is extremely excited to play a part in helping to change the lives of so many children!
Chad Weidlebacher
COACH
Chad Wiedlebacher
Coach, Region 5
Prior to joining Kinnect, Chad was a Clinical Supervisor with Youth Villages. In this role, he was responsible for leading a team of five family intervention specialists, holding weekly development meetings, reviewing and providing feedback for treatment plans, conducting leadership field visits, and ensuring documentation accuracy. Chad has a proven track record of successful collaboration across multiple systems and service providers, seamlessly integrating complex service delivery. He holds a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. Chad is thrilled to join the OhioKAN program as the Coach in Region 5!
Shirley Seward
Navigator
Family Promise
Shirley Seward
Navigator, Family Promise (Region 5)
Shirley Seward is very happy to be working as a Navigator with the great Region 5 team. She received her BA degree in sociology from Tufts University with her sights set on being a social worker. She worked for Lucent/AT&T as a technical writer and trainer, and enjoys motivating and helping people as a group fitness Instructor. Shirley feels her real-life family experiences combined with her strong listening and helping skills make her well equipped to assist Ohiokan’s families in need. She has volunteered for Lifecare Alliance, Voicecorps reading service, St. John AME church, and has been President of the high school PTO. Shirley looks forward to her job as Navigator, connecting kinship and adoptive families to available resources and services.
Tiffany Cherry
Navigator
Pathway Caring For Children
Tiffany Cherry
Navigator, Pathway Caring for Children (Region 5)
Cherry has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, most recently as a Treasury Management Specialist in Seville, OH. Previously, she volunteered as the Board President of Quota International of Medina, a volunteer at United Way of Medina, Leadership for the Medina County Emerging Leaders class of 2018, alumni of Leadership Medina County, and a volunteer for Mainstreet Medina Pizza Palooza. She currently volunteers at NorthWinds Church as a guest services coordinator and children’s ministry volunteer. Cherry grew up in a household that relied on public assistance, and she’s excited to help others find resources available to them in a time of need!
Tera Martin
Navigator
Pathway Caring For Children
Tera Martin
Navigator, Pathway Caring for Children (Region 5)
Tera comes to OhioKAN with experience in case management, community outreach, and conflict resolution. SHe previously worked at The Village Network as a Behavioral Specialist in the Stabilization Unit, and at One-Eighty in Wooster, OH as a Case Manager. She is a certified Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant (CDCA I), and is certified in Crisis Prevention Intervention. Tera is also the co-owner, coach, and choreographer at Cheer for Life Gym. She has volunteered as a softball and basketball coach for the Special Olympics, and every year Cheer for Life Gym makes blankets for cancer patients at Akron Children’s Hospital. Tera is excited to join OhioKAN to combine her experience and passion!
REGIONAL SITE PARTNERS
