TOC - Family & Community

HOW TO Navigate

Community Roadmap

What does it look like? OhioKAN does outreach to diverse communities of kinship and adoptive families across the state of Ohio, which results in families learning about OhioKAN services. Outreach is different region-to-region, but most often includes some combination of:

• marketing (social media ads, radio, billboards, pamphlets and postcards, etc.)
• networking between OhioKAN staff and agencies/organizations in the community
• tabling at community events (festivals, resource fairs, etc.)
• presenting at board and staff meetings for various agencies/organizations
• cold calls to agencies/organizations in the community

Interested families might call OhioKAN directly, or may first explore the OhioKAN website to learn more about the program before requesting a call from a Navigator. Further exploration... What does outreach look like for your role in your region?

What does it look like? When a parent/caregiver calls in, they're connect with a Navigator in their region. The initial call involves a holistic, in-depth conversation about the needs, strengths, preferences, experiences, and values of the whole family. The Navigator takes the information the parent/caregiver shares and uses it to compile a list of resources and services available in the community to address the family's needs. The Navigator also follows up with the family to ensure connection to referrals, offer support if barriers have come up, and send further referrals for any additional needs that arise. Often, resources aren't available or are difficult to access due to a variety of barriers. When that happens, OhioKAN documents and elevates those gaps and barriers to Regional Advisory Councils to be addressed and mitigated over time. Further exploration... What are the most common gaps and barriers in your region?

What does it look like? Family choice is centered at every stage of the program, and families choose the level of service they receive. Families seeking advocacy and support beyond the referrals they receive continue working with their Navigator to co-design a tailored, trauma-informed, equity-oriented, and culturally appropriate Support Plan. This plan can include a variety of supports and services based on the family's unique needs, such as:

• additional referrals
• warm handoffs (calling an organization on a family's behalf with their permission, or together)
• assistance completing applications
• benefits coordination
• collaboration with case managers and other organizations
• concrete supports like material goods and short-term financial support
• in-person services

Through these supports, the Navigator advocates alongside the family to help them access resources and overcome barriers. Further exploration... What partnerships has your region fostered that give families greater access to the resources they need?

What does it look like? Our hope is that through OhioKAN's inclusive, family-centered approach to navigation services, families feel heard, understood, and supported as they work to meet the needs of their children, themselves, and anyone else in their family. Parents and caregivers also have increased awareness, skills, and confidence in navigating available and accessible resources, services, and supports Further exploration... What success stories does your region have?

What does it look like? By working alongside parents and caregivers to gain confidence and make connections with resources and supports in their community, we believe children will experience a wide range of positive outcomes, like:

• having their physical and material needs are met
• feeling loved, cared for, and connected to trusted people they can turn to for comfort and support
• experiencing safety and stability in their living situations
• involvement in affirming activities that support their health and development
• enjoying positive, age-appropriate experiences and opportunities
• feeling confident and thriving in ways that are important to them and their families

Further exploration... What positive outcomes has your regional already heard about from families?

How to use the roadmap The text on the roadmap outlines the milestones and related activities expected to contribute to the program's overall impact.

• The visible text is each high-level milestone
• Click each + sign to learn about the action steps to get to that milestone

HOW TO Navigate

Family Roadmap

What does it look like? Each OhioKAN region does outreach and builds relationships with community organizations, public and private agencies, and grassroots groups to develop collaborative strategies to address knowledge and capacity gaps in the way families are served. Outreach is different region-to-region, but most often includes some combination of:

• networking between OhioKAN staff and agencies/organizations in the community
• presenting at board and staff meetings for various agencies/organizations
• subject matter expert interviews with community and agency leaders

This step in the Theory of Change also involves advocating for the needs of kinship and adoptive families that Navigators have learned about in their daily work. OhioKAN serves families from many backgrounds and identities, and as such, we stand against violence and hate of any kind brought onto communities of color and others marginalized by systems of oppression. Further exploration... How has your region advocated for the needs of kinship and adoptive families from various cultures and backgrounds?

What does it look like? The organization that implements OhioKAN is called Kinnect and is based in Cleveland. But our Navigators are all employed by community partners around the state. This not only builds relationships with organizations who are doing important community work statewide, but leverages the trust that families already have with these organizations. Additionally, each region of OhioKAN is supported by a Regional Advisory Council, a multidisciplinary group of advisors from systems like education, healthcare, mental health, housing, legal, and judicial as well as individuals with lived experience from that region, to assess the needs of various communities, prioritize, and create action plans to leverage their networks, power, and expertise to address those needs. Further exploration... Who is represented on your region's Regional Advisory Council? What are the current priorities in the RAC's action plan?

What does it look like? At OhioKAN, we never presume to know what a community needs better than the people who are a part of that community. As a result, we continually work to build relationships with local family-serving organizations who represent diverse communities throughout each region. Additionally, as a program working to transform the child welfare system, we partner with child welfare agencies to strengthen their prevention practices and provide support around resources and advocacy for families. Just as you saw on the Family Roadmap, this step on the Community Roadmap also involves building relationships by participating in community events like festivals and cultural events to connect directly with families who may either need OhioKAN services or may want to represent their communities on the Regional Advisory Council. Further exploration... What diverse communities are represented on your region's RAC? What insights and perspectives have they offered that have shaped your RAC's approach to their action plan?

What does it look like? Every time a Navigator talks to a family, there's an opportunity to learn about what service gaps or barriers to service may be getting in the way of the family's needs being met. When you learn about a gap or barrier, it gets documented and elevated to the Regional Advisory Council. We know that gaps and barriers don't just appear out of thin air. Various historical factors impact the needs that organizations choose to address, and who is eligible for those supports. Our analysis takes into account the ways systemic racism has intentionally excluded people of color from receiving services or held them to different standards, and the ways those practices have also impacted other communities (for example: the way racist policies intended to marginalize Black people also have implications for poor white communities.) Once we understand the ways oppressive historical practices are playing out in the present and what their impact has looked like for folks in the community, we can then partner with those communities to design and co-create new solutions that balance power and access to services and supports. Further exploration... What impacts of current or historical oppressive practices or policies are playing out in your region today?

What does it look like? The ultimate goal here is that each region, regardless of its location, has a robust array of services that is accessible to all kinship and adoptive families and can respond to each family's unique needs, culture, and preferences. This responsiveness means that the work never truly ends--OhioKAN, the organizations in each community, and the state of Ohio will always be listening, learning, and developing new ways to serve families better and more equitably. We know we can't do this alone. True community involves commitment and investment from everyone involved and leverages each person's unique gifts, talents, and capacity--it won't look the same for everyone! Further exploration... How has your region seen services or access to services improve over time?

How to use the roadmap The text on the roadmap outlines the milestones and related activities expected to contribute to the program's overall impact.

• The visible text is each high-level milestone
• Click each + sign to learn about the action steps to get to that milestone