Image

Partnerships with the community are a core component of the OhioKAN model with an intentional pathway included in the theory of change. Examples of such partnerships may include public agencies, community organizations, and community representatives with an emphasis on individuals with lived experience and direct practice experts.

Meaningful partnerships with community representatives with an emphasis on individuals with lived experience and direct practice experts

• Multiple formal opportunities for individuals with lived experience and direct practice experts to inform and engage in decision-making about program implementation and community capacity building efforts
• Formalized councils with local community representatives to build community capacity and foster awareness of best practices in serving kinship and adoptive families
• Intentional engagement with lived experience members who are diverse and representative of the community, including families of color, LGBTQ+ families, and people with disabilities

Partnerships with public agencies and community organizations

• Relationships with local child protective service agencies that are designed to support system involved families reduce entry or re-entry into the formal child-welfare system
• Partnerships with local service providers, community-based organizations, and community stakeholders to facilitate access to services, build community capacity, and prevent duplication of services
• Formalized councils with representatives from diverse multidisciplinary child and family serving organizations serving diverse communities
• Intentional feedback loops with partnering sites, public agencies and programs, and local child and family serving organizations to ensure program implementation is responsive to the unique needs of kinship and adoptive families in the local context