How We Strive to Impact Families
How We are Measuring our Impact
Integrating Special Populations Health Grant
Kinship Caregivers Connect was awarded the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) Integrating Special Populations Health Grant presented by the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in April 2024. The NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award provided Kinship Caregivers Connect with a $20,000 one-year grant to conduct a mixed-methods, longitudinal pilot study to investigate the impact of the Kinship Caregivers Connect support program on kinship caregiver and family well-being through a series of online surveys.
It is implemented in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital CHECK Center for assistance with research and data analysis, and the Ohio Family Care Association as a fiscal agent. Kinship caregivers who have been members of KCC were also hired as research partners to provide input throughout the process and assist with qualitative data analysis and dissemination.
Summary of Findings
In January 2026 at the Society for Social Work Research Conference our Founder and Executive Director Angela Tobin presented findings from our mixed-method study in collaboration with Yaya Lumpkin and Tangie Taylor from KCC, as well as Sarah Beal, Houley Sall, and Katie Fox at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and University of Cincinnati.
The main takeaway:
- KCC is made up of a diverse group of caregivers, many of whom have been a part of the community for years.
- Based on qualitative findings, caregivers shared peer support is the most meaningful aspect of KCC, including having a safe space to share, not feeling alone, and a sense of family with others.
- Information and resources from both expert speakers and other caregivers were helpful for equipping them in their roles.
- Together, these services have impacted their own well-being as a caregiver, their understanding of their children in care, implementing a trauma-informed parenting approach, and their family's wellbeing.
- Caregivers reported a online virtual and statewide model works well, especially with a committed leader and accessible options. Recommendations included more support groups and in-person opportunities.
- Quantitative findings uncovered that increased meeting attendance was linked to increased emotion-focused coping for caregivers.
- One caregiver shared, “KCC was critical to my confidence and fear of being thrust into a kinship arrangement in the beginning of the process. I was introduced to some resources that I did not know existed, but most importantly, I was connected with other people my age that were not only in the same ocean, but in my boat.” –KCC Participant
We are excited to continue on this journey, and see so many opportunities for growth in the future. We want to recognize our partners at Kinnect and Ohio Department of Children and Youth for their continuous support of our work over the past 5 years. Community collaboration is key to holistically supporting kinship families