Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator
Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) aims to promote child safety and permanency as well as child and caregiver well-being by informing, connecting, and collaborating with kinship and adoptive families. The program also aims to build community and system capacity to support kinship and adoptive families’ unique needs.
OhioKAN is a voluntary program with three levels of services: Inform, Connect, and Collaborate. The Inform service level provides a public website designed to help kinship and adoptive families learn about publicly available statewide and local resources. In the Connect service level, trained OhioKAN navigators conduct brief assessments, provide referrals to community programs and services that connect families to needed resources, and follow-up with caregivers to address any barriers or additional needs. The Collaborate service level supports families seeking a higher level of engagement through collaboration with navigators who provide individualized support planning, individual advocacy, and support services. Collaborate-level services may include warm handoffs to connect caregivers with referrals, collaboration between the OhioKAN navigator and agencies with whom the family is already working, assistance with benefit applications and coordination, and concrete supports.
To build community capacity, the program organizes and facilitates Advisory Councils to identify community resource gaps and service barriers and develops and implements action plans to address gaps and barriers in priority areas. These efforts aim to strengthen community resources to meet kinship and adoptive families’ needs, increase awareness of the unique needs of kinship and adoptive families, and promote best practices in serving kinship and adoptive families.
The Prevention Services Clearinghouse’s independent systematic review of OhioKAN found that at least one study carried out in a usual care or practice setting achieved a rating of moderate or high on design and execution and demonstrated a sustained favorable effect of at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment on at least one target outcome.
As of December 2025, the ACF Assistant Secretary has final approval authority over the determination of the program or service rating. For more information, please visit the FAQ on the rating determination policy.
Date Last Reviewed by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse (Handbook Version 2.0): Jun 2026
Date Program or Service Description Last Updated: Jun 2026
Sources
The following sources informed the program or service description, target population, and program or service delivery and implementation information: the program or service manual, the program or service developer’s website, and the studies reviewed.
This information does not necessarily represent the views of the program or service developers. For more information on how this program or service was reviewed, download the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0
Target Population
OhioKAN serves kinship and adoptive families including both formal and informal kinship families.
Dosage
OhioKAN services can vary in dosage and intensity depending on family needs and interest in services.
Location/Delivery Setting
Recommended Locations/Delivery Settings
OhioKAN is typically delivered via phone, text, email, or virtual meeting. OhioKAN can also be delivered in-person in the community or in the home.
Location/Delivery Settings Observed in the Research
- Home
- Community Center (e.g., religious or recreational facility)
- Online
Education, Certifications and Training
There are no required minimum education or certification requirements for navigators, though an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, education or related field are preferred. OhioKAN navigators receive specific training on OhioKAN practices and procedures and available local, state, and federal benefits and associated eligibility criteria.
OhioKAN uses a workforce development framework that includes initial training, coaching and supervision, job aids and practice guides, learning communities, and ongoing professional development. Initial training consists of general sessions common to all OhioKAN positions as well as role-specific sessions that are typically completed within the first three months after starting a role. Ongoing training and professional development is aligned with professional goals or Key Performance Indicators. Navigator coaching includes collaborative goal setting, opportunities for action and practice, observation, reflection, and feedback about performance. OhioKAN provides job aids and practice guides for each role.
Program or Service Documentation
Book/Manual/Available documentation used for review
OhioKAN. (2025). OhioKAN Program Manual. https://manual.ohiokan.org/
Available languages
The OhioKAN manual is available in English.
For More Information
Website: https://ohiokan.ohio.gov/
Phone: (844) 644-6526
Email: https://ohiokan.ohio.gov/email-ohiokan/
Note: The details on Dosage; Location; Education, Certifications, and Training; Other Supporting Materials; and For More Information sections above are provided to website users for informational purposes only. This information is not exhaustive and may be subject to change.
| Results of Search and Review | Number of Studies Identified and Reviewed for Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator |
|---|---|
| Identified in Search | 1 |
| Eligible for Review | 1 |
| Rated High | 1 |
| Rated Moderate | 0 |
| Rated Low | 0 |
| Reviewed Only for Risk of Harm | 0 |
| Outcome | Effect Size
|
95% Confidence Interval
|
Implied Percentile Effect
|
N of Studies (Findings) | N of Participants | Summary of Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child safety: Child welfare administrative reports | 0.23 | [0.13, 0.32] | 8 | 1 (3) | 1728 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 3 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Child permanency: Out-of-home placement | 0.22 | [0.13, 0.32] | 8 | 1 (3) | 1728 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 3 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Child permanency: Placement stability | -0.14 | [-0.43, 0.14] | -5 | 1 (6) | 1406 |
Favorable:
1 No Effect: 5 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning | 0.07 | [-0.04, 0.19] | 2 | 1 (2) | 1220 |
Favorable:
1 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Positive parenting practices | 0.04 | [-0.07, 0.16] | 1 | 1 (3) | 1333 |
Favorable:
1 No Effect: 2 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health | -0.01 | [-0.12, 0.10] | 0 | 1 (6) | 1399 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 6 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Family functioning | 0.04 | [-0.08, 0.15] | 1 | 1 (11) | 1370 |
Favorable:
2 No Effect: 9 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Adult well-being: Economic and housing stability | 0.04 | [-0.07, 0.15] | 1 | 1 (6) | 1391 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 6 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Access to services | 0.02 | [-0.11, 0.15] | 0 | 1 (6) | 1402 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 6 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Referral to services | -0.19 | [-0.37, -0.01] | -7 | 1 (3) | 1308 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 3 Unfavorable: 0 |
| Satisfaction with services | 0.09 | [-0.01, 0.19] | 3 | 1 (1) | 1405 |
Favorable:
0 No Effect: 1 Unfavorable: 0 |
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention condition and a negative number favors the comparison condition. A range of comparison conditions, including no intervention, minimal intervention, placebo or attention, treatment as usual, and head-to-head comparison conditions are eligible for review (see Section 4.1.7 of the Handbook Version 2.0). Different types of comparison conditions may affect the magnitude of the effect sizes across studies. For example, an intervention compared to a no treatment comparison condition may produce a larger effect size than the same intervention compared to another intervention because the other intervention may itself be effective. The effect sizes shown may be derived from samples that overlap across studies.
See the Individual Study Findings table for information about the specific comparison conditions used in each study and the Studies Reviewed section for information about any overlapping samples. The effect sizes presented here are provided for informational purposes only and are not used in determining a program or service rating.
| Outcome | Effect Size
|
Implied Percentile Effect
|
Months after treatment when outcome measured
|
Number of Participants | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child safety: Child welfare administrative reports | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Prevention of Substantiated Maltreatment (%) | 0.39 | 14 | 2 | 1728 | |
| Prevention of Substantiated Maltreatment (%) | 0.23 | 9 | 6 | 1728 | |
| Prevention of Substantiated Maltreatment (%) | 0.06 | 2 | 12 | 1728 | |
| Child permanency: Out-of-home placement | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Prevention of Foster Care or Residential Placement (%) | 0.25 | 9 | 2 | 1728 | |
| Prevention of Foster Care or Residential Placement (%) | 0.23 | 8 | 6 | 1728 | |
| Prevention of Foster Care or Residential Placement (%) | 0.20 | 7 | 12 | 1728 | |
| Child permanency: Placement stability | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Legal Permanency (%) | 0.19 * | 7 | 2 | 1406 | |
| Legal Permanency (%) | -0.01 | 0 | 6 | 1341 | |
| Legal Permanency (%) | -0.25 | -9 | 12 | 1296 | |
| Family Stability (%) | -0.25 | -9 | 2 | 1406 | |
| Family Stability (%) | -0.32 | -12 | 6 | 1341 | |
| Family Stability (%) | -0.22 | -8 | 12 | 1296 | |
| Child well-being: Behavioral and emotional functioning | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Caregiver Perception of Child Well-Being Scale | 0.15 * | 5 | 6 | 1220 | |
| Caregiver Perception of Child Well-Being Scale | 0.00 | 0 | 12 | 1128 | |
| Adult well-being: Positive parenting practices | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Caregiver Resourcefulness | 0.20 * | 7 | 2 | 1333 | |
| Caregiver Resourcefulness | 0.04 | 1 | 6 | 1237 | |
| Caregiver Resourcefulness | -0.10 | -4 | 12 | 1145 | |
| Adult well-being: Parent/caregiver mental or emotional health | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Caregiver Social Connections | 0.00 | 0 | 2 | 1399 | |
| Caregiver Social Connections | -0.01 | 0 | 6 | 1331 | |
| Caregiver Social Connections | 0.00 | 0 | 12 | 1290 | |
| Caregiver Stress | 0.00 | 0 | 2 | 1332 | |
| Caregiver Stress | -0.06 | -2 | 6 | 1236 | |
| Caregiver Stress | -0.01 | 0 | 12 | 1145 | |
| Adult well-being: Family functioning | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Intensity of Needs | -0.04 | -1 | 2 | 1370 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Intensity of Needs | -0.03 | -1 | 6 | 1302 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Intensity of Needs | 0.01 | 0 | 12 | 1279 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Number of Needs | 0.11 | 4 | 2 | 1370 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Number of Needs | 0.14 | 5 | 6 | 1302 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Reduction In Needs | -0.10 | -3 | 2 | 1370 | |
| Brief Assessment and Screening to Inform, Connect, and Support: Reduction In Needs | -0.08 | -3 | 6 | 1302 | |
| Child-Parent Relationship Scale – Short Form: Closeness | 0.21 * | 8 | 6 | 1234 | |
| Child-Parent Relationship Scale – Short Form: Closeness | 0.08 * | 3 | 12 | 1147 | |
| Child-Parent Relationship Scale – Short Form: Conflict | 0.11 | 4 | 6 | 1236 | |
| Child-Parent Relationship Scale – Short Form: Conflict | 0.00 | 0 | 12 | 1145 | |
| Adult well-being: Economic and housing stability | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Concrete Needs/Economic Hardship | 0.04 | 1 | 2 | 1330 | |
| Concrete Needs/Economic Hardship | 0.11 | 4 | 6 | 1297 | |
| Concrete Needs/Economic Hardship | 0.00 | 0 | 12 | 1242 | |
| Family Resources Scale | 0.02 | 0 | 2 | 1391 | |
| Family Resources Scale | 0.08 | 3 | 6 | 1328 | |
| Family Resources Scale | 0.00 | 0 | 12 | 1288 | |
| Access to services | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Receipt of Resources (%) | 0.00 | 0 | 2 | 1294 | |
| Receipt of Resources (%) | 0.06 | 2 | 6 | 1308 | |
| Receipt of Resources (%) | 0.06 | 2 | 12 | 1264 | |
| Accessibility of Community Resources | 0.04 | 1 | 2 | 1402 | |
| Accessibility of Community Resources | -0.05 | -1 | 6 | 1337 | |
| Accessibility of Community Resources | 0.02 | 0 | 12 | 1292 | |
| Referral to services | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Referral to Resources (%) | -0.17 | -6 | 2 | 1294 | |
| Referral to Resources (%) | -0.17 | -6 | 6 | 1308 | |
| Referral to Resources (%) | -0.22 | -8 | 12 | 1264 | |
| Satisfaction with services | |||||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group (Kaye, 2025) | |||||
| Caregiver Satisfaction | 0.09 | 3 | 2 | 1405 | |
*p <.05
Note: For the effect sizes and implied percentile effects reported in the table, a positive number favors the intervention condition and a negative number favors the comparison condition. Effect sizes and implied percentile effects were calculated by the Prevention Services Clearinghouse as described in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0, Sections 6.4 and 6.5 and may not align with effect sizes reported in individual publications. The Prevention Services Clearinghouse uses information reported in study documents and, when necessary, information provided by study authors in response to author queries to assign study ratings and calculate effect sizes (see Section 8.4.2 in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0). The Prevention Services Clearinghouse typically relies on study-reported p-values to form the basis of the assessment of statistical significance for a finding, but will perform its own statistical test of a finding using any available information in study documents or author queries, as needed (see Section 6.3 in the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0). As a result, the effect sizes and statistical significance reported in the table may not align with the estimates as they are reported in study documents.
Only publications with eligible contrasts that met design and execution standards are included in the individual study findings table.
Full citations for the studies shown in the table are available in the "Studies Reviewed" section.
The participant characteristics display is an initial version. We encourage those interested in providing feedback to send suggestions to preventionservices@abtglobal.com.
The table below displays locations, the year, and participant demographics for studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Participant characteristics for studies with more than one intervention versus comparison group pair that received moderate or high ratings are shown separately in the table. Please note, the information presented here uses terminology directly from the study documents, when available. Studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution that did not include relevant participant demographic information would not be represented in this table.
For more information on how Clearinghouse reviewers record the information in the table, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
| Characteristics of the Participants in the Studies with Moderate or High Ratings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Study Location
|
Study Year
|
Demographic Characteristics
|
Populations of Interest*
|
Household Socioeconomic Status
|
||
| Study 15591 - Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator vs. Minimal Intervention Control Group | ||||||
| Characteristics of the Children and Youth | ||||||
| Ohio, USA | 2022 |
Average age: 9 years
52% White
31% Black 17% Multi/Another |
61% in formal kinship care | -- | ||
| Characteristics of the Adults, Parents, or Caregivers | ||||||
| Ohio, USA | 2022 |
Average age: 51 years; Age range: 19-84 years
61% White
34% Black 6% Multi/Another
93% Female
|
-- | -- | ||
“--” indicates information not reported in the study.
* The information about disabilities is based on initial coding. For more information on how the Clearinghouse recorded disability information for the initial release, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Note: Citations for the documents associated with each 5-digit study number shown in the table can be found in the “Studies Reviewed” section below. Study settings and participant demographics are recorded for all studies that received moderate or high ratings on design and execution and that reported the information. Studies that did not report any information about setting or participant demographics are not displayed. For more information on how participant characteristics are recorded, please see our Resource Guide on Study Participant Characteristics and Settings.
Studies Rated High
Study 15591Kaye, S., Reyes, L. M., Hood, S. A., Such, C. J., Amaro Gómez, I., & Poletika, M. (2025). Results from a statewide cluster randomized trial of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) program: Outcomes at three, six, and twelve months. Kaye Implementation & Evaluation, LLC. https://osf.io/nc9ys/
Kaye, S., Hood, S., & Reyes, L. M. (2022). OhioKAN evaluation plan: A study of OhioKAN's implementation and effectiveness. Kaye Implementation & Evaluation, LLC. https://osf.io/nvmwq
Reyes, L. M., Kaye, S., & Hood, S. (2023). Results from a statewide cluster randomized trial of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) program: Outcomes at three months. Kaye Implementation & Evaluation, LLC. https://osf.io/j39yk
Reyes, L. M., Kaye, S., & Hood, S. A. (2024). Results from a statewide cluster randomized trial of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) program: Outcomes at three and six months. Kaye Implementation & Evaluation, LLC. https://osf.io/nawcu
Kaye, S., Reyes, L. M., & Hood, S. (2025). A statewide cluster randomized trial to test the impact of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) program on caregiver and child outcomes. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2025.2600555
This study was conducted in a usual care or practice setting (Handbook Version 2.0, Section 7.2.2)