Kinship Program Helping Hundreds of Families

The Muskingum County Adult & Child Protective Services want to raise the publics awareness on their kinship program, which is helping hundreds of families across Muskingum County.

The kinship program is a voluntary program offered through children services for kinship families who are raising other family members children or “kinship” children.

Patrick Donavan, Muskingum County Adult & Child Protective Services Supervisor said that when he first started overseeing the kinship program back in 2004 they had roughly 40 families that they were assisting.  Now flash forward to 2016 where their services continue to reach out to more and more families across the county.

“Here we are in 2016 and we are helping close to 400 families.” Donavan said that they represent over 900 children in Muskingum County with kinship care.  “Those are families caring for grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and over relatives throughout the counties.”

The Kinship program provides families access to financial resources and assistance, guidance through job and family services, help with school enrollment, help in obtaining custody, access to the newsletters and support groups along with many fun outings for the families to attend.

“That could be anything from a christmas party to going to the corn maze or Kidsville.”  Donavan said that these events act as support groups to help bring together the kids and families that are all going through very similar situations.

There is no financial requirement to be eligible for the program.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the kinship program, please give the Muskingum County Adult & Child Services a call at (740) 452-6339.