Grandparent-Kinship Month in Ohio

Nearly 700 paper dolls are on display at the Colony Square Mall, representing each child in Muskingum County being raised by a grandparent or other relative.

The display is designed to raise awareness about the challenges that family members can face when a child’s parents are not around.

Muskingum County Children’s Services Kinship Coordinator Patrick Donavan said the number of children being raised by a grandparent or a relative is up, however many of them do not have open cases with children’s services.

"Roughly half of the families I work with, never came through our front doors," said Donavan.  "In other words, we never received a call that, "Hey this child is not being cared for," and then Children’s Services goes out, it’s somebody calling saying, Hey, I’m taking care of three grandchildren, what are the possibilities I can get insurance for this child, or are there financial supports?"

Donavan said it’s better to keep children with family members despite the hardship, since statistically children do better living with family members than foster parents.

"If those children were put up for adoption, that tie with their kin is cut," added Donavan.  "If they’re able to maintain with a grandparent or a relative, then they’re able to maintain with family."

Governor John Kasich has declared September as Grandparent-Kinship Month in Ohio.