YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Direction Home of Eastern Ohio saw significant growth in 2024, particularly in its Kinship Support Program.
The program, which began in 2022, is receiving national attention for its support of kinship caregivers, says spokeswoman Cassandra Valentini.
Kinship care is the practice of relatives or close family friends stepping in to care for children when their biological parents are unable to do so. These caregivers, often grandparents or other extended family members, take on the responsibility of raising children, sometimes under challenging circumstances.
In recognition of its success, the Kinship Support Program was awarded national honors by USAging.
The growth of the program in 2024 was bolstered by a federal grant along with grants from the Community Foundation. These boosts enabled the program to provide direct assistance to another 71 families.
The assistance provided to these families went beyond financial support as the program supplied essential items like beds, bedding, clothing, health maintenance supplies and respite care. Additionally, a new clothing and supply closet was built at the Girard Multigenerational Center and stocked with donated goods to support kinship caregivers.
“Our goal has always been to alleviate the burdens on older adults who have generously stepped in to care for children in need,” says Joseph Rossi, chief executive officer of Direction Home of Eastern Ohio. “We will continue to work hard to ensure these caregivers have everything they need to provide a safe, loving home for the children they care for.”
Direction Home provides a network of resources for people who are aging or have disabilities in Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.