Jo Simonsen - OhioKAN Supports Kinship Families and Educators with Resources and Services

School Wellness

Jo Simonsen, the OhioKAN Regional Director, joins Al Levin on the School Wellness podcast to discuss the OhioKAN program and its mission to support kinship and adoptive families. Jo explains that kinship families are those who step up to care for a child when they cannot live with their biological parents. These families can include relatives or even close friends who take on the responsibility of raising the child. Jo highlights the challenges that kinship families face, such as the sudden nature of the placement and the financial burden. He emphasizes the importance of schools in supporting these families and offers insights into how educators can create a kinship-friendly environment. Jo also introduces the OhioKAN toolkit, a comprehensive resource for schools to better understand and support kinship families. You can find out more about Jo and OhioKan's work at https://ohiokan.jfs.ohio.gov/ Discover more resources from the Ohio School-Based Center of Excellence for Prevention & Early Intervention at https://linktr.ee/ohiosbcoe