Kinship Care: A Call to Advocacy and Action – 2026 Virtual Symposium

Supporting the Families Who Step Up When Children Need Them Most

Across Ohio, grandparents, relatives, and other kinship caregivers are stepping in to provide stability, love, and support for children.

But caring for a child often comes with complex challenges — from navigating services and resources to understanding legal systems, advocating for family needs, and finding the support necessary to keep families strong.

Kinship Care: A Call to Advocacy and Action brings caregivers, advocates, professionals, community leaders, and partners together for an important conversation about how we can better support kinship families throughout Ohio.

This virtual symposium is presented by the Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice in partnership with the Ohio Grandparent/Kinship Coalition.

Together, we'll explore:

ADVOCACY
How can we strengthen the voices of kinship caregivers and the families they serve?

RESOURCES
What information, programs, and community resources can help caregivers navigate their journey?

SUPPORT
How can organizations, professionals, and communities better respond to the needs of kinship families?

ACTION
What can each of us do to help create meaningful and lasting change?

Who Should Attend?

This symposium is designed for anyone who cares about strengthening children, families, and communities, including:

• Grandparents and kinship caregivers
• Family advocates
• Social workers and case managers
• Healthcare and behavioral health professionals
• Community-based organizations
• Faith and neighborhood leaders
• Educators
• Policymakers and public-sector professionals
• Child and family service providers
• Anyone interested in supporting Ohio's kinship families

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET
• Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided upon registration)
• Cost: Free (Registration required)
• Hosted By: Ohio Federation for Health Equity and Social Justice & Ohio Grandparent/Kinship Coalition

Secure Your Virtual Seat Today!

Whether you're currently raising a relative's child, serving families professionally, advocating for policy change, or looking for ways your organization can help, there is a place for you in this conversation.

Stand with Ohio’s kinship families and help build a stronger, more equitable future for our children. Visit ohiofederationforhealthequity.org for details.

Would you like to sponsor this event?

Sponsorship levels are availible for organizations of all size. Please view the sponsorship offering --> Click Here or plug url https://canva.link/kinshipsponsor in your browser.