A Statewide Cluster Randomized Trial to Test the Impact of the Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator (OhioKAN) Program on Caregiver and Child Outcomes.

In 30 seconds

This statewide cluster randomized trial evaluated OhioKAN, a kinship and adoption navigator program, among kinship and adoptive caregivers seeking services. Ten regions were randomized to the program or a minimal-intervention control; 1,728 caregivers enrolled. Compared with controls, intervention caregivers reported better service satisfaction, resource accessibility, and resourcefulness three months after intake, followed by fewer concrete needs and better caregiver-child relationships six months after services ended. Some resource-related benefits persisted at 12 months. Effects were small but statistically significant (g = .08 to g = .23); child well-being, safety, and permanency did not differ.

Key findings

• At three months after intake, intervention caregivers reported greater service satisfaction, community-resource accessibility, and resourcefulness than controls.
• Six months after services ended, intervention caregivers reported fewer concrete needs and better caregiver-child relationships.
• Resource accessibility and caregiver resourcefulness benefits persisted 12 months after services ended; effect sizes were small (g = .08 to g = .23; p < .05).
• There were no group differences in child well-being, safety, or permanency outcomes.

Why it matters

The trial suggests navigator programs may improve several caregiver-focused outcomes across informal kinship, formal kinship, and adoptive families. The findings distinguish these proximal benefits from child outcomes: despite improvements in caregiver-reported resources and relationships, the study found no differences in child well-being, safety, or permanency. This helps clarify which outcomes may respond to this type of support.

What to keep in mind

Effects were small, and the study found no differences in child well-being, safety, or permanency outcomes.