Headline:
Cuyahoga County Sees 75% Surge in Foster Care Adoptions Thanks to Kin-First Approach
Subheadline:
Record-breaking 261 children found permanent homes in 2025 as county prioritizes family connections over traditional foster care.
CLEVELAND — For children in foster care, the path to a permanent home can be long and uncertain. But in Cuyahoga County, a groundbreaking strategy is rewriting that narrative. New data reveals a staggering 75% increase in adoptions over the past decade, with 261 children finding forever families in 2025 alone—up from 198 the previous year.
The driving force behind this success? A “kin-first” policy that prioritizes placing children with relatives or close family friends rather than strangers.
“Kids thrive when they’re with people who know them, love them, and understand their roots,” said Stacy Gura, senior manager for adoptions at Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services (CFS). “Stability isn’t just about a roof overhead—it’s about preserving their identity and sense of belonging.”
Why Kin Connections Matter
Research consistently shows that children placed with kin—whether biological relatives, mentors, or longtime family friends—experience better emotional, academic, and long-term outcomes. They’re less likely to bounce between homes, more likely to maintain cultural ties, and often heal faster from trauma.
To make these connections, Cuyahoga County partnered with Kinnect, a nonprofit that trains social workers to dig deeper into a child’s network. Their tool? A “genogram,” an expanded family tree that maps out every possible connection, from aunts and uncles to teachers, coaches, or even a parent’s childhood friend.
“The largest genogram we’ve ever built had over 500 names,” said Shannon Deinhart, Kinnect’s co-founder. “The myth that a child has ‘no one’ is almost never true. You just have to look.”
How the Program Works
When a child enters foster care, social workers immediately begin tracing their extended network. Kin aren’t always blood relatives—they might be a neighbor who babysat them for years, a pastor’s family, or a school counselor who became a trusted figure.
“These are people who already love the child,” Deinhart explained. “They might not realize they’re an option until we ask.”
The county’s proactive approach has slashed the time kids spend in limbo. In 2025, nearly 40% of adoptions were kin placements, up from just 25% a decade ago.
A National Model for Foster Care Reform
Cuyahoga County’s success is drawing attention from child welfare advocates nationwide. With over 391,000 children in U.S. foster care as of 2025—and roughly 20% waiting for adoption—the kin-first model offers a replicable solution.
“Family isn’t just DNA,” Gura emphasized. “It’s the people who show up, stay, and commit.”
For now, the county’s team celebrates each adoption as a victory—but their work isn’t done. “Every child deserves a family,” Deinhart said. “And we won’t stop until that’s a reality.”
— Reported by Nexio News
