A Grandmother Raising a Child: A First-Person Account My husband, John, and I did everything that we could to keep our granddaughter in our family when social services stepped in. There wasn’t any part of us that wanted her to go into foster care. Hannah belonged with us. We would attend OCA foster parent training to keep her in our …
Support That Comes from Understanding, and Paying it Forward When Cheri Farley first encountered Orphan Care Alliance, she was navigating the early days of parenting her youngest son, who had just joined their family from China. At the time, he is nearly 12 years old and carrying the weight of past experiences and trauma. “OCA understood me and the trauma …
In-Step with Kinship Families Kentucky has one of the highest rates of kinship care in the country. Some estimate that 55,000 children are being raised by relatives or friends. Other estimates put the number at over 90,000 kids living with someone other than their birth parents. These caregivers are grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and family friends who step in to …
A Life Coach’s First-Person Experience Barry Motes has been a Life Coach with Orphan Care Alliance since 2013. In that time, he has mentored a dozen foster youth. Barry speaks from a place of experience and a passion to see young people prosper. “Zane” is the twelfth young man I’ve had the opportunity to work with. Most of these relationships …
What is Life Coaching? Life coaching is more than mentorship; it’s a relationship. It’s not about fixing someone’s life; it’s being present in it. At its core, life coaching is about walking alongside a young person as they navigate life’s challenges and opportunities. For youth with foster care, kinship care, or adoption experience, this kind of relationship can be life …
“We Are All Called to Care.” When you’ve spent decades serving the local church, you develop a heart for connection. That’s exactly what David Preston brings to his role at OCA. “I spent 30 years in church ministry,” David shares. “Stepping into this role with Orphan Care Alliance felt like a natural next step – an opportunity to equip churches …
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Not Alone: A Family’s Road to Home A Season of Hardship Beth never expected to be raising her teenage daughters while couch surfing. But after surgery forced her out of work for a time, stability disappeared. In early 2025, When OCA began working with Beth and her teenage daughters, Addie and Lily, the family was in survival mode. Out of …
What does it mean to be a ‘spotter’ for foster youth? Spotters are used by weightlifters to encourage them and protect them as they grow stronger. They stand beside the athlete and assist, if and when, necessary. In life, we all need “spotters” from time to time. Think about it – when someone stands by your side through the difficult …
Meet Jennie McKindles, Trauma Care Specialist & Family Coach. When you talk with Jennie McKindles, one thing becomes clear right away: she has a deep heart for children and families navigating hard places. Her experience in foster/adoptive family care runs deep. Jennie has a brother who was adopted, a mom who counsels foster and adoptive families, and she serves as …
