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 Director of Education for a therapeutic school built on Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) principles.
“It just makes sense for me to officially be part of the [OCA] team,” she says.
Jennie serves as a Trauma Care Specialist & Family Coach with OCA. She works directly with families, many dealing with the ripple effects of early childhood trauma, helping them with practical tools, encouragement, and hope. She meets with families one-on-one to provide coaching, tools, and support as they navigate the unique challenges of trauma.
“It has felt like a gift to walk alongside these parents and children.”
Her favorite part of the job? Hearing families’ stories. Jennie says even when she doesn’t feel qualified enough to give advice, she has seen the Holy Spirit provide wisdom and words in exactly the right moments.
“I think that adoption/foster care/family preservation is so much harder and more beautiful than we realize here on earth,” Jennie shares. “Every family or individual who chooses to step into this role isn’t just helping to care for a child, but also for that child’s entire future lineage.” She added, “If we can see that these momentary difficulties have the potential to stop a negative family cycle, or speak compassion to a broken heart, or show compassion to a family, then we are creating moments that grow into changed lives. That is a really cool, holy thing!”
For Jennie, even the smallest breakthrough moments with families are special. “I’ve only been here a short time, but I have already had moments speaking to families where it felt like we made a strategic plan or talked through a problem that will help them in their everyday lives. Even in those small moments, it has felt like a gift to walk alongside these parents and children.”