Koinonia News
News About Fostering & Adopting
Supporting Families During the Government Shutdown: Local Food and Assistance Resources
With the ongoing federal government shutdown, many families are feeling the effects of paused SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits. At Koinonia, we know how vital these programs are for keeping families...
Navigating School as a Foster Parent: How to Advocate for Your Child’s Educational Needs
Back-to-school season can bring excitement, anxiety, and uncertainty for any family—but for foster and adoptive families, it often carries added layers of complexity. From navigating trauma-triggered behaviors in the classroom to understanding the maze of IEPs...
From Crisis to Connection: A Family’s Story of Resilience
Families sometimes face circumstances that feel overwhelming—when communication breaks down, emotions run high, and support feels just out of reach. For Nicole and her son, Jack, those challenges grew over time, shaped by past trauma, unexpected hardship, and the...
Turning Tragedy into Hope: Help Us Replace Lost Vehicles for Youth
Early Tuesday morning, on January 21st, we faced a heartbreaking setback in our Nevada community—two of Koinonia’s Day Treatment transport vehicles were destroyed in a devastating fire, which fire officials have ruled as an act of arson. Investigators believe the fire...
From Fostering to Family: A Story of Keeping Siblings Together
Valerie and Bryan’s journey as Koinonia foster parents has been one of love, compassion, and a deep desire to make a difference. After starting their family with two biological children, they felt called to open their home to children in foster care. Over the years,...
Adoption: The Heart of Our Family Journey
A & S's relationship began in 2019, and by the end of the year, they were already discussing their future together. Early on, they both knew adoption would be part of their family’s journey. After facing challenges with biological pregnancy, they decided to focus...
From Fostering Babies to Teens: The Rhodes Family’s Heartfelt Journey
Meet the Rhodes family: Katie, her husband, and their children. The Rhodes have been married for ten years and have been fostering for about seven years. Up until recently, they were a traditional foster home and have had six long-term placements. Their oldest is...
Fostering Hope: One Family’s Story of Creating a Safety Net for Teens in Foster Care
Fostering teens is an urgent need that is often overlooked, despite the fact that older youth represent over 27% of children in foster care. Statistics show that only 56% of teenagers are placed with families, while many age out of the system without ever finding a...
Building Bridges: Emily Smithhart’s Fostering Story of Love for Children and Their Biological Families
At 16 years old, Emily’s journey into foster care began when she started babysitting for a family with biological, adopted, and foster children. This experience showed Emily all the beautiful, messy parts of fostering and sparked her passion for fostering. Emily, her...
A Home Transformed
Like many families waiting for children, Jose and Marina were parents of dogs. Five dogs in fact! While their beautiful home was filled with the joy of canine snuggles and loyal love, their hearts were longing for the joy that only children can bring to a home – the...