At its core, our Day Treatment program in Nevada is about connection, consistency, and showing up—day after day—for young people who need it most. But beyond the structure, therapy, and skill-building, it’s the relationships and shared experiences that truly define...

Emily and Bennett Smithhart never expected to foster a teenager. But when the opportunity came to care for a teen girl they already knew, they knew they had to say yes. They didn’t know exactly what the road ahead would look like. They didn’t know what needs would...

When the call came, Sergio was at work. On the other end was a police officer asking if he knew Manny Garcia. “Yes,” Sergio said. “He’s my nephew.” Manny needed somewhere to go. So Sergio left work, picked him up, and brought him home. That moment would become the...

At Koinonia, we believe every child deserves a safe, loving home where they can grow, heal, and be fully themselves. For Kristy, that belief isn’t just part of her work—it’s her life. As both an adoptive parent and a Koinonia team member, Kristy brings lived...

For Abeni, adoption isn’t just part of her story—it’s something that has shaped her life from every angle. Adopted at three years old after spending her earliest years in foster care, Abeni grew up in a family where adoption wasn’t unusual—it was part of a legacy. Her...

Emma Jacob has always known she was adopted. There was never a moment where her parents sat her down for a big, life-altering conversation. No dramatic reveal. No confusion about her identity. It was simply part of her story—spoken about openly, positively, and from...

(by Bianca Kaszubinski, as told to Kaitlin Earnest) As I’ve grown up, I’ve become more comfortable saying it out loud: I am an adoptee. For a long time, it felt like just one part of my story. But over the years, I’ve come to understand that adoption has shaped so...

(As written by Lori Dunn): Before Michael and I were married, we talked about the kind of family we hoped to build. Somewhere between practical plans and hopeful dreaming, I shared a desire I’d carried for years—to foster and someday adopt children. Michael didn’t...

When Kelly and Broc began the process of becoming foster parents with Koinonia nearly three years ago, they knew it would take patience. Between buying their first home, preparing financially, and completing the licensing process, they spent months getting ready for...

When Heather and Scott McGhee first began talking about becoming parents, they knew they wanted their family to look a little different. Both had worked with children impacted by foster care—Heather as a therapist in schools and Scott through camps and group homes....