Tennessee Kinship Connect: Tennessee Kinship Navigator Program Replication Initiative - The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, through the College of Social Work's Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS), in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS), proposes Tennessee Kinship Connect, a replication of the evidence-based Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator Program (OhioKAN) under the Kinship Navigator Programs: Replication and Tribal Adaptation Notice of Funding Opportunity (HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CB-CF-0005). The project will strengthen Tennessee's support system for kinship caregivers by integrating OhioKAN's core components into existing services, creating a coordinated, sustainable system that helps families identify, access, and navigate resources. Although Tennessee has not yet received Children's Bureau approval to operate a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, the state has invested substantially in services for relative caregivers through its Relative Caregiver Program (RCP). Tennessee Kinship Connect will build on these investments by replicating OhioKAN's navigation model and coordinating with the RCP and community partners to improve access to services and support for kinship families in Tennessee. The project includes a six-month Planning Phase followed by a 30-month Implementation Phase. During planning, SWORPS and DCS will collaborate with Kinnect, the nonprofit organization that designed and manages OhioKAN, kinship caregivers, and community partners to complete implementation, workforce, technology, evaluation, and partnership planning. Following Children's Bureau approval, Tennessee Kinship Connect will be implemented with fidelity to OhioKAN's core components while adapting the model to Tennessee's child welfare system and service environment. SWORPS will serve as lead applicant, providing implementation support, evaluation, project management, and continuous quality improvement. DCS will provide policy leadership, statewide coordination, and child welfare system integration. Together, the partners will establish a sustainable, evidence-based Kinship Navigator Program that strengthens support for kinship caregivers and contributes to the evidence base for successful program replication.
