Ohio Agency Receives Grant to Support Kinship Families
The Area Agency on Aging District 7 will use new funding to assist grandparents raising children affected by addiction.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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The OneOhio Recovery Foundation has awarded a grant to the Area Agency on Aging District 7 to bolster addiction prevention and recovery services. This funding specifically supports the Pathways for Kinship Kids program, which helps grandparents provide for children impacted by substance use disorders.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to address the long-term ripple effects of the opioid epidemic by strengthening community resilience and stabilizing families. By providing direct financial assistance to kinship caregivers, the program reduces the burden on those stepping in to raise children during times of family crisis.
The grant is part of a $45.7 million regional funding distribution supported by 55 percent of state opioid settlement funds. It covers the 10 counties within the AAA7 district plus additional areas in Regions 9 and 10.
The players
Area Agency on Aging District 7
This agency provides support services to older adults and their families across a multi-county region in Ohio.
OneOhio Recovery Foundation
This nonprofit organization is responsible for the distribution of state opioid settlement funds to local initiatives.
The details
The Pathways for Kinship Kids program specifically covers essential expenses for children in kinship care, including school clothing, supplies, and extracurricular activity fees. Recipients were selected through a rigorous review process involving regional volunteers, an expert panel, and the foundation's board of directors.
Timeline
October 16, 2026: The Area Agency on Aging District 7 receives grant approval.
Health Landscape
This program follows the framework established by the OneOhio Memorandum of Understanding for the regional allocation of pharmaceutical settlement funds. It marks a shift toward supporting the secondary victims of addiction, such as children in the care of relatives.
Grandparents and kinship caregivers in the covered counties will soon gain access to financial assistance for essential child expenses. This support aims to reduce the immediate economic strain on families navigating the recovery process.
The takeaway
Kinship programs are increasingly vital as more families face the challenges of raising children in the wake of the addiction crisis. Caregivers should contact their local aging agency to verify when specific assistance programs open for enrollment.
What happens next
The AAA7 will finalize its grant agreement before distributing the funds to the community.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to combat the epidemic in the Ohio Substance Abuse section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tribune.
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