FAQ's

What can I expect when my child or I come to Kinship

House?

At Kinship House, you will find a warm, welcoming, and experienced professional team with personal commitment. Clinicians generally meet with the parent or parents first to gather information and a sense of the current concerns. Following one or more initial assessment sessions, a treatment plan is designed to meet the unique needs of the child or family. When children come to Kinship House they may be provided a snack with parent permission, invited outside to our garden or to one of our play, art or sandtray rooms.

Is Kinship House knowledgeable about working with

multiracial/multicultural families?

Most definitely. Our staff is experienced in working with and treating children and families of diverse backgrounds and heritages. We honor the rich diversity of our clients and the unique heritages of families we serve.

How can I help Kinship House?

Kinship House is a small non-profit making a big impact. But we need help. Here are a few ways you can help us make a difference:

Contribute funds to subsidize a child in need of counseling. Click for More Info
Help Kinship House pay off our Facilities so we can continue to offer low cost services in a warm-homelike facility.
Volunteer to help with painting, gardening, book sales and distribution, or events promotion.
Call and come visit to see what strikes your passion! 503.460.2796

Are your therapists licensed?

All Kinship House clinicians are master's level, experienced mental health therapists with considerable experience in their field.  Our clinicians are either licensed or are currently working toward licensure through the appropriate State licensing board. 

Is my donation to Kinship House tax deductible?

Yes! Kinship House is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit agency channeling all revenues to program operations and to direct essential overhead. By contributing to Kinship House, your donations are tax deductible and a receipt for tax filing purposes will be forwarded to you following any donations. Starting fall of 2006, all donations made to Kinship House from a 401k are tax free to the donor, further stretching the value of your contribution. As a donor to Kinship House, you may direct your donations to help a child receive needed therapy, fund our capital campaign for purchase of our buildings, enable clinical outreach to other parts of Oregon, or other direct needs of your interest.

What are your quality assurance procedures?

First, Kinship House is governed by a Board of Directors that meets regularly to review all Kinship House operations. The board communicates directly with the Kinship House Executive Director and staff.
The Kinship House clinical team meets weekly and as needed to discuss cases and specific challenges, sharing expertise and insight confidentially. Quarterly, the Kinship House Quality Assurance and Utilization Management team - comprised of our Medical Director, advising psychiatrist, a service consumer, and our clinical coordinator - meets to review cases, procedures and specific issues. The team advises on procedures and treatments adhering to standard procedures required by State of Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health and Addictive Services.

Where is Kinship House located and how do I get there?

We are located in NE Portland just off NE Broadway on 8th Avenue at 1823 NE 8th Avenue. Kinship House is across from the Irvington post office with parking on the street.
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From North or South on the East side, take I-5 to the Coliseum exit and head East on NE Weidler to NE 7th Avenue. Turn left and head north across NE Broadway for 2 blocks. Turn right on NE Hancock and right on NE 8th Avenue and park. Our buildings are on the West side of the street.

From the West of Portland, Take Sunset Hwy #26 East to Portland. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for I-405 S/US-26 E/The Dalles/Salem and merge onto I-405 S. Merge onto I-5 North. Take the Weidler St exit toward Rose Quarter/Broadway. Turn left (East) off ramp onto NE Wiedler Street. Go 5 blocks to NE 7th, turn left onto 7th, go 3 blocks North across NE Broadway, turn right on NE Hancock. Go one block. Kinship House is near the corner of NE Hancock and NE 8th Avenue in a green house on the right. Parking is available in front of our building or on any adjoining street.

From East of Portland, Take I-84 West to Portland. Take exit toward Lloyd Center. Slight right onto NE 16th Dr. (signs for Convention Center/Rose Quarter). Continue onto NE Lloyd Blvd. Turn right onto NE Grand Ave. Turn right onto NE Schuyler St. Take the 3rd left onto NE 8th Ave. Kinship House is near the corner of NE Hancock and NE 8th Avenue in a green house on the right. Parking is available in front of our building or on any adjoining street.

What are your hours of operation?

Our doors are open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.   Our clinicians generally have their first appointment available at 9:00 am. Evening appointments may be scheduled directly with individual clinicians. An emergency crisis line is available 24 hours for current Kinship House clients.

I've heard about a book published by Kinship Press. What is it about?

Kinship House has published a book to assist children in their journey through foster care and adoption. The book, Foster Care and Adoption: A Pathway to Understanding, provides concrete explanations of a child's journey and helps a child understand their experiences, emotions, and ways to make transitions with an enhanced sense of self. The book is engaging and colorful, with interactive pages encouraging children to draw, color and personalize images in the book. Foster Care and Adoption: A Pathway to Understanding is a book to be used in therapy and throughout life. For more information, or for details about purchasing a copy, please call us at 503.460.2796.

Do your clinicians ever testify on a child's behalf?

Yes. We are frequently called upon as expert witnesses in family court settings. Requests for our testimony usually come from case workers, attorneys, judges or CASA workers. Our approach is to conduct extensive research and analysis on the unique experiences and issues of a client, child or family.

Most expert witness testimonies are conducted in conjunction with an assessment of a child, siblings, foster adoptive or biological family and are based on a holistic, comprehensive review of what is in the best interest of the child and his or her future.

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