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their own existing trauma. In that case, often love is not enough. Some additional support is needed," Biddle says. Today, Kinship Center suppor ts more than 2,500 children annually. The organization arranges shor t-term and long-term foster care arrangements for kids with challeng- ing family situations, youngsters with special health needs and those going through difficult transi- tions. Care initiatives like the Family Ties program aim to keep children living with relatives when bir th par- ents are unable to provide care due to illness, addiction, imprisonment or other issues. And, in addition to facili- tating adoptions, including open adop- tions, the agency leads classes for new parents and for professionals working in education, health, child welfare and related fields. Kinship Center also provides wrap- around services for at-risk youth, and men- tal health programs for those with emotion- al, behavioral and developmental needs. "What makes me most proud is the inter- relationship of the services we provide," says Bishop. "Our mission is permanence. It's about keeping families together, or creating families and suppor ting them so that they can stay together." Kinship Center leaders attribute their ability to provide comprehensive programming, in C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 109 Kinship Center helps with many family situations. Top: Manuel and Maria Rivera adopted their three grandchildren, Selena, Jenny and Carlos, through Kinship's Family Ties service; left: foster parents Dana and Bill Vogelpohl adopted April after raising eight of their own children and fostering others; right: Mark and Barbara Fulton gladly adopted Matthew and Jenna after the children were born with medical issues. 108-111 Kinship Center_152-161 Garcia story 4/23/14 10:25 AM Page 2