At Kindred Hearts, we believe adoption isn’t the end of a story—it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey of healing, growth, and connection. Families who step into adoption, guardianship, or kinship care often carry invisible weight—and they deserve ongoing, specialized support to thrive, not just survive.
Our work is rooted in this belief: no family should have to navigate the complexities of adoption alone.
From Lived Experience to Shared Mission
The vision for Kindred Hearts began in two places: the therapy room and my own living room.
As a clinician specializing in early childhood trauma, I witnessed the overwhelming gaps in post-adoption care. Families were desperate for tools, understanding, and safe spaces. At one point, my waitlist had over 50 families—more than I could possibly support on my own.
Then I became an adoptive mom.
Suddenly, I wasn’t just a provider—I was living the same journey my clients faced: navigating attachment, advocating for services, and learning how trauma reshapes behavior and connection.
That’s when I met Traci Baker, a fellow adoptive parent with a shared passion for building something better. Together, we launched Kindred Hearts—starting with a single contract to run support groups. From there, it grew into a full-scale agency offering trauma-informed therapy, wraparound care, and a growing community of support.
Programs That Make a Difference
Kindred Hearts exists to meet families exactly where they are—with compassion, expertise, and meaningful care. Today, we offer a range of programs designed to support both adoptive and non-adoptive families alike:
🧠 Counseling Program
Open to the entire community, our team provides trauma-informed individual, couples, and family therapy, along with psychological assessments. We also serve as a training site for graduate students to build the next generation of adoption-competent therapists.
🏥 Enhanced Care Management (ECM)
A new, person-centered program offering mid-level case management. ECM bridges the gap between basic support and high-intensity intervention, helping families stabilize before challenges escalate.
👨👩👧 Post-Adoption Community Program
For adoptive, kinship, and guardianship families, we offer support groups, family events, parent trainings, youth respite, community education, and our signature summer experience: Camp Kindred for adopted children ages 8–12.
🏡 Wraparound Program
Our most intensive service, designed to prevent placement disruptions and keep families intact. Wraparound offers in-home therapeutic support for adoptive families navigating complex behavioral or mental health needs.
🎤 Annual Keynote Events
Each year, we host national thought leaders to inspire and educate our community. In 2024, we welcomed Gaelin Elmore, former NFL player and speaker, to share his powerful message on the impact of belonging.
Powered by Partnership
We are stronger because of the community around us. Our work is amplified by collaborations with organizations like:
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Shasta County Health and Human Services
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UC Davis
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Raising Shasta
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First 5 Shasta
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Shasta County Office of Education
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AmeriCorps
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Shasta College FKCE
Our youth events also partner with local creatives like Simply Rooted (yoga), Goddard Music, Redding Reptiles, and Front & Center Dance—offering children experiences that promote joy, creativity, and healing.
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Belonging
At its core, Kindred Hearts is more than a nonprofit. It’s a movement to create a trauma-informed, adoption-competent community—one where every family has the tools to thrive, and every child knows they belong.
We’re building something bigger than services. We’re building hope.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Haley Bagnaschi
Executive Director
