‘A place in their heart’
Washington County adoptive family honored
In May 2025, a month-old infant named Kai suffered severe injuries from abuse and was hospitalized with life-threatening head trauma.
Doctors warned that Kai’s injuries were so extensive that he was not expected to survive beyond his first birthday.
During Kai’s hospitalization, Jessica Welsh, who works as a case manager with Greene County Children and Youth Services, made a decision.
She spent countless days by Kai’s bedside, reading to him, comforting him the best she could by making sure he heard a familiar, loving voice during the most difficult days of his life.
When Kai was later discharged into foster care with significant medical needs, Jessica and her husband, Tim, continued to follow his case closely. And when Kai’s foster family realized they could not meet his increasing medical needs, the Welsh family, who live in Washington County, did not hesitate. With the support of their adult children and extended family, the Welshes opened their home to Kai.
With backing from Greene County CYS, OCYF Western Regional Office and Kai’s medical team to expedite the adoption process, Kai officially became a member of the Welsh family in February 2026.
And, Kai beat the odds and celebrated his first birthday in April.
On June 18, the Welshes were recognized at the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) 34th Annual Pennsylvania Permanency Conference in Monroe County, where they received the Permanent Family Recognition Award. They were one of six families to receive the award, which recognizes families that provide legalized permanency to children with special needs in the form of adoption, kinship care, or permanent legal custodianship, as well as families who have shown a strong commitment to advocacy.
The Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) began in 1992, and since then has made nearly 60,500 adoptions in Pennsylvania possible.
Pennsylvania averages approximately 1,800 adoptions from the child welfare system each fiscal year. There are more than 11,000 Pennsylvania children served in out-of-home care every six months, and nearly 2,000 of those youth are in need of permanent homes.
The Pennsylvania Permanency Conference’s mission is to prepare children and their families for the journey toward permanency, educate and support those involved in finding permanent homes for Pennsylvania’s foster children, and provide an opportunity for children to be matched with prospective foster and adoptive families.
“Every single one of Pennsylvania’s children deserves to grow and thrive in a safe, loving environment, and parents deserve support and partnership in raising healthy, happy children,” said PA DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, thanking the staff at county agencies, foster and adoptive parents, and child welfare professionals. “I am incredibly proud of the work all of these teams do throughout the commonwealth. I ask anyone who may have a place in their heart and in their home for a child to please consider adoption so we may continue this progress.”