Coming Together for Greater Impact: Aged-out Youth Finding Families Through Generations Home and Kids With Purpose International

In the last few months, Generations Home has partnered with Kids With Purpose International to bring aged-out youth into the best kind of care: family care. The goal has always been to place every child in a family.

A Partnership 7 Years In the Making

Kids With Purpose International (KWPI) was first named My Father’s House, founded in October 2000 in Metro Manila. In 2017, the name was changed to Kids With Purpose International, as another organization in the Philippines was already registered as My Father’s House. 

When Chrina and Jon Henson founded Generations Home in 2018, they connected with children’s homes and child placing agencies in Metro Manila to lock arms with them and end the orphan crisis. 

Deanna Collins, Executive Director of KWPI, joined the advisory board of Generations Home and was invaluable in shaping the way forward for the organization. KWPI had its own facility, a healthy house parent-to-child ratio, and an independent living program for its youth aging out of institutional care. 

Learn more about aging-out youth here.

Most importantly, Deanna’s guidance showed Chrina and Jon that no matter how beautiful and well-maintained a children’s institution is, family will always be the finish line for a child. 

KWPI also was in the process of de-prioritizing new intakes and dedicating their time and resources to finding a family for every child, or helping them smoothly transition into independent living. 

Independent Youth: A Transition from Children’s Home into Family Homes

The long-term strategy of the KWPI facility in the Philippines had always been to bring every child into a family. To serve and support the children in the Philippines throughout the transition, Deanna Collins established a 501C3 nonprofit in the United States, and licensed it as Kids With Purpose International. 

For greater impact, KWPI and Generations Home decided to journey together throughout the transition. Deanna approached Generations Home to support them in ensuring that every child found their right place. Kevin and Ashley Wickham, long-term consultants of the KWPI children’s home, stepped in as directors of the independent living program. 

By August 2025, the KWPI children’s home facility had a set timeline to close the orphanage doors due to the abrupt end of a long-time funding partnership.

Children under 16 were smoothly transitioned into children’s homes that could meet their specific needs and continue the process of finding families through regular adoption.

One challenge remained: the youth who were aged out. In KWPI, they were part of the residential Independent Living Program. However, due to the transition and some closed doors post-pandemic, they found themselves without a next step that would acknowledge their need for family and help them transition into independent living at the same time.

Through the support of KWPI in the United States, Generations Home responded by launching a full campaign. Family Is the Answer seminars were held for two church communities, Saddleback Sta. Rosa and Victory Alabang. Six families volunteered to journey with the youth, to mentor them and walk with them as they grew into independence. 

Within the first week, one youth was connected with a foster family. Within two weeks, 2 were connected with host or foster parents. After a month, all of the youth were connected with families.*

Leticia Acupan, one of Generations Home’s social workers, worked tirelessly with both the host families and the youth, preparing them for the transition. They talked about expectations, allowances, and what they could look forward to in the future. 

She continues to be the primary contact for both the host families and the youth, under the supervision of Generations Home and Kevin and Ashley Wickham. 

The Partnership Continues

Generations Home is currently responsible for providing the host families with community and emotional support and presence, and supervising the connections under the directorship of Kevin and Ashley Wickham. With the generous support of Deanna Collins and KWPI partners in the US, the families and the youth are provided with financial allowances and additional support as needed. 

An institution has never been the finish line. The finish line for every orphaned and abandoned child has always been a safe and loving family. Through the support of generous partners and courageous families, we are making a difference for every youth for their future families and generations to come. 

*One of the KWPI dependents has special needs, and she has since been transferred to a host family that will provide her with care while awaiting an opening at an institution equipped to care for those with disabilities and high medical needs.