A Global Partnership for Healing
— · Wednesday, August 27, 2025 —
Orphan Outreach and Empowered to Connect Announce Global Partnership
Expand Empowered to Connect’s Trauma-Informed Resources Worldwide
PLANO, TEXAS – August 26, 2025 – Orphan Outreach, a ministry serving more than 26,000 vulnerable children worldwide, and Empowered to Connect (ETC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing training and resources for caregivers and professionals serving children impacted by trauma, have formed a new global strategic partnership aimed at equipping families, caregivers, churches, and child welfare professionals around the world with ETC’s proven trauma-informed training and resources.
Through this partnership, Orphan Outreach will translate, culturally adapt, and coordinate implementation of ETC’s materials in the countries where it serves, including Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Latvia, Nepal, Peru, Russia, and Ukraine. Translations of ETC’s core materials have already begun in Spanish, Latvian, and Russian, with additional languages to follow. The first international training of Orphan Outreach program professionals led by ETC will begin in September 2025, with broader rollouts planned across Latin America and Eastern Europe throughout 2026.
“This partnership allows Orphan Outreach’s global teams to equip families, professionals, churches, and government systems with practical, culturally relevant tools that strengthen connection and promote healing for vulnerable children,” said Austin South, Regional Director of Latin America for Orphan Outreach. “Empowered to Connect has a proven history of providing hope to children who have experienced deep relational harm and early adversity. This partnership will enable Orphan Outreach to utilize these transformational methods with at-risk children we serve around the world.”
Tona Ottinger, Senior Director of Programs for ETC, added, “Empowered to Connect brings a robust framework grounded in connection, neuro-research, and faith, aimed at equipping families and caregivers to provide nurture and healing. We’re thrilled to partner with Orphan Outreach to multiply impact with integrity and intention.”
About Orphan Outreach
In its nearly 20 years of serving vulnerable children, Orphan Outreach has served nearly 170,000 vulnerable children and families in its international countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Latvia, Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. In 2026, Orphan Outreach will expand its reach to provide even more vulnerable children with hope by expanding its mission in Peru. More information about Orphan Outreach can be found at www.orphanoutreach.org.
About Empowered to Connect
Empowered to Connect, based in Memphis, Tenn., is a leading nonprofit specializing in trauma-responsive and healing-centered support for caregivers, families and communities. Each year, tens of thousands of individuals engage ETC’s extensive network of resources and programs aimed to educate, equip, and empower them with strategies to support children impacted by adversity, trauma, and toxic stress. Guided by the belief that information put into practice can lead to transformation, ETC journeys alongside them to foster hope, resilience, and lasting change. For more information about Empowered To Connect, visit www.empoweredtoconnect.org.
For more information about this partnership, please contact Amy Norton, Orphan Outreach SVP of Strategic Partnerships at anorton[at]orphanoutreach.org and Tona Ottinger, Empowered to Connect Senior Director of Programs at tona[at]empoweredtoconnect.org.
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