KIDS IMPACTED BY ADDICTION
Meet Kia
Your past does not determine your future.
Where you come from doesn't define where you're going - it's your mindset that shapes the path ahead.
Kia Delaney
Author, Wife, Mom, Mentor, and Motivational Speaker
Kia is a passionate motivational speaker, educator, and advocate who helps youth, families, and young adults impacted by addiction heal, build resilience, and become trailblazers. As a child of addicts, she understands the silent struggles many carry—the fear, the shame, the confusion—and the strength it takes to rise above them.
Through powerful storytelling, lived experience, and a deep commitment to change, Kia partners with schools, colleges, universities, conferences, community programs, and mental health organizations to create safe, empowering spaces for those affected by family addiction. Her message is honest, hopeful, and transformational, offering both connection and a path forward.
Kia holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University and is trained through the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). Her academic background and specialized recovery training enhance her ability to lead impactful programs and advocate effectively within educational, recovery, and community systems.
She is also the forthcoming author of Caring for K.I.A. (Kids Impacted by Addiction)—a deeply personal book that shares her journey growing up in the chaos of addiction. In it, Kia offers validation, guidance, and hope to others who carry similar wounds. Through her writing, speaking, and leadership, she continues her mission to break generational cycles and empower others to live boldly in their purpose.
What Does Caring For K.I.A. Offer?
Motivational Speaking
​I offer motivational speaking that inspires youth and young adults impacted by addiction, trauma, and adversity to heal, grow, and lead with purpose. Through my powerful story and lived experience, I help young people find strength, build resilience, and break generational cycles. My talks create safe, empowering spaces that spark transformation and long-term healing. I also provide professional development for educators, counselors, and community leaders—equipping them with tools to better understand, support, and empower the students they serve.
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​​​Through my lens as a child of addicts and an experienced educator, I lead professional development trainings that help school staff understand the hidden impact of addiction, trauma, and adversity on student behavior and learning. These sessions provide tools for creating trauma-informed classrooms, building stronger relationships with students, and fostering environments where healing and academic success can thrive. My goal is to equip educators to see beyond the surface and respond with empathy, strategy, and purpose.
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Breaking Cycles, Building Futures
A healing-centered group experience for youth and young adults impacted by addiction, trauma, or adversity. Participants are placed in age-appropriate groups to ensure safety, relevance, and connection. This session provides a brave space for reflection, empowerment, and personal growth, encouraging participants to explore how their past has shaped them and how they can break generational cycles, build resilience, and step into leadership. Participants will leave with tools for emotional healing, goal-setting strategies, and a renewed sense of purpose and confidence.