With September being National Kinship Care Month, we want to recognize and thank child welfare workers who work tirelessly to find and build bridges for successful family connections. We also want to acknowledge and celebrate all family members or fictive kin who take responsibility for a child and play a vital role in supporting a child in care.
It takes a whole community to support kinship care. To honor it, we’re sharing resources and shining the spotlight on national, state, and local organizations doing amazing work to support kinship caregivers.
National Organizations and Resources to Support Family Caregivers
On a national level, there is consensus and growing support for family caregivers. Just last week, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) delivered to Congress a progress report on federal implementation of the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. Their strategy includes focus on a child welfare system that recognizes kin and grandparent-led families.
Additional resources include:
- ACL announcement and blogs celebrating Grandparents Day and Kinship Care Month (September 2024)
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and ACL joint letter supporting grandparents and kinship caregivers (July 2024)
- ACF final rule allowing separate foster care licensing standards for kin
- Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, which developed the first-ever National Technical Assistance Center for those who serve kinship and grandfamilies
- Child Welfare Information Gateway’s September 2024 issue of Children’s Bureau Express, which spotlights Kinship Care Month and includes blogs, state-by-state analysis, and tools for caregivers
- American Bar Association’s article on how kinship care is better for children and families
Ohio Kinship Care Organizations and Resources: Help in Our Home State
- Kinnect is an Ohio-based nonprofit that works to build and strengthen kinship connections and inclusive support networks for families, young people, and children. Their goal is to prevent entry into the child welfare system and reduce the time children spend in it. Beneficial resources from Kinnect include their 2024-2027 strategic plan and the Casey Family Programs 2024 Signature Report.
- Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) builds public value for safe children, stable families, and supportive communities. For Kinship Care Month, PCSAO compiled the following resources:
On September 1, 2024, Governor DeWine issued a proclamation declaring September to be Grandparent/Kinship Month, showing his support and emphasizing the state’s support for this critical issue.
The Ohio Kinship & Adoption (OhioKAN) Navigator is a free service for Ohio’s kinship and adoptive families, with OhioKAN Navigators available to talk one to one. Call 1-844-OHIOKAN (1-844-644-6526) Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm.
- The Ohio Grandparent/Kinship Coalition developed a flyer to help individuals campaign for changes for kinship families and updated its YouTube channel showcasing the real stories of kinship caregivers.
- The Ohio Family Care Association serves as the statewide voice for the thousands of adoptive, foster, kinship, and primary families caring for children impacted by Ohio’s child protection system. Their mission is centered on connecting, empowering, and serving families through advocacy, education, and support.
- It Takes 100% Heart provides informational resources for kin caregivers.
- The Kinship Support Program provided by Ohio Legal Help is another resource for anyone considering or involved in kinship care, to understand the basics and what a caregiver may qualify for financially.
Highlighting Kinship Caregiver Resources in Other States
- Pennsylvania: Read about how Allegheny County advanced a kin-first approach.
- California: Review a California Department of Social Services Investments in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support presentation sharing statistics, a framework, and goals related to the importance of a first placement with a relative.
- North Carolina: In November 2023, North Carolina implemented an Unlicensed Kinship Payment Program to help support kinship placements.
- Colorado: In September 2023, the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) hosted a kickoff event for the new Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program.
- Minnesota: Foster Adopt Minnesota developed their own Kinship Navigation Tool to give kinship caregivers unlimited access to information and answers to frequently asked questions.
- Wisconsin: Milwaukee’s Kinship Care Program highlights the two types of kinship care and the eligibility requirements
- Arizona: In 2022, Arizona passed legislation to significantly increase the monthly stipend paid to grandparents and close relatives. The rate went from $75 per month to $300 per month. Additionally, the Arizona Department of Child Safety has several resources for kinship foster caregivers.
