Kinship Families
Checklist for Kinship Caregivers Working with the Schools
Developed by Va Department of Education’s Family Engagement Network (FEN) and Formed Families Forward, this checklist is for any kinship caregiver who is enrolling a child or youth in schools and working with schools to get appropriate services and supports.
Working with Kinship Caregivers Checklist for Schools
This checklist developed by Virginia Department of Education’s Family Engagement Network (FEN) and Formed Families Forward offers schools a checklist for school staff to use when working with relative or kinship caregivers raising children and youth.
COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide For Kinship Families and Grandfamilies
From the US Administration for Community Living and the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Group, a compilation of resources for kinship care families.
Adoption and Transfer of Legal Custody for Children in Kinship Foster Care: Comparison Chart for Virginia
From Generations United, updated in 2021.
This chart is designed to help kinship foster parents compare adoption and transfer of legal custody as two options that kin caregivers and the children in their care can pursue to exit foster care and create permanent families. In Virginia, children can exit foster care with their kin caregiver through adoption or transfer of legal custody.
The Case for Kinship Care: UMFS Kinship Care White Paper
This white paper explores current barriers, evidence for the benefits of kinship care, historical information on the foster care system, best practices and principles, and highlights the kinship work currently being done at UMFS. It addresses Virginia-specific barriers to kinship care.
GAO Report: HHS Could Enhance Support for Grandparents and Other Relative Caregivers
From July 2020, this report examines (1) what is known about the numbers of grandparents and other kin serving as primary caregivers for children, and the reasons for that care; (2) challenges kin caregivers face and how officials report addressing them in selected communities; and (3) the extent to which HHS has supported states’ efforts to use relevant federal programs and initiatives.
GAO analyzed U.S. Census Bureau survey and HHS administrative data; reviewed relevant literature, federal laws, regulations, guidance, and other documents; and interviewed officials from HHS, national organizations, and in four states (Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, and Ohio) and communities, selected for their relatively large numbers of grandparent caregivers and to reflect geographic and demographic diversity.
GAO Report
American Community Survey: Why We Ask Questions About… Grandparents as Caregivers
This brief explains questions asked on the US Census American Community Survey about grandparents as caregivers. Data from 2018 is shared.
Introducing Kinship Care Primer video
From JFS Connecting Hearts, this 25 minute video reviews the basics of kinship care in Virginia, including Family First Act implementation.
Video link
Ask An Expert: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Issues
A column from Heidi Redlich Epstein, director of Kinship Policy and director of State Projects at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law.
Legal Issues column
Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium
Funded by Va Department of Social Services, the Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium offers case management, crisis supports, training, and other services for post-adoptive families. It is a partnership between The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), enCircle, Children’s Home Society and NACAC to offer post adoption services and supports.
All families who have finalized adoptions of children ages birth through 18 years and reside in Virginia are eligible for services at no cost. This includes families that have adopted domestically, internationally and through foster care.
Consortium Flyer for families
Consortium Flyer for professionals
Website
Virginia Custody and Guardianship info from Commission on Youth
Shared in June 2020, these presentations to the Virginia Commission on Youth cover legal and technical provisions for child custody cases in Virginia as well as Guardianship, Entrustment, and Kinship Arrangements in Virginia.
Overview of Guardianship, Entrustment, and Kinship Arrangements in Virginia presentation to Commission
Legal Framework for Child Custody Cases presentation to Commission
Kinship Care: Know Your Rights as a Relative Caretaker
From Virginia Poverty Law Center, a review of kinship caregiver rights and benefits.
Engaging Families in Mental Health and Disability Services tip sheet
This one pager from the new Northern Virginia Family Network (NVFN) designed for professional staff who work with families and youth. It offers some brief, straightforward suggestions and reminders about effectively communicating and building partnerships with families who are in need of education, mental health, disability and other services and supports.
Members of the NVFN are found on the back of the flyer.
Raising and Working with Children and Youth in Foster Care or Living with Kin: Your Guide to Resources in Virginia
This Guide from Virginia Family Special Education Connection offers families and professionals links to state- and local-specific resources for enrolling students, education, medical care, mental health, transitioning students to post-secondary settings, courts, and other areas.
Website resource
Flyer
Summary of Family First Prevention Act
Signed into law in February 2018, the Family First Prevention Act reforms child welfare funding streams and focuses on prevention supports for families “at risk” of foster care, and adds supports for kinship navigation and other kinship initiatives.
Summary by First Focus Campaign for Children
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) information on who is considered “Parent” for financial aid.
If you are considered a dependent student for FAFSA® purposes, you will need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application. A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state (for example, if the parent is listed on your birth certificate). If you have a stepparent currently married to your legal parent, you generally also must provide information about him or her.
More info and how to apply
Virginia Code section regarding enrolling kinship children in school: Section § 22.1-3
Virginia Code section regarding enrolling kinship children in school: § 22.1-3. Persons to whom public schools shall be free.
Virginia Code § 22.1-3
Kinship Care and School Enrollment in Virginia, report for the Virginia Commission on Youth
Kinship Care and School Enrollment in Virginia, report for the Virginia Commission on Youth.
Power of Attorneys: Introduction, from Legal Aid Justice Service
Introduction to Powers of Attorney including answering what is a Power of Attorney, what are the benefits of executing (completing and signing) a Power of Attorney.
Instructions for Power Of Attorney including steps for the agent to perform.
Introduction to Powers of Attorney
Instructions for Power Of Attorney
Education for Immigrant Students and Children of Immigrants, from Legal Aid Justice Center
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment
The National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment, NRCDR website closed on September 29, 2017. The NRCDR website is not being maintained but resources on diligent recruitment remain available.