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.

  • Worksheet, Checklist for Kinship Caregivers Working with the Schools

    Checklist for kinship caregivers in PDF

  • Website, Checklist for Kinship Caregivers Working with the Schools

    web link to Checklists


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.

  • Worksheet, Working with Kinship Caregivers Checklist for Schools

    School checklist for Working with Caregivers in PDF

  • Website, Working with Kinship Caregivers Checklist for Schools

    web link to Checklists


Taking Care of a Grandchild guide from Va DARS

From the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, this guide offers Virginia-specific guidance and links to services and supports for kinship care families.

  • Guide, Taking Care of a Grandchild guide from Va DARS


Kinship Respite Program from Va DARS
February 01, 2024

A program of the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS):

As of February 2024, this program is available to kinship/relative caregivers.

The Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher Program (VLRVP) provides reimbursement vouchers to Virginia caregivers for the cost of temporary, short-term respite care provided to individuals of any age, with a documented disability or medical condition.

The goal of this program is to increase access and reduce barriers to respite care, as well as enhance education and awareness about respite care. Respite funding is limited to $595.00 per family through June 30, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. This program prohibits the use of these funds for rent, cleaning, medical supplies, food, or other household expenditures. Due to its limited funding, not all eligible applicants will be approved.

  • Website, Kinship Respite Program from Va DARS

    Virginia Lifespan Respite Voucher program DARS webpage

  • PDF, Kinship Respite Program from Va DARS

    Fillable applications for the Lifespan Respite Voucher Program

  • PDF, Kinship Respite Program from Va DARS

    Voucher Program Flyer Feb 2024


Kinship Care Guide from Virginia DSS

From the Virginia Department of Social Services, this guide overviews options for relatives and close family friends of children in foster care. Legal and financial implications of each option are reviewed. Includes links to other kinship care resources.

  • Guide, Kinship Care Guide from Virginia DSS


2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

From the US Administration for Community Living, Health and Human Services, this 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers was created to support family caregivers of all ages, from youth to grandparents, and regardless of where they live or what caregiving looks like for them and their loved ones.

The strategy was developed jointly by the advisory councils created by the RAISE Family Caregiving Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, with extensive input from the public, including family caregivers and the people they support. It will be updated in response to public comments and will evolve with the caregiving landscape.

  • Website, 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers

    Link to Caregiver Strategy and related documents


Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies

This January 2023 resource from Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network:  A National Technical Assistance Center at Generations United covers some areas of educational access for kinship families.

  • Factsheet, Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies

    Fact sheet

  • Website, Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies


Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System fact sheet

From the National Child Welfare Information Gateway at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, this fact sheet is designed to help kin caregivers—including grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, and other relatives as well as family friends caring for children— work effectively with the child welfare system.

It also includes resources, such as links to more detailed information or places to find support, to help you learn about and navigate the child welfare system.

May 2022

  • PDF, Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System fact sheet

    Fact sheet


Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies fact sheet

From the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network:  A National Technical Assistance Center, this fact sheet address a number of key issues kinship caregivers face when support their kin in school.

Education is high on the to-do lists of kin and grandfamily caregivers. Accessing educational services for children in their care can be difficult. Frequently, kin/grandfamily caregivers lack legal custody of the children and/or are unfamiliar with the local education system. This resource is designed to help direct-service professionals assist caregivers in ensuring the children they raise have the educational experiences needed to thrive.

 

January 2023

  • PDF, Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies fact sheet

    Fact sheet


Federal letter to Special Education Directors on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children
November 10, 2022

This federal letter from the US Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services issued 11/10/22 to State Special Education Directors clarifies requirements for highly mobile children and youth such as military-connected children, migratory children, children who are homeless, and children in the foster care system.

Specific issues addressed are:

  1. Highly mobile children should have timely and expedited evaluations and eligibility determinations.
  2. Comparable services include services during the summer, such as Extended School Year (ESY) services.
  • PDF, Federal letter to Special Education Directors on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children


Foster Care, Special Education, and Learning and Thinking Differences: What You Need to Know

This brief article from Understood.org overviews some education issues specific to children and youth in foster care to foster/resource parents.

  • Document, Foster Care, Special Education, and Learning and Thinking Differences: What You Need to Know


Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers
December 30, 2021

Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers was developed in partnership with the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Children’s Defense Fund, and Generations United, with support from Casey Family Programs. The publication provides a broad, national overview of choices that may be available to caregivers, along with related considerations, to help caregivers make more informed decisions about pathways to pursue.

  • PDF, Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers

    Report


How to Care for You: Self Care and Kinship webinar

Presented live on January 14, 2022, this webinar hosted by FFF features Monique Lilakos, DSW, LCSW, of Higher Purpose Coaching and Mentoring, LLC. Dr. Lilakos presented on challenges faced by kinship caregivers, how self care can support resilience, and offered specific self care techniques.

  • Webinar, How to Care for You: Self Care and Kinship webinar

    Recording of webinar

  • PDF, How to Care for You: Self Care and Kinship webinar

    Webinar presentation slides


Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: National TA Center

Generations United operates the first National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families (NTAC), funded through a five-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL).

Contact Generations United directly for more information. https://www.gu.org/projects/ntac-on-grandfamilies-and-kinship-families/

  • Website, Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: National TA Center

    Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center


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.

  • Factsheet, COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide For Kinship Families and Grandfamilies


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.

  • PDF, Adoption and Transfer of Legal Custody for Children in Kinship Foster Care: Comparison Chart for Virginia


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.

  • Report, The Case for Kinship Care: UMFS Kinship Care White Paper


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.

  • Report, GAO Report: HHS Could Enhance Support for Grandparents and Other Relative Caregivers

    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.

  • Website, American Community Survey: Why We Ask Questions About… Grandparents as Caregivers


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, Introducing Kinship Care Primer video

    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.

  • Website, Ask An Expert: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Family Issues

    Legal Issues column