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.
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.
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.
Fact sheet
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
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
Fact sheet
Federal letter to Special Education Directors on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children
November 10, 2022This 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:
- Highly mobile children should have timely and expedited evaluations and eligibility determinations.
- Comparable services include services during the summer, such as Extended School Year (ESY) services.
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.
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.
Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers
December 30, 2021Kinship 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.
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.
Recording of 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/
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.
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.