At the Coalition we hear from relative caregivers every week. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings call us to inquire about supports around raising their relative children. These kin are truly the “village” for children who are being cared for outside their parents’ homes.
The benefits of kinship care are now well-known:
- It maintains bonds
- It reduces trauma
- It gives kids a sense of belonging
- There’s a consistent thread of family culture
- It helps children form their identity
- It increases the potential for reunification with parents
The national Children’s Bureau shines a light on foster care each year in May. This year’s theme is focused on how kin connections keep families strong. We know that relative caregivers need to be prioritized when children must be placed. Relative caregivers in turn need supports in working with the parents and in getting the resources they need in their new roles.
“From family finding to financial assistance, these efforts are critical for families in need, and we should be informed on what is available so that we may connect families to them,” according to Aiyesha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau. Focusing on relative caregivers is how we move foster care toward a system of truly supporting families.
Check out the resources below and connect with us at the Coalition!
Recommended Resources
Coalition Event
Coalition Resource
Tip Sheets
- Getting Started as a Relative or Kinship Caregiver
- Navigating Relationships as a Relative Caregiver
- The Emotional Journey of Relative Caregiving
- Is Adoption or Guardianship a Better Fit?
From the Lending Library
- Fostering Across Wisconsin Newsletter: Relatives Caring for Children
From the Champion Classrooms
Additional Resources
