Celebrating Kinship Care Month

​September is a month to recognize all kinship providers who stepped into an important gap to care for children experiencing abuse and neglect. In circumstances where a child is not able to safely remain with their parent, kinship providers are the first choice for placement to minimize the trauma of removal. Kinship care is defined as a relative or non-relative adult with an existing bond to the child, who agrees to provide care to the child during a dependency and neglect case. This allows children to preserve family and community connections, making kinship providers an invaluable resource.  While kinship care is a gift to helping children cope with the challenges of removal and maintain a sense of familiarity, it also can be a difficult situation for families to be in. Kinship providers often find themselves in the middle, torn between a system working to protect the child who has been harmed, and preserving their relationship with the family member responsible for the abuse. Kinship families may also find their own life plans, safety, or privacy interrupted; or be financially strained in providing for another child. In honor of celebrating the hard work of kinship parents with consideration to the many complexities it presents, below are some ways to show your family love and support this month and always.

Include kinship families in your circle: Kinship providers may have to start over with support structures to help raise small children if their own children are now adults. Ensure that your kinship family has the connections to be able to nurture themselves and the child in their care. Include the child and family in any age appropriate activities, invite the kinship providers to be a part of parent groups or outings, or schedule creative check ins to be a listening ear.

Connect them to a support group: Ask your kinship family if they have someone in their same situation to connect with and support them through this difficult time. If not, there are many relative caregiver support groups in the area to research and suggest. Many  groups are being held virtually, giving you an opportunity to offer childcare while kinship providers attend.

Provide Respite: You often hear about all the appointments that are to be maintained in a child welfare case, and kinship providers are no exception. In fact, additional commitments may be added to their schedule as kin are often asked to help supervise or monitor visits. Ask if you can help with transportation, take the child for a couple of hours while their family gets caught up on tasks, or schedule a play date to give the caregiver a break.

​Help with the To-Do List: What is on your kinship family’s to-do list this month? What can you help check off their list so they can turn that extra time and energy towards raising a small child? Check in with your family to see if there is time or talent you can contribute that would be helpful to them. Even simple tasks or errands can be a huge relief to a family adjusting to the new family and household structure.