WHAT IS KINSHIP CARE?

Kinship care is the care of a child by relatives when the child's biological parents are unable or not suitable to do so.

• Relatives include a child’s step-parent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, brother-in law, sister-in-law, first cousin, second cousin, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle, step-uncle, step-aunt, or any person of a proceeding generation as denoted by the prefix of grand, great or great-great, whether by blood, marriage or legal adoption, or the spouse of any person named in this subsection, even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.

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Two Types of Kinship Care

• Voluntary kinship: arranged within the family 

• Court-ordered: need to obtain license to receive benefits

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Why?

• Basic needs of the child can be better met with the relative than with the parent

• Placement is in the best interest of the child

• Child currently or possibly meets the requirements to be in need of protection or services if the child were to remain with his or her parent(s)