United States Office of Personnel Management and link to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Handbook . .” and that States should aim to place the child with “a member of the Indian child’s extended family. A number of grandparents and other relatives care for children whose own parents are unable to care for them. . Guide for parenting a second generation of children with practical solutions to real-life problems. A comprehensive resource, advice, and information guide for all grandparents with a chapter on grandparents as parents. Po, Lenora Madison. Placement Decision Making 1. (1996). BookPartners, Inc. Tool kit of information and support for grandparents. This reflects a strong Scottish Government policy objective to identify family and friends as a first option for a home when a child can no longer live with their parents and requires alternative care. The physical removal of the child from his or her home resulted from a voluntary placement agreement or a court determination that continuing in the home was contrary to the welfare of the child, and reasonable efforts had been made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal. This is one reason kinship care has become the preferred placement option for foster children. (December 18, 1998). 2). Grandparents' Guide - Helping to Raise Your Children's Children. Purpose The purpose of this document is to provide policy and procedural guidance to staff in relation to the placement of children with their relatives and friends. 680.86Kb), Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe KINSHIP CARE PROCEDURES 2013 4 For the purpose of this policy kinship care is defined as the full time nurturing and protection of children (living apart from their birth families) by their relatives or friends who have a significant relationship with the child and their family. Kinship Care: Policy. First, they could apply for assistance for themselves and for the children just like any other needy family. (1998). Rising divorce rates, teenage pregnancy, child abuse or abandonment, and parental substance abuse, health problems, death, or incarceration are some of the factors linked to this trend. Caregiver grandparents provide daily care with a focus on helping the child's parent. Kinship and Foster Care Workgroup Data Exploration (1-24-20) Kinship and Foster Care Workgroup Policy Exploration (2-14-20) Kinship and Foster Care Workgroup Services Exploration (2-28-20) Kinship and Foster Care Workgroup Practice & Training Exploration (10-26-20) Kinship and Foster Care Workgroup Recommendation Synthesis (11-19-20) Kinship care refers to all living arrangements in which children are cared for by relatives and nei- ther of the children’s parents live in the home.1 Often, this definition also includes those who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption, but have an established relationship (“kinship”) with the child. • In-home care.With this type of child care, someone comes to the grandparent’s or other relative’s home to care for their children. Brown. Factors that account for the increase in grandparents and other relatives raising children: death of a parent, child abuse and/or neglect, abandonment, teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, medical problems including HIV/AIDS and mental health problems, unemployment, incarceration, divorce, family violence, and poverty. Routledge. The resulting financial inequity between payments to kin and non-kin foster parents gave rise to a class action suit against the State of Illinois that dramatically affected payment policies to public kinship caregivers. The primary issue was whether Congress intended relatives to be paid the same foster care maintenance payments as non-kin caregivers. Grandparent Power: How to Strengthen the Vital Connection Among Grandparents, Parents, and Children. United States Department of Commerce. . Relatives Raising Children: An Overview of Kinship Care. home. Briefly describe why Kinship Care is important to you. As the number and proportion of children in out-of-home care placed in the homes of relatives continue to grow, child welfare agencies have been making efforts to ensure that children are placed with relatives. Studio 4 Productions. Kinship care may be formal and involve a training and licensure process for the caregivers, monthly payments to help defray the costs of caring for the child, and support services. AARP Grandparent Information Center (support group referrals, publications, and information)601 E Street, NWWashington, DC 20049202-434-2296, The Brookdale Foundation126 East 56th Street, 10th FloorNew York, NY 10022212-308-7355, Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)440 First Street, NWWashington, DC 20001202-638-2952, Generations United440 First Street, NW, Suite 310Washington, DC 20001202-662-4283, National Aging Information CenterAdministration on Aging330 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 4656Washington, DC 20201202-619-0724, United States Department of Health and Human ServicesAdministration for Children and FamiliesOffice of Child Support Enforcement370 L'Enfant PromenadeWashington, DC 20447. Most kinship carers are related to the children they look after, and the majority are grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings or other family members. Our programs help support these very special families and their potential to provide a positive alternative to traditional foster care. Between 1990 and 1998, the number of these families increased by 53 percent. If States provided assistance to kin caregivers, they did so through income assistance programs, thus effectively keeping them out of the child welfare services and payment systems. New Society Publishers, Limited. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). ISBN: 1577490266, Fay, J. To Grandmother's House We Go and Stay: Perspectives on Custodial Grandparents. (Ed.). Second Time Around: Help for Grandparents Who Raise Their Children's Kids. The first major Federal policy affecting kin was a 1950 Social Security Act amendment that offered eligible relatives two ways to receive AFDC assistance for children in their care. The organization's monthly newsletter provides a summary of state/national legislation and programs pertaining to the health, education, and welfare of children in kinship care … In some cases it may be necessary to request the court’s assistance to persuade a family to identify appropriate relatives. ISBN: 0878686681 Available for $12.95 from CWLA c/o PMDS, 9050 Junction Drive, PO Box 2019, Annapolis Junction, MD, 20701-2019, or by telephone at 800-407-6273 or email: cwla@pmds.com. Kinship care also may be informal and involve only an assessment process to ensure the safety and suitability of the home along with supportive services for the child and caregivers. Benefits Administration Letter Number 98-209, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance: Public Law 105-3111 - Foster Children and Miscellaneous Updates. Washington, DC: Bryson, K. & Casper, L. M. Retrieved March 30, 2000. The child's parent may or may not live in the home. At the same time, though, the Federal Government defined relatives narrowly, allowing only persons closely related to the child to be considered eligible for Federal financial assistance (that is, grandparents, aunts, or uncles but not distant relatives). There are many ways to provide support to employees at minimal cost, such as providing information and resources; offering counseling; establishing a workplace support group; and sponsoring special events. All aspects of grandparenting with a section on grandparents raising grandchildren covered with resources in appendix and extensive bibliography. Grandmothers As Caregivers: Raising the Children of the Crack Cocaine Epidemic (Family Caregiver Applications Series, Vol. ISBN: 1572300305, Doucette-Dudman, D. & Lacure, J. R. (1997). (pdf, This definition is designed to be inclusive and respectful of cultural values and ties of affection. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the NYS Navigator Testimony at the 2015 Human Services Joint Legislative Hearing. Reader®, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Room 415F, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Council on Vital and Health Statistics, Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF), Public Health Emergency Declaration – PRA Waivers, Social Determinants of Health and Medicare’s Value-Based Purchasing Programs, On Their Own Terms: Supporting Kinship Care Outside of TANF and Foster Care, Children in Nonparental Care: A Review of the Literature and Analysis of Data Gaps, Prisoners and Families: Parenting Issues During Incarceration, Children in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Child-Only Cases with Relative Caregivers, download the latest version of the A support group provides a means of addressing many of these issues in a small group setting where personal information will be kept confidential. In 1973, these caregivers sued the State for refusing to provide them with a foster care payment. You are not alone. Increasingly in California, child welfare professionals are recognizing the importance of formal foster care … In allowing relatives to apply as private kin caregivers for income assistance for the children in their care, the Social Security Act treated relatives as an extension of the nuclear family. Woodworth, R. S., Dabelko, H., & Hollidge, M. (1998). Grandparents as Parents: A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America, Inc. Comprehensive guide for professionals. For further information about the availability of KSSP in your area, contact the California Kinship Navigator Program at (800) 546-0047, or go to California Kinship and select your county to find out contact information or other supports and resources. Policy The policy section aims to provide you with practical information and guidance that you need to navigate the complex policy landscape for kinship care. Rising divorce rates, teenage pregnancy, child abuse or abandonment, and parental substance abuse, health problems, death, or incarceration are some of the factors linked to this trend. The benefits to the employees' families, as a result of the information and support they receive through work/life programs, can also be significant. Takas, M. (1998). United States Office of Personnel Management and Link to Benefits Administration Letter. Contemporary Grandparenting. The child is able to maintain cultural and ethnic ties and identity. A support group for grandparents or other relatives raising children can be an effective way of disseminating information, sharing resources, and providing support. A Volcano in My Tummy - Helping Children to Handle Anger. "full.pdf" Summary . Woodworth, R. S. (1997). Also, some child welfare officials believed that abusive parents were the product of dysfunctional families and that placing children in the care of relatives would not ensure the children’s safety. The stress of caring for young children, accompanied by their own health difficulties, can be overwhelming for many older grandparents and relatives, resulting in a variety of stress-related illnesses. Many other books on the general topic of grandparenting are also available. This book is included in the resource kit listed below. Please DO NOT use this form to report child or adult abuse or neglect.. Non-emergency reports of abuse or neglect can be made by calling the statewide, 24/7 abuse/neglect hotline at 1-888-CARE-4-US (1-888-227-3487) or by reporting online here . Kinship care allows the child to remain within the protective and supporting arms of the extended family and can substantially lessen the degree of this trauma. Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children: Challenges of Caring for the Second Family, (Fact Sheet). It is a wonderful guide for relatives raising children. Harden, A. W., Clark, R. L., & Maguire, K. (1997). Under the Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009, a kinship carer is defined as "a person who is related to the child (through blood, marriage or civil partnership) or a person with whom the child has a pre-existing relationship". Retrieved March 30, 2000. In large part, this was due to child welfare services’ focus on the nuclear family and emphasis on ensuring that children lived safely with their biological parents. Federal financial assistance is available to States if a child in care meets the following requirements: Source: Section 472 of the Social Security Act. You can order it from the Brookdale Foundation Group, 126 East 56th Street, New York, NY, 10022, or by telephone at 212-308-7355 for $4.00 to cover the cost of shipping. Relatives Raising Children. ISBN: 0415919487. The law stated that in Native American placements, a child should be “within reasonable proximity to his or her home . .” Second, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 mandated that when placing children in foster care, States should find the “least restrictive, most family-like setting available located in close proximity to the parent’s home, consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child.”15 Many States interpreted this act as an unstated preference for the use of kin as foster caregivers, and several States began to enact laws that explicitly preferred kin. The number of children who are living with a grandparent or other relative has increased dramatically in the past two decades. Guilford Press. Federal support for kinship care families is guided by both income assistance and child welfare policies. Sage Publications, Inc. A resource for professionals. This Act establishes that the Department may approve either “Kinship Care” or “Fictive Kin” as a best interest of the child placement, and an alternative to entering into the Foster Care system when circumstances necessitate out … This compilation of resource materials includes background information to help understand this phenomenon, and information about organizations that support grandparents and other relatives raising children; publications; videotapes; support groups; talking points for preparing proposals and speeches; related websites; and work/life programs in the Federal Government. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To Grandma's House We--Stay: When You Have to Stop Spoiling Your Grandchildren and Start Raising Them. A Program for Grandparent Caregivers. Sage Publications. Around the same time, Congress passed two laws that played a key role in altering States’ use of kin as foster parents. First, through the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, Federal policy acknowledged the beneficial role that kin can play for Indian children. Therefore, a child could be an independent assistance unit—an option not usually possible when children resided with a parent.14. While Federal income assistance policy has specifically articulated the public support available to kin caregivers, Federal child welfare policy and guidance have been vague, allowing States latitude in determining when and how to support kin caring for children who have been abused or neglected. Services and support when raising a relative’s child can be a lifesaver. In Children of Incarcerated Parents (Chapter 16). More than 5 percent of all children in the United States live in such arrangements. More than 5 percent of all children in the United States live in such arrangements. The benefits of family care are recognized and are among the forces that have led to a growing use of kinship care. (1997). The Essential Grandparent: A Guide for Making a Difference. Discussion of social, legal and emotional issues of grandparents with stories of real families. Humphrey, J. H. (1998). Grandparenting With Love and Logic: Practical Solutions to Today's Grandparenting Challenges. Because they were not legally bound, these relatives were not considered part of the “assistance unit” of the child for purposes of AFDC eligibility. Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: A Handbook for Enrollees and Employing Offices. Kinship care is when a child who cannot live with their birth parents is looked after by extended family members or others with whom they have a relationship. Sometimes, the arrangement (referred to as "kinship care") is an informal, private arrangement between the parents and relative caregivers; in other situations, the local child welfare agency is involved. ISBN: 0944634060, Gabel, K. & Johnston, D. (1997). ISBN: 0878686843, De Toledo, S. & Brown, D. E. (1995). Some of the issues that these caregivers may be coping with include: financial difficulties, legal issues, a child's exposure to potentially harmful and high-risk behaviors, their own or a child's health problems, lifestyle issues, distance from social resources, isolation from other family members, and trauma that precipitated their role as a caregiver. There are different types of kinship care - formal or informal. Retrieved March 30, 2000. Springer Publishing Co. Comprehensive treatment of issues of custodial parents by experts for professionals. Throughout the early development of the Federal foster care system, child welfare policies ignored the role of kin caregivers. WIC 11378(b) mandates that at the time of the annual re-determination of the state funded Kin-GAP benefits, the county must determine whether the child was receiving Federal AFDC-FC payments prior to receiving Kin-GAP, while a dependent child or ward of the juvenile court. ISBN#0963399209, Pudney, W. & Whitehouse, E. (1996). Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. Stories, games, and exercises to help 6 to 15 year olds handle their anger. The Federal Government recognizes the vital role many of their employees play in the lives of their grandchildren or … Kinship Care. (1998). However, opting for less permanent, or informal, arrangements may limit their rights as the child's primary caregiver. Information about existing support groups for grandparents raising grandchildren is available from the AARP Grandparent Information Center at 202-434-2296, or local human service agencies. (1999). One way to categorize grandparent caregivers is by the type of care they provide. A comprehensive reference book for grandparents and professionals. Reader®. For a free copy, contact the Consumer Information Center at 719-948-4000, and ask for Item 606. Federal Kinship CARE Policy. The benefits to organizations of offering such programs are improved morale, work performance, and retention; and decreased tardiness and absenteeism. Kin caregivers can provide continuity and connectedness for children who cannot remain with their parents. Over 2 million children in the United States are being raised solely by their grandparents or other relatives. All provide an opportunity for children to feel loved and cared for by people with whom they already have a connection. Child Welfare League of America. Kinship Foster Care: Policy, Practice, and Research Rebecca L. Hegar and Maria Scannapieco Abstract. Those children determined to h… A Grandparents' Guide for Family Nurturing & Safety. Grandparents face unusual problems in raising grandchildren. Retrieved March 30, 2000. This is one reason kinship care has become the … Washington, DC: ZERO TO THREE: National Center For Infants, Toddlers and Families. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). Its mission is to provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment to children in the care of relatives or close family friends—formally called kinship care. Second, they could receive payment for only the child or children in their care. ISBN: 0826112862, Crumbley, J. ISBN: 1581510217, Carson, L. (1996). The financial, legal, and emotional issues of raising a relative’s child can be challenging. For Additional Information: Foster Caregiver Policy and Support Unit 744 P Street, MS 8-13-78 Having the child care provider in the kinship caregiver’s own home gives Helping Children Manage Stress: A Guide for Adults. The number of children in households maintained by grandparents with their mothers increased 118 percent from 1970 to 1997. Raising Our Children's Children. The number of children who are living with a grandparent or other relative has increased dramatically in the past two decades. Policy Framework • … Federal support for kinship care families is guided by both income assistance and child welfare policies. These child-only payments were available to relatives because Federal legislation recognized that some caregivers were not legally required to support a child. (1999). Washington, DC: Dr. T. B. Brazelton & A. 1. A Second Chance, Inc., provides a full range of kinship foster care, adoptive, and support services for kinship care families. Are you a grandparent or other family member raising a relative’s child? It is the purpose and policy of the party states to cooperate with each other in the interstate placement of children to the end that: (a) Each child requiring placement shall receive the maximum opportunity to be placed in a The Beatitudes Center for Developing Older Adults Resources. Custodial kinship care refers to public kinship care of children who are in the custody of the State child welfare system, and non-custodial kinship care encompasses care of children who are not in State custody but are somehow involved with or known to the child welfare agency. Custodial grandparents have legal custody of their grandchildren and provide daily care and decision making. ISBN: 0029110424, Hanks, R. (1997). Fairview Press. In the late 1970s and 1980s, as more children in need of foster parents entered the child welfare system, States began to consider kin a viable option. The child’s placement and care are the responsibility of the State agency. (1999). Kleiner, H. S. & Hertzog, J. They also had to decide if and how kin would be compensated financially. Family Programs Office: Statewide Policy Manual Subject: Kinship Care caseworkers will ask children with whom they feel safe, and who cares for them other than their parents. Boksay, I. Appropriate for grandparents and professionals. It allows a child to grow to adulthood in a family environment. The Kinship Care and Fictive Kin Reform Act. General guide, available at no cost from The Beatitudes Center for Developing Older Adults Resources, 555 W. Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AR, 85021-8799, 602-274-5022 or Blue Cross/Blue Shield at 602-864-4276. New York State – Child Welfare Costs and Kinship Services. Definition: "Kinship care is the full time care, nurturing and protection of children by relatives, members of their tribes or clans, godparents, stepparents, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child. The OPM publication, Establishing A Work-Site Parenting Support Group, will give you all the information you need to set up a support group in your agency. IN SUPPORT OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR KINSHIP CAREGIVERS. Interactive format in a general grandparenting book for the baby boomer generation. In the 1979 landmark decision of this case, Miller v. Youakim, the Supreme Court determined that, at least for relatives who are caring for title IV-E-eligible children (see Figure 1), States are obligated to make the same foster care maintenance payments to kin as they make to non-kin foster parents, and States are entitled to Federal reimbursement for a portion of those payments.17 In contrast, States have discretion in determining how to compensate kin caring for non-IV-E-eligible children and kin who do not meet certain State licensing requirements. They may be faced with legal, financial, child care, and emotional issues that seem overwhelming when faced alone. Grandparents Acting As Parents. Westheimer, R. K. & Kaplan, S. (1998). News-Star Online. Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 & Parts; Kinship Care Allowances; Wellbeing; Support. ISBN: 0517598051, Kornhaber, A. Crown Publishing Group. The Federal Government recognizes the vital role many of their employees play in the lives of their grandchildren or other relatives when they assume the role of parent to these children. Kinship care, also called connected persons or family and friends care, is where children are looked after by people they already know. The number of households with fathers present increased 217 percent from 1970 to 1997. of each type of child care to make sure the kinship caregiver finds the right one for his or her family. ISBN: 1558743979, Cox, C. B. (1998, January 15). There has been a significant increase in the numbers of looked after children in kinship care placements over the last ten years. A discussion of the many issues facing grandparents responsible for raising their grandchildren because of parental addiction. Formal, licensed kinship caregivers receive a foster care stipend, in addition to child care costs, medical and dental costs for children in their care, clothing vouchers, and liability plans.20In contrast, aside from a child’s Medicaid or CHIP coverage, the only resources available to unlicensed kin are typically the TANF Child-Only Grant and locally funded programs.21 Especially for minority communities, these definitions did not always match the kin and community definitions used in their families. ISBN: 0803948476, Poe, L. M. (1992). The kinship care provider, who is an approved foster parent, may be able to adopt the child if the court terminates the rights of the child’s parents and approves the goal of adoption. Kinship care is when a child is looked after by their extended family or close friends if they cannot remain with their birth parents. Additionally, if you are using assistive technology and would like to be notified of items via alert boxes, please, This website uses features which update page content based on user actions. Generations United. . In 1998, there were 888,000 grandparent-headed families without parents present: 19 percent included both grandparents, 14 percent included grandmothers only, and six percent included grandfathers only.