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Kinship
Care
1-877-816-3211
(Nota:
en poco tiempo, este sitio web estará disponible
en español)
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Are
you a family member
raising your relative's children?
You've come to the right place for help! |
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Kinship
caregivers are special people who have taken on the
responsibility of caring for their relatives’
children. These children might be the caregiver’s
siblings, nieces, nephews, or, most often, grandchildren.
The
Division of Family Development (DFD)
offers a variety of support services and financial aid
to Kinship Caregivers.
Kinship
caregivers may be eligible for monthly payments through
the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF) program, and the children under their
care may be eligible for Medicaid health insurance.
>
Click here for the Kinship
Care Contract Package
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Assistance
Available
to Caregivers |
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Kinship Navigator Program
Trained
"Navigators" in DFD are responsible for responding
to calls received on the Kinship Care Hotline to help families
navigate through various government networks to find supports
and services.
In
speaking with relative caregivers, the Navigators assess the
family's particular needs and help identify items or services
that are available and arrange for the necessary items or
services to be provided. For example, short-term assistance
such as a mortgage or rent payment, clothing, moving costs,
or legal fees may be provided. The Navigators monitor each
family's request and follow up to make sure the appropriate
services are received.
If financial assistance is needed, the Navigators will help
the family apply for financial benefits.
Support services, available through
numerous government and private agencies, include, for example:
- help
with paying child care
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referrals to grandparenting and family support groups
- help
with getting medical coverage and services
- assistance
with child support collection
- housing
assistance
- help
with paying for legal services/fees
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help to pay for furniture (for example, a bed, a computer,
computer supplies for the child)
- tutoring
services for the children in your care
- help
with paying for summer camp for the child
-
financial services
In
addition, the Navigators help administer support programs
created specifically for kinship caregivers, including cash
assistance, child care subsidies and wraparound services.
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Kinship Care- Child Care Subsidy
Program |
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This
program helps Kinship Caregivers with paying for child
care. Financial eligibility depends on the caregiver's
age, household size and the total income of the family
unit.
See
our fact
sheet on the Child Care Subsidy Program.
To
apply for the Kinship Child Care Subsidy, contact your
local Child
Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R). |
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Kinship Care- Wraparound Program |
The
Wraparound Program helps caregivers obtain essential
services or items they need that are not available through
existing programs.
For
example:
- clothing
- furniture
- moving
costs
- housing
and legal fees
- summer
camp costs
- tutoring
See
our fact
sheet on Wraparound Services |
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Kinship Care - Legal Guardianship Program |
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service assists caregivers in obtaining legal status
for the child/children in their care. For more information,
call toll-free:
Kinship Care Hotline at 1-877-816-3211
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Note:
The Kinship Navigator program administered by DFD serves children
who have no involvement with the Division of Youth and Family
Services (DYFS); DYFS also has a Kinship program.
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