Exploring Kinship Programs: How Relatives Can Step In to Support Kids

It’s a quiet crisis happening in neighborhoods across America. A child’s life is suddenly turned upside down—maybe a parent is struggling with addiction, facing incarceration, or dealing with a mental health issue. Maybe there's been a tragedy. And just like that, grandma becomes “mom,” or an aunt becomes the safe place to land. In some cases, a neighbor or close family friend steps in to care for a child they love like their own.

According to Generations United, as of 2024, over 2.5 million children in the United States are living in kinship care—being raised by relatives or close family friends instead of their parents. These are the often-unseen heroes keeping families together when the system threatens to pull them apart.

The act of stepping in isn’t always easy, and the road is rarely smooth. But thanks to growing awareness and expanding kinship programs, caregivers no longer have to walk that road alone.

What Are Kinship Programs?

Kinship care refers to a caregiving arrangement where children live with relatives or close family friends, rather than in traditional foster care settings. These arrangements can be either formal (through child welfare agencies and legal processes) or informal (arranged privately within families without court involvement).

Kinship programs are services and resources offered by many adoption support centers and are designed to support caregivers and the children in their care. They exist to bridge the gap between love and logistics—offering guidance, financial assistance, emotional support, legal advice, and access to education and healthcare.

What makes kinship care so powerful is its ability to provide children with stability, connection, and identity during an incredibly uncertain time. Being able to stay with a family member or someone they already know and trust can significantly reduce the trauma that often accompanies removal from the home.

Why Do Kinship Care Arrangements Happen?

The reasons children end up in kinship care are complex and often heartbreaking. Some of the most common include:

• Substance abuse or addiction issues that impair a parent’s ability to care for their child

• Incarceration of one or both parents

• Mental illness or untreated psychiatric conditions

• Domestic violence in the home

• Neglect or abuse

• Death of a parent or caregiver

• Poverty and housing insecurity

Sometimes, parents voluntarily ask a relative to care for their children temporarily. Other times, child welfare services may remove a child from their home, and a family member is asked to step in instead of placing them with strangers in foster care. Either way, kinship care often provides a gentler and more familiar environment during a time of crisis.

Who Can Get Help from Kinship Programs?

Kinship support is designed to help both the caregivers and the children they’re raising. Whether you're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, older sibling, or even a close friend of the family, you may qualify for assistance through a kinship program—especially if you're the primary caregiver and the arrangement is ongoing.

Even informal caregivers, those who haven’t gone through legal channels, are often eligible for support services. Some programs are administered by state and local governments, while others are run by nonprofits like the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).

Here’s a breakdown of the types of help available:

1. Financial Assistance

Raising a child comes with costs—food, clothing, school supplies, transportation, and more. Kinship caregivers may qualify for:

• Monthly kinship stipends (in some states)

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

• Kinship Guardianship Assistance Programs (KinGAP)

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

2. Legal Help

Understanding legal rights can be overwhelming. Programs often provide:

• Assistance with custody, guardianship, or adoption

• Help to navigate family court

• Legal clinics or referrals to low-cost attorneys

3. Health and Mental Health Services

Caregivers and children can access:

• Medicaid enrollment

• Therapy and counseling services

• Behavioral health support for children experiencing trauma

4. Educational Support

Staying on track academically is key for children in transition. Support includes:

• Help with school enrollment and transportation

• Special education services

• Tutoring or mentoring programs

5. Training and Counseling for Caregivers

Being thrust into a parenting role later in life—or unexpectedly—can be overwhelming. Many programs offer:

• Parenting classes

• Peer support groups

• Foster care training

How Relatives and Neighbors Can Step In to Offer Support

The love may come naturally, but kinship caregiving takes more than just good intentions—it often takes a village. While many kin caregivers are blood relatives, non-relatives such as neighbors, godparents, or longtime family friends (often called “fictive kin”) can also play life-changing roles.

Here are more ways extended family and community members can offer real, meaningful support:

1. Be a Daily Support System

Even if you’re not the primary caregiver, helping with daily responsibilities can make a huge difference. This could mean:

• Picking the kids up from school

• Driving them to doctor’s appointments

• Helping with homework or bedtime routines

• Preparing meals or providing groceries

2. Help Kids Stay Connected to Their Roots

Children in kinship care may struggle with identity and loss. Help them stay connected by:

• Sharing family stories and traditions

• Helping them maintain relationships with siblings or extended family

• Making photo albums or memory boxes to preserve their history

3. Offer Emotional Support

Caregiving can be isolating. Offer a listening ear to the kinship parent. Ask how they’re doing—not just the kids. Suggest joining a local support group or even going together.

4. Step Up During Emergencies

If a caregiver falls ill, needs surgery, or faces burnout, having someone on standby for backup care is invaluable. Be the person they can call when something unexpected happens.

5. Connect Them to Resources

Sometimes, the hardest part is just knowing what’s available. If you come across programs, scholarships, financial aid, or counseling services, share the information. You might be the lifeline someone didn’t know they needed.

6. Celebrate Milestones

Don’t underestimate the power of showing up for birthdays, school plays, or graduations. Celebrating small wins and big moments helps children feel seen, loved, and supported—even in challenging times.

Looking for Reliable Kinship Programs in Virginia? C.A.S.E. Brings You the Best Care and Support!

If you’re navigating kinship care in Virginia, the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) offers trusted, trauma-informed support. With counseling, caregiver training, adoption guidance, and kinship-specific services, C.A.S.E. helps families build stability and resilience. Whether you’re just stepping in or already deep in the journey, they’re ready to walk beside you. Learn more or schedule a consultation at adoptionsupport.org. Contact C.A.S.E. today!