What Is Kinship Care?
Across generations, extended families have consistently played crucial roles in raising children during challenging times. Recognized as Kinship Care by Child Protective Services (CPS), this practice involves relying on relatives and individuals with significant connections to the child or family. Often, these trusted relationships offer children the stability they need when living with their birth parents becomes challenging.
How Does a Child Come into Kinship Care?
In cases of abuse or neglect, DFPS may intervene by removing children from their homes to ensure immediate safety. The courts are mandated to explore temporary placements with relatives, prompting parents to provide DFPS with contact information for potential caregivers among their family members.
During the placement process, the court prioritizes the needs of the children. A Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) conference is often convened, where all involved parties recommend a specific family member or friend as the best caregiver for the child. Following this, a court-ordered placement may occur, typically after DFPS conducts a home assessment to verify its safety and appropriateness for the child. Whenever possible, CPS takes the parents’ preferences into consideration. If placement with a kin caregiver isn’t available or suitable, the child may then be temporarily housed in foster care.
What Are the Benefits of Kinship Care?
Some benefits of kinship care include:
- Offers love and nurturing within a familiar environment;
- Instills hope in parents that their children can maintain connections with their birth families;
- Allows children to reside with individuals they are familiar with and trust;
- Strengthens a child’s cultural identity and fosters positive self-esteem;
- Facilitates the establishment and maintenance of extended family bonds for the child;
- Preserves lifelong family traditions and cherished memories;
- Assists the child in developing healthy relationships within the family unit;
- Addresses the child’s crucial needs for safety and well-being;
- Establishes a sense of stability in the child’s life
Kinship Manual
This manual has essential tips and important info to ensure the child feels feel happy and safe. Whether you’re a caregiver or helping out, this manual is a guide to making a loving home. Together, let’s strengthen the bonds of kinship and foster an environment where every child thrives in the embrace of family connections.
Download or Print Manual
Kinship Pre-Screening Requirements
The Ark Child Placing Agency will pre-screen all foster parent applicants for eligibility prior to the beginning of the home study process. All foster family applications will initially submit a completed data collection form to the agency. Applications are pre-screened based on the following criteria.- Must have high school diploma or G.E.D. and provide documentation of such. If no high school diploma or G.E.D. be able to pass a agency assessment.
- Must be at least 21 years of age as indicated on the copy of the birth certificate.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent residents, or other qualified aliens as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1641 (b)
- If married, marriage license must be provide. If divorced, a divorced degree must be provided.
- Must provide income statements demonstrating ability to care for youth with verifiable income that demonstrates earnings above established federal poverty line for family size.
- Must successfully complete required agency orientation.
Kinship Home Requirements
Applications must have a home and adequate room to house a child, that allows him/her privacy and meets LICENSING STANDARDS. A bedroom must have at least 40sq feet of space for each occupant and no more than 4 occupants are permitted in one bedroom. Single occupant bedroom must have at least 80sq feet of floor of floor space. All children must have his/her own bed and place to store their belongings.- Applicants must provide utility bills to verify their address.
- Applicants must provide homeowners or rental insurances.
- Applicants must provide a floor plan of the home showing the dimensions and purpose of the home, identifying indoor area for children’s use photographs must accompany the floor plan.
- Applications must provide an approved fire inspection.
- Applications must provide an approved health inspection.
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