Supporting kin caregivers outside the foster care system

Family members — grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents — have long stepped in to care for children when parents are having a tough time. Most children who live with kin are not in the foster care system and therefore less likely to receive government support, yet the needs of these “informal” or “independent” kin caregivers look very similar to those caring for children in the foster care system.

Community-based organizations have helped to fill this gap — reaching out to and connecting informal kin families with an array of supports and resources. Government can also play a crucial role in supporting these families, both directly and in close coordination with community-based organizations, as part of preventive efforts to strengthen kin family settings and reduce future system interaction.

Join the GPL and three organizational leaders from across the country committed to serving kin caregivers within and outside the foster care system as they share their approaches for reaching and supporting kin in their communities and how government engagement plays an important role in better meeting caregiver needs.