Description:
Kinship Care is a program designed to help support a child who resides outside of his or her own home, either temporarily or for the long term, with the relative (such as an adult brother or sister, a first cousin, a nephew or niece, an uncle or aunt or a grandparent, among others).
Kinship Care supports the concept of children residing with a relative to alleviate family stress or temporary familial problems, rather than being placed in a foster home or other type of out-of-home placement. For children who do come to the attention of the child welfare system, Kinship Care creates another placement option for a child who may not be able to continue living at home with his or her parents. It should not, however, be used when a foster care placement is in the best interests of the child.