Kinship Support

What is Kinship Care?

Kinship care is defined as the full-time nurturing and protection of children by kin.  This can be done in two ways - informally and formally.  An informal arrangement is made by the family involved independent of the child welfare system and a formal arrangement involves the child welfare system.  In formal arrangments, placement is separated into two categories: certified and non-certified.  The family has a choice to be certified or non-certified.

• Certified kinship care refers to those children/youth living with a relative where the relative has been certified as a foster parent through the child welfare system.
• Non-certified kinship care refers to those children/youth living with a relative who has custody of the child and is not certified as a foster parent through the child welfare system.

In the state of Colorado there are approximately 82,342 children under the age of 18 living in a grandparent or other relative headed household.  This represents 7% of all Colorado children.

Jefferson County recognizes the importance of kinship families in the lives of children.  Children in kinship homes are twice as likely to report positive emotional health as those in traditional foster care.   The children in kinship homes also report higher levels of happiness and contentment in their kinship placement.

Services and Support for Kinship Families

Apply for Caretaker Relative Benefits

Contact the Kinship Support Unit

 

 

 

 

 

Last Modified: Feb 5, 2010 02:26 PM