What is kinship care? When big hearts create bigger families.
Call 1-800-535-1218 for free help and support.
Kinship care is the full-time protecting and nurturing of children by relatives or others to whom children and parents assign a family relationship, when parents are unable to care for them. Kinship caregivers can be:
- Grandparents
- Stepparents
- Adult siblings
- Aunts & uncles
- Godparents or other close family friends
- Members of the child’s tribe or clan
- Faith community friends
- Teachers or coaches
- Any other adults who have a close relationship with the child
Why kinship care?
There are many situations that lead to kinship care arrangements for children, including:
- Deployment of parents in the military
- Parental mental/physical illness or substance abuse
- Death of a parent
- Incarceration
- Family violence
- A relative’s concern for the child’s health, safety, and well-being
Kinship care is not uncommon. In Michigan alone, about 52,000 children live in kinship families. Sometimes, the arrangement is temporary (such as during a parent’s military deployment). In other situations, kinship care may become permanent.
Want more data on kinship care in Michigan? See the KIDS COUNT Data Center and Child Trends websites.
Foster care placement with relatives.
State agencies make placing children with relatives their first priority whenever possible. In fact, approximately 50% of children in foster care in Michigan are placed with relatives. If you are interested in having a family member placed with you, the first step is to contact the agency managing their foster care case. If you are unsure how to proceed, our Kinship Navigator Program can provide guidance and support to help you through the process.
Learn more about placement on our child welfare page.
Where can I find support as a kinship caregiver?
Finding time for yourself can be a challenge, but provides so many positive benefits for both you and the children you care for. That’s why we offer connections to these caregiver resources.
- Finding child care: Child care assistance is available; you can find resources on our Child Care page. If you are over 55, there may be additional assistance available from your Area Agency on Aging.
- After-school programs: Clubs, camps, the YMCA, your local Parks and Recreation Department, or church youth groups are all good resources for free or low-cost activities for kids.
- Kinship Educational Opportunities: The KCRC works with MSU Extension to offer kinship educational opportunities. View the full calendar of classes.
- Support groups: Taking time to meet with other kinship caregivers allows you to connect with others who share your challenges. It’s also a great way to get new ideas to make your life easier.
Kinship Care Family Dynamics
Kinship care helps children stay connected to their family, culture, and traditions. This can help them feel safer and reduce the stress of being away from their parents. Kinship care can also be hard; families may face tough choices and changes in relationships. Dr. Joseph Crumbley, a national expert, talks about what many kinship caregivers experience in this video: