KCRC FAQ
Yes! We have a searchable calendar where you can find support groups and events. You can also call us at 800-535-1218 and we’ll be happy to share options with you directly.
We offer free help and support to caregivers raising relative children (under age 18) or children with whom there is a family-like bond. Depending on your family’s needs, this may include referrals, resources, or additional support from trained staff who understand kinship caregiving. Call 800-525-1218.
Each kinship caregiver situation is unique, so there is no one answer to this question.
- For kinship caregivers providing relative foster care: We can guide you through common resources available and what to discuss with your assigned foster care worker.
- For kinship caregivers whose children are not placed in foster care: We commonly guide families to the Ineligible Grantee Awards (Child-Only Grants) which are based on the child’s eligibility, regardless of household income.
We also refer many kinship caregivers to the webtool MI Bridges, where you can apply for benefits that may be available to you.
This depends on the kind of guardianships available to you, which is based on the way the child came to be under your care and what you and the custodial parent decide. To learn more, please download the Kinship Caregiver Legal Guide developed by the KCRC.
Licensing is not required for all kinship placements. We encourage you to call us to discuss the pathway that led to the kinship care arrangement.
If you plan to change school districts, each one has different rules for school enrollment, depending on the way a child entered into the kinship caregiver’s responsibility. If the child is in foster care placed with a relative, the foster care worker will be your best resource to support you in the enrollment process. Outside of foster care, your legal relationship to the child may guide enrollment. We encourage talking with the McKinney Vento representative for the school district where you want to enroll the child to receive guidance.
There are several options available to kinship caregivers who want to determine their eligibility for Medicaid coverage:
- Call 1-800-318-2596
- Visit your local MDHHS office
- Apply online at MI Bridges (a webtool that allows you to apply for benefits)
Finding child care so you can have some time for yourself is challenging for many kinship caregivers. We work with kinship caregivers to find the programs, recreational activities and child care options for which they are eligible. For example, in some counties, kinship caregivers 55+ are eligible for respite funding. And children in relative foster care may have access to respite services.