Below are some resources and recommendations to assist you in supporting your kin.

Glossary

1. Kinship: When a child lives with and is cared for by a relative or close family friend (sometimes called "fictive kin") when their parents are unable to do so.

2. Kinship Therapeutic Foster Care (KTFC): A specialized type of foster care where a child is placed with relatives or close family friends who receive additional training and support to meet the unique needs of children with trauma histories.

3. Kinship Adoption: A legal process in which a family member, such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or older sibling, adopts a child who is related to them.

4. Formal Kinship Care: A type of foster care in which a child welfare agency or court places a child with a relative or other close, familiar adult when the child cannot live with their parents due to issues like abuse or neglect. This formal arrangement involves a court or agency determination that the child needs to be separated from their parents and placed in legal custody with the agency or a relative.

5. Informal Kinship Care: A family-led arrangement where a child lives with a relative or close family friend because the parents are unable to care for them, without any involvement of the state's child welfare or legal system.

6. Department of Social Services (DSS) – DSS serves as the legal guardian that oversees the case and is responsible for working with the child, birth parent, kinship caregiver, and private licensing agency staff. The DSS social worker needs to be consulted on any major decisions concerning the child, such as medical treatment, psychiatric treatment, medication, school decisions, visitation with parents or extended family, etc. Please refer to the Prudent Parenting information in the resource section of this guide that discusses the tasks for which DSS has to provide consent.

7. Guardian ad Litem (GAL)- A GAL will be appointed by the court to help be a voice for the child. The GAL will meet with the child to understand their perspective and will advocate for what they feel is in the best interest of the child. The GAL is present at court hearings and most team meetings.

8. Private Licensing Agency - The private agency staff works in partnership with the kinship caregiver, DSS Social Worker, child, and parent to ensure that all parties are working in partnership. Private agency staff will provide the daily support to the kinship caregiver and the training that is needed to provide ongoing care and to maintain the license. For this pilot, the private agency is responsible for licensing the kinship caregivers and helping them maintain their license.

9. Navigator Programs: Kinship Navigator Programs are a social services program that connects families to their communities’ supports, services, and resources. They help families determine what other programs and services they qualify to receive.

10. Fictive kin: Those who have a “family-like” relationship with the child and who provide unconditional support. 

11. Relational permanency: The development and maintenance of strong, supportive, and lasting relationships for children and youth, particularly those in the foster care system

12. Self-Advocacy: The action of representing oneself or one's views or interests.

13. Authentic Partnership: A deeply collaborative relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and shared goals, where all partners participate equally in decision-making, share responsibilities, and are valued for their unique contributions and perspectives. 

14. Self-Care Plan: A self-care plan helps you identify strategies to care for yourself before you get overwhelmed.