If you’re looking into becoming a kinship caregiver, we can help. Here’s our guide for kinship carers in Ohio, from the process to tips for new caregivers.
In Ohio, kinship care is an important part of the foster care system. It provides a stable and nurturing environment for children during tough times when they can’t live with their parents.
Whether you’re a grandparent wondering how to foster your grandkids in a time of need or a family friend looking into becoming a kinship carer, we can help. Below, we’ll explore the definition of kinship care, its benefits, and the processes involved in becoming a caregiver.
Kinship care is a form of child care where children are looked after by relatives or close family friends, often referred to as “kin,” when their biological parents cannot do so.
This arrangement can be formal, involving legal custody or foster care agreements, or informal, where no legal arrangement exists.
This approach is often considered less disruptive for a child, allowing them to stay within their familiar social and cultural environment.
When a child is adopted, the legal relationship between a child and their biological parents is permanently altered.
In kinship care, depending on the arrangement, the legal ties to the biological parents may still remain intact, and the care arrangement can be temporary or long-term based on the family's situation.
In the Ohio child welfare system, kinship care plays a significant role. It is recognized as a preferred option for children who cannot live with their biological parents because it promotes stability and continuity in a child's life.
Ohio's policies and programs often emphasize the importance of keeping children with family caregivers to minimize trauma and provide a sense of security.
By leveraging the bond between a child and their kin, kinship care in Ohio aims to foster a supportive environment conducive to a child's well-being and development!
While kinship care provides many of the same benefits as foster care, it is different from traditional foster care in a few ways:
Children are more likely to maintain existing relationships and connections, reducing the sense of loss and abandonment that can accompany removal from the biological home.
This connection is especially important for a child's identity and self-esteem, ensuring that children continue to learn and participate in their family traditions, languages, and cultural practices, which might be lost in other forms of care placements.
If a child is staying with a relative they know, trust, and who lives in the same area, they’ll get to keep the same friends and keep attending the same school.
Any amount of stability during trying times is crucial, and kinship caregivers can provide that for children in need!
Foster care can often keep them together, but kinship care typically has a better chance of keeping a child together with their brothers or sisters, further keeping their family ties.
Are you ready to make a difference in the life of a child in need?
Here are the steps you’ll need to take to become a kinship caregiver in Ohio!
The first step to becoming a kinship caregiver involves an organization gathering essential information from you and other residents in your home.
Just like becoming a foster parent, to become a kinship caregiver you will need to go through a home study.
In the process of becoming a kinship caregiver, a caseworker conducts interviews with adult household members to evaluate their readiness and capability to provide care for the child. They also inspect the home to confirm its safety.
The assessment covers various aspects, such as:
Your caseworker will guide you through transitioning, providing details on programs like Kinship Support and methods to apply for Ohio Works First child-only financial aid and Medicaid.
For new kinship caregivers in Ohio, transitioning into this role is rewarding, but it may also present some challenges you can overcome.
Here are some tips for kinship caregivers in Ohio.
The more information you have, the more successful you’ll be!
There may be some negative behaviors at first, but that’s okay. With a little patience, you’ll be able to build a positive relationship and bond that a child in care needs to thrive.
As we mentioned above, there are also official support options, such as financial help, health services, and more. Lean on these when you need to — it will make the journey much easier.
To properly care for a child in need, you need to take care of yourself, too!
Looking for more information about foster care in Ohio? If so, our upcoming webinar can give you the answers.
By attending a Foster Parent Information Session Webinar and learning more about the fostering process, you can take the first step toward becoming a kinship caregiver to provide a safe, loving, and supportive home for a child in need.
Sign up for our webinar today, or get in touch with a Mentor Foster Care location near you for more information:
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