Kinship Care Program
Eligibility Requirements

There are three basic eligibility requirements for Kinship Care:

• the basic needs of the child can be better met with the relative than with the parent;
  
  
• the placement is in the best interests of the child; and
  
  
• the child currently or would potentially meet the requirements for court jurisdiction as being in need of protection or services if the child were to remain with his or her parent(s).

Other requirements include:

• a criminal background check on the relative caretaker;

• cooperation with the agency by the relative caretaker;

• the relative caretaker must apply for other public assistance or benefits for which the child might be eligible; and,

• the relative caretaker must cooperate with referral of the parents to child support, unless the relative caretaker requests and is granted a good cause exemption from cooperating with the referral to child support.

• Kinship living arrangements must be reviewed no less frequently than every 12 months to determine if the eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Contact Information

Last Revised: June 16, 2008