Governor DeWine recognizes grandparents, other caregivers during Kinship Month
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a proclamation declaring September Kinship Month and released a video message thanking grandparents and all kinship caregivers for opening their homes to the children who need them.
“Taking on the role of full-time caregiver for a child is no small task and kinship caregivers, whether they are relatives or family friends,” said Matt Damschroder, Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “They open their homes and provide life-changing support and love when it is needed most.”
In Ohio, more than 297,000 children live with a kinship caregiver. Kin can refer to a relative or other adult who has a relationship with the child, such as a neighbor, teacher or family friend. They take over full-time care of a child when the child’s parents are unable to do so.
“We cannot thank our kinship caregivers enough for stepping in during unexpected or critical circumstances to be there for children,” said Kara Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. “In an effort to better support our kinship families, Ohio has developed several programs
designed to support kinship caregivers. Navigators with Ohio’s Kinship & Adoption Navigator program, OhioKAN, work with families to find local and state resources to fit their particular needs. OhioKAN assisted more than 2,000 families in the past year.”
The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program allows kinship caregivers who have become certified foster caregivers to continue to receive financial assistance for kinship children upon their obtaining legal custody of the children. This program will provide long-term stability for children with their kinship caregivers.
Kinnect to Family is a specialized, intense family search and engagement program and has identified a vast array of family search strategies to make connections for children and families encountering child welfare. This program operates in 27 Ohio counties.
Since launching in 2018, Kinnect to Family has served over 2,400 children across the state. The program has found over 145,000 family connections. The average number of connections found per child is over 150. Up to 70 percent of children served are placed with kinship caregivers by the conclusion of services, with an average county case length of 43 days.
County children services agencies looking to place children who can’t safely remain with their parents will first look for kinship caregivers. An agency will perform a kinship home assessment to determine if a family is willing and able to care for a child. Visit https://FosterAndAdopt.ohio.gov to find out more about the process of becoming a kinship caregiver.