Kinship Families

What is Kinship?

Kinship care occurs when a child/youth is cared for by an extended family member or person who is known by or related to the child/youth.

Kinship placements are often the preferred setting for children/youth because these connections allow children/youth to remain within their existing connections and reduce the loss and trauma they experience. Kinship caregivers are often grandparents, aunt/uncles, community members and other relatives.​

There are many benefits to kinship care, some of those include connection to heritage, race, culture and traditions.

Are you a Kinship caregiver looking to take Pathways? Click here to sign up for our upcoming session!

 

Support for Kinship Families

Pathways to Permanence 2

This program is designed for Ontario-based adoptive families who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and loss. The program empowers parents and caregivers to apply tools and techniques to effectively parent their children and help them heal.

Check out our new flyer that outlines how Pathways can be helpful for Kinship families and next steps for starting a Kinship session!

Learn More

Video Series for Kinship Families

Watch a four-part video train­ing series specifically designed for Kinship Families: Coping with the Unique Challenges of Kinship Care With Joseph Crumbley. Watch here.

Video Series for Professionals Working with Kinship Families

Watch a five-part video train­ing series specifically designed for Professionals working Kinship families: Engaging Kinship Caregivers With Joseph Crumbley. Watch here.

Important 2021 Announcement from Ontario Government

Ontario Increasing Funding for Kinship Service, Adoption and Customary Caregivers

$2.95 million investment covering expenses supporting the well-being of children and youth.

The Ontario government is taking additional steps to help provide vulnerable children and youth with stable, nurturing homes by investing more than $2.95 million to help support kinship service and customary caregivers, adoptive parents and legal custody guardians. These new funds will assist in better preparing caregivers to welcome children and youth in their homes and provide ongoing help with expenses like clothing, beds, school supplies and medical services.

Read more about the announcement from Children, Community and Social Services here.

Books & Websites

Books:

  • Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (2018)
  • Empowering Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Cox, C. B. (2000)
  • Grandparents as Parents, A Survival Guide for Raising a Second Family. Toledo, S. (1995)
  • Raising Our Children’s Children. Doucette-Dudman, D. (1997)
  • Relatives raising children: An overview of kinship care. Crumbley, J., & Little, R.L. (1997)
  • Tear soup: A recipe for healing after loss. Schwiebert, P, & DeKlyen, C. (1999)
  • Ticklebelly Hill: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. Osborne, H. (2003)

Webpages: