Grandfamilies and Kinship Families Resources
Kinship Care refers to the care of children by grandparents and other relatives. Relatives are the preferred resource for children who must be removed from their birth parents because it maintains the children's connections with their families. Kinship care may be formal and involve a training and licensure process for the caregivers or it may be informal and involve only an assessment process to ensure the safety and suitability of the home. In all these situations, additional support is helpful when children are moved to relatives' homes. Below are some programs and agencies that can help.
Local
Wisconsin Kinship Care Program
This program, located in every county and tribe in Wisconsin, offers a monthly payment to help qualified kinship families support the children they are caring for. Find your local Kinship Care Coordinator and more information about this program.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Every county and tribe in Wisconsin has programs to support caregivers. On this website, you can locate your local Aging & Disability Resource Center and/or Aging Unit to be connected to caregiver support programs in your area.
State
Coalition of Children, Youth, and Families
The Coalition offers tools and resources to help foster and adoptive families create a network of support through webinars, newsletters, informational tip sheets, a free lending library and more.
This program provides extra food dollars to people with limited financial resources.
Kinship Navigator Portal
This resource is designed to help you find resources to help you with medical care, support payments, and more for the children in your care.
Kinship Navigator Training for Relative Caregivers
This video features stories of three Wisconsin kinship families to highlight common feelings and challenges associated with raising relative's children, as well as available resources that can help families like yours.
Respite Care Association of Wisconsin
This agency hosts a respite care registry that links people who need respite with respite care providers. They also have a Caregiver Respite Grant Program that provides financial support for limited respite care.
Wisconsin Adoption & Permanency Support Program
This program offers resources such as a support group and mental health professionals directory, toll-free telephone support, newsletter, educational opportunities and other supports for adoptive and other families. Managed by Catholic Charities.
Join other relatives or grandparents caring for children for a live, video check-in to socially connect and discuss topics related to relative caregiving. Morning Group: 4th Thursday/month at 11:00 am or Evening Group: 3rd Wednesday/month at 6:00 pm. Click on the link above for details and registration.
This Child Care Subsidy Program (W-2 Child Care) helps eligible parents and guardians pay for a portion of child care while working.
National
AARP Grandparenting
This site provides a Guide for GrandFamilies that offers tips, tools, and resources to the services and support needed to take care of yourself and your family.
Brookdale Foundation Relatives As Parents Program
This program encourages and promotes the creation or expansion of services for grandparents and other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting due to the absence of the parents.
Generations United
This organization works to support grandfamilies and intergenerational communities through public policies, collaborations, and programs.