Kinship Care Facts Kinship Care FAQs Kinship Resources

KINSHIP CARE FACT SHEET

What is Kinship Care?

Types of Kinship Care

If I accept a child into my home as a kinship caregiver, do I have custody of the child(ren)?

Can I become a licensed foster parent for the kinship children in my care?

What kind of financial supports and other services are available to kinship caregivers?

Hamilton County Kinship Stipend
State Kinship Support Program (KSP)
Parenting Enrichment/Coaching through Beech Acres
Vouchers
Care Portal
Medicaid
Food Assistance
Bus Tickets
Music Lessons
Tutoring and Education
Furniture
Cash Assistance
Supplemental Security Income or Social Security
Publicly Funded Child Care
Kinship Child Care

Can I become an adoptive parent for the kinship children in my care?

What do I do if I can no longer maintain care of the children in my home?

What is Kinship Care?

A kinship placement occurs when children who cannot live with their parent/caregiver(s) safely live full-time with kin (a relative or any non-relative who has a long-standing relationship with the child or family). Kinship care is the most desirable living arrangement for children who cannot live with their parent/caregiver(s). It helps children have a sense of family and belonging. It can help children identify with their family’s culture and traditions.

Types of kinship care:

  • Kinship non-court involved safety plan – A safety plan is an out of home placement with kin. This arrangement can occur when Hamilton County Children’s Services does not have custody of the child.

  • Kinship caregiver – Hamilton County Children’s Services has custody of the child(ren) and have placed the child(ren) in a kinship caregiver(s) home.

  • Kinship guardian – The kinship caregiver received legal custody of the child(ren) with intention to raise the child(ren) until their 18th Hamilton County Children’s Services typically closes the case.

  • Kinship foster care – Hamilton County Children’s Services has custody of the child(ren). The kinship caregiver is a licensed foster parent and has placement of the child(ren).

  • Kinship adoption – The biological parents’ rights are terminated, and the kinship caregiver adopts the child.

If I accept a child into my home as a kinship caregiver, do I have custody of the child(ren)?

  • Placement – The child(ren) lives with a kinship caregiver who has input into decisions, but Hamilton County Children’s Services holds custody and makes all decisions affecting the child. Children’s Services will be actively involved with your family and the child.

  • Legal Custody – Kinship caregivers must go to court, and the court grants legal custody or guardianship. As the legal custodian, you have the authority to make most major decisions regarding the child. Parents/caregivers may maintain visitation, medical and educational rights.

Can I become a licensed foster parent for the kinship children in my care?

Once you chose an agency, contact the agency’s foster care training representative to determine their training requirements and schedule. Licensed kinship foster parents are ineligible for kinship stipends but will receive per diem and support from provider agencies.

What kind of financial supports and other services are available to kinship caregivers?

Hamilton County Kinship Stipend

For Kinship Caregivers with a child placed in the home when the child is in the legal custody of HCJFS.

State Kinship Support Program (KSP)

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) issues monthly kinship support payment to Kinship Caregivers for each kinship child placed in the home.  The amount of payment is $10.80/day per kinship child in the home.  These (KSP) payments are time limited to six months total. KSP is intended to allow the caregiver time to work with local organizations to become licensed as a foster parent. Once licensed, the caregiver will receive foster care payments for the child for the duration of the placement. See: State Kinship Support Program (KSP) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Parenting Enrichment/Coaching through Beech Acres

  • This service includes parent coaching, mentoring, enrichment groups, goal setting/planning and more.
  • Caseworker can refer the caregiver to this service

Vouchers

  • Caseworkers can request vouchers on behalf of their clients when needed. Voucher requests must be approved by a supervisor.
  • Vouchers are available for the following purposes:
    • Clothing
    • Groceries
    • Furniture
    • Car repairs
    • Daycare fees
    • Activity fees

Care Portal

  • Children’s Services request for specific items to support kin placement or aiding in a reunification.
  • Assists with items such as:
    • beds and bed linens
    • clothing
    • home repairs
    • books
    • cleaning supplies
    • toys
    • baby supplies
    • food 
    • furniture

Medicaid

Medicaid is state and federally funded health care coverage.

  • Kinship caregivers, both relative and non-relative, may apply for a Medicaid card for the child or sibling group in their care.
  • Income and assets are not considered when determining eligibility unless the kinship caregiver also chooses to apply for themselves.
  • Kinship caregivers who qualify for cash assistance will automatically qualify for a Medicaid card.
  • Call 946-1000 to request an application or visit www.hcjfs.org.

Food Assistance

Food assistance is a state and federal funded monthly benefit provided to eligible families.

  • Kinship caregivers may apply, but the entire household’s income and assets are considered for eligibility. Kinship caregivers cannot receive food assistance for just the child or sibling group in their care.
  • Call 946-1000 to arrange to request an application or visit www.hcjfs.org.

Bus Tickets

  • Caseworker can request bus tickets on behalf of the kin caregivers
  • All requests should be based on case plan services needed to maintain the family or based on reunification services. Requests are automatically routed to a supervisor for approval.

Music Lessons, Recording, Production

  • The MRC is a multifaceted teen program that uses recording and performing arts, as well as life skills mentoring to create a sense of empowerment and accomplishment
  • Participants must be in grades 7 – 12
  • Caseworker can refer a child to this program

Tutoring and Education

  • The agency has an education program, Kids in School Rules (KISR), that assist children in the agency custody with help navigating the school system as well providing tutors to children placed in Kinship homes.

New Life Furniture

  • Kinship placements will be eligible to receive furniture  and mattresses from New Life Furniture.
  • Caregivers must be home at time of furniture delivery

 Cash Assistance (Ohio Works First)

NOTE: Ohio Works First Cash Assistance cannot be received for the same child/period the kinship caregiver receives KSP. 

Cash assistance is a federal program that provides a fixed monthly check to low-income families. Kinship caregivers may apply for cash assistance for a child or sibling set in their care.

  • Income and assets are not considered for child only cash assistance eligibility.
  • Child-only OWF payments are paid on a sliding scale based on the size of the sibling group.
  • You must be a blood relative to receive child-only Ohio Works First cash payments.
  • Non-relative kinship caregivers are not eligible unless they take legal custody and become the child’s guardian.

Families who need to apply for assistance due to child placements may:

  1. Fill in this application.
  2. Come to the agency lobby to complete an application (JFS 07200); or
  3. Call 513-946-1000 to request an application
    Mail or fax (513‑946-1076) the application to HCJFS. Local libraries can also fax applications and verifications to HCJFS for FREE.

 Supplemental Security Income or Social Security

  • In rare instances, a child is eligible for SSI due to a disability or for social security benefits due to the death or disability of a parent.
  • Kinship caregivers may receive payments based on Social Security payments for the child’s
  • The child’s case worker can find out if the child receives or is eligible to receive these benefits.

Publicly Funded Child Care

Publicly funded Child Care Services is intended to partially cover the cost of childcare for eligible low and moderate-income families.

  • Caregiver must have physical custody of the child
  • Need is established by caregiver’s participation in work, school, or training.
  • The gross monthly household income for the family size must be at or less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Level for initial eligibility. This increases to 300% to maintain ongoing eligibility.
  • Refer to HCJFS 7969 – Child Care: Income Guidelines Fact Sheet for additional information.
  • Call 946-1800 for an application packet.

Kinship Child Care

Kinship child care is available for children placed in the home of a kinship caregiver.

  • Children must be active in an open Children’s Services case and on a safety plan or in agency custody and placed with a kinship caregiver.
  • Child care is tied to employment, educational or respite needs of caregiver or social/ developmental needs of the child.
  • Care is for children under age of 13, unless a professionally verified need exists for a child age 13‑18 with a physical or mental disability.
  • Kinship caregivers should check with their caseworker if interested in Kinship Child Care. HCJFS 4104 – Kinship Child Care Referral

Can I become an adoptive parent for the kinship children in my care?

Sometimes children placed in foster care with kin or with a kinship caregiver become available for adoption. Ohio law gives preference first to the child’s suitable family members, then to a child’s foster parents and finally to others who express interest in the child. 

Start here to learn more: Adoption 101 on this website.

If a child placed with you becomes available for adoption and you are already an approved adoptive parent, you can complete an expedited application to adopt. Your foster care agency will then work with JFS to complete the expedited home study and adoption process.

What do I do if I can no longer maintain care of the children in my home?

Kinship caregivers who are still a kinship placement, must report their concerns to the case worker immediately. The case worker may be able to assist in finding ways to stabilize the placement or will find an alternate placement, if necessary.

Kinship caregivers who have legal custody of the child(ren) should call 241‑KIDS (or the Children’s Services agency in the county in which they reside) for assistance in finding an alternate placement if needed. Do not return the child(ren) to the home from which they were removed without contacting Children’s Services prior.