Relative/Kinship Services

This type of care refers to situations where kids are being cared for by family members or other adults who have a significant, pre-existing relationship with the child. This may include grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, cousins or close family friends. Relative/Kinship care helps kids remain connected to familiar people, communities and traditions. There are both formal and informal ways of providing relative or kinship care. Formal processes may involve foster care licensure, guardianship or adoption to ensure legal authority and long-term stability for the child.

Children’s Home serves relative and kin families who are caring for — or hoping to care for — children involved in the child welfare system. We work with families across a range of situations, whether they are responding to an immediate placement need or planning for long-term permanency. We are able to assist throughout the state of Minnesota.

One of our core values is listening to those with lived experience. We believe that children thrive when their existing relationships are honored and strengthened. Whether you provide temporary or permanent care, the following services are available:

• FREE TRANSPARENT INFORMATION | Our Information Team is available to answer any initial questions and provide individualized guidance.
  • [email protected] or 651-646-7771
• EDUCATION & TRAINING | Required education and training may be tailored to fit your needs and availability, focused on informed and child-centered caregiving. A portion of your training requirements may occur up to 30 days after license issuance.
• FOSTER CARE LICENSING & HOME STUDY | Guidance through the home study and foster care licensing process. We offer flexible scheduling with your assigned worker and free licensing kits that include things like compliant fire extinguishers, required radio and home phone.
• STAFF SUPPORT | For relative/kin who wish to be considered as a foster care placement — or who are already caring for a child through an emergency or court-ordered placement — we can provide guidance and assist through the licensing and home study process. We take a wraparound approach to working with relative/kinship families. Once you begin the application, you are assigned to a worker who will remain your consistent support. Often our staff are a bridge between counties and systems, here to help you navigate the complexity.
• MATERIAL SUPPORT | With funding from Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), our Community Closet can provide relative and kin caregivers with licensing kits and other needed in-kind supplies such as bedding, clothing and more. We hold multiple relative/kinship focused donation events throughout the year, including Back-to-School Bash which equips children in your care with the essentials needed to start the school year.
• COMMUNITY SUPPORT | We offer multiple support group options and free, family-friendly community events called Connect2Connect. Past events have included sensory-friendly movies, goat yoga, zoo outings and trampoline parks. Through our legal affiliation with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, additional supports may available such as:
  • Kinship Navigator
  • Financial Counseling
  • Housing
• LIFELONG SERVICES | We believe the need for support doesn’t end at placement. Our Family Support Coach is available after a placement to help stabilize the family unit, increase positive interactions and ensure you are connected to the appropriate, available resources and services needed to make your family thrive. Additionally, our Post Adoption Services are here, as needed, for things like documentation requests, openness support and more.

If you are a current or prospective relative/kin caregiver, reach out to our Information Team at [email protected] or 651-646-7771 for individualized consultation.

If you are a county worker and would like to refer a relative or kin family, please complete the form below and submit to [email protected] or call to speak with a supervisor at 651-255-2259.

County Referral Form View Full List of County Services

Children’s Home Information Team: Help with general and individualized questions about foster care or adoption. [email protected] or 651.646.7771

LSS Kinship Navigator: Help with financial resources, medical and behavioral health services, school services and supports along with other resources for relative/kinship caregivers.

Keeping Families Connected Minnesota: Legal services to help relative caregivers navigate Minnesota’s child welfare system.

Adoption and Guardianship Comparison Chart: A tool designed to help kinship foster parents compare adoption and guardianship as two options that you and the children in your care can pursue to exit foster care and create permanency.