22.1 Use of Voluntary Kinship Caregivers in Child Protective Services

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(22) Kinship

Policy Title:

Use of Voluntary Kinship Caregivers in Child Protective Services

Policy Number:

22.1

Previous Policy Number(s):

5.6

Effective Date:

January 2022

Manual Transmittal:

2022-01

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 15-11-29 Protective Orders
O.C.G.A. § 15-11-212 Disposition of Dependent Child
O.C.G.A. § 19-9-122 Power of Attorney for the Care of a Minor Child

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Request a parent/legal guardian consider a voluntary kinship arrangement, when it is determined that an out-of-home safety plan is necessary to control safety threats that can be resolved or mitigated within 90 calendar days.

    A voluntary kinship arrangement shall not be considered in situations involving chronic and/or severe abuse or neglect issues. Such situations should be addressed with juvenile court intervention.

  2. Inform the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who are considering utilizing a voluntary kinship:

    1. An out-of-home safety plan to address current safety threat(s) must be completed prior to the child entering the home of the voluntary kinship caregiver.

    2. The decision to allow a child to stay with a kinship caregiver is a voluntary option and is not legally binding.

    3. Consensus must be reached on the specific circumstances or behaviors that must exist for the child to be safely returned home.

    4. The recommended parent-child contact during the voluntary kinship arrangement.

    5. The parent/legal guardian remains financially responsible for their child.

    6. The parent/legal guardian must enter into a Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement with the agency.

    7. The parent/legal guardian have the option of establishing a Power of Attorney (POA) with the voluntary kinship caregiver.

  3. Complete a Kinship Assessment to assess the suitability of the voluntary kinship caregiver(s) to temporarily care for a child(ren) and to assess the physical home environment, prior to the child entering the home.

    The Kinship Assessment should only be completed following the child entering the kinship caregiver’s home if the voluntary kinship arrangement was established in an emergency.

  4. Notify the Regional Kinship Coordinator of the voluntary kinship arrangement.

  5. Provide full disclosure to the kinship caregiver(s) within 48 hours of the child entering their home to explain the kinship caregiver’s roles and responsibilities, service provision, financial and non-financial supports, and available options.

  6. Conduct a Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment within three calendar days of the Kinship Coordinator’s initial contact with the kinship caregivers to identify services or supports needed to successfully care for the child(ren) during the voluntary kinship arrangement.

  7. Provide or arrange for individualized services to address identified needs based on the developmental challenges the family is experiencing in their everyday lives, within 72 hours of identifying the need.

  8. Conduct a family meeting within 7-10 business days of the child entering the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home to build consensus on the roles and responsibilities of the kinship caregivers, parents/legal guardians and DFCS.

  9. Initiate family preservation services (FPS) when it is determined that the case circumstance require additional DFCS interventions, or the voluntary kinship arrangement will extend beyond the investigation timeframe.

  10. Conduct purposeful contact(s) with the parent, voluntary kinship caregiver and the child every 14 calendar days while the child remains in the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home.

  11. Monitor service provision by engaging formal and informal providers at a minimum bi-weekly to assess the sufficiency of the services to address the identified need(s) and progress toward meeting the conditions of return.

  12. Conduct collateral contacts to assess the parent(s)'/legal guardian(s)' progress towards achieving the conditions for return.

  13. Conduct a supervisor staffing, at minimum bi-weekly, to discuss the family’s progress.

  14. Work in collaboration with the parent and voluntary kinship caregiver to meet the child’s educational, medical, and dental needs.

  15. Conduct a 45th day meeting with the kinship coordinator, social services supervisor (SSS), family and kinship caregiver(s), to assess the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) progress in meeting the conditions of return.

    A formal Family Team Meeting (FTM) may not be needed if the family is progressing well and it appears that the child will return home safely within 90 days.

  16. Prior to the expiration of the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement conduct a case evaluation to determine if safety can be managed in the home of the parents/legal guardians:

    1. When safety can be managed in the home, terminate the voluntary kinship agreement; or

    2. When safety cannot be managed in the home, initiate legal intervention.

    When necessary to expedite legal intervention to ensure the safety of the child DFCS may seek a temporary alternative to foster care (TAFC) order in accordance with policy 17.1 Legal: The Juvenile Court Process.

  17. Terminate the voluntary kinship arrangement within 90 days of the child(ren) entering the kinship caregiver’s home.

  18. Convene a FTM at any time, while the child remains in a voluntary kinship caregiver’s home to resolve issues or concerns (see policy 19.3 Case Management: Solution-Focused Family Team Meetings).

  19. Adhere to confidentiality and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in accordance with policy 2.5 Information Management: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 2.6 Information Management: Confidentiality/Safeguarding Information.

Procedures

Social Services Case Manager

  1. Develop an out-of-home safety plan with the family to address the identified safety threat in accordance with policy 19.12 Case Management: Safety Plan & Management.

  2. Inform the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who are considering utilizing a voluntary kinship:

    1. An out-of-home safety plan to address current safety threat(s) must be completed prior to the child entering the home of the voluntary kinship caregiver.

    2. The decision to allow a child to stay with a kinship caregiver is a voluntary option and is not legally binding.

    3. Consensus must be reached on the specific circumstances or behaviors that must exist for the child(ren) to be safely returned home.

    4. The recommended parent-child contact during the voluntary kinship arrangement (i.e. supervised, unsupervised, no contact).

    5. The parent/legal guardian remain financially responsible for their child.

    6. The parent/legal guardian must enter into a Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement with the agency.

    7. The parent/legal guardian has the option of establishing a Power of Attorney (POA) with the voluntary kinship caregiver, if the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will not be readily available to exercise their parental authority, such as registering the child in school and authorizing medical care or treatment. See Practice Guidance: Power of Attorney for additional information regarding POA.

    8. To discuss with the child(ren) what will be occurring, obtain their feedback on who they prefer to temporarily reside with, and help them process their feelings about residing outside of the home.

  3. Engage the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) in contacting the potential voluntary kinship caregiver(s) to determine interest in temporarily caring for the child(ren). Establish the following:

    1. Transportation to/from school, including extra-curricular activities;

    2. Upcoming medical/dental appointments; and

    3. Recommended parent-child contact.

  4. Have the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) sign the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement.

  5. Enter the voluntary kinship arrangement on the Voluntary Kinship Detail page in Georgia SHINES.

    The Regional Kinship Coordinator will receive a system generated alert in Georgia SHINES when the voluntary kinship arrangement is saved or when the Initial Safety Assessment (ISA) is saved with an out-of-home safety plan (voluntary kinship arrangement) selected.

  6. Complete the Kinship Assessment in accordance with policy 22.3 Kinship: Kinship Assessment. If the Kinship Assessment is approved, in conjunction with SSS, review and determine whether to proceed with the voluntary kinship arrangement.

  7. Maintain ongoing communication with the Kinship Coordinator.

  8. Conduct a family meeting within 7-10 business days of the child entering the voluntary kinship caregivers’ home. See Practice Guidance: 7-10 Day Family Meeting for the required attendees and areas to address.

  9. Schedule a case transfer staffing in accordance with 19.4 Case Management: Case Transfer to initiate FPS when it is determined that the case circumstance requires additional DFCS interventions, or the voluntary kinship arrangement will extend beyond the investigation timeframe.

  10. Provide or arrange for individualized services to address the identified need(s) in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision.

  11. Engage formal and informal providers at a minimum bi-weekly to assess the sufficiency of the services to address the identified need(s) and progress toward meeting the conditions of return in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision.

  12. Engage the parent(s)/legal guardian(s), voluntary kinship caregiver(s), and child by phone weekly.

  13. Conduct purposeful face-to-face contacts with the parent(s)/legal guardian(s), voluntary kinship caregiver(s), and child every 14 calendar days or more frequently if needed, while the child remains in the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home (see policy 8.2 Family Preservation Services: Purposeful Contacts with Families Receiving Family Preservation Services).

  14. Complete collateral contacts to gather information to determine if the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) are making progress toward the conditions of return (see policy 19.16 Case Management: Collateral Contacts).

  15. Participate in a supervisor staffing, at minimum bi-weekly, to discuss the family’s progress (see policy 19.6 Case Management: Supervisor Staffing).

  16. Participate in the 45th day meeting with the Kinship Coordinator, family and voluntary kinship caregiver(s) to discuss:

    1. Safety threats (see policy 19.11 Case Management: Safety Assessment).

    2. Safety plan sufficiency, including assessing if an in-home safety plan can be used to manage child safety (see policy 19.12 Case Management: Safety Plan & Management).

    3. Whether the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) is able to meet the conditions for return within the next 45 days.

    4. The voluntary kinship caregiver’s willingness to be a placement resource, if the child enters foster care.

    The initial FPS FTM to develop the case plan can be conducted in conjunction with the 45th day meeting when all areas are addressed.

  17. Prior to the expiration of the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement complete a case evaluation to measure progress toward conditions for return as outlined in policy 8.4 Family Preservation Services: Case Evaluation. In conjunction with the SSS, determine:

    1. If the safety threats have been resolved and the child(ren) can safely return home.

    2. If the safety threats have been mitigated and the child(ren) can return home with an in-home safety plan. When deemed necessary to support safety interventions, consult with the Special Assistant to the Attorney General (SAAG) to request:

      1. Protective order (see policy 17.1 Legal: The Juvenile Court Process).

    3. If the safety threats continue and the child cannot safely return home, consult with the SAAG to request legal intervention in accordance with the policy 17.1 Legal: The Juvenile Court Process:

      1. Guardianship (see policy 22.11 Kinship: Guardianship in Child Protection Services);

      2. Temporary custody to a third party (see policy 22.12 Kinship: Temporary Custody to a Third Party in Child Protective Services); or

      3. DFCS custody (see policy 17.1 Legal: The Juvenile Court Process).

    When case circumstances do not warrant transfer to FPS, and the voluntary kinship agreement will terminate in Investigations, conduct a safety assessment in lieu of the case evaluation.

  18. Terminate the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement within 90 days of the child entering the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home:

    1. Engage the parent/legal guardian to discuss:

      1. Progress made to address the safety threats and if the child can be safely returned home or legal intervention will be sought.

      2. Any modification to service provision.

      3. The child’s transition home or to foster care.

      4. The child’s needs, strengths and interest to assist with placement selection when applicable (see policy 10.1 Foster Care: Placement of a Child and 10.4 Foster Care: Selecting a Placement Resource).

      5. The need to dissolve the POA, if applicable.

    2. Engage the voluntary kinship caregiver to discuss:

      1. The decision to safely return the child home or seek legal intervention.

      2. The child’s transition home or to foster care.

      3. The transition from a voluntary kinship caregiver to a foster care kinship caregiver, if applicable.

    3. Notify the Kinship Coordinator that the voluntary kinship caregiver arrangement has ended and the need to provide a subsequent full disclosure if the kinship caregiver will transition to a different role (i.e., foster kinship caregiver, TAFC caregiver, etc.).

    4. End the voluntary kinship arrangement in Georgia SHINES within 72 hours of the change in status.

Social Services Supervisor

  1. Participate in the development of the out-of-home safety plan in accordance with policy 19.12 Case Management: Safety Plan & Management.

  2. Ensure the Voluntary Kinship Coordinator is notified of the voluntary kinship arrangement by verifying that the arrangement was timely entered on the Voluntary Kinship Detail page in Georgia SHINES.

  3. Oversee the completion of the Kinship Assessment in accordance with the policy 22.3 Kinship: Kinship Assessment.

  4. Ensure individualized services were provided or arranged for within 72 hours of identifying family needs in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision. Track service provision, using the following LENSES reports:

    1. Services Initiated within 3 Days of Out-of-Home Arrangement (Initial)

    2. Services Initiated within 3 Days of ONG Stage Start (Subsequent)

  5. Ensure required purposeful contacts are conducted with the parents/legal guardian, child and voluntary kinship caregiver(s) in accordance with policy 8.2 Family Preservation Services: Purposeful Contacts with Families Receiving Family Preservation Services. Track purposeful contacts using the following LENSES reports:

    1. Child - Purposeful Contact (Every 14 Days)

    2. Primary Caretaker - Purposeful Contact (Every 14 Days)

    3. VKC - Purposeful Contact (Every 14 Days)

  6. Ensure FPS is timely initiated when case circumstance required additional DFCS intervention or the voluntary kinship arrangement will extend beyond the investigation timeframe as outlined in policy 19.4 Case Management: Case Transfer.

  7. Verify collateral contacts are occurring as frequently as necessary to assess and ensure safety, determine family functioning and measure progress toward conditions of returns as outlined in policy 19.16: Case Management: Collateral Contacts.

  8. Verify formal and informal providers are engaged at a minimum bi-weekly in accordance with policy 19.17 Case Management: Service Provision.

  9. Conduct a supervisor staffing bi-weekly to discuss case progress and ongoing assessment of the voluntary kinship arrangement (see policy 19.6 Case Management: Supervisor Staffing).

  10. Participate in the 45th day meeting with the family and ensure all areas are addressed. Track completion of the meeting using the 45 Day Family Meeting Compliance report in LENSES.

  11. Prior to the expiration of the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement, conduct a supervisor staffing to decide whether safety can be managed in the home or legal intervention is required. Include the Kinship Coordinator in the staffing, as applicable.

    This supervisor staffing can be conducted as part of a case evaluation when the family is receiving FPS (see policy 8.4 Family Preservation Service: Case Evaluation).

  12. Initiate and participate in consultations with the SAAG when legal intervention is needed.

  13. Ensure the Voluntary Kinship Arrangement Agreement is terminated within 90 calendar days of the child entering the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home. Monitor voluntary kinship arrangements using the Number of Days in Arrangement report in LENSES.

The Regional Kinship Coordinator will:

  1. Contact the voluntary kinship caregiver within 48 hours of receiving the notification of the voluntary kinship arrangement via Georgia SHINES to introduce themselves and explain their role to the family.

  2. Complete a Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment, within three calendar days of initial contact with the kinship family, to identify needs that would hinder the voluntary kinship caregiver from adequately providing for the care or needs of the child.

  3. Inform the voluntary kinship caregiver of the option of establishing a POA with the parent(s)/legal guardian(s), if the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) will not be readily available to exercise their parental authority while the child(ren) is in the home of voluntary kinship caregiver(s).

  4. Attend the 7-10 day family meeting to:

    1. Support the Voluntary Kinship Caregiver.

    2. Provide the results of the Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment and provide insight of the child(ren) behavioral, medical/mental health, and educational needs while in the voluntary kinship caregiver’s home.

    3. Address any conflicts between the kinship caregiver and the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) that may negatively impact the voluntary kinship arrangement.

    4. Obtain information that could influence the Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment.

  5. Provide full disclosure to the voluntary kinship caregiver, to assist the caregiver(s) in understanding their options and the implications of each:

    1. Have the voluntary kinship caregiver sign the Disclosure Statement Form indicating receipt of full disclosure; and

    2. Upload the signed Disclosure Statement Form into Georgia SHINES External Documentation.

  6. Maintain face-to-face or telephone contact with the voluntary kinship caregiver weekly to provide resources and supports the voluntary kinship family will need to assist in caring for the child(ren).

  7. Participate in the 45th day meeting to provide an update on:

    1. The ongoing needs assessment of the voluntary kinship caregiver.

    2. Status of any services they have initiated.

  8. Participate in the supervisor staffing, via face-to-face or by telephone, prior to the 90th day, if it is determined that the child cannot safely return home within the 90-day timeframe.

  9. Submit a case closure or transition plan at the termination of the voluntary kinship arrangement.

  10. Maintain communication with the SSCM.

Practice Guidance

Kinship Care

The fulltime care and nurturing of a child by someone who is related to the child by family ties or by a significant prior relationship connection, including:

  • Grandparents

  • Siblings

  • Extended family members

  • Tribal members

  • Godparents

  • Stepparents

  • Anyone with a “family like” relationship with the child

Some situations that may result in a voluntary kinship care arrangement could be, but are not limited to:

  1. An immediate safety threat to a child currently exists, and safety cannot be ensured in the home while services are provided.

  2. Allegations of abuse or neglect by the parent(s) exist, but evidence is not sufficient to take the child into DFCS custody; however, child safety cannot be assured while the allegations are being assessed.

  3. Parent(s) decide voluntarily to have their child live with relatives while the parents receive treatment for substance abuse or mental health.

Kinship Care Consideration

It is often the best circumstance for a child in need of care to be placed with someone whom, he/she has an existing relationship. When children cannot remain safely with their parents, care provided by kin is preferred to maintain family connections and minimize trauma to the child. When considering a voluntary kinship arrangement, the SSCM has a vital role in helping the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) in determining if the use of a voluntary kinship is a viable option for their family by explaining what is and what to expect during a voluntary kinship arrangement.

The SSCM, in collaboration with parents, should identify potential kin who can safely care for the child while parents receive services to help them address the issues that brought the child to the attention of child welfare and render them unsafe in the home. Factors to consider in identifying potential voluntary kinship caregivers:

  1. Who would the parent most want to care for the child?

  2. Who does the parent most often turn to in time of crisis?

  3. Who has cared for the child in the past when parents were unable to?

  4. With whom does the child have a close relationship?

  5. Who does the parent feel most comfortable with sharing confidential information?

  6. Voluntary kinship caregiver’s relationship to the child and length of involvement with the family.

  7. Description of the voluntary kinship caregiver’s involvement with the family, i.e., provided care for the child and/or parent, assisted the family through crisis, provided moral support, member of church or community organization, neighbor, etc.

  8. Whether the voluntary kinship caregiver ever resided in the home with the parent or child and, if so, how long and when.

A voluntary kinship arrangement should not be considered in situations involving chronic and/or severe child maltreatment. Such situations should be addressed with court intervention. In addition, a voluntary kinship caregiver should not be used when the safety threat cannot be mitigated or resolved within 90 calendar days or less. Circumstances that may require more than 90 days to resolve the safety threats should be staffed with the Supervisor and the SAAG consulted to determine the need for legal intervention. When voluntary kinships are utilized improperly, it can have a negative impact on the family, and result in the unnecessary placement of a child into foster care.

Out-of-State Voluntary Kinship Caregivers

DFCS shall not support the use of out-of-state voluntary kinship caregivers unless an Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) border agreement exists between the county and the other state. See policy 15.8 Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children: Border Agreements.

Non-Custodial Parents and Voluntary Kinship Caregivers

Non-custodial parents (absent parents, biological fathers, putative fathers, legal fathers, or biological mothers who do not reside with their child) are not voluntary kinship caregivers. The parent/legal guardian can elect to have a non-custodial parent care for their child in lieu of a voluntary kinship caregiver. Non-custodial parents providing care for their child is not a voluntary kinship arrangement. Under these circumstances, DFCS still has the responsibility to ensure child safety in the non-custodial parent’s home. This includes conducting safety assessments and developing an in-home safety plan with the non-custodial parents to address identified safety issues and strategies (example: how long the child will reside with the non-custodial parent, custodial parent contact, access to the maltreater, etc.) (see policy 19.12 Case Management: Safety Plan & Management).

When the Parent/Legal Guardian Moves In

When a parent/legal guardian moves into the home of the voluntary kinship caregiver, it is no longer a voluntary kinship arrangement. When this occurs, terminate the voluntary kinship arrangement in Georgia SHINES and conduct a safety assessment to evaluate child safety (see policy 19.11 Case Management: Safety Assessment) to determine if a new or updated safety plan is needed.

Conditions for Return

Conditions for return are written statements related to the safety (present or impending dangers) and risk issues identified that justified implementing an out-of-home safety plan. These statements describe what needs to occur before the child(ren) can safely return to their home and are specific to a parent/legal guardian and/or the home environment. Statements must include:

  1. The safety concerns and diminished caregiver protective capacities that created the need for the child(ren) to reside out of the home;

  2. The specific conditions and circumstances required for the safe return of the child (based upon the type and degree of change that is needed);

  3. How the changes will be implemented to achieve the safe and successful resolution of the safety concerns and the child(ren)'s return home; and

  4. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) response to intervention and willingness to make the changes necessary for the child(ren) to return home.

Parent-Child Contact Recommendations

The parent-child relationship should be protected and can be strengthened throughout a child’s time in the home of a voluntary kinship caregiver by ensuring parents are fully encouraged and supported to participate in parenting activities and decisions. When considering parent-child contact during the voluntary kinship arrangement, safety is paramount. However, it is necessary to also consider the benefits of quality time children spend with their parents. The least limiting option necessary to ensure child safety should be recommended. In rare circumstances, DFCS may need to recommend no parent-child contact during a voluntary kinship arrangement to ensure child safety. These instances should be limited in duration, resolved quickly and safety assessed frequently to determine if parent-child contact can resume.

7-10 Day Family Meeting

The 7-10 day family meeting allows the family and kinship caregivers to build consensus on the roles and responsibilities of the kinship caregivers, parents/legal guardians and DFCS during the voluntary kinship arrangement. Individuals who play a role in supporting the family during Voluntary Kinship Arrangement should be included in the 7-10 day family meeting:

  1. Parent(s)/legal guardian(s)

  2. Investigations and Family Preservation SSCM

  3. Voluntary kinship caregiver(s)

  4. Kinship Coordinator

  5. Service provider(s)

  6. Child (if age appropriate)

While preparing for and conducting the 7-10 day family meeting, adhere to confidentiality and protected health information (PHI) laws. See policy 19.3 Case Management: Solution-Focused Family Team Meetings for procedures for preparing the family and their family team members for the meeting. This includes exploring if disclosure of confidential information and/or PHI is relevant to addressing child safety and necessary for the purpose of the meeting and obtaining informed consent prior to disclosure.

The family meeting should:

  1. Define the roles and responsibilities of all the kinship caregivers and discuss the requirements of the out-of-home safety plan;

  2. Develop a plan with the parent and the voluntary kinship caregiver(s) to ensure the minimal disruption to the child’s life and the child’s needs are being met, including parent-child contact (if applicable);

  3. Identify who is responsible for transporting the child to and from school, how medical needs will be addressed and any other well-being concerns;

  4. Further explore the voluntary kinship caregiver’s capacity to continue the care of the child on a temporary basis;

  5. Explain the parent/caregiver remains financially responsible for the child while in the care of the voluntary kinship caregiver(s);

  6. Clearly articulate that the child is not in DFCS custody;

  7. Discuss alternative safety responses, including foster care or an in-home safety plan.

Kinship Caregiver 45th Day Meeting

The Kinship Caregiver 45th day meeting assists the SSCM, family and kinship caregivers in ensuring that the case is progressing as needed to return the child(ren) home within the 90-day timeframe. The meeting should be used to discuss:

  1. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) progress toward meeting the conditions of return;

  2. Any additional safety threats that exist;

  3. Barriers to returning the child home within the 90-day timeframe;

  4. Families’ progress with services;

  5. The voluntary kinship caregiver’s willingness to be a placement resource, if the child enters foster care; and

  6. Next steps to ensure permanency for the children.

The case manager and supervisor must be honest and transparent with the family about the status of their case and the likelihood of them meeting the 90-day timeframe. The 45th day kinship caregiver meeting should be heavily focused on resolving or mitigating the safety threats that exist and prevent the child(ren) from returning home within the 90-day time frame.

The 45th day meeting may be conducted in conjunction with the initial FPS FTM if all areas are addressed.

Addressing Barriers and/or Lack of Progress in Voluntary Kinship Care

Barriers are defined as circumstances that prevent the parent/legal guardian(s) from obtaining the conditions of returns. When barriers arise, they should be thoroughly evaluated, including determining how the barriers impact safety. Engage the family, voluntary kinship caregivers, and service providers regarding the barriers and how it is impacting the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) from obtaining the conditions of return. Hold an FTM with the family, supervisor, Kinship Coordinator and the voluntary kinship caregiver to develop a plan to overcome the barrier(s). Some barriers may not be able to be addressed immediately. In addition, some barriers may require court interventions to allot time for the family and permanency for the children. If it is determined that court intervention is needed, make every effort to discuss within the FTM.

Multiple Voluntary Kinship Caregivers

In cases, involving large sibling groups it may be necessary to have multiple voluntary kinship caregivers. If multiple kinship caregivers are needed ensure the Kinship Assessment is completed for each voluntary kinship caregiver. Invite each voluntary kinship caregiver to the family meeting and ensure that communication with each caregiver is maintained during the voluntary kinship arrangement. There may also be times when a child has to be moved to another voluntary kinship caregiver during the 90-day time frame. If this occurs a family meeting should be convened to ensure everyone is clear on the expectations and timeframe for the kinship placement. A kinship assessment must be completed for the new voluntary kinship caregiver.

The 90-calendar day timeframe for a child to be in a voluntary kinship caregiver is calculated cumulatively from the date the initial voluntary kinship arrangement went into effect and does not begin again when/if a child has to be moved to another voluntary kinship caregiver. Under no circumstances should a child be in a voluntary kinship arrangement beyond 90 calendar days.

Kinship Coordinator

The Kinship Coordinators partner with kinship caregivers to identify needs of the caregivers and children that would impact the kinship caregivers’ ability to provide adequate care for the child(ren). Following the Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment, the Kinship Coordinator will partner with the SSCM to provide or arrange individualized services to address the identified needs. This includes providing kinship caregivers with information about how to access health care for the child, financial support and public benefits, legal assistance, emergency services, etc. and/or linking the kinship caregiver with community services such as support groups and counseling. In addition, kinship caregivers are provided information on the court system, including the different types of hearings, court procedures, and the kinship caregiver’s role in any court proceedings. The Kinship Coordinator’s involvement begins at the initiation of out-of-home care with a kinship caregiver and continues until the voluntary kinship arrangement is no longer needed or through the continuum if the child must enter foster care and is placed in a foster care kinship resource.

Full Disclosure

Full disclosures will be provided to the voluntary kinship caregiver by the Kinship Coordinator when the child(ren) enters the home of the kinship caregiver.

  1. Explain the role and responsibilities of a voluntary kinship caregiver.

  2. Ensure that the kinship caregiver is willing to maintain the child(ren)'s safety and well-being.

  3. Identify the role the kinship caregiver(s) has in assisting the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) in achieving the conditions for return.

  4. Explain agency terms and definitions (i.e. kinship caregiver, TAFC, conditions for return), including DFCS requirement to abide by HIPAA) and confidentiality standards.

  5. Explore the available services.

  6. Inform of legal options and financial support.

  7. Advise how to access the Kinship Navigator Program.

  8. Explore short term and long-term implications for caring for a child(ren) who is unable to live with their parent(s)/legal guardian(s).

  9. Provide the Kinship Pathway to help kin caregivers navigate DFCS.

  10. Advise decisions will be made in partnership with the family based upon individual needs of the child(ren) and family, while considering safety, permanency, and well-being.

Although full disclosure is the discussion with the kinship caregiver, information will also be provided in writing to the kin caregivers via the Kinship Pathways. The kinship caregiver(s) will sign the Disclosure Statement Form acknowledging the discussion and receipt of the written information. The Kinship Coordinator will provide subsequent updated full disclosures when the permanency plan changes (i.e. non-reunification, adoption) or there is change in the kinship caregiver’s role (i.e. a kinship placement caregiver that transitioning into a kinship foster parent).

Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment

Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment is a conduit to facilitate a discussion with the kinship caregivers regarding the tangible needs they will require to successfully care for the child(ren). The Needs Assessment assists the parent, kinship caregivers, case manager, and community providers to accurately identify what services and supports would be needed to strengthen the out-of-home arrangement. The Kinship Caregiver Needs Assessment is an ongoing evaluation that is child and caregiver focused. Every kinship caregiver will have different needs based on their parenting experience and skills, prior knowledge of the child, and community resource knowledge. It should be expected that the identified needs of the kinship caregiver will change throughout the agency involvement.

Power of Attorney

The Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal agreement between the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and the voluntary kinship caregiver that enables the voluntary kinship caregiver to act in the parent’s place on behalf of the child. A POA is used to support the voluntary kinship caregivers during a voluntary kinship arrangement, in instances where the parent is not readily available or accessible to exercise their parental authority such as registering the child in school and authorizing medical care or treatment.

Prior to initiating the voluntary kinship arrangement, the SSCM will inform the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of the option of entering into a POA with the voluntary kinship caregiver. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s)’ decision to enter into the POA is their own and they should be encouraged to consult an attorney about any concerns prior to initiating the POA. If the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) wish to establish a POA, inform the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) the following:

  1. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and voluntary kinship caregiver is responsible for completing the POA.

  2. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and voluntary kinship caregiver need to file the POA in the probate court of the county where the child resides.

  3. The voluntary kinship caregiver must maintain an original POA as proof of their authority to make decisions of behalf of the child.

  4. A copy of the POA needs to be provided to the DFCS SSCM.

  5. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) has the right to dissolve the POA.

The POA does not terminate the parent’s legal authority/right or dismiss DFCS involvement.

Forms and Tools

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