What you should know about kinship care

On Behalf of | Jan 9, 2020 | family law

Families come together in many different ways. In Ohio, it is not uncommon for grandparents to raise their grandchildren. In any situation where parents cannot care for their children, someone has to step in to provide the children with a safe and loving home. The state will usually turn to family and people close to the family to try to find a suitable placement.

The idea of kinship care is where a family member or someone familiar with the child and the family takes custody of a child. According to the Public Children Services Association of Ohio, kinship care is preferable to foster homes or other options because it has a better chance of working out and preventing the child from having to move homes often. In addition, it allows children to be with someone who has a close connection with them.

Some details

Kinship care may be temporary or permanent, depending on the situation. Anyone familiar with the family can take in a child under kinship care. This may include a teacher or a coach.

The kinship program offers a range of benefits and services for kinship caregivers. These can help to make it easier on them financially and to otherwise take in the child. Services include help with child care and buying food. They also include benefits for medical care and financial support through the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program.

Grandparents can also get a grandparent power of attorney and caregiver affidavit. These documents provide the grandparent with the rights to enroll the child in school, get him or her medical care and handle other legal needs when there is no legal custody order from the courts.

Taking in a child is not always easy, but when it is a child who you care about, it may be something that you feel compelled to do. Providing him or her with a safe, loving home when his or her parents cannot do so can be a very rewarding experience.

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