Washington State Offers Support for Kinship Caregivers – Find Resources and Assistance this National Family Caregivers Month!
November 8, 2023
If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative raising a child who is not yours by birth, you are a kinship caregiver!
Kinship care is a term used in the United States for the raising of children by grandparents, other extended family members, and adults with whom they have a close family-like relationship, such as godparents and close family friends, because biological parents are unable to do so for any reason.
As a kinship caregiver, you may be wondering what resources are available to help your newly formed family. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has many resources, including Kinship Navigators in 30 of the 39 counties. Kinship Navigators can help you find resources such as support groups, childcare resources, resources for children with special needs, educational advocacy, health care resources, financial help, emergent needs funding, durable goods, counseling, housing, legal resources, respite, and summer youth activities. Separately, the Kinship Caregiver Support Program can help with connecting kinship caregivers to community resources and information, help navigate governmental systems, provide support, avoid crisis, and establish greater stability.
Interested in learning more about Kinship Navigators or the Kinship Navigator Program, Aging & Long Term Care can help.
Visit www.altcew.org/programs-services/family-raising-family or call our Community Living Connections helpline at (509) 960-7281.
