Vol. 4, No. 1 • Fall 1999

Important Information for Kinship Caregivers

The Washington, DC-based DC Kinship Care Coalition, Inc. recommends that every kinship caregiver gather the following information and keep it in a safe but easily accessible place, since many people have reported long delays in getting needed benefits and services without them. Birth certificate for the child Death certificates for the parents if they are deceased Social Security card for the child Insurance care (whether Medicaid or private insurance) Medical consent form Legal custody/guardianship orders Immunization records Dental records Education records, such as report cards Log highlighting things the caregiver does for the child (parent-teacher conferences, meetings with DSS, medical/dental appointments, major expenses, court proceedings, etc.)

Reprinted from Flick, J., & Boyette, S. (1999). Child placement: A curriculum for North Carolina�s child welfare social workers. Chapel Hill, NC: Jordan Institute for Families, UNC-CH School of Social Work.

Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families