by Glenda Clare \u2022<\/p>\n
Grandparents and other relatives (often referred to as kinship caregivers or heads of grandfamilies) often assume custody after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor or visiting and finding dirty, unfed children alone in a messy home.<\/p>\n
In times of crisis, relatives step in to care for the children. Parental abuse of alcohol and other drugs, death, illness, domestic violence, or incarceration are often the trigger for kinship care arrangements. Even when the child welfare system isn\u2019t involved, families often take care of their own.<\/p>\n
You Are Not Alone<\/span><\/strong> Kinship Caregiver Needs<\/strong><\/span> Following are areas of support needed by children and the members of their grandfamilies who are not involved with the child welfare system:<\/p>\n Help Does Exist<\/span><\/strong> FFPSA: Help is on the Way!<\/span><\/strong> Programs for grandfamilies in and outside the child welfare system are being developed. A more extensive list of existing programs can be found on the North Carolina Grandfamilies Fact Sheet created by Generations United: https:\/\/bit.ly\/2KXNQoU<\/a><\/p>\n Glenda Clare is the North Carolina representative to the Generations United National GrAND Voices Network. She is a Family Partner Specialist at the Center for Family and Community Engagement at North Carolina State University and a former kinship caregiver.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIf you are caring for a relative\u2019s child and child welfare is not involved, you are not alone. Today in North Carolina more than 225,000 children live in homes headed by a grandparent or other relative (Grandfamilies, 2018). Of these children, just over 2,600 (1.2%) are in DSS custody (Duncan, et al., 2019).<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
\nUnlike foster and adoptive parents, family members who bring children into their homes during a crisis have no time to plan. This can leave them with unmet needs. In addition, many services and resources are available only to those who obtain foster care licensing.<\/p>\n\n
\nA limited number of programs are available for children in and outside the child welfare system–click here<\/a><\/strong> to download a list. Eligibility for most is based on family income. Contact your county department of social services for more information.<\/p>\n
\nUnder the age of 60 and part of the workforce, most grandfamilies are ineligible for services based on family income. They have significant need but are eligible for only a few resources and services. The federal Family First Prevention Services Act<\/a> (FFPSA), enacted in February 2018, will bring additional help to families. Services that FFPSA will bring to North Carolina in the near future include:<\/p>\n\n