Kinship Foster Care
Serving Upstate NY, New York City, Pittsburgh, and Florida
What is Kinship Care?
Kinship care is a form of foster care that emphasizes keeping children and youth close to their families. Kinship caregivers include relatives, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, extended family, or fictive kin (those known to the family). Kinship care has become an important alternative to out-of-home care. Kinship placements limit disruputions, maintain family connections and cultural traditions, and minimize the trauma of separation.
Prioritizing the placement of children and youth with kin can help transform the child welfare system into one that truly supports families. Kinship caregivers are provided extra support including caregiver training, finanical support, and 24/7 support from the Cayuga Centers treatment team.
Being a Kinship caregiver is a great opportunity to support a family member or youth in your community. In general, there are three different types of kinship care, each with different rules, regulations, and available support.
Types of Kinship Care
Informal Kinship
Informal kinship care is just that, an informal agreement between family members. Informal kinship care can occur with or without government or court participation. Sometimes a parent can voluntarily agree to have their child placed with a family member to avoid the child welfare agency forcing an involuntary placement.
Formal Kinship
Formal kinship, also known as kinship care, is when a child is taken into custody and placement decisions are made by the state. Then the child welfare agency places the child with a relative. In this scenario, the state has legal custody of the child while the relative has physical custody.
Fictive Kinship
Fictive kinship is defined as an individual who is not related by birth, adoption, or marriage to a child but has a significant emotional attachment and relationship. For example, it could be your best friend, who your children call “aunt” or “uncle.”
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Learn more about Kinship Foster Care in Your State
New York Kinship Foster Care
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Were you one of the 113 million viewers who turned in to watch #SuperBowlLIX? Football season may be over, but the need to support the 358,000 youth in foster care never stops.
Message us to learn more about becoming a champion for these kids.
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Feb 10
For youth in foster care, a safe and loving home is more than just a place—it’s a chance to heal, grow, and dream. You can make an extraordinary difference by opening your heart and your door. Become a foster parent.
Visit https://cayugacenters.org/become-a-foster-parent/ to learn more or sign up for an information session today.
#FosterCare #Givethegiftofhome #FosterParenting #HolidayHope #FosterCayugaCenters #FosterLove #HolidayMagic #HolidayCheer #HappyHolidays #TisTheSeason
Dec 17
The HealthySteps for Young Children program supports parents in providing the best possible care for their babies and toddlers with funding from @thechildrenstrust. This evidence-based program promotes healthy development and nurturing parenting, strengthening the bond between parents and their children.
Learn more about our HealthySteps program and how we partner with families so they can foster a strong attachment with their children at cayugacenters.org.
#healthysteps#WhyCayugaCenters#familysupport#florida
Dec 9
For most, the holidays are a time of joy, love, and belonging. But that`s not the case for all. For youth in foster care, finding a warm, welcoming home can make all the difference—not just during the holidays, but every day.
❤️ Consider sharing your joy and your heart by becoming a foster parent. You can create a safe, supportive environment where youth can thrive.
Visit https://cayugacenters.org/become-a-foster-parent/ to learn more and sign up for an information session today.
#FosterCare #HolidayMagic #BeAFosterParent #FosterCayugaCenters
#FosterLove #holidayseason #holidaycheer
Dec 4
A key part of parenting is fostering a nurturing and open atmosphere where children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Whether it`s with family or friends, children should always feel secure among their loved ones. World Child Abuse Prevention Day prioritizes this need, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding them from harmful influences while maintaining a supportive environment. How do you ensure your home is a welcoming place for children?
Nov 19
