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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Father’s Day can bring up a range of emotions for children in foster care—joy, confusion, grief, or even uncertainty.
As a foster parent, your presence, empathy, and patience can make a world of difference. 💙
Swipe through to read a few things to keep in mind this Father’s Day
#FathersDay #FosterParentTips
Jun 21
This Father’s Day, we celebrate all the dads, father figures, mentors, and male caregivers who show up, support, and shape lives every day.
At Cayuga Centers, we know that men play a vital role in the lives of children—especially in foster care. Despite outdated myths, men make incredible foster parents, bringing stability, compassion, and leadership to youth who need it most.
To every father figure helping a child feel safe and seen: thank you. 💙
Jun 19
Today and every March, we celebrate the contributions of social workers everywhere. We are especially grateful for the social workers who are an integral part of our team. Your commitment to helping those we serve and fostering positive change in our communities is inspiring. #SocialWorkDay #SocialWorkers
Mar 17
🌟 Employee Spotlight: Yanina Intriago, LCSW, SIPI! 🌟
Yanina joined Cayuga Centers in 2018 as an MSW Intern and has since become an invaluable Clinician in our Unaccompanied Children Transitional Foster Care Program. Her dedication and compassion shine through every day, making a lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve. #MeetOurChangemakers
Feb 17
Your words matter #FosterCayugaCenters
Feb 12
Your words matter. #FosterCayugaCenters
Feb 10
Not every win makes the highlight reel, but they still matter. Here’s to the foster parenting victories worth celebrating. #FosterCayugaCenters
Feb 5
Not every win makes the highlight reel, but they still matter. Here’s to the foster parenting victories worth celebrating. #FosterCayugaCenters
Feb 4
Not every win makes the highlight reel, but they still matter. Here’s to the foster parenting victories worth celebrating. #FosterCayugaCenters
Feb 3
“It’s more than a career—it’s a calling.”
Meet Luis Madera, Assistant Director of Curriculum & Instructional Technology, whose work empowers staff and foster parents with the tools they need to support children and families every day.
An ordained minister, Luis approaches his work as a ministry of service.
Read Luis’s #employeespotlight and learn what drives his work #LinkinBio
Jan 31
Most people believe at least one false thing about foster parenting.
#fostercayugacenters
Jan 29
Meet Peggy Buckley, LSW — a clinician with our Pittsburgh Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC) program! 🧡
For four years, she has supported children and families with empathy, skill, and dedication. Her work helps foster healing, stability, and connection for those we serve.
Swipe through to learn more about Peggy`s experience.
We’re grateful for everything you do, Peggy! 🌟
#CayugaCenters #MeetOurChangeMakers
Jan 21
