The Impact of Kinship on Caregivers, Children, & Family Systems MGS Webinar Jan. 29, 2009

Improving lives of grandparents, other relatives and the children they are raising.

Presenters MKCA Sharon Durken, MS MKCA Executive Director Statewide Kinship Network Advocacy for kinship caregivers Education, information, referrals Kinship Kid MKCA Board of Directors Sharon Olson Grandparent raising Grandchildren VP MKCA & GrandFamilies of America Children’s Justice Initiative committee Sherburne County Safe Child Council member MKCA public policy comm. Chair Kinship advocate & mentor

Nationwide, there are 6.7 million children living in relative households, 2.4 million without parents present. (US Census). 225,000 increase in the past 5 years. There are 600,000 living in foster homes.

System Overwhelmed Nationally if 1 million of the 6.7 million children living with grandparents or relatives were in the foster care system it would cost taxpayers about $6.5 billion dollars each year. This figure was calculated based on the Federal share of the 2000 average monthly foster care maintenance payment estimated at $545. Generations United 2002

Formal – Informal Kinship Care Formal or informal …15% and 85%. Support & resources? Formal-child protection-county custody-juvenile court-foster care- benefits, resources, case plan, social worker… Informal-Grandma got there first. Child only grant-$ per month. Impact in Minnesota… If all the informally raised kids were in the formal system….

At home in Minnesota, the trend is staggering. About 34,000 children live in homes headed by grandparents, 19,000 live without the parent present. Another 14,000 children live with other relatives. Total 48,000 children.

How Grand Kids Arrive Slowly spend more and more time with relatives Ask to live with grandma Are dropped off County or police call Parents request Relative rescues kids Sharon O. story

Why Are Older People Parenting Today ? Drug and alcohol Incarceration Death Illness Neglect and abuse Money Divorce Domestic violence Family or community crises Military deployment

Kinship Caregiver Issues Coping Grief, loss, fear, anger, resentment, stress, insecurity, attachment Social isolation Stigma Who can I talk to? Finances Tired-respite Friends Relationships Pain Parenting Different world Where to get help Living arrangements

Children’s Needs Stability, permanence, history, a home where they belong, fewer disruptions, and family ties. Dr. Rubin’s study

The Impact of Kinship on Relationships Unique Relationship Challenges Struggle between caregiver and children about the caregivers parenting role On-going conflict between caregiver and biological parent of the child Conflict between biological parent and child Time with spouse and other friends or family are sacrificed Jealousy of other family members Positive Influences on Relationships Providing secure and safe environment for children to grow A closer relationship between caregivers and children that may not have happened outside of this situation **Having a strong social and emotional support system is important for providing quality care to grandchildren and other relatives’ children.

Support Groups Why Join? Others who share similar concerns, issues, losses. Understanding facilitator able to focus group discussions. Educational speakers. New friends. Keeps depression at bay. Share health concerns. Get advice from others raising relative children. Kinship children Dagwood sandwich generation Activities geared to kinship families Small groups Others who care Listeners Non-judgmental Peer mentors

Region 3 Child Care Choices (covers twenty-seven counties) Region 4 Child Care Resources & Referral (covers twenty counties) Region 5 Lutheran Social Service (covers nine counties) Region 6 Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (covers six reservations) Region 1 Mahube Community Council (covers nineteen counties) Region 2 AEOA Rock Program, (covers thirteen counties) Special Services TC Arc – Disability support The Village Family Services-St. Cloud- counseling

First Steps: Getting Started Raising Relatives' Children, a resource guide full of practical information and suggestions has been developed for grandparents and others raising relatives' children and children of friends. Legal Steps provides basic information on how to get the legal authority to make decisions for a child, how to get legal custody of a child and the benefits and services available to help care for a child. NEW…Legal Steps Video, companion to Legal Steps Manual…order now!!

Resources -Defacto Laws MN has model law, 257C effective Aug. 1, To date, not challenged in court. First state with defacto law: Kentucky,. Kinship Support and Navigator Bills introduced to 2007 & 8 MN Legislature by MKCA.

2009 Legislation Impact of kinship legislation on kinship families. Network advocacy Federal legislation

Questions What impact do you see on kinship families? How can you address their needs? What support does your organization offer? How can the entire extended kinship family be supported?

Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association Contact Information: 161 St. Anthony Ave, Suite 940 St. Paul, MN Sharon J. Durken Executive Director Sharon Olson Grandparent MKCA Board member

More Resources Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association GrandFamilies of America Children's Defense Fund Generations United CLASP