1. Supporting Kinship Placements

2. Our Agenda: 1) Put yourself in their shoes 2) identify barriers 3) identify benefits 4) identify supports 5) Practice
Supporting
Kinship Placements

3. What is kinship Care? Debrief with WHY we did this activity:
self advocacy
communication

4. Section 1: Put Yourself in their shoes

5. In their shoes: Scenario 1 The parent of the child in my care asked to spend the night at my home because they just lost their housing and have no place to stay tonight. What do you want? What do you need?
Debrief with WHY we did this activity:
self advocacy
communication

6. In their shoes: Scenario 2 The parent of the child in my care is talking about me badly to other family members and misrepresenting the case. What do you want? What do you need?
Debrief with WHY we did this activity:
self advocacy
communication

7. In their shoes: Scenario 3 The parent of the child in my care is making promises to the child that I know they won’t keep. What do you want? What do you need?
Debrief with WHY we did this activity:
self advocacy
communication

8. In their shoes: What do you want? What do you need?
Debrief with WHY we did this activity:
self advocacy
communication

9. in their shoes: understanding the Challenges
Family Dynamics
Change of Role
Lack of Time to Prepare for New Role
Emotional Impact
Financial Stress
VOTING
Then tally up and summarize:
Greater Stability
Fewer Behavioral Issues
Maintain Cultural Connections
Less Traumatic

10. Section 2: Identify barriers: Why don’t we give them what they need?

11. Identify barriers: Why don’t we give them what they need?
Caseload
Court regulations
No resources to offer
Unrealistic requests
Don’t know how to help
VOTING
Then tally up and summarize:
Greater Stability
Fewer Behavioral Issues
Maintain Cultural Connections
Less Traumatic

12. Section 3: Identify benefits: What’s so great about kinship care?

13. Identify benefits: what’s so great about kinship care?
Greater Stability
Fewer Behavioral Issues
Maintain Cultural Connections
Less Traumatic
VOTING
Then tally up and summarize:
Greater Stability
Fewer Behavioral Issues
Maintain Cultural Connections
Less Traumatic

14. Section 4: Identify supports: how can you help?

15. Identify supports: how can you help?
Clarify the benefits of being licensed
Notify them of court dates and meetings
Explore financial supports
Promote training and support groups
Spend the time now to prevent disruption later
VOTING
Then tally up and summarize:
Greater Stability
Fewer Behavioral Issues
Maintain Cultural Connections
Less Traumatic

16. Identify supports: The benefits of licensing
Foster Parent Reimbursement Program
Foster Care Payment
Respite Care
Extended Foster Care
Support from Licensor
Handout: Foster Care Licensing for Relatives DSHS

17. Identify supports: Financial services
CA involved (Open case)
Non CA Involved (Informal or Dismissed)
Foster Care Payments
Kinship Care Support Program (KCSP)
TANF/Child Only Grants
TANF
Child Care
WIC
School Free-Lunch Program
Mileage
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Adoption Support: Post adoption financial supports may be available on a case by case basis.
R-GAP: A subsidy program for children in a guardianship with relatives licensed by the Division of Licensed Resources.
Respite
Relative/Other Suitable Support Services (RSS) Funds from CA SW

18. Identify supports: medical services
Medical Insurance
Mental Health
Dental Care
Coordinated Care
DSHS x Consent to Health Care for the Child in Your Care
Local community mental health facility.
Access to Baby and Child Dentistry.
Washington Information Network (WIN) Phone: for Information and Referral Specialist (to find local dental contacts)
Washington State Department of Health
To find local Mental Health, Disabilities, and Chemical Dependency
DSHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)
DSHS Family Liaison for Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery

19. Identify supports: Educational Services
Early Intervention Services for children
birth to three.
Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program
(ECEAP)
Head Start Program
The Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO)
Treehouse Educational Services

20. Identify supports: provide Resources
Local and Online Support Groups
Helpful Resources

21. Today We covered: 1) understanding the perspective of kin care providers 2) identifying our own barriers to supporting kin care providers 3) recognizing the strong benefits of Kinship care 4) The real supports and resources we can share with kin care providers
Supporting
Kinship Placements