Kinship Care
Kinship care is the provision of full-time nurturing and protection of children by adults other than parents who have a family bond with the children. Most of the time, this nurturing and protection is provided by grandparents when original families are torn apart by substance abuse, incarceration, death, mental and physical illness or child abuse and neglect.
In response to the growing numbers of these kinship care families, state legislatures, public and private agencies, and grassroots coalitions in Ohio and across the country, have begun to expand services and supports for children living with kin inside and outside of the foster care system.
Kinship Care and Ohio's Foster Care System
Preference for kinship placements: state policy requires that relatives (kin) be considered first when an out-of-home placement is sought for a child who is a ward of the state.
Licensing for Kinship Foster Parents
There is no separate licensing program for kinship foster parents. Relatives have to meet the same licensing standards as non-relative foster parents. They also receive the same foster care payment rate as non-relative foster parents.
For more information, visit KinshipOhio.org.