Verwandtschaftsnavigation: Wie man Unterstützung findet und Herausforderungen überwindet
Kinship care provides stability, safety, and support for children in a familiar environment. In Maryland, kinship navigation services can help families access benefits and support and manage any challenges.
How does kinship work?
Many families are kinship caregivers and don't even know it, because it was at the request of the parent due to a serious hardship. So, it's an informal and temporary arrangement.
Kinship caregivers provide 24/7 care in the home of a relative or family by choice (non-relative). This keeps kids connected to their culture and community.
The child may be placed in a caregiver's home:
- at the request of the local Department of Social Services oder
- through an informal request from the child’s parent if they encounter a serious hardship
Kinship caregivers partner with the child and their biological parent.
That new relationship can challenge family dynamics and impact the child, parent, and the caregiver's family.
While the 24/7 care is supposed to be temporary, sometimes the kinship caregiver becomes part of the permanent solution by adopting the child or becoming their legal guardian.
Kinship navigators can help caregivers navigate the process and connect them to available resources and benefits. Nationally, kinship caregivers underutilize available benefits, often because they don't know they are a kinship caregiver or that resources and benefits exist.
Kinship Navigation Help
Kinship navigators are available to help families navigate assistance programs.
You can dial 211 and get connected to a kinship navigator. They are knowledgeable about kinship benefits and community resources that can offer support.
The child may be eligible for:
- Temporary Cash Assistance/Child Only Grant
- food stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- child care
- Krankenversicherung
- Versorgungshilfe
- Social Security benefits
Learn about each of these benefit programs in 211's Kinship 101 Guide.
Get supportive text messages
211 Maryland und das Maryland Department of Human Services senden auch Textnachrichten, die Großeltern und Verwandte mit Ressourcen und Unterstützung verbinden.
MDKinCare bietet:
- Einfacher Zugriff auf Informationen und Community-Ressourcen.
- Aufmunternde Botschaften
Senden Sie eine SMS mit MDKinCares an 898-211.
211 Maryland bietet SMS-Warnprogramme an, die regionsspezifische Ressourceninformationen oder Katastrophenwarnungen liefern. Senden Sie eine SMS mit STOP an dieselbe Nummer, um sich abzumelden. Vollständige SMS-Bedingungen unter https://211md.org/sms/ wird auch gelten.
Learn from other kinship families
Trina Townsend cared for her niece and nephew when they were teenagers. She thought of herself as an "aunt" before learning about the available benefits.
Trina Townsend, now the Kinship Program Specialist, joined the “What’s the 211?” podcast to discuss what it's like to be a kinship provider.
She went from being a single-parent family of two to a family of five. She remembers the challenges and concerns, hoping she could financially care for the children while also supporting their needs and those of her sister.
Now educating families and connecting them to support, Trina is a resource for all kinship families.
Information for Kinship Families
211 Maryland can connect kinship families to information and resources to address essential needs. Dial 211 to talk with someone.
Community Resources for Kinship Caregivers
Kinship caregivers keep children connected to family and culture, so it can be a very positive experience. Connect with resources and support to navigate kinship.
Community organizations throughout Maryland are available to help.
Virtual and Home Visits
In Prince George’s County, you can contact the Progressives Lebenszentrum, a private care organization that provides kinship support. Virtual and home visits are available for emotional support, guidance, and they also provide access to counseling and financial assistance.
Video training
Die Kooperationszentrum für den Aufbau von Kapazitäten für das Wohlergehen von Kindern video series helps families learn from others who have overcome kinship challenges for the benefit and well-being of the child.
Die Annie E. Casey Foundation offers a training series with tips to help with feelings of loss and ambivalence when a relative comes to live with you. The training series also tackles important themes like guilt, hope, and denial.
Festanstellung
While kinship care is temporary, the placement with a kinship caregiver can last longer than expected. Kinship caregivers should plan for that possibility.
Local kinship navigator can also help to find a path forward, temporarily and permanently, for the child.
If the child is in foster care, the Department of Social Services will work to find a permanent solution. If the child can’t return to their biological parents, the kinship caregiver can become the permanent legal guardian through adoption, legal custody, or guardianship.
Wählen Sie 211
Sprechen Sie rund um die Uhr mit einer fürsorglichen und mitfühlenden Person. Sie kann Sie auch mit Ressourcen verbinden.
Navigating Challenges: Family Dynamics
Depending on the circumstances leading up to the temporary living arrangement, kinship may challenge family dynamics.
This can include the child, kinship caregiver, and biological parent(s).
- The child may need support managing stress or help to heal from trauma.
- The living arrangement can interrupt the caregiver’s plans, priorities, and privacy.
- Die Eltern und Betreuer müssen sich möglicherweise herausfordernden Gefühlen wie Schuld, Scham, Wut, Misstrauen, Groll und Verlust stellen.
It can also erode trust within the family. The biological parent may have to earn back the relative’s trust to once again care for the child.
Both the parent and kinship caregiver may also find it challenging to respect boundaries, as these are new or have changed.
The caregiver should help the parent find the support they need to heal, with the ultimate goal of returning the child to the parent’s care when possible.
What can you do?
As the kinship caregiver, you should be prepared to help the parent get the therapy, counseling, or support they need.
Die Eltern und Angehörigen werden ermutigt:
- Hören Sie zu und unterstützen Sie sich gegenseitig.
- Seien Sie ehrlich in Bezug auf Bedürfnisse und Bedenken.
- Zeigen Sie Empathie gegenüber den Herausforderungen des anderen.
- Erkennen Sie Schwierigkeiten für alle Beteiligten an.
Also, dial 211 and talk to a trained professional who can help connect you to kinship resources and community support.
Other Resources for Kinship Families
Maryland Kinship Care 101: Was es ist und wie es hilft
Caring for a relative’s child or family by choice (non-relative) makes a difference! Even if it’s an informal arrangement, this 24/7 care is kinship care…
Unterstützung für Kinder und Familien
Together, we can help Maryland’s children thrive! Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or kinship family, 211 is here to connect you to community supports.…
Wie Maryland WIC Frauen, Säuglingen und Kindern mit Lebensmitteln hilft
WIC stellt berechtigten werdenden Müttern, stillenden Müttern und Kindern bis zum Alter von 5 Jahren Lebensmittelgutscheine zur Verfügung. Informieren Sie sich über die Berechtigung und nehmen Sie Kontakt auf mit …
Maryland’s Guide to Free Food
Increasing food costs and the federal shutdown are stretching food budgets for families and individuals, and we’re here to help you learn about food assistance…
Maryland Food Stamps / Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Lebensmittelmarken Das Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), früher bekannt als Lebensmittelmarken, bietet einkommensschwachen Haushalten finanzielle Unterstützung beim Kauf von Lebensmitteln. Für…
Sommercamps, Programme und Nahrungsmittelhilfe für Kinder
Sie fragen sich, wie Sie Ihr Kind in den Sommerferien beschäftigen können? In Ihrer Region gibt es kostenlose oder kostengünstige Freizeitprogramme.
Jetzt Ressourcen finden
Finden Community-Ressourcen für Lebensmittel, Gesundheitsversorgung, Unterkunft und mehr in unserer Datenbank. Suche nach Postleitzahl.
Hilfsprogramme erkunden
Informieren Sie sich über Leistungsprogramme und wie Sie mit dem Support in Kontakt treten können.
Essen
Kostenlose Lebensmittel in meiner Nähe, Vorratskammern, SNAP, WIC, Lebensmittelersparnisse.
Gehäuse
Mietzahlungen, Räumungsschutz, Obdachlosenunterkünfte.
Dienstprogramme
Unterstützungsprogramme für Strom-, Gas- und Wasserrechnungen.
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Einwanderungshilfe für neue Amerikaner und Flüchtlinge
Hilfsprogramme erkunden
Informieren Sie sich über Leistungsprogramme und wie Sie mit dem Support in Kontakt treten können.
Essen
Kostenloses Essen in meiner Nähe, Vorratskammern, SNAP, WIC, Lebensmitteleinsparungen
Dienstprogramme
Unterstützungsprogramme für Strom-, Gas- und Wasserrechnungen
Gehäuse
Mietzahlungen, Räumungsschutz, Obdachlosenunterkünfte
Einwanderung
Einwanderungshilfe für neue Amerikaner und Flüchtlinge
