Navegación de parentesco: cómo encontrar apoyo y superar los desafíos
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 o
- 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
- seguro de salud
- asistencia de servicios públicos
- Social Security benefits
Learn about each of these benefit programs in 211's Kinship 101 Guide.
Get supportive text messages
211 Maryland y el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Maryland también envían mensajes de texto conectando a los abuelos y familiares con recursos y apoyo.
MDKinCare proporciona:
- Fácil acceso a la información y los recursos de la comunidad.
- Mensajes de aliento
Envíe MDKinCares al 898-211.
211 Maryland ofrece programas de alerta de mensajes de texto que brindan información de recursos específicos de la región o brindan alertas de desastres. Envía STOP al mismo número para cancelar la suscripción. Términos completos de SMS en https://211md.org/sms/ también se aplicará.
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 Centro de Vida Progresista, 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
Él Centro colaborativo de desarrollo de capacidades de bienestar infantil video series helps families learn from others who have overcome kinship challenges for the benefit and well-being of the child.
Él 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.
Colocación Permanente
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.
Marque 211
Habla con una persona atenta y compasiva las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana. También puede ponerte en contacto con recursos.
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.
- Los padres y el cuidador pueden tener que enfrentarse a sentimientos desafiantes como culpa, vergüenza, ira, desconfianza, resentimiento y pérdida.
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.
Se alienta a los padres y a los parientes cuidadores a:
- Escucharnos y apoyarnos unos a otros.
- Sea honesto acerca de las necesidades y preocupaciones.
- Mostrar empatía hacia los desafíos de los demás.
- Reconocer las dificultades de todos los involucrados.
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: qué es y cómo ayuda
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…
Apoyo a niños y familias
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.…
Cómo ayuda WIC de Maryland a mujeres, bebés y niños con alimentos
WIC ofrece cupones de alimentos a futuras mamás elegibles, nuevas mamás lactantes y niños de hasta 5 años. Infórmese sobre la elegibilidad y conéctese con…
Maryland’s Guide to Free Food
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Estampillas para alimentos de Maryland/Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP)
Cupones de Alimentos. El Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP), antes conocido como cupones de alimentos, brinda asistencia financiera a hogares de bajos ingresos para que puedan comprar alimentos. Para…
Campamentos de verano, programas y apoyo alimentario para niños
¿Te preguntas cómo mantener a tu hijo ocupado durante las vacaciones de verano? Hay programas de recreación gratuitos o de bajo costo disponibles en tu...
Encuentre recursos ahora
Encontrar recursos comunitarios Para alimentación, salud, vivienda y más en nuestra base de datos. Busque por código postal.
explorar programas de asistencia
Obtenga información sobre los programas de beneficios y cómo conectarse con el apoyo.
Alimento
Comida gratis cerca de mí, despensas, SNAP, WIC, ahorros en comestibles.
Alojamiento
Pagos de alquiler, prevención de desalojos, refugios para personas sin hogar.
Utilidades
Programas de asistencia con facturas de electricidad, gas y agua.
Inmigración
Ayuda de inmigración para nuevos estadounidenses y refugiados
explorar programas de asistencia
Obtenga información sobre los programas de beneficios y cómo conectarse con el apoyo.
Alimento
Comida gratis cerca de mí, despensas, SNAP, WIC, ahorros en comestibles
Utilidades
Programas de asistencia para facturas de electricidad, gas y agua
Alojamiento
Pagos de alquiler, prevención de desalojos, refugios para personas sin hogar
Inmigración
Ayuda de inmigración para nuevos estadounidenses y refugiados
