Maryland Kinship Care 101: Ki sa li ye ak kijan li ede
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 when family or a non-relative steps in to help during a parental hardship.
This guide to kinship care helps Marylanders understand kinship care and the benefits available. Many families are making a difference in this way and do not realize benefits are available to help them as a kinship family!
Ki sa ki se swen fanmi?
In Maryland, kinship care is when a relative or family by choice (non-relative) cares for a non-biological child 24/7 in their home.
This temporary out-of-home care is called kinship care.
It keeps the children in a familiar family environment and connected to their community and culture.
Maryland's Kin-First Approach
Maryland's "Kin-First" approach focuses on placing children with relatives or close family friends when a parent can't care for their child due to a serious hardship.
Under the "kin-first" culture, when a child enters foster care, the Department of Social Services will try to find a kinship caregiver. This choice is preferred because it builds on existing relationships and family bonds. That familiarity with the people and environment provides a smooth transition for the child to continue developing and thriving.
Kalite Swen fanmi
Gen moun k ap bay swen fanmi fòmèl ak enfòmèl.
Formal
Avèk Kinship Care (fòmèl), Depatman Sèvis Sosyal lokal la mete yon timoun ki vin nan atansyon yo ak yon moun k ap pran swen fanmi. Fanmi an kenbe gad epi li bay swen 24/7.
Informal
With Informal Kinship Care, a relative or non-relative adult provides care and custody for a child due to serious family hardship. Legal custody is not required, and the child is not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local Department of Social Services.
If a mother, father, or legal guardian experiences a serious hardship, they can place their child in informal kinship care. It’s a living arrangement for a child not in the care, custody, or guardianship of the local Department of Social Services.
What's a serious hardship?
The qualifying circumstances include these serious hardships:
- Abandone
- Anprizone yon paran
- Lanmò paran yo
- Maladi grav
- Abandone paran yo
- Itilizasyon sibstans
- Devwa militè aktif
Who Can Provide Kinship Care?
Kinship care is a full-time living arrangement with a relative or an individual with a long-standing relationship with the child or family. The kinship caregiver nurtures, supports, and protects the child until a permanent solution is found.
Relatives
In Maryland, a kinship parent can be an individual related by blood or marriage. That may be:
- grandparent
- aunt/uncle
- cousin
- sibling
- another relative
Family by choice (non-relative)
Additionally, the kinship parent may have a long-standing relationship with the child or family. This is called family by choice (non-relative). That may be a:
- close family friend
- godparent
- neighbor
- teacher
- church member
- biological parents of a child’s sibling
How does kinship help the child?
Kinship can be a positive experience because it keeps the child connected to their family and culture.
These living arrangements support the child’s well-being in the following ways:
- Provide stability.
- Provide a safe environment.
- Give the child time to heal.
- Reduce stress and minimize trauma.
- Make it easier to adjust/transition.
- Less disruptive to daily life – academic, social, and emotional.
- Help the child thrive – developmentally, socially, emotionall,y and behaviorally.
- Preserve cultural identity.
- Encourage sibling ties.
- Maintain and strengthen family connections.
- Reduce feelings of loss and separation.
- Help the child feel like they belong, as it’s a familiar environment and people.
- Boost the resilience of the child and parent.
While there are many positives, these relationships can challenge family dynamics. Get connected to resources and support that can help in these situations.
How do you know if kinship is right for you?
There are numerous benefits to kinship care.
La Biwo Timoun yo, yon biwo Administrasyon pou Timoun ak Fanmi, sijere ou poze tèt ou kesyon tankou sa yo pou asire ke li se pi bon desizyon pou ou, fanmi ou ak timoun nan:
- Èske ou ka pran swen timoun ki pa pwòp ou a?
- Èske w vle pran swen timoun sa yo?
- Ki jan li pral afekte fanmi ou?
- Èske swen sa a pral gen yon enpak negatif sou sante mantal oswa emosyonèl ou?
- Èske w ap ede w jwenn yon kay pèmanan pou timoun nan? Sa ka lakay ou, reyinifikasyon ak paran yo oswa yon lòt opsyon.
- Èske ou ka sipòte bezwen sosyal, devlopman, akademik ak medikal timoun nan?
- Èske w ka amelyore devlopman sosyal ak fizik timoun nan?
- Ki sipò w ap bezwen pou asire swen sa a?
Are You Using These Benefits?
Moun k ap pran swen fanmi yo souvan pa rann kont timoun ki anba swen yo elijib pou benefis yo.
La Annie E. Casey Foundation points out that 88% of kinship caregivers do not use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), even though nearly all are eligible.
In Maryland, there are several ways to apply for benefit programs:
- Online: Maryland Benefits (formerly MyMDTHINK)
- Visiting: Local Department of Social Services
- Calling: 1-833-373-5867
If you are unsure whether you qualify, there is a quick 5-minute survey on Maryland Benefits to find available benefits for your family.
Maryland Benefits available
Applicants may be eligible for these benefits:
- Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Maryland’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program Child Only Grant
- Child support
- Food stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Child Care Scholarship Program (CCS)
- Medicaid-Medical Assistance (MA) se yon pwogram leta ki bay pwoteksyon sante pou moun ki bezwen èd selon laj, avèg, andikap, bezwen medikal, oswa k ap viv nan yon mezon retrèt.
- Asistans sèvis piblik
All applications are done through Maryland Benefits. There are additional benefits available, but the applications are made through other government systems.
Maryland Health Connection
- Health benefits are provided for higher-income uninsured children up to age 19 through the Pwogram Sante Timoun Maryland (MCHP).
Administrasyon Sekirite Sosyal
- In the case of a deceased or disabled parent for a child in your care, you may be eligible for survivor benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Aplike ak Administrasyon Sekirite Sosyal.
211 can also help informal kinship caregivers find community resources, such as mental health support, food pantries, housing assistance, and more.
How To Get Kinship Help
Search the 211 Community Resource Database for kinship resources and other essential needs like food and housing.
Enter a ZIP code and find resources nearby.
Kinship Affidavits
Affidavits may be required for school enrollment or for medical care for the child.
Afidavi Swen Sante
Konsantman pou afidavi sou swen sante a pèmèt moun k ap pran swen fanmi an jwenn swen sante pou timoun nan swen an. Timoun nan ka oswa pa gen dwa nan gad DSS la.
Edikasyon Yon Timoun Nan Swen Parente
If a school-aged child is in kinship care, they can attend public school where they live. With informal kinship care (not involving social services), the relative caregiver must complete an affidavit testifying to the serious hardship of the biological parent.
The Children in Informal Kinship Care Affidavit for education enables the informal relative caregiver to enroll the child in school and serve as their advocate and point of contact.
Kinship Support: MDKinCares
La Depatman Sèvis Imen Maryland ak 211 Maryland gen yon nouvo fason pou konekte ak granparan ak fanmi k ap pran swen yon timoun paran yo pa kapab oswa pa vle elve yo.
MDKinCare bay:
- Aksè rapid nan enfòmasyon ak resous kominote yo.
- Ankouraje mesaj sipò.
Tèks MDKinCares nan 898211
On mobile, you can click the button.
*211 Maryland ofri pwogram alèt mesaj tèks ki bay enfòmasyon sou resous espesifik rejyon yo oswa ki bay alèt pou katastwòf. Msg. & done pousantaj yo ka aplike ak msg. frek. ka varye. Pou Èd, ekri HELP. Pou refize, ekri STOP nan menm nimewo a. Tèm konplè SMS nan https://211md.org/sms/ pral aplike tou.
Other Information for Kinship Families
Navigasyon fanmi: Ki jan yo jwenn sipò ak simonte defi
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Jwenn èd ak konpòtman timoun yo
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Sipò pou Timoun ak Fanmi
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Jwenn Swen Sante gratis ak bon mache
Èske w ap chèche yon klinik sante gratis oswa a pri abòdab oswa yon lòt resous medikal? Sèvis sante yo ka gen ladan yo tès depistaj prevantif, tès laboratwa, swen pou matènite,...
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Rele 211
Pale ak yon moun ki gen sousi pou ou epi ki gen konpasyon 24 sou 24, 7 jou sou 7. Yo kapab tou mete ou an kontak ak resous.
eksplore pwogram asistans yo
Aprann plis sou pwogram benefis yo ak kijan pou kontakte sipò.
Manje
Manje gratis tou pre mwen, gadmanje, SNAP, WIC, ekonomi sou makèt.
Lojman
Peman lwaye, prevansyon ekspilsyon, abri pou moun ki san kay.
Sèvis piblik yo
Pwogram asistans pou bòdwo elektrisite, gaz ak dlo.
Imigrasyon
Èd imigrasyon pou nouvo Ameriken ak refijye yo
eksplore pwogram asistans yo
Aprann plis sou pwogram benefis yo ak kijan pou kontakte sipò.
Manje
Manje gratis tou pre mwen, gadmanje, SNAP, WIC, ekonomi sou makèt
Sèvis piblik yo
Pwogram asistans pou bòdwo elektrisite, gaz ak dlo
Lojman
Peman lwaye, prevansyon ekspilsyon, abri pou moun ki san kay
Imigrasyon
Èd imigrasyon pou nouvo Ameriken ak refijye yo
