Maryland Kinship Care 101: What It Is And How It Helps
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!
What is kinship care?
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.
Types Of Kinship Care
There are formal and informal kinship caregivers.
Formal
With Kinship Care (formal), the local Department of Social Services places a child who comes to their attention with a relative caregiver. The relative maintains custody and provides 24/7 care.
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:
- Abandonment
- Incarceration of a parent
- Death of parents
- Serious illness
- Parental abandonment
- Substance use
- Active Military Duty
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.
The Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children and Families, suggests you ask yourself questions like these to ensure it’s the best decision for you, your family and the child:
- Can you care for children that are not your own?
- Are you willing to care for these children?
- How will it impact your family?
- Will this care negatively impact your mental or emotional health?
- Will you assist in finding a permanent home for the child? That may be your home, reunification with the parents or another option.
- Can you support the child’s social, developmental, academic and medical needs?
- Can you further the child’s social and physical development?
- What support will you need to ensure this care?
Are You Using These Benefits?
Kinship caregivers often don’t realize the children under their care are eligible for benefits.
The 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) is a state program that provides health coverage for individuals who need help based on age, blindness, disability, medical need, or living in a nursing home.
- Utility assistance
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 Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP).
Social Security Administration
- 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). Apply with the Social Security Administration.
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.
Health Care Affidavits
The consent for health care affidavit allows the relative caregiver to get health care for the child in their care. The child may or may not be in the custody of DSS.
Education Of A Child In Kinship Care
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
The Maryland Department of Human Services and 211 Maryland have a new way to connect with grandparents and relatives caring for a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to raise them.
MDKinCare provides:
- Quick access to information and community resources.
- Encouraging messages of support.
Text MDKinCares to 898211
On mobile, you can click the button.
*211 Maryland offers text message alert programs which provide region-specific resource information or provide disaster alerts. Msg. & data rates may apply and msg. freq. may vary. For Help, text HELP. To opt-out, text STOP to the same number. Full SMS terms at https://211md.org/sms/ will also apply.
Other Information for Kinship Families
Kinship Navigation: How To Find Support and Overcome Challenges
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…
Getting Help with Child Behaviors
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How Maryland WIC Helps Women, Infants and Children with Food
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Support for Children and Families
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.…
Find Free and Low-Cost Health Care
Are you looking for a free or low-cost health clinic or another medical resource? The health services may include preventive screenings, lab tests, maternity care,…
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…
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explore assistance programs
Learn about benefit programs and how to connect with support.
Utilities
Electric, gas, and water bill assistance programs
Housing
Rental payments, eviction prevention, homeless shelters
Immigration
Immigration help for new Americans and refugees
