Kinship Care in Indiana: How Does it Work

Dec 17, 2024

Becoming a foster parent is an incredible decision that will help many children in need.

However, when a child needs a safe and loving home, the best solution is often closer than we think. In Indiana, more families are discovering the power of kinship care - a special kind of support that keeps children connected to their roots.

This approach is becoming vital in Indiana's child welfare system, offering stability and connection when children need it most.

This special kind of care isn't just about providing a suitable home for a child. It's about maintaining cultural ties, preserving family histories, and creating an environment where children can flourish surrounded by people who truly know them.

As Elizabeth Murrell, a foster parent, beautifully puts it,

"We want you to feel safe and loved in our home. We understand that this may be a new and unfamiliar environment for you, but please know that we are here to support you every step of the way."

What is Kinship Care?

Kinship care is a special arrangement where family members or close family friends care for children who can't live with their parents.

Instead of moving in with strangers, children get to stay with people they already know and trust - like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or close family friends.

Types of Kinship Care

There are two main types of kinship care:

Informal Kinship Care

Informal kinship care happens when family members or close friends step in to care for a child without involving child welfare agencies. It's a private arrangement within the family.

Imagine a situation where a grandmother takes care of her grandchildren while their mother is hospitalized. Now, picture that care extending longer - that's informal kinship care.

It's a flexible solution that allows families to support each other during challenging times.

Formal Kinship Care

On the other hand, formal kinship care involves the child welfare system.

In this case, the state officially places the child with a relative or close family friend. Similar to traditional foster parents, these caregivers must become licensed.

While it shares some similarities with traditional foster care, the key difference is that the child is placed with family or familiar faces. This approach combines the structure and support of foster care with the comfort and familiarity of family connections.

Key Differences Between Kinship Care and Traditional Foster Care

While both kinship care and traditional foster care aim to provide safe, nurturing environments for children in need, there are some key differences:

Familiarity

In kinship care, children live with people they already know and trust.

This familiarity can provide a sense of security during a challenging time. Traditional foster care, on the other hand, often involves placement with caregivers who are initially unfamiliar to the child.

While these caregivers are trained and supportive, it may take time for the child to feel comfortable in their new environment.

Cultural Continuity

Kinship care helps maintain a child's cultural identity and family traditions. Children can continue practicing familiar customs, speaking their native language, and participating in cultural events with people who share their background.

Traditional foster care may introduce children to different cultural environments. While this can be enriching, it may also present challenges in maintaining the child's original cultural connections.

Community Connections

Kinship care often allows children to stay in their familiar neighborhoods and schools. This continuity can be comforting and help maintain friendships and community ties.

Traditional foster care might require children to adapt to new communities, which can be an additional challenge during an already difficult time.

Family Dynamics

In kinship care, children often have pre-existing relationships with their caregivers. They may already know the household rules, family dynamics, and what to expect daily.

Traditional foster care requires building new relationships from the ground up. While foster care is rewarding, it can be challenging for the child and the foster family.

Transition Process

Kinship care can sometimes offer a smoother transition for children during a difficult time. Familiarity with the environment and the caregivers can help reduce the stress of being separated from parents.

Traditional foster care may involve a more significant adjustment as children adapt to new surroundings, routines, and relationships.

Kinship Care in Indiana: Legal Framework

Indiana laws and rules help ensure that kinship care works well for children and their families.

Overview of State Laws and Regulations

Indiana has some specific laws about kinship care. These laws explore guardianship, where a court allows someone who isn't the child's parent to care for them. Here are some important points:

• In Indiana, a guardian is someone the court chooses to take care of a child or their property. This person could be a relative or a close family friend.
• The guardian makes important decisions for the child, such as where they'll live and their medical care.
• Before someone can become a guardian, they must have a background check. This helps ensure the child will be safe in their new home.
• The court can set guardianship rules, such as saying the child must live with the guardian until conditions improve with their biological parents.
• There are also rules about money to help guardians care for the children. This is called guardianship assistance.

Role of the Department of Child Services (DCS)

The Department of Child Services, or DCS for short, plays a big part in kinship care in Indiana. Here's what they do:

• DCS helps the court make decisions about guardianship. They can join court hearings about guardianship.
• If someone wants to change or end a guardianship, DCS might get involved to help decide what's best for the child.
• DCS checks to ensure the people who want to be guardians are safe for the child to live with.
• They also help support guardians, such as providing financial assistance in some cases.
• If there are any big changes in guardianship, such as if the guardian can't care for the child anymore, DCS helps determine what should happen next.

Becoming a Kinship Caregiver in Indiana

If you're considering becoming a kinship caregiver in Indiana, what steps must you take? Let's walk through the process together:

Eligibility Requirements

To become a kinship caregiver in Indiana, you need to meet certain requirements:

• Relationship: You need to be related to the child or be a close family friend. This could mean you're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, or even a trusted neighbor who's like family.
• Age: You must be at least 21 to become a kinship caregiver.
• Background Check: Indiana requires all potential caregivers to pass a background check. This helps ensure the child will be in a safe environment.
• Home Environment: Your home needs to be safe and have enough space for the child. You don't need to own your home, but it should be stable and appropriate for a child.
• Income: While there's no specific income requirement, you should be able to meet your basic needs. There may be financial assistance available to help with the child's needs.
• Health: You should be physically and mentally healthy to care for a child.

Licensing Process

If you meet the requirements to become a formal kinship caregiver, here are the steps to make it official:

Locate an Organization in Your City

The first step in your journey to become a kinship caregiver is to contact an organization that specializes in foster care or kinship care.

Let them know you're interested in providing a home for a child related to you or close to your family. They'll guide you through the initial steps and answer any questions.

Preservice Sessions

Once you've contacted your local organization, you must complete some preservice sessions.

Don't worry - this isn't like school!

These sessions prepare you for the unique experience of caring for a child who isn't your own. You'll learn about the challenges, joys, and rewards of being a kinship caregiver. This training helps ensure you're ready for this important role.

Home Study

This might sound scary, but it's to ensure your home is safe and suitable for a child.

They'll look around to see if there's enough space and if the environment is child-friendly. But it's not just about the physical space. The social worker will also discuss your ability to care for a child.

They want to ensure you're prepared for the responsibility of being a caregiver!

Approval

The final step is approval. Once you've completed all the previous requirements - including preservice sessions, home study, and paperwork - your foster care organization will review everything.

They'll consider all the information gathered and decide whether to approve you as a kinship caregiver. If approved, you'll be ready to provide a loving home for a child who needs you.

Support for Kinship Caregivers

Becoming a kinship caregiver is a significant responsibility, but you're never alone.

Indiana offers various types of support to help you in your role:

Financial Assistance Programs

Raising a child can be expensive, and Indiana has several programs to help ease the financial burden on kinship caregivers.

Stipend

As an official kinship foster parent in Indiana, you'll likely qualify for the stipend.

Here's the most important part: this money is to help with childcare costs only. It is not an incentive to provide kinship care!

For foster parents in Indiana, the stipend ranges from $23.95 to $30.00 per day. However, if you are caring for a child with therapeutic needs, the stipend will be higher to help cover any costs associated with those needs.

Guardianship Assistance

If you become a legal guardian for a child, you might qualify for guardianship assistance payments.

These are ongoing payments to help cover the costs of caring for the child. The amount can vary based on the child's needs and your circumstances. This assistance can help with everyday expenses like food, clothing, and school supplies.

Medicaid

Health care is crucial for growing children, and Medicaid can help ensure the child in your care gets the medical attention they need.

Most children in kinship care qualify for Medicaid, which covers various health services. This includes doctor visits, hospital stays, dental care, vision care, and mental health services.

Having this coverage can provide peace of mind, as you know that you can get healthcare for the child without worrying about the cost.

Preservice Sessions and Educational Resources

Caring for a child, especially one who may have experienced trauma, requires special skills and knowledge. Indiana offers various resources to help you learn and grow as a caregiver:

Initial Sessions

Before you become a kinship caregiver, you'll go through an initial preservice program. These sessions cover various topics to prepare you for your new role.

You'll learn about child development stages to know what to expect as the child grows. The sessions also cover trauma-informed care, which is crucial for understanding and supporting children who have experienced difficult situations.

You'll also get an overview of the child welfare system, which will help you navigate the various organizations and services you might encounter.

Ongoing Education

Your learning doesn't stop after the initial sessions!

Indiana offers ongoing education opportunities for kinship caregivers. These might include workshops on specific topics such as helping children with schoolwork, managing challenging behaviors, or promoting healthy emotional development.

Experts often lead these sessions in child welfare and can provide valuable strategies and insights.

Support Groups

Connecting with other kinship caregivers can be incredibly helpful.

Many areas in Indiana have support groups specifically for kinship caregivers. These groups provide a safe space to share your experiences, challenges, and successes.

You can learn from others in similar situations, get advice on handling difficult situations, and even form friendships with people who understand your experiences.

Online Resources

Luckily, a wealth of information is available at your fingertips on the internet.

The Indiana Department of Child Services website offers a variety of online resources for kinship caregivers. You can find guides on topics like navigating the school system, understanding children's behavioral issues, and accessing community resources.

Fact sheets also provide quick, easy-to-understand information on various aspects of kinship care.

Caseworker Support

Your caseworker is an important part of your support system. They're there to help you navigate the complexities of the child welfare system and to support you in your role as a caregiver!

Your caseworker can help you access services, answer questions about the child's case, and guide you in handling various situations. Don't hesitate to contact them when you need help or have concerns.

Looking For More Information on Kinship Foster Care in Indiana?

Kinship care shares many similarities with foster care. So, if you have questions, why not get the answers you need?

Get step-by-step guidance to ease your uncertainties with the Foster Parent Information Webinar!

You'll get answers to your biggest questions, such as how to become a foster or kinship parent, who can foster, and what support is available.

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