Kinship Caregiver

Have you ever thought about helping a child in need? Of course, the answer for most of us is a yes. With this in mind, let me encourage you to consider becoming a kinship caregiver.

So, What is kinship care? The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Indian Child Welfare (ICW) uses “kinship care” to refer to the full-time care of a child by relatives, suitable others or relatives defined by tribal code or custom. More than half of the children and youth experiencing foster care in Washington state are placed in kinship care. Caring for a child is a significant responsibility and state and tribal agencies are committed to supporting you as a caregiver.

When you become a foster parent, you provide children and youth with a safe, loving, temporary home, making it possible for them to stay in their school, connected to their parents, siblings, and culture. If you have a family member in foster care, learn how you can support them as a licensed Kinship Caregiver.

Foster parents need to be supportive of siblings staying together, committed to keeping native children with native families, supportive of all children/youth, aware that foster care is temporary, supportive of family reunification, open to care for medically fragile/complex children, and open to caring for children with emotional, behavioral, and physical needs

You can expect a monthly support based on the age and needs of the child, reimbursement for transportation expenses, training, breaks through respite care, and access to discounts to help with the cost of activities and experiences. 

Not ready yet? Respite care is a way to start especially if you have not parented or supervised children and youth experiencing foster care. Respite care is time-limited, temporary care intended to give caregivers a break. Learn More by contacting ICW.

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