The Kinship Support Unit is a specialized unit providing services to children and families along the kinship continuum when Child Protection is involved, out of home placement is necessary and children are placed with a relative/kin.
Research has long showed the benefits of placing children with family, but traditional approaches to licensing processes and lack of placement support often create barriers for relatives and kin in caring for children. Community members have shared the need to prioritize children being with family or kin when they are not able to be at home. In response, the Kinship Support Unit is uplifting those needs by increasing stability, provide direct supports and increase positive relationships.
A grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services has enabled us to provide enhanced kinship support services to children and families involved in Child Protection who need placement. Most of the funds from this grant go directly to relative and kin providers to help achieve licensure and provide items needed to care for the children.
Services Provided
Contact from a Kinship Support Unit social worker within 24 hours of child being placed with relative to assess and assist obtaining immediate items needed for the child.
Coordinating contact between the parent and relative/kin provider within 24 of hours of placement to establish normalcy in routine.
Licensing Essentials Kits and items needed for relatives/kin to meet licensing standards.
Assist in obtaining immediate items needed for the child to ensure continuity in routine.
Goals of the Kinship Support Unit
Increase placement stability through relationship building and collaboration.
Provide resources to relatives/kin as they adapt to being licensed caregivers.
Improve the licensing experience for relative/kin caregivers.
Increase positive relationships for children within their family systems.
Kinship Navigation Tool
The Kinship Navigation Tool offers free, unlimited access to information and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions for kinship caregivers and a list of common terms.