Are you a family member
raising your relative's children?
You've come to the right place
for help!
Call 2-1-1!
Kinship caregivers are special people who have taken on the responsibility of caring for their relatives’ children. These children might be the caregiver’s siblings, nieces, nephews, or, most often, grandchildren.
The Division of Family Development (DFD) offers a variety of support services and financial aid to Kinship caregivers and their children.
The children may be eligible for monthly payments through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program as well as Medicaid health insurance.
Assistance Available to Caregivers ___________
> Kinship Navigator Program
By dialing 2-1-1, eligible Kinship caregivers can get help addressing immediate problems, and they will also be referred to a local Kinship agency which will work with caregivers to access additional services.
The local Kinship agencies serve three functions. First, staff from the agencies helps caregivers “navigate” other forms of government assistance. Secondly, Kinship agencies determine if the caregiver’s family is eligible for Kinship Navigator program benefits such as vouchers for child care or help with short-term expenses for the relative child, such as furniture, moving expenses and clothing. Finally, the Kinship agencies provide technical support and guide the family through the process of Kinship Legal Guardianship if the caregiver wishes to make a legal commitment to the child.
The telephone numbers of the four Kinship agencies and the counties they serve are listed below:
CarePlus, NJ - (201) 265-0826, serving Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren.
The Salvation Army - (973) 623-8471 or (973)-623-8472, serving Essex County.
Children’s Home Society - 1-800-396-4518 serving Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Hunterdon, and Union counties.
Family Service Association, 1-877-569-0350 serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.
The Kinship agency is there to help caregivers to access services.
Support services, available through numerous government and private agencies, include:
help with paying child care
referrals to grandparenting and family support groups
help with getting medical coverage and services
assistance with child support collection
housing assistance
help with paying for legal services/fees
help to pay for furniture (for example, a bed, a computer, computer supplies for the child)
tutoring services for the children in your care
help with paying for summer camp for the child
financial services
Specialized Kinship Services ________________
> Child Care Subsidy Program
This program helps Kinship caregivers with paying for child care. Financial eligibility depends on the caregiver's age, household size and the total income
of the family unit.
See our fact sheet on the Child Care Subsidy Program.
To apply for the Kinship Child Care Subsidy, contact 2-1-1 or your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) by calling 1-800-332-9227. Be sure to tell them you are a Kinship caregiver.
> Kinship Care - Wrap Around Program
The Wrap Around Program provides caregivers with vouchers to pay for necessities that are not available through existing programs.
For example:
clothing for the child
furniture for the child
moving costs
housing and legal fees
summer camp costs<</p>
tutoring
See our fact sheet on Wrap Around Services
> Kinship Care - Legal Guardianship Program
This service assists caregivers who want to make a legal commitment to the child/children in their care. For more information, call toll-free: 2-1-1
To obtain legal guardianship, the caregivers must have been:
a.) caring for a child for at least one year;
b.) willing to be responsible for the child until age 18
(21 if the child is disabled).
Caregivers who have legal guardianship may also be eligible for a subsidy.
Note: The Kinship Navigator Program differs from the services provided by the state Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) which formally places a child with a relative for care. If you are caring for a relative who was placed with you by DYFS and the case is active, contact your DYFS caseworker to find out what services might be available. However, if your DYFS case is closed, you may be eligible for Kinship Navigator services.
