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Kinship

Foster A Child You Know

Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, Friends…

Do you have a relative or child of a close friend in need of a temporary foster placement? This is called Kinship Care. In Utah, there are some 84,000 children living with a relative with no involvement from the state whatsoever. There are many benefits to kinship care: most importantly, keeping family relationships intact.

If you’re considering Kinship, here are some important things to know:

  • Caring for a relative can be rewarding, and challenging, so please ask yourself the hard questions, beforehand.
  • If you’re selected to be the child’s caregiver, you could be asked to become a licensed foster parent. Whether or not you become a fully licensed foster parent will be determined by The Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
  • Regardless of licensing status, Utah Foster Care is here to help you get the training and resources you need to succeed.
  • If the child resides out-of-state, there is a different process in place to handle these special cases.

 

Start Here…

Considering your answers to the following questions will help you know if you might be a good fit for the child(ren) you want to care for:

  • What is my relationship with the child’s parents?
  • Will I have family support?
  • Am I prepared to work with the child’s parents—and possibly their extended family?
  • How will this affect my relationship with the child’s parents and the extended family?
  • Will I be able to set limits with the child’s parents?
  • How will this impact my own children and spouse?
  • Do I understand the circumstances surrounding this child going to foster care?
  • How do I feel about those circumstances?
  • Will I be able to let this child go back home when the time comes?
  • How do I feel about adopting this child, if necessary?
  • Will I need financial assistance?
  • What are the child’s medical, dental, and emotional health needs
  • Do I know how will I access services to help the child meet these needs?

Remember: To become a licensed foster parent for a child you know (kinship), the child’s caseworker must initiate the licensing process for you. This is often misunderstood, and the caseworker may even tell you to contact us to be licensed—but the process must be initiated by the caseworker.

When the Child You Know isn’t in Utah

The process for becoming a foster parent for a child from another state is governed by a legal agreement between all states called the “Interstate Compact for Placement of Children”, or ICPC. According to this agreement, one state cannot send a child to another state without first receiving permission from the destination state. In order to receive permission, the child’s caseworker will first need to fill out the appropriate paperwork and make a request.

Families in Utah sometimes hear they must get a home study or become licensed before the caseworker will consider placing the child with them. However, the state of Utah will not complete a home study or license a family until the child’s caseworker has requested it through the formal ICPC process.

We encourage you to contact the Utah’s Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) state offices at (801) 538-4100 and ask for the Interstate Compact Administrator.

 

When Your Family Needs a Little More…

These resources are reserved for families where the State has not taken custody of the child in question.

If you are related to the child, you may qualify for a “Care of a Relative” grant through the Utah Department of Workforce Services. This grant typically provides Medicaid coverage as well as a small stipend. Eligibility is based on your relationship to the child, not on financial hardship.

Some supports available for unlicensed kinship families differ from one part of the state to another. To find out what is available in your area, we suggest you call the local Utah Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) office and speak with a kinship specialist. One example of a great local resource is GrandFamilies, a program provided by Children Service Society of Utah. Check their website to see the supports offered and whether they’re currently available in your area.

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