Kinship Caregiver Coalition

Resources

Click here for Kinship Caregiver Programs in Ohio Registry

In Memory of Lafrancine Lewis

Mrs. Lafrancine Lewis passed away in June, 2006. She was an original member of the GrandParent/GrandChildren Initiative Network (GPGCI). She was known for her longtime championing of grandparents raising grandchildren, ran a support group, was a member of the GPGCI Education Subcommittee and helped make the Kinship Kamp the success it is.

The Kinship Caregiver Coalition has put together a booklet of reflections from caregivers and the children living with them in honor of the life of Lafrancine Lewis and other caregivers. This booklet serves as inspiration and strength for kinship families and children.

The Lafrancine Lewis Resource Booklets can be picked up at the following locations:

Center for Healthy Communities
United Way of Dayton
Parents Advancing in Choice and Education

Dayton Urban League Trotwood Madison Support Group
Dakota Center
Christ United Methodist Support Group

State

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Kinship Care
http://jfs.ohio.gov/ocf/kinship_care.stm

Ohio's Early Learning Initiative (ELI) http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/eli.stm
Click here for a .pdf explanation of the Early Learning Initiative
passed by the governor's office.

The Public Children Services Association of Ohio http://www.pcsao.org/
Kinship support page: http://www.pcsao.org/KinshipSupports.htm

Kinship Permanency Incentive (KPI) Program

Ohio's biennial budget established the Kinship Permanency Incentive Program in 2006. This program provides financial support to minors in the legal and physical custody of grandparents, relatives and other kinship caregivers (defined in Ohio as any relative or non-relative adult who has a long-standing relationship or bond with the child and/or family).

For KPI, eligible kinship caregivers must have received judicial custody on or after July 1, 2005.

In 2007, the Ohio legislature changed the eligibility requirements for Ohio’s Kinship Permanency Incentive Program in 2007 that may qualify families previously excluded. The changes are as follows:

Removal of the requirement that the child must be adjudicated by the juvenile court as being abused, neglected, dependent, or unruly
Removal of the “best interest of the child” language as part of the requirement for the court order awarding legal custody or guardianship to the kinship caregiver
Removal of the requirement that the child must be determined as “special needs”
The gross income of the caregiver’s family, including the child, now may not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines (up from 200%)

If you were denied KPI due to the prior eligibility requirements, contact Lisa Jones, Montgomery County Children Services at 937 277-1127 to reapply.

Other KPI Program Specifics:

Eligible families will receive an initial payment of $1,000 per child, followed by $500 per child every six months thereafter for a total of 36 months ($3,500 limit).
Funding will come from Ohio’s TANF funds in the amount of $10 million per year.
This program does NOT preclude these families from receiving Child Only TANF benefits—it is in addition to such benefits.
This program does NOT require the Public Children’s Services Agency to have ever held custody of child.

National

There are many national organizations that offer resources to kinship families. Below are listed the most prominent national resources that are concerned about kinship care:

Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) http://www.cwla.org/

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
http://www.aarp.org/grandparents or write to:
Grandparent Information Center
601 2 St NW
Washington DC, 20049

Generations United (GU) http://www.gu.org/

Children's Defense Fund - National
http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Grandparents for Children's Rights
http://www.grandparentsforchildren.org/