Kinship Care

Kinship Care Program

There are thousands of children in the rural areas of New York State being raised by relatives, many of whom are grandparents. Any relative, other than a parent, who is the primary caregiver is providing what is now known as Kinship Care. These arrangements may be either temporary or permanent and are established when the parents are unable or unwilling to care for a child due to illness, addiction, incarceration, violence, or mental health. This care model keeps children in a familiar and nurturing environment and prevents the need for the state to make a foster care placement.

Grandparents and other relatives who assume care for these children often lack legal authority to make important decisions. It is important that these Kinship Caregivers consider filing for custody or a kinship placement in order to have the legal right to make decisions and access services for the children in their care.

Because there is little or no access to legal assistance for low-income grandparents, most attempt to gain custody by entering the Family Court unrepresented and often they are unsuccessful.

The Rural Law Center has entered into a model partnership with the statewide Kinship Navigator program that provides assistance with petition completion and court preparation.