Kinship Care

On this page

• What is kinship care
• What are the types of kinship care?
• What do kinship care providers do?
• How are kinship care providers supported?
• Steps to becoming a kinship care provider
• Caregiver Stories
• Resources

What is kinship care?

When a child or youth is unable to live with their parent or parents, it is best if they can live with someone they know. This is referred to as kinship care.

Kinship care supports a child or youth to live with extended family members or other adults they know or with whom they have a cultural or traditional connection to. It is a formal term for traditional care that many Indigenous communities and cultures have valued and practiced either when parents are unable to care or as a collective approach to child rearing.

Kinship care, sometimes referred to as an “out-of-care” agreement, is preferred for children and youth who cannot remain in their parental home because it keeps them connected to their family, community and culture. Kinship care may be part of a plan created between a family or community and the Ministry of Children & Family Development (MCFD) and Indigenous Child & Family Service (ICFS) Agency if a child or youth cannot live with their parents.

 

 

The importance of keeping children and youth connected to family, community and culture is a value that is embedded in child welfare legislation in B.C.

• The Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) prioritizes children and youth living with a relative before considering other living arrangements.
• Placement options for Indigenous children and youth are prioritized in the following order: with a parent, a family member, a member of the child or youth’s Indigenous community, or an Indigenous person from a community other than the one the child or youth belongs to before placing the child or youth with any other person.
• When an Indigenous child or youth is placed with anyone other than their parent or adult member of their family, there is a legislated responsibility to reassess the placement on an ongoing basis to determine if they can live with their parent or other member of their family.

Kinship care supports a child or youth to live with extended family members or other adults they know or that have a cultural or traditional connection to.

What are the types of kinship care?

The two types of kinship care options are:

• Voluntary agreements
• Court ordered custody arrangements (temporary or permanent)

These care types are sometimes referred to as “out-of-care” arrangements because they are ways to meet the child or youth’s need for safety without coming into foster care. If you are considering kinship care, a social worker will help you understand the options available for a child or youth and their family.

Kinship care providers are eligible to receive financial supports from the Ministry of Children and Family Development or an Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency. Family members or other adults can also apply for or receive guardianship of a child or youth under the Family Law Act (FLA). If you are considering guardian- ship through the FLA, it is important to talk with a family lawyer for more information about this option.

What do kinship care providers do?

Kinship care providers carry out parental responsibilities which include:

• Meeting the child or youth’s fundamental needs, including supervision, food, shelter, medical/dental care, clothing, transportation to and from school, family visits, appointments, and recreational and cultural activities.

• Providing the child or youth with a safe and nurturing environment, where they experience a sense of belonging.

• Ensuring the child or youth is regularly spends time with parents, family members and other important people in their lives.

• Ensuring a child or youth maintains their inherent rights and connection to their culture, heritage, language, territory and spiritual beliefs and supporting them to participate in their cultural community, traditions and customs.

Kinship care providers are eligible to receive financial supports from the Ministry of Children and Family Development or an Indigenous Child and Family Service Agency.

How are kinship care providers supported?

Supports for kinship care providers include:

• Monthly payments to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for the child or youth
• Eligibility for a childcare subsidy
• Educational opportunities for the care provider
• Additional supports for children and youth with extraordinary needs may also be available

Depending on the type of care agreement/order and the needs of the child or youth and caregiver, some care providers may be eligible for additional supports such as:

• Extended health and dental benefits for the child or youth
• Federal tax benefits
• Cultural supports
• Childcare expense

 

 

Some children and youth living in kinship arrangements have needs that are significant and complex. Through assessment of the child or youth by a social worker, a care provider may be eligible for additional supports through an Enhanced Out-of-Care Support Agreement.

To learn more, please visit the Enhanced Out-of-Care page.

Steps to becoming a kinship care provider:

Step 1

Talk to a social worker to discuss your interest in supporting a child or youth you know.

Step 2

Meet with the child or youth’s social worker via phone, virtually or in person.

Step 3

Fill out and submit a form that provides information about your household. A social worker can help you if needed.

Step 4

Participate in an assessment, which includes:

• A home visit
• Conversations with everyone living in the home
• Reference checks with friends and family
• A criminal record check for the care provider and all those 18 years of age or older who are living in the home or who may have significant and unsupervised access to the child/youth
• The social worker will complete a written assessment based on your discussions. The assessment covers topics such as your connection to the child or youth and family, how you can meet the child or youth’s needs and what supports you and the child or youth might need.

NOTE: Criminal or child welfare records and/or health concerns do not automatically prevent you from being a kinship care provider. The assessment considers historical context when talking about past circumstances and focuses on your current situation and relationship to the child or youth and family.

Participate in training for new kinship care providers and ongoing learning opportunities and support.

Caregiver Stories

 

Resources

• BC Foster Parents Association
• Indigenous Caregivers of BC
• Representative for Children and Youth - Belonging
• The Federation of Community Social Services of BC