How Can Kinship Caregivers Find the Resources They Need to Succeed?

How Can Kinship Caregivers Find the Resources They Need to Succeed?

Kinship-led families have unique needs, and finding resources to meet those needs can be a challenge. Today, we’re talking with Mike Heath, a Resource Specialist with the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families in Wisconsin. The Coalition is a Resource Center for birth parents, foster families, adoptive families, relative/kinship/and like-kin caregivers, and child welfare and Tribal agency professionals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What are the most frequently reported everyday needs or resource gaps caregivers are experiencing? 
• What is the most pressing need these kids are facing when they come to a new caregiver?
• What are the urgent needs caregivers have when welcoming a child or a sibling group, etc?
• Where can families find help with immediate essentials—such as beds, cribs, car seats, clothing, and school supplies?
• Which phone numbers should caregivers keep on speed dial?
• How should a relative caregiver secure the ability to make medical and school decisions quickly? 
• What papers or forms should caregivers request on day one? From whom?
• Managing the documentation and paperwork can be a significant challenge for a new caregiver. Do you have any recommendations for managing this?
• Should school enrollment be a priority in that first week? 
• How should a caregiver start the process of ensuring medical coverage (dental, vision, prescriptions, and mental health included)?
• Where should I start if I find the Medicaid/CHIP process confusing? 
• Once a kinship-led family is settling in, what additional needs or options should they consider? 
• Where to go to learn about those options?
• What are the possible financial resources that caregivers should look into?
• Importance of self-care, mental wellness, and community for both caregivers and the children they support
• If a new caregiver listens to this and does only three things this week, what should they be?

Resources:

• Free Download Checklist for the first 30 days as a Kinship Caregiver
• Virtual Resource Kit for Relative Caregivers – Virtual Resource Kit: Relative Caregiving – Wisconsin Family Connections Center
• Relative Caregiver Learning Pathway on Champion Classrooms (Free recorded webinar series) – Relative Caregiver Learning Pathway Link 
• Collection of Resources for Relative Caregivers – https://wifamilyconnectionscenter.org/how-do-i/find-support-as-a-relative-caregiver/
• Coalition for Children, Youth & Families – https://coalitionforcyf.org/
• Legal Options for Kinship Caregivers – NCKinshipFamilies.org

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Music Credit: Michael Ashworth; Podcast Producer: Megown SoundWorks; Photo by Los Muertos Crew: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-and-a-boy-reading-a-book-together-8065063/