(PUEBLO, Colo.) — In recognition of Kinship Care Awareness Month in September, Kids Crossing, a child placement agency, hosted a seminar on new and expanded kinship foster care services.
Kinship Care Awareness Month is dedicated to celebrating and honoring the invaluable role of relatives and close family friends who provide care for children when parents are unable to, according to Kids Crossing.
On Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Rawlings Branch of Pueblo City-County Library, Kids Crossing spoke about the changes that came with the passage of SB24-008, Kinship Foster Care Homes. Kids Crossing said the bill expanded services to support kinship care, including the ability to get licensed by a private agency as an alternative to the county department of human services.
“Families have been taking care of families for years, and they have been doing it on their own and not getting the support they need,” said Sarah Bailey of Kids Crossing. “This allows them to get support, to not just be in on their own and to be able to feel like they’re not alone in this journey.”
According to Kids Crossing, for the first time, kinship foster families, like a grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, coach, church companion, or family friend, now qualify for the same services as traditional foster families, including crisis intervention, mental health treatment, school tutoring, a financial stipend, and more.
“This is a major step forward in ensuring kids in foster care can stay with relatives or close family friends whenever possible, instead of a stranger,” states Ben Schoch, Director of Foster Care, Kids Crossing. “Research shows the entry into foster care is less traumatic when children are able to remain with family or someone they know.”
About The Author
