B11 - A National Model: The Evolution of Kinship Services in Mercer County, NJ

The Children’s Home Society of NJ has leveraged Kinship Navigator services to create a program model to better serve relatives caring for their kin children.  It was apparent to staff and administrators that caregivers have multi-dimensional needs and would benefit greatly from more comprehensive longer-term help in crisis, support and information. Children’s Home Society of New Jersey has co-located and integrated a number of services with the goal of preventing unnecessary child placements.  This workshop will provide descriptive information about kin families and the program components, practical strategies for program development, and outcome data about the agency’s evolving kinship model.

Presenters: Leonard Feldman, Pat Nardone & Dolores A. Ijames–Bryant, The Children's Home Society of New Jersey, Trenton, NJ