A3 - Caring for Our Own: An Educational Group Support Program Model

Many states require kinship caregivers to become licensed foster parents and participate in programs designed for potential foster/adoptive families. Since kinship caregivers are typically already parenting the child, the traditional pre-service programs do not address the unique challenges for relative placements.  Caring For Our Own provides group support that looks at how the families can manage transitional reactions, trauma, and life changes prevalent in kinship situations. The goals and outcomes for this program will be discussed along with the similarities and differences between traditional foster care and kinship services.

Presenter(s): Denise Gibson, Children's Alliance of Kansas, Topeka, KS andZ elma S. Smith, ZS Smith & Associates, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA