The Power of Kinship Care
What is Kinship Care?
Kinship care happens when children are cared for by relatives or close family friends when their parents cannot. Caregivers may be grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or even trusted family friends, godparents, or members of a child’s cultural or tribal community. These caregivers are often called kinship caregivers—and they step in with love, stability, and protection during difficult times.
Unlike foster care with strangers, kinship care keeps children connected to their families, cultures, and traditions. It helps them hold onto a sense of belonging and identity, even in the face of challenges.
At Charlene’s Circle of Support, we honor kinship caregivers as unsung heroes. With little preparation and often limited support, they provide safe homes, nurturing care, and guidance that helps children heal and thrive.
Together, we believe no child should be defined by their parent’s struggles—and no caregiver should ever feel unseen, unheard, or alone.
“2.5 million children in the U.S. are being raised by relatives or close family friends”
Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT Data Center
Why Does Kinship Care Matter?
Research consistently shows that when children are safely placed with kin, they experience stronger emotional stability and a deeper connection to their family, culture, and community.
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Children in kinship care often experience:
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Greater stability in their placements
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Lower risk of re-abuse or institutional harm
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Better emotional and behavioral development
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A higher likelihood of long-term permanency through guardianship
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Simply put — being with family makes a difference.
What Matters:
Kin, Community, and Culture
Every child deserves to know where they come from and to stay connected to the people who make them feel at home — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or even close family friends.
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Kinship care honors those connections and helps children grow up surrounded by the love and culture that belong to them preventing Foster Care Placement.
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The Heart of Family Connection
If you were separated from your children, who would you trust to care for them?
Kinship care answers that question by giving children the opportunity to stay within their family circle — to grow up surrounded by the people, stories, and traditions that shaped them.