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Kinship Care Portal

Kinship Care Portal

Welcome to the Kinship Care Portal, Georgia's one-stop shop for information, resources and support for kinship caregivers. 

Kinship care refers to a temporary or permanent arrangement in which a relative or any non-relative adult who has a long-standing relationship or bond with the child and/or family has taken over the full-time, substitute care of a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so.

Kinship care includes those relationships established through an informal arrangement, legal custody, guardianship order, a relative foster care placement or kinship adoption. 

Need further assistance?

Need further assistance? Fill out a referral form!

Complete a complaint form if you need further assistance with locating a child in foster care, a payment dispute, or SNAP/TANF/Medicaid denial.

Kinship Care
Kinship Care Awareness Month

Kinship Care Awareness Month

September is Kinship Care Awareness Month, a time to celebrate our kinship caregivers and their dedication to providing stable and loving homes for children and youth when their families are unable. This year, DFCS is hosting webinars, caregiver celebrations, and toolkit giveaways to honor our kinship caregivers. More information about these opportunities can be found below.

Webinars:

DFCS, in partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), is hosting three webinars for our kinship caregivers. These webinars will include information on mental health, self-care, setting family boundaries, the legal system, and implementing caregiver plans. Join us every Thursday in September from 5:30-7 p.m. No registration is required.

Sept. 12 – CHOA Presents: Keeping Children Safe in a Digital World
Sept. 19 – CHOA Presents: Positive Discipline
Sept. 26 – CHOA Presents: Having Difficult Conversations with Children

Kinship Caregiver Celebrations:

DFCS will be hosting five Kinship Caregiver Celebrations throughout the state. These celebrations are for current foster and adoptive kinship caregivers only.

Sept. 12 | Berrien and Lanier counties | 5-8:30 p.m. | Register Here
Sept. 14 | Dawson County | 12-2 p.m. | Register Here
Sept. 19 | Peachtree City | 12-2 p.m. | Register Here
Sept. 21 | Metro Atlanta | 12-2 p.m. | Register Here
Oct. 5 | Jefferson County | 2-5:30 p.m. | Register Here

Toolkit Giveaways:

DFCS will be hosting 28 toolkit giveaways in various counties throughout the state. Kinship caregivers will be registered by our DFCS Kinship Unit staff. Participating kinship caregivers will then receive an email with the details for the toolkit giveaway they’ve been registered for. If you have any questions about the toolkit giveaways, or your registration, please contact [email protected].

Kinship Navigator Program

Kinship Navigator Program

Statewide Kinship Navigators

Statewide Kinship Navigators

Kinship Care Portal FAQs

FAQs

Kinship Care Resources

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES

The Division of Aging Services (DAS) provides supportive services to grandparents and relative caregivers of any age, throughout each 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging. Visit aging.ga.gov/locations to find your nearest AAA.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child support, relative care subsidy, Right from the Start Medicaid, and many more. Visit dfcs.georgia.gov/services/temporary-assistance-needy-families to learn more.

LEGAL SERVICES

The Relative Caregiver Hotline / Georgia Senior Legal Hotline of the Atlanta Legal Aid Society provides advice, brief services and referrals on issues such as custody, adoption, public benefits and housing. Contact the Georgia Legal Services Program at 800-745-5717.

HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES

A number of health and wellness services are available through state agencies to support kinship families in achieving the healthiest lifestyle possible. 

CHILD CARE SERVICES

The Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program helps low-income families in Georgia pay for early childhood and school age care programs. The CAPS program subsidizes the cost of child care for eligible children age birth to age 13, or up to age 18 if the child has special needs. Learn more about the CAPS program at caps.decal.ga.gov/en/EligibilityRequirements.

Applying for Child Support as a Kinship Caregiver

Applying for Child Support

Community-Based Support as a Kinship Caregiver

Community-Based Support

Kinship Care Statistics in Georgia

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