Kinship Family Program

Kinship Family Program

If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative raising a child in place of their parents, then you are a kinship family! You are not alone, and there are many services available to assist you.

The Kinship Family Program provides valuable resources to adults 55+ who are raising children 18 and under or adult dependent children 18-59 with severe disabilities. The program includes:

• Case management services that will provide you with information, resources, and assistance in accessing benefit programs.
• Alternative care options called respite services that will allow you to take a break from caring for your children that can include:
  • • Day care
    • After school programs
    • Camps
• Financial assistance called gap-filling services that can help you cover a variety of goods or services such as:
  • • School supplies (textbooks, utensils, notebooks, folders)
    • Educational fees
    • Athletic fees
    • Rent
    • Unpaid utilities
    • Transportation
    • Supplies (clothing, diapers)
    • Food
• Legal services that can assist in obtaining legal guardianship or legal custody for the children.
• Individual counseling services to improve the well-being of the non-parent relative caring for the children.
• Support groups to provide non-parent relatives with an environment that allows them to interact with their peers.
• Training & Education sessions that build skills and teach kinship families how to meet their needs.

Kinship Families Special Funding

If you are under the age of 55, there are still opportunities to receive financial assistance. Funds are available for a limited time on a first-come, first-served basis.

Need help caring for your child? Funding can help you cover costs of:

• Day care
• Summer camp fees
• In-home care
• After school/before school programs
• Athletic/sports fees
• Rent or unpaid utilities

Are you looking for assistance in obtaining needed goods or items? This special funding can help you purchase:

• Clothes
• School supplies
• Home goods
• Food

The Kinship Family Program and the Kinship Families Special Funding are available in the AgeGuide 8-county region: DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties. Please see the list below to contact your local county provider if you would like to receive additional information about services.