National Kinship Care Month is observed each September to recognize and celebrate the important role of relatives and close family friends who raise children when their parents cannot. This month highlights how kinship care provides stability, reduces the trauma of out-of-home placement, and helps maintain family connections. The federal government and various state and child welfare organizations use this month to raise awareness and improve support systems for kinship families across the country.
Why is National Kinship Care Month Important?
- Recognition: It honors the many grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family friends who step up to provide care.
- Support: The month promotes efforts to improve the systems of support for these caregivers and the children in their care.
- Awareness: It raises awareness about the needs of kinship families and the benefits of keeping children within their families.
- Policy: Legislation like the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) aims to prevent unnecessary placement in foster care and encourages the use of kinship navigator programs to assist caregivers.