- Who it's for
- Outside Caregiver
- Child / youth age
- All ages
- Geography
- State
- Action type
- Find Help
- Reading time
- About 5 min
- Last verified
- August 2026
What this is
An orientation to kinship care — relatives raising children — and where to find the state-specific programs, benefits, and legal information that apply. The linked federal agency oversees the child-welfare and family-support programs that most kinship supports run through.
Why it matters
Relatives who step in often do so informally and never learn that supports exist for their situation. The rules differ substantially by state.
What you should know
- Kinship caregivers may be eligible for supports whether or not the arrangement is formal.
- Your state child-welfare agency can summarize benefits, school-enrollment rules, and legal options for relatives.
- Some programs are tied to the child rather than the caregiver's income.
- Support groups for kinship caregivers exist in most states, in person and online.
- Ask what changes if the arrangement becomes formal — it affects both support and authority.
- Nothing here is legal advice; state law governs your situation.
Talk about it
Say one thing you need to another adult in your circle this week.
Your next step
Call or search your state child-welfare agency for kinship supports and note one program to ask about.
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