Tells you what you qualify for
Child-only TANF, Medicaid or CHIP for the child, SNAP, childcare subsidies, school meal programs, and one-time emergency funds. Navigators know the local names and current amounts.
MFGP Hub · Caregiver Guide
Kinship navigator programs: how to find the one in your state
A kinship navigator is a person whose entire job is to help relatives raising children find the benefit, the form, the lawyer, or the support group they need. Most caregivers never learn the role exists. This guide is the shortcut to finding yours and getting something useful out of the first call.
Programs are funded and named differently in every state, and some are run by nonprofits under state contract. If a phone number is disconnected or a page is out of date, call 211 — they keep local listings current.
For professionals
Keep the 'what to ask on the first call' list on hand — it converts a vague referral into a documented set of next steps for the family.
For supporters
Funding a caregiver's first month of gas, school supplies, and clothing is often what keeps a placement stable while benefits are still processing.
Four ways to find yours
1. Search your state plus the phrase
Try "[your state] kinship navigator program," then "[your state] kinship care program," then "[your state] relative caregiver program." Look for a .gov page or a named nonprofit — skip directory sites stuffed with ads.
2. Call 211
Free, confidential, available nationwide by phone or at 211.org. Say: 'I am a relative raising a child and I am looking for the kinship navigator program and any caregiver support in my county.'
3. Ask your state's Area Agency on Aging
Grandparents raising grandchildren are frequently served through aging services rather than child welfare, including through the National Family Caregiver Support Program. If child welfare says no, aging services may say yes.
4. Ask the school
District foster care and homeless liaisons know which local organizations actually answer the phone, and they can enroll the child while everything else is pending.
What to ask on the first call
Write these down before you dial, and write the answers down during the call along with the person's name and a callback number.
- Am I eligible for a child-only grant, and what is it called in this state?
- What health coverage can the child get, and does my income count?
- What do I need to enroll the child in school this week?
- Is there emergency help for beds, clothing, school supplies, or utilities?
- Is there free legal help for guardianship or custody?
- Is there a kinship caregiver support group nearby or online?
- Is there a waitlist, and what should I do while I wait?
- Who do I call if something goes wrong — and can I use your name?
If there is no program near you
Go through 211 and aging services
Between them they cover most counties in the country with some version of caregiver support, even where no formal navigator exists.
Use legal aid directly
Search '[your county] legal aid' for custody, guardianship, and school-authority help. Many offices prioritize relative caregivers.
Lean on the school and the clinic
School liaisons and pediatric social workers are unofficial navigators — they know local resources and they already know your child.
Come to MFGP
The #FKLM Family Blueprint covers caregiver wellness, legal literacy, education pathways, and co-parenting, and it is free to use at your own pace.
Questions families ask
What is a kinship navigator program?
It is a state-funded or state-contracted service that helps relatives raising children find benefits, legal help, and support. Navigators know local rules, can tell you what you qualify for, and often help you complete the applications. Nearly every state has one, run either by the child welfare agency or a nonprofit partner.
How do I find the kinship navigator in my state?
Search your state's name plus 'kinship navigator program,' and if that returns nothing, try 'kinship care program' or 'relative caregiver program.' Calling 211 works anywhere in the US and gets you a live person with current county-level listings.
Do I need legal custody to use a kinship navigator?
No. Navigators serve informal kinship caregivers too — in fact that is the majority of who they see. You do not need a court order, an open child welfare case, or any paperwork to make the call.
Is a kinship navigator program free?
Yes. Navigator services are publicly funded and free to caregivers, and the legal aid, benefit application, and support group referrals they make are typically free as well.
Keep going
Other guides
Kinship Care Navigator
A plain-language guide to kinship care: what it is, how to find your state kinship navigator program, what benefits relative caregivers can ask about, and where to get support.
Read →Caregiver Authorization Affidavit
What a caregiver authorization affidavit does, what it does not do, how relatives use it to enroll a child in school and approve routine medical care, and how the form is named state by state.
Read →Preparing for a Prison Visit
How to prepare a child for visiting an incarcerated parent: getting approved, typical visitation dress codes and rules, what to bring, and how to handle the ride home.
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