Kinship Care is program to help support a child who lives outside of his or her home with a relative. The child maybe be living temporarily or for the long term with a relative such as:

• An adult brother or sister
• First cousin
• A nephew or niece
• An uncle or aunt or grandparent   
• Others by blood or marriage (see Ch. DCF 58.03(18) Administrative code for the definition of Relative)

 
Types of Kinship Care:
Voluntary Kinship Care: includes situations in which parents voluntarily agree to allow the child to live with a relative or the relative has legal guardianship of the child.  Placement is not ordered by Juvenile Court. If interested in receiving Voluntary Kinship Care benefits the relative must complete the Voluntary Kinship Care Application.

Court Ordered Kinship Care occurs when Juvenile Court formally places a child with a relative due to abuse, neglect, youth justice or child welfare. If interested in receiving Kinship Care benefits, the relative must apply for kinship care. The application process is initiated by the social worker assigned to the child’s case.
 
Eligibility
There are three basic eligibility requirements for Kinship Care:

• the basic needs of the child can be better met with the relative than with the parent
• the placement is in the best interests of the child
• the child currently or might meet the requirements to be in need of protection or services if the child were to remain with his or her parent(s)

Other requirements include:

• A criminal background check on the relative caretaker and all adult household members;
  • Kinship Care Barred Offenses – Caregiver Background Checks provides a list of barred offenses that result in initial denial of the kinship application. All kinship applicants initially denied based on background check results can request a Director Review, which allows the local agency discretion to approve the application or redetermination. 
• Cooperation with the agency by the relative caretaker
• The relative caretaker must apply for other public assistance or benefits the child might be eligible for
• The relative caretaker must cooperate with referring the parents to child support, unless the relative caretaker is granted an exemption
• Kinship living arrangements and eligibility must be reviewed every 12 months 

Is there any financial assistance available if I am caring for my relative’s child?
The State of Wisconsin provides a stipend in the amount of $300 per month per child for relatives meeting the eligibility requirements.

Kinship Care May be denied if:

• The child receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• The natural parent resides in the home
• The criminal check does not meet state requirements
• The child resides with someone not identified as a legal relative
• The jurisdictional and need criteria are not met as defined by Wisconsin State Statute
• If a relative has a significate Child Protective Services history 

 
How often will I have contact with my kinship care worker if I am receiving the Kinship Care Stipend?
Voluntary and Court Ordered Kinship Care cases are reviewed on a yearly basis to ensure the relative continues to meet eligibility requirements. If there are concerns about the stability of the living arrangement, the Department may have more frequent contact.

How do I apply for kinship care?
For assistance with Voluntary Kinship, please contact:
 
Ronette Cox
920-448-6038
Email
 
For assistance with Court Ordered Kinship, please contact:
Katie Smith
920-448-6159
Email