Kinship Care
Kansas Training Resources
What is Kinship Care?
Family takes many forms. Whether you are related to someone by blood or by a strong connection, you are family! Kansas family service agencies try to seek out “kin” connections first when considering caregivers for foster children, because “kinship care” placements help children and teens maintain their family connections and community bonds while getting daily support from someone they know and love.
To do their best, kin caregivers need support. That’s why the Children’s Alliance developed the Origins and Path training programs.
Kinship Training Resources - Start Today!
-
Kinship Origins
Kin caregivers often have just hours to prepare for their new roles. That’s why Kinship Origins is a free, self-paced online course available 24/7 on your phone, laptop or computer. You can register now and start right away, or circle back when your schedule permits.
Built with the guidance of kinship caregivers, Origins answers your first questions, like:
Where do I start?
How do I help the child I’m caring for with their feelings and behaviors?
How do I help the child I’m caring for stay connected with their parent(s)?
Who are all these agency people? What is the court process?
What resources are available for our family?
-
Kinship Path
Path is a more intensive program for families who already know the basics. The program helps kin caregivers learn the skills to build trust with kids who have experienced hard things, provide trauma-informed care, and maintain connections to family. Path offers:
A 10-week training course, addressing issues ranging from understanding healthy child development, to navigating relationships with parents, and recognizing the feelings behind behaviors.
Supplemented by online, on-demand modules providing additional resources and support.
A forum for connection to other kin caregivers – an important defense against the challenges that can come with fostering.
What are the benefits of kinship care for children?
Our Kin-First approach seeks to place children with kin when possible—staying connected with family is good for kids.
• Stronger physical and emotional health
• Greater stability with fewer school or home changes
• Improved ability to adjust to changes in their lives now and in the future
• Sustained connection to their community such as family, friends, and school
Kinship care supports
Immediate resources for Kansas kin caregivers:
• An agency professional visits at least once a month to support the child’s well-being
• Financial support at regular intervals that can cover expenses or be saved for the child’s future
• Child health & mental health care coverage through KanCare
• Child daycare expense coverage
I’m a kinship parent. Should I consider foster care licensing?
-
![]()
Benefits of Licensing
Kansas kin caregivers can receive more financial support, ongoing training and peer networks, and eligibility for respite care up to 2 days per month by choosing to become licensed as a Kansas foster home.
With licensing, you’ll work with an agency that can be independent from your case management provider. Your assigned resource professional can advocate for your family and help you find needed financial, physical, educational and medical support.
-
![]()
Choosing A Sponsor
Whether you already have a child in your home, or you are considering fostering a relative in care, you can find a child placing agency (CPA) to support you. A CPA can help you understand what supports are available to you and consider whether you should license.
The right CPA for your family may be determined by your location, the needs of your child relative or your feeling that the agency shares your values.
-
![]()
Completing Training
Our Kinship Path course offers an interactive, 10-week virtual classroom component with other kinship parents. You’ll learn lessons designed to enhance your skills in caring for your relative who may have been through some tough challenges.
Kinship Path is open to any kinship parent that desires more peer connection and support navigating the child welfare system. And it will help you meet licensing requirements if you want!
-
![]()
Completing Licensing
For kinship families, Kansas clears as much red tape as possible to make sure you can receive the benefits of licensing. Licensing as a foster parent may seem daunting, but it also can open up extra layers of support for your family as you help your young relative grow. Your CPA will help you walk through the Kansas Department for Children and Families licensing requirements, such as safety standards in your home, and completing First Aid and CPR.
Kansas Child Placing Agencies
-
![]()
CALM
CALM is a small agency located in Emporia, serving the surrounding region. We have an experienced team of six social workers who support foster parents through their journey of caring for Kansas children needing out of home placement.
-
![]()
Cornerstones of Care
Our highest priority is to match children with loving families who will provide a safe and supportive environment. Foster families come in all varieties, including single parent, same sex, blended and mixed race. Staff are dedicated to finding, preparing and supporting foster, kinship and adoptive families.
-
![]()
DCCCA
DCCCA staff are here to provide support through each step of the journey: from the initial contact, to training and ongoing supports once children are matched to your home. Explore our page to learn more about fostering and/or adopting.
-
![]()
Eckerd Connects
Eckerd Connects recruits, trains and supports individuals to provide temporary care, love and nurturing to children 0-18 years of age.
-
![]()
EmberHope Youthville
Becoming a kinship parent is one of the most important and life-changing decisions you will ever make. With our 90+year legacy of providing a wide range of quality services, rooted in Faith, EmberHope Youthville offers kinship parents the support and guidance needed to complete the licensing process.
-
![]()
KVC Kansas
KVC Kansas is committed to provide heart-centered care to hundreds foster homes across the state. Through direct support, access to mental health resources, and customized training opportunities we are committed to nurturing foster homes to care for youth in our community.
-
![]()
O'Connell Children's Shelter
Kinship families are a critical link to caring for youth in the foster care system and our aim is to help you be successful so the youth are successful. We can support kinship families in getting needed licensure, home studies and background checks completed. We think you’ll find our individualized attention and experienced staff refreshing and able to meet the unique needs kin families have.
-
![]()
Restoration Family Services
Our purpose is to initiate effective change in the lives of children and families, community and state partners, through supports and services based on biblical ethics including respect, honesty, compassion, and empathy.
-
![]()
Saint Francis Ministries
Saint Francis Ministries has proudly provided healing and hope to children for 75 years. Our foster parents are unique, but they have one thing in common: welcoming hearts and homes to help children build bright futures. We support foster families in all Kansas counties.
-
![]()
TFI Family Services
TFI is a leading child welfare agency providing experience, compassion, quality services and care. Being a TFI foster family means you are part of a caring organization that believes “happy families make happy kids”. To learn more about how you can make a difference, contact us at 833-7FOSTER
-
![]()
Wichita Children's Home
To meet the needs of children in crisis, WCH depends on caring foster families in the community to provide assistance. The Foster Care Department trains, supervises, and supports these families who care for children who are best served by one or two primary caregivers.
Kinship Family Support
-
Kansas Caregivers Support Network
KCSN provides meaningful representation and a voice to those providing care to children not born to them. KCSN works to provide for caregivers’ needs in a variety of ways including peer-to-peer support and mentoring, education and training opportunities, advocacy and locating resources to assist all caregivers in feeling equipped to handle the needs of children in foster care.
-
FosterAdopt Connect
FosterAdopt Connect works with children, youth, and families as they navigate the complexities of the Family Well-Being System. With the help of innovative tools, a dedicated professional staff, and over 20 years of experience working in the Kansas and Missouri foster care systems, we’re equipped to connect children with families that provide love, healing and stability for a brighter future.
-
Kansas Family Advisory Network
Raising grandchildren or another relative's child in your home is beautiful yet demanding. No one ever expects to have to, but many family members and friends do make themselves available when and if the need arises. However, raising someone else's child brings its own unique set of challenges. But you don't have to do it alone! There is help available just for you!
-
Kansas Post-Adoption Resource Center
K-PARC is dedicated to strengthening kinship and adoptive families in Kansas. We are a group of families just like yours working together to make things better for our children. It’s important to plan fun things to do together! We provide information, training, and support to adoptive and kinship families. We also connect families to great services and professionals doing great work.
Talk with us
To learn more about becoming a caregiver for your relative, call the Children’s Alliance at 785.235.5437 or fill out this form. We can help connect you with a child placing agency in your area to make sure all your questions are answered.