Kinship/Relative Caregiver and Fictive Kin Caregiver
Kinship Caregiver is a qualified caretaker relative of a child with whom the child is placed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
A Fictive Kin Caregiver is an individual who is not related by birth, adoption, or marriage to a child but who has an emotionally significant relationship with the child or an emotionally significant relationship with a biological parent, siblings, or half-siblings of the child, in the case of a child from birth to twelve (12) months of age, before placement.
“You’re entering a tough season of unknowns, but you are doing the right thing.”
-Trusted Advisor Council member, Clark County
Rights and What to Expect
- KRS.620.142 outlines custodial, permanency, and service options available to relative or fictive kin caregivers.
- The Kentucky Grandparent and Relative Caregiver Handbook outlines the guidelines and responsibilities for relative caregivers.
- Just In Time Kentucky provides a guide to provide support and important information for relative and fictive kin caregivers.
Support
Kentucky Kinship Information, Navigation, and Support (KY-KINS) is an innovative one-on-one support network that matches kinship caregivers to certified peer supporters throughout the Commonwealth.
KY FACES offers a hub of resources available to eligible kinship and fictive kin families. Please contact your social worker or the kinship support hotline at (877) 565-5608 or via email relative.supports@ky.gov for more information.
Search for support groups, Area Development Districts, and legal services by county via the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky.
Advocate
The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky is a community group dedicated to raising awareness of the issues surrounding kinship care in Kentucky and forwarding recommendations for policy changes to increase supports for kinship families
Resources
Relative Fictive Kin Placement Support Benefit (RFKPSB) – relatives and fictive kin caregivers may be eligible to receive a one-time monetary benefit that is based on each child’s immediate needs upon placement in your home.
A resource for effective advocacy tips.
Resources for all Kentucky Families to Access:
- Kentucky211
- MyKY.info Statewide Resource Search Tool
- kynect – Kentucky Community Resources
- kynect – Family Support Benefits
- Kentucky Resources for Youth & Families Brochure
- Department for Community Based Services – Full Directory
- Department for Community Based Services – Standard of Practice Manual
- Division of Family Resource and Youth Service Centers
- The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
- Civil Legal Aid Programs
- Language Access Supports:
- Office of Language Access promotes, enhances, and supports justice by assisting the Kentucky Court of Justice in communicating with the deaf and hard of hearing and those with limited English proficiency (LEP). Allows an individual to request an interpreter in advance.
- Kentucky Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing provides information, referral and advocacy services, and an interpreter referral service for state agencies.
- LACES (Language, Access, Communication, Empowerment, Support) Program Aetna Better Health of Kentucky offers a Value-Added Benefit to Aetna SKY members who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Kentucky Court of Justice – Find an Interpreter
- Interpretation and Translation Services — International Center of Kentucky
- Global Lex has access to telephone interpreter assistance in over 240 languages. Contact Global Lex by calling (859) 246-4333.