Kinship Center
Grandparents Rasing Grandchildren and Kinship Caregivers

Our Kinship Center services any relatives or family friend raising a child that is not their biological child. There are many circumstances that render birth parents incapable or raising their children. Among these are: death; illness such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, and postpartum depression; Homelessness; immaturity; abuse and neglect; incarceration; drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence.

When a relative steps in to care for that child (children), he/she becomes kinship-caregiver, both inside and outside of the formal foster care system. This family is now "kin."

According to the 2000 census, nearly six million children under the age of eighteen are being raised by someone other than their natural parents. Nationally, Illinois holds three(3) of the top six (6) congressional districts with the most grandparents raising grandchildren under the age of 18.

Many of these caregivers are grandparents. Some are now living on a fixed income, and are faced with a multitude of issues besides these children. Health issues, finances, and housing are just a few problems they will be faced with now.

Support services may be desperately needed by this "Family of kin."