Created by a Kansas grandfamily
LIKE YOURS!
EDUCATION, ADVOCACY & SUPPORT FOR GRANDFAMILIES & KINSHIP CARE!
TYPES OF KINSHIP CARE
Kinship care encompasses two main types of caregivers:
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Relatives:
Individuals connected to the child by blood, marriage, or
adoption.
Examples include grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and extended family.
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2. Non-related kin (fictive kin):
Adults with whom the child or their parent already shares a
strong emotional bond. This can include close family friends, godparents,teachers, or coaches who have an established relationship with the child.
"HOW" you have custody often is the major determining factor affecting what resources you can obtain. Sadly as you can tell, when they are in DCF care or have been at any point, they are afforded more services. It shouldn't be that way but for now, it is. The types of care are listed below with description of what $ support can be received. We are hoping that this will change in the future but for now it is our reality.
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All info regarding DCF below was derived from dcf.ks.gov website OR by accessing the 2025 DCF policy/procedure manual here:
FORMAL CARE THROUGH DCF:
(a/k/a Department of Children and Families)
INFORMAL CARE OUTSIDE CHILD WELFARE:
DCF KIN LICENSED FOSTER CARE
DCF removes the child from biological parent and places with kin/relative who is licensed or becoming licensed.
DCF KINSHIP CARE
DCF removes child from the biological parent and places with kin/relative who is not licensed and doesn't plan to become licensed.
DCF CUSTODIANSHIP
(formerly called guardianship)
DCF removes child from biological parent, places with kin/relative who then seeks custodianship for permanency when parental reunification is not an option.
DCF ADOPTION ASSISTANCE
DCF removes child from biological parent, placed with kin/relative who then adopts after parental rights are terminated. A stipend is provided monthly depending on child special needs.
INFORMAL PLACEMENT OF CHILD WITH KIN
Biological parent allows kin/relative to take physical custody of child
COURT GUARDIANSHIP
When kin/relative secures court guardianship over child to secure rights to make legal decisions on their behalf. Does NOT grant custody, only rights to make decisions.
PRIVATE ADOPTION
Court determines parental termination is in best interest of child, and grants adoption to kin/relative. Costs associated with this paid by kin/relative.
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POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS:
Oftentimes one of the first questions that comes up is.....should I go to court to get custody? I cannot answer this question for you nor give you any legal advice. I CAN say however, if you are responsible for your grandchildren living with you and providing for them whether short or long term, in order to get the enrolled in school, get medical care or any other decisions on their behalf that require a parental consent signature? You will have to have some type of legal document that gives you that right. The following are some ways for this to occur:
1. If they are in DCF care, DCF can place them with you and give you the proper documentation that gives you the right to make medical/educational decisions on their behalf. Important: This does NOT give you legal custody. They remain in state custody with DCF until parental rights are terminated by the courts or they reunify with bio parents.
2. If your adult child or the biological parents WILL AGREE to give you temporary power of attorney for medical/educational decisions, I would print off the document below and have them sign it. It WILL NEED notarized but will allow you to make decisions necessary in their absence for a short period of time.
3. If you are unsure where bio parents are, or they are unwilling to sign for you to make decisions on their behalf in their absence, then unfortunately, I would recommend seeking an attorney and asking them for their legal advice in getting a temporary guardianship petition. This does involve going to court and $ in legal fees. I highly discourage anyone to seek the petition on their own without legal representation. A button is below for KS Lawyer Referral through the American Bar Association and can help you to find someone in your area that deals with these types of cases.
​​​​​***PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have the legal authority to make medical decisions on behalf of the child/ren, and an emergency occurs where no one is available to make that decision legally, due to their safety more than likely it WILL become a DCF child in need of care referral and they will be placed into the child welfare system so that legal authority can be obtained to act on behalf of that child.
SEE LINKS BELOW TO ASSISTANCE