Kinship Care Program
Program Overview
Good Hearts’ Kinship Care Program provides support to kinship caregivers who accept placement of related children in the legal custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) due to abuse and neglect.
When children have been abused or neglected, DFPS may remove these children from their homes to ensure their immediate safety. The courts are required to consider a temporary placement with a relative who may be able to care for the children at least temporarily.
Kinship caregivers not only include relatives, but also close family friends, and others who have a long-standing relationship with the children.
Services Offered
In addition to the child-care and treatment foster care services, the Kinship Care Program provides kinship families with the following services either directly or via referral to local community resources:
- caregiver training and support groups;
- case management services;
- supportive family therapy;
- child care to eligible children and kinship families; and
- assistance in applying for public assistance benefits.
All kinship families will be screened, trained, and licensed by the same procedures as all other foster families licensed by Good Hearts. In addition, kinship families are required to continue to comply with Good Hearts’ policies and procedures after being licensed.