I have been the caregiver for my two grandchildren for almost 15 years. My grandchildren were detained by Child Protective Services at the ages of five and three because my daughter was struggling with drug abuse. Both my grandchildren were placed through foster care with me and my husband for about 10 months before we Read more >>

A few years ago, my husband and I became caregivers to our three nieces and nephew who were in foster care. As time passed, the two oldest girls moved out of our home after high school, our nephew moved to Mexico to live with his father, and we took guardianship of our youngest niece.  My Read more >>

I first heard the word kinship/relative caregiver 15 years ago when I stepped in to care my niece, Kindra. She was just eight years old when I brought her into my home. At that time, the child welfare system in my county seemed unprepared to help and support me and I was left to navigate Read more >>

Maybe you are a kin caregiver like me: a grandparent, aunt, or cousin who has stepped in to raise a child whose birth parents are struggling with addiction or mental illness. Perhaps you are a policymaker, in a position to make decisions that affect families like mine. Or maybe you are an advocate who wants Read more >>

Destiny Adams was driving on Balboa Boulevard, on the way to visit her two younger sisters, when she got the call. The courts had just ordered the sisters, Lisa, 13, and Nicole, 16 (names have been changed), to be removed from their father’s care. A social worker from the Department of Children and Family Services Read more >>