Kinship Care – Keeping kids with people they already know and trust.

With the passage of SB24-008, Kinship Foster Care Homes, the State of Colorado has expanded services to better support kinship foster families. These changes include the ability to get licensed by a private agency as an alternative to the county department of human services.

Colorado law provides a pathway for kinship families to become certified through a county department or a Child Placement Agency, such as Kids Crossing. Once required background checks are completed, a kinship family may also be eligible for a one-time provisional certification for up to six months while completing the remaining certification requirements. Reimbursement and support services will begin as soon as the required fingerprint background check has been scheduled.

It is important to know that certification and reimbursement practices may vary by county. Some counties may choose to certify and support kinship families differently. Kids Crossing can help families understand their options and navigate the certification process.

“This is a major step forward in ensuring kids in foster care can remain with relatives or close family friends instead of being placed with strangers,” said Ben Schoch, Director of Foster Care at Kids Crossing. “Research shows that entering foster care is far less traumatic when children can stay with family or someone they already know.”