Information for Kinship Families
The New York State Kinship Navigator

You can help the families in your practice who are taking care of kin children. These are families who have taken in grandchildren, nieces and or nephews, or other children who are related, but not part of their nuclear families.

The NYS Kinship Navigator provides information and referrals for grandparents and other relatives raising children. Close to 400,000 children are in the care of kinship families across the state. The Kinship Navigator works to inform all kinship families about resources and financial assistance that can help them care for their children. 

Children and caregivers have a wide range of special challenges related to the:

1. causes for placement of children in kinship,
2. caregiver’s ability to provide care, and
3. kinship families’ relationships with birth parents. 

Additionally, kinship families have special legal issues regarding visitation, guardianship, custody, adoption, medical decision-making, planning for the future, as well as issues regarding obtaining public assistance and social security benefits. 

The NYS Kinship Navigator informs caregivers about these issues and helps them to find local resources.

We are asking you to help us reach out to kinship families. Here are links to three publications suitable for posting or distributing in your office.

• Professional flyer (with information for service providers): http://www.nysnavigator.org/files/sf/flyers/kinship_navigator.pdf
• Caregiver flyer (to post in your office): http://www.nysnavigator.org/files/sf/flyers/client_flyer(8x11).pdf
• Poster (to post in your office): http://www.nysnavigator.org/files/sf/flyers/client_flyer(11x17).pdf 

Please take a moment to visit www.nysnavigator.org and view kinship specific publications. If you have kinship families in your practice, you can help them get the help and information they need by telling your staff about our services and placing our materials in your office. If you would like to receive any of the publications you see on the internet via mail, please contact the Kinship Navigator at 585-232-1840 ext 330 or by email at gwallace@cfcrochester.org.

Helping the Kinship Navigator to reach kin families can only enhance the well being of both children and caregivers. Your office can partner with the Navigator by creating an easy bridge for families to reach the information and services that will help them raise happier healthier children.