RELATIVE, KINSHIP, AND FICTIVE KINSHIP CAREGIVERS

A majority of the families that the agency assists are relative caregivers. The staff in our Kinship Program are well trained and have a plethora of experience successfully getting families through the licensing process and verified as Adopt, Foster to Adopt, or Foster to PMC-PCA homes. The services that we offer these families are:

• Orientation and trainings are offered in-home, video conferencing (i.e. Zoom) or at our office
• We have bilingual staff and case managers
• Families could be eligible for financial assistance with the home licensing process (i.e. finger prints, home safety equipment, home inspections, etc.)
• We work with families that need RISK Assessments
• We have an impeccable home monitoring process
• We stay in contact with the CPS caseworker on the family’s home verification status
• We have psychologist and therapist on staff for the children and families (CANS assessments, psychological evaluation, individual therapy, family therapy, and/or couple’s therapy)
• We offer intensive case management
• We are able to have a kinship home licensed in less than 90 days in most cases

• Our agencies offers families that we work with post adoption/permanency support until the child/children reach(es) adulthood

INFORMAL (VOLUNTARY) RELATIVE CAREGIVERS

Relatives who volunteer to provide a home to children in cases when the biological parent(s) cannot provide care account for the largest population within alternative care arrangements. When Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) are not involved or have closed a DFPS case, the child is considered in an informal relative placement.

The Community-Based Informal Relative Caregiver Program was established by Monarch Family Services (MFS) Spring 2020. At this time, MFS had become a premiere program for formal caregivers (family is involved with Child Protective Services). Before 2020, MFS had assisted only a few relative caregivers without an active CPS case to qualify for state services and assistance. Informal caregivers have a tremendous need for support; the agency considered this issue and started a program to meet this need.

The current programs and services that Monarch Family Services offers to informal relative caregivers include:

• 24/7 Crisis Hotline Access
• Advocacy
• Behavioral Health / Psychological Services
• Case Management
• Invitations to MFS Family Events (i.e. annual picnic and Christmas party)
• Online Support Groups
• Parent Support Group
• Resource Referrals