Kinship Families

When parents are unable to provide care for their children, whether they are incarcerated, addicted, or poorly equipped, extended relatives frequently step forward to take on this responsibility. As kinship caregivers, grandparents and other relatives are not always emotionally, physically or financially prepared for this responsibility, and sometimes find themselves overwhelmed, discouraged, and wondering how they will continue to meet the needs of their children in care. Finding and securing necessary resources for kinship caregivers can be an elusive and daunting task.

It is estimated that there are at least 55,000 kinship care families in Virginia, but most of these families are “hidden” with little if any agency contact. Some kinship caregivers have legal custody, but many have informal arrangements, motivated by family concerns to keep children out of the foster care system. For all of these families, FACES is a place to turn to find other kinship families and locate the support they need to handle the responsibility they have assumed.

FACES of Virginia Families strives to offer information, support, and resources to kinship families. We want to hear about your experiences and challenges. We want to hear what is working and what is not working for you. We want to support you in advocating for the children in your care and develop collaborative initiatives with partnering organizations to improve the quality of life for kinship families.

As FACES grows, we will promote and support kinship families through continuous education and training, as well as advocacy efforts that improve the public and private agencies serving these families. We want to ensure that your voice is heard, that your input is valued, and that your concerns are addressed. We want you as kinship families to be recognized and respected for the tremendous role you play and the services you provide for Virginia’s children.

New! Click here for Kinship-related resources or to contact our Vice President of Kinship Care Sarah Smalls (ssmalls@facesofvirginia.org)

We value you as a kinship family and want to welcome you to our circle of support.

JOIN NOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Visit our membership page to learn about how you can become a part of FACES.