KINSHIP

Kinship care is a way for children in foster care to stay connected to their family when they are unable to live with their parents or primary caretaker. When children are in foster care due to issues with their parents or custodians, relatives or other adults who know and care about them (known as “fictive kin”) sometimes become their primary caregivers. 

Kinship care can reduce trauma, promote stability, and maintain family and cultural connections. Kinship families are a vital component of Foster Families of the Northern Shenandoah Valley’s program. To be approved as kinship caregivers, families must complete training and meet approval criteria similar to those met by non-relative resource families. Foster Families of the Northern Shenandoah Valley works closely with kinship caregivers to provide the training and support they need.