Kinship Care
Caring for a child of a relative or close friend
Kinship Care is temporary or permanent care provided to children by relatives or close family friends (“fictive kin”). Relatives are frequently the preferred resource for children in foster care because they help maintain a child’s connection to family and community. CHS is dedicated to helping kinship caregivers provide children with the love and support they need until a permanent plan is determined.
To receive a kinship foster care license, you can go through specialized training known as Caring For Our Own, an NC-approved curriculum designed especially for relative caregivers. CHS offers this program at convenient times throughout the year. By becoming licensed, you will receive monthly payments to help with the costs of caring for relative children, along with ongoing support from CHS. A kinship foster care license only allows you to provide fostering services to relative or fictive kin children.