Celebrating Relative & Like-Kin Caregivers: Keeping Families Connected

According to data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center, 4% of children nationwide—more than 2.6 million young people—are being raised in kinship care. Each year in September, communities across the country celebrate National Kinship Care Month to honor the extraordinary commitment of relative and like-kin caregivers.

When unexpected challenges arise, grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, extended family members, tribal community members, and trusted family friends open their hearts and homes without hesitation. Kinship care ensures that children remain surrounded by familiar faces, shared culture, and unconditional love during life’s most uncertain moments. Research consistently shows that staying with family or familiar adults helps children feel deeply grounded, offering a comforting sense of belonging and connection during a time of transition.

Welcoming a relative’s child or children into your home is a deeply rewarding journey filled with wonderful moments, but taking on a primary caregiving role at short notice can also bring big adjustments overnight. You may find yourself navigating new daily schedules, adapting to new household routines, engaging in co-parenting relationships, and shifting family roles—transitioning from grandmother to mother figure, uncle to father figure, or sibling to primary caregiver.

Please know that you do not have to walk this path alone. All families need access to resources and community support along the way. The Resource Specialists at the Coalition are here to guide you and connect you to local support groups, educational workshops, financial resources, and our Resource Library.

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