What is Kinship Navigator?

Kinship Navigator is a Website designed as a one-stop shop for information and referral services for grandparents, relatives, and other caregivers who are currently raising a child. This information is useful to anyone with a child whether involved in the foster care system or not.

What is Kinship Care outside of foster care?

Some kin are caring for related children through informal placements by parents. Some kin are caring for related children through guardianship or temporary custody orders agreed to by parents or ordered by the court.

Financial assistance may include TANF, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid/AllKids, Social Security or EIC (Earned Income Credit).

What is Kinship Care inside of foster care?

Some kin are caring for related children who have been placed into foster care. There are two ways in which this can be done. The relative can be caring for the child without monetary assistance as simply a related home. The second option is relatives who become fully approved as foster parents with the intention to either become an adoptive placement for a related child or for situations where kinship guardianship is being considered. For children where kinship guardianship is being considered, the degree of relationship between child and related caregiver must be within the fourth degree.

Financial assistance may include a monthly board payment, Alabama Fostering Hope College Scholarship, Education/Training Vouchers (ETV) for foster youth, TANF, SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid/AllKids, Social Security, and/or EIC (Earned Income Credit). There may be financial assistance for daycare for children under the age of 5.

Is there a cost for the classes I must take to become a foster parent/kinship guardian?

No! Classes will be arranged through your local DHR. You are cautioned about taking classes through other sources unless approved by your local DHR.

What support will I receive?

You will be assigned a DHR worker/kinship navigator that can assist you with questions, applications, and referrals to other services. You may also call the toll free number at (844) 4ALA-KIN for assistance.

How do I become a kinship guardian?

The Kinship program care is limited to children who are eligible to receive state foster care payments and have resided in a fully approved related foster family home for at least six consecutive months. A case by case determination is made for each child. The following must be true:

  1. Being returned home or adopted are not appropriate options and not in the best interests of the child.
  2. The child has a strong attachment to the prospective kinship guardian and the kinship guardian has a strong commitment to caring permanently for the child.
  3. If a child is 14 or older, the child must be consulted regarding the kinship guardianship arrangement.


Kinship guardianship is a judicially created relationship and would therefore be achieved at the point that kinship guardianship is awarded by the juvenile court to the relative.

What is a fourth degree kinship relationship?

A fourth degree kinship relationship is a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, grandparent, great grandparent, great aunt, great uncle, great-great grandparent, niece, nephew, grandniece, grandnephew, or a stepparent.