Reference Document

KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES ADD-ON

Refuge House, Inc.
Last updated: July 24, 2026 · Source: policies-procedures/Package-Specific/KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES ADD-ON.md

REFUGE HOUSE, INC.

Child Placing Agency

KINSHIP CAREGIVER SUPPORT SERVICES ADD-ON

POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Document Information Details
POLICY NAME Kinship Caregiver Support Services Add-On Policy
POLICY NUMBER FC-KIN-01
PROCEDURE NUMBER FC-KIN-01.1
DOCUMENT TYPE Combined Policy and Procedure Document
EFFECTIVE DATE [Date]
REVISION DATE 12/17/25.1; 05/2026
LAST UPDATED 5/15/2026
LAST APPROVED 5/22/2026
APPROVED BY Board of Directors (Policy) / Executive Director (Procedures)
APPLICABLE T3C PACKAGES APPLICABLE T3C ADD-ON SERVICES
☒ T3C Basic Foster Family Home Support Services ☐ Transition Support Services for Youth & Young Adults
☒ Substance Use Support Services ☒ Kinship Caregiver Support Services
☒ Mental & Behavioral Health Support Services ☐ Pregnant & Parenting Youth Support Services
☒ Short-Term Assessment Support Services
☒ Sexual Aggression/Sex Offender Support Services
☒ Complex Medical Needs Support Services
☒ Human Trafficking Victim/Survivor Support Services
☒ IDD/Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Services
☒ T3C Treatment Foster Family Care Support Services

TABLE OF CONTENTS

POLICY SECTIONS

  1. Purpose and Policy Statement
  2. Core Service Components
  3. Assessment and Credentialing Process
  4. Eligibility and Referral
  5. Quality Assurance
  6. Documentation Requirements
  7. Coordination with Other Services
  8. Definitions

PROCEDURE SECTIONS

  1. Relationship Between Policy and Procedure
  2. Staff Expertise and Availability Procedures
  3. Referral and Initial Response Procedures
  4. Verification Process Support
  5. Comprehensive Assessment and Credentialing
  6. Support Plan Development
  7. Ongoing Support Service Delivery
  8. Aftercare Services Procedures
  9. Staff Training Enhancement Curriculum
  10. Documentation and Quality Assurance
  11. Emergency Procedures

POLICY SECTIONS

1. PURPOSE AND POLICY STATEMENT

Purpose

This policy establishes Refuge House's approach to providing enhanced support services for kinship foster families through the T3C Kinship Caregiver Support Services Add-On. Kinship placements present unique opportunities and challenges, requiring specialized support to navigate complex family dynamics while maintaining the child's natural family connections and cultural identity.

The purpose of this add-on service is to strengthen kinship placements by providing customized assistance to caregivers and children, including support through the verification process and ongoing specialized services that address the distinct needs of relative caregivers.

Policy Statement

Refuge House is committed to supporting kinship caregivers who provide care for children in foster care by:

  1. Recognizing the unique dynamics of kinship placements, including pre-existing relationships, changed family roles, and complex emotional bonds

  2. Providing specialized support that addresses the specific challenges of kinship care, including boundary establishment, role transitions, and family system adjustments

  3. Ensuring cultural responsiveness in all kinship support services, recognizing that kinship care often preserves cultural identity and family traditions

  4. Supporting family connections while helping kinship caregivers maintain appropriate boundaries with biological parents and extended family

  5. Delivering trauma-informed services that acknowledge the impact of trauma on both the child and the kinship family system

  6. Maintaining flexibility in service delivery, including availability outside normal business hours to accommodate kinship caregivers' schedules

  7. Ensuring staff expertise in kinship care, including comprehensive knowledge of state and federal benefits available to kinship caregivers and the application processes required

2. CORE SERVICE COMPONENTS

2.1 Enhanced Assessment Services

Refuge House will conduct comprehensive assessments of kinship placements that evaluate:

2.2 Verification Process Support

Refuge House will provide intensive support during the foster home verification process, recognizing that kinship caregivers often face unique challenges in meeting licensing requirements. This support includes:

2.3 Staff Expertise Requirements

All staff providing Kinship Caregiver Support Services will possess demonstrated expertise in kinship care. This expertise specifically includes:

2.4 Adaptable Service Delivery Approach

The approach and delivery of Kinship Caregiver Support Services will:

2.5 24/7 Support Availability

Recognizing the unique challenges of kinship care, Refuge House will ensure:

2.6 Ongoing Specialized Support

Kinship caregivers will receive enhanced ongoing support services including:

2.7 Training and Education

Refuge House will provide specialized training for kinship caregivers addressing:

2.8 Staff Training Enhancement Curriculum

Recognizing that all staff may encounter kinship placements, Refuge House will implement a comprehensive staff training enhancement curriculum to ensure organization-wide readiness to support kinship families. This curriculum will prepare all staff to:

2.9 Aftercare Services

Following permanency achievement or placement changes, Refuge House will provide comprehensive aftercare services for six months including:

Months 1–3: Weekly contact through calls or in-person meetings with crisis intervention support as needed

Months 4–6: Twice monthly follow-up calls and/or meetings with flexible scheduling to accommodate youth/family availability

Documentation Requirements: All contacts or attempted contacts, referrals, and other case management support provided during the aftercare service period will be documented in the child's case record. This detailed documentation will be submitted to the SSCC/DFPS caseworker at the end of each month.

Support Group Connections: As part of the aftercare program, Refuge House will provide or refer kinship caregivers to support groups. Support group information will be included in the Aftercare Services plan provided at the time of discharge.

3. ASSESSMENT AND CREDENTIALING PROCESS

Refuge House will maintain policies and procedures for assessing and credentialing Foster Family Homes for the Kinship Caregiver Support Services Add-On.

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Intake Coordinator 1. Conduct initial screening to determine appropriateness for kinship placement, including relationship to child, household composition, and safety considerations Upon referral Radius intake module T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Kinship Support Worker 2. Conduct comprehensive assessment of caregiver capacity and support needs Within 14 days of referral Assessment in Radius TAC §749.1309
Kinship Support Worker 3. Evaluate family dynamics and potential challenges including pre-existing relationships, boundary concerns, and extended family involvement During assessment Assessment in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156
Kinship Support Worker 4. Review financial stability and benefit eligibility; initiate applications as appropriate Within 14 days of referral Benefits tracking in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156
Training Coordinator 5. Assess training needs and learning preferences; develop individualized training schedule At assessment completion Training plan in Radius TAC §749.863
Program Director 6. Review completed assessment; approve credentialing with individualized support plan Within 5 days of assessment completion Credentialing file in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160

4. ELIGIBILITY AND REFERRAL

Children eligible for kinship caregiver support services include those placed with:

Referrals will be accepted from:

5. QUALITY ASSURANCE

Refuge House will maintain continuous quality improvement through:

  1. Outcome Tracking including placement stability rates, permanency achievement, and caregiver satisfaction

  2. Data Analysis by individual kinship home, support staff caseloads, and service utilization patterns

  3. Logic Model Maintenance specific to kinship support services, updated based on CQI findings

6. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

All kinship support services will be thoroughly documented in the child's case record using Radius case management system. Documentation will include:

The kinship dashboard will provide centralized access to resources, guides, and tracking tools specific to kinship placements.

7. COORDINATION WITH OTHER SERVICES

Kinship support services will be fully integrated with:

8. DEFINITIONS

Fictive Kin: Individuals with significant emotional ties to a child but no biological relationship

Kinship Caregiver: A relative or person with whom a child has a pre-existing relationship who provides foster care

PMC with PCA: Permanent Managing Conservatorship with Permanency Care Assistance

Verification Process: The licensing process for kinship caregivers to become verified foster homes

24/7 Availability: Staff accessibility through on-call system for immediate response

PROCEDURE SECTIONS

9. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICY AND PROCEDURE

This procedure operationalizes the Kinship Caregiver Support Services Add-On Policy (FC-KIN-01) by providing detailed implementation steps for supporting kinship placements. As established in our policy, kinship placements “present unique opportunities and challenges, requiring specialized support to navigate complex family dynamics while maintaining the child's natural family connections and cultural identity.”

The T3C Blueprint recognizes that kinship caregivers face distinct challenges including role transitions, boundary management, and complex relationships with biological parents. This procedure ensures systematic delivery of enhanced support services that strengthen these valuable placements while maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements.

While the policy establishes our philosophical approach and service commitments, this procedure details the specific actions, timelines, and responsibilities required for implementation. Procedures may be updated by the Executive Director to adapt to regulatory changes or operational improvements without Board approval, provided changes maintain alignment with policy intent.

Responsibility:

10. STAFF EXPERTISE AND AVAILABILITY PROCEDURES

Purpose and Overview

The foundation of effective kinship support lies in having knowledgeable staff available when families need them. T3C Blueprint requires staff to have expertise in kinship care including state and federal benefits, with 24/7 availability for immediate response.

10.1 Staff Expertise Requirements

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Human Resources
  1. Verify kinship care expertise during hiring
  2. Assess knowledge of state/federal benefits
  3. Confirm understanding of application processes
  4. Document qualifications
 During hiring process Personnel files T3C Blueprint p.156
Training Coordinator 1. Provide comprehensive benefit training: TANF for relative caregivers; Kinship Care payments; Permanency Care Assistance; Medicaid/CHIP enrollment; SNAP benefits; Application timing and processes Within 30 days of hire Training records in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156
Program Director 1. Maintain staff expertise through: Monthly benefit program updates; Annual competency assessments; Ongoing professional development Ongoing Training documentation T3C Blueprint p.156

10.2 24/7 Availability System

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Program Director
  1. Establish on-call rotation schedule
  2. Ensure kinship-trained staff coverage
  3. Publish schedule for caregiver access
  4. Maintain backup coverage system
 Monthly On-call schedule in Radius T3C Blueprint p.157
On-Call Staff
  1. Carry agency cell phone
  2. Respond within 15 minutes
  3. Provide crisis intervention
  4. Document all contacts
 24/7 during shifts Contact log T3C Blueprint p.157

11. REFERRAL AND INITIAL RESPONSE PROCEDURES

Purpose and Overview

Timely response to kinship referrals is critical for placement stability and caregiver success. The verification process can be overwhelming for relatives suddenly thrust into a caregiving role. This section establishes protocols for immediate response and support initiation.

11.1 Referral Processing

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Intake Coordinator
  1. Receive kinship referral via phone, email, or placement system
  2. Document in Radius: child information; kinship caregiver details; relationship to child; immediate support needs; verification status
 Within 2 hours of referral Radius intake module T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Intake Coordinator 2. Assign to Kinship Support Worker based on: geographic location; current caseload; language/cultural match when possible; complexity factors Within 4 hours of referral Staff assignment in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Kinship Support Worker 3. Make initial contact to: introduce services; schedule initial meeting (including evenings/weekends); identify urgent needs; begin relationship building Within 24 hours of assignment Contact documented in Radius TAC §749.1001
Kinship Support Worker 3a. Notify kinship caregiver of program expectations, participation requirements, and available supports using caregiver-friendly materials; obtain and document caregiver acknowledgment Within 7 days of service authorization Caregiver notification in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160; TAC §749.1001
Kinship Support Worker 4. Coordinate with DFPS/SSCC to obtain: placement authorization; child's essential documents; medical information; educational records Within 48 hours of referral Communication log DFPS 24-Hr RCC Requirements (FY26)

11.2 Emergency Support Activation

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Assess immediate needs including: basic necessities (beds, clothing, food); safety equipment; medical supplies; school enrollment needs During initial contact Needs assessment in Radius TAC §749.1001
Program Director 2. Authorize emergency assistance for: essential items; temporary financial support; transportation assistance Within 24 hours of identified need Authorization in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Kinship Support Worker 3. Connect caregiver to resources: initiate benefit applications; schedule appointments; provide application assistance Within 72 hours of placement Resource referral log T3C Blueprint p.156-160

12. VERIFICATION PROCESS SUPPORT

Purpose and Overview

The foster home verification process differs significantly for kinship caregivers who may have limited familiarity with child welfare systems. This section ensures comprehensive support throughout verification while maintaining compliance with licensing requirements.

12.1 Verification Navigation with Benefit Support

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Provide verification orientation covering: process overview and timeline; required documentation; home study components; training requirements; financial implications; available benefits during verification Within 72 hours of placement Caregiver's home or office TAC §749.1351
Kinship Support Worker 2. Assist with documentation and benefits: create documentation checklist; complete benefit applications together; track application status; assist with form completion; submit on caregiver's behalf when authorized Ongoing throughout verification Documentation in Radius TAC §749.1351; T3C Blueprint p.156
Kinship Support Worker 3. Coordinate home study activities: schedule home visits at convenient times; prepare caregiver for interviews; address safety modifications; support household members Per licensing timeline Verification tracking in Radius TAC §749.1351
Licensing Specialist 4. Conduct expedited processing: prioritize kinship applications; provide regular status updates; address barriers quickly; maintain communication with DFPS Throughout verification Licensing database TAC §749.1351

12.2 Training Support During Verification

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Training Coordinator 1. Develop flexible training schedule: offer evening and weekend options; provide virtual participation when allowed; create make-up opportunities; accommodate work schedules Within 1 week of placement Training calendar TAC §749.863
Training Coordinator 2. Deliver kinship-specific training modules: state/federal benefit navigation; trauma-informed kinship care; managing family dynamics; legal aspects of kinship care; boundary setting with parents During pre-service training Training records TAC §749.863; T3C Blueprint p.156-160

13. COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT AND CREDENTIALING

Purpose and Overview

Effective kinship support requires thorough understanding of the unique dynamics, strengths, and challenges of each kinship placement. This assessment addresses both standard requirements and kinship-specific considerations.

13.1 Initial Kinship Assessment

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Conduct comprehensive assessment interview: relationship history with child; previous caregiving experiences; family system dynamics; motivation for providing care; understanding of permanency options; benefit eligibility screening Within 14 days of placement Private setting in home TAC §749.1309; T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Kinship Support Worker 2. Assess caregiver support needs: training requirements; resource needs; family dynamics challenges; financial stability; cultural considerations During assessment Assessment in Radius TAC §749.1309
Program Director 3. Review assessment for credentialing: verify requirements met; identify support needs; approve with support plan; document decision Within 5 days of assessment Credentialing in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160

14. SUPPORT PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Purpose and Overview

Individualized support plans ensure each kinship placement receives services tailored to their unique circumstances while integrating with the child's primary Service Package.

14.1 Kinship Support Plan Creation

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Develop comprehensive support plan including: identified strengths and needs; specific support services; benefit application timeline; training schedule; crisis response protocols; integration with primary services Within 30 days of placement Support Plan in Radius TAC §749.1303; T3C Blueprint p.156-157
Treatment Team 2. Coordinate with primary service team: share assessment findings; align service delivery; avoid duplication; schedule coordination During plan development Team meeting notes T3C Blueprint p.157

15. ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICE DELIVERY

Purpose and Overview

Consistent support with flexible scheduling prevents placement disruptions and promotes positive outcomes. Services must adapt to caregiver schedules and needs.

15.1 Regular Support Contacts

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Maintain support schedule: initial intensive support as needed; regular check-ins per plan; evening/weekend availability; 24/7 crisis access Throughout placement Contact log in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-157
Kinship Support Worker 2. Provide benefit maintenance support: monitor benefit status; assist with renewals; address payment issues; advocate as needed Monthly or as needed Benefit tracking in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156

15.2 Support Group Facilitation

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Facilitate support groups: schedule at convenient times; provide relevant topics; connect caregivers; document participation Per schedule Group notes in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160

16. AFTERCARE SERVICES PROCEDURES

Purpose and Overview

Aftercare services ensure continuity of support following discharge, with specific requirements for contact frequency and documentation.

16.1 Aftercare Planning

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Worker 1. Develop aftercare plan including: support group referral information; contact schedule; resource connections; emergency contacts 30 days before discharge Aftercare Plan in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160

16.2 Aftercare Service Delivery

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Aftercare Worker 1. Provide intensive support: weekly contact via phone or visit; crisis intervention as needed; resource connections Months 1–3 Contact log T3C Blueprint p.10
Aftercare Worker 2. Continue graduated support: twice monthly contacts; flexible scheduling for family; support group connections; document all attempts Months 4–6 Contact log T3C Blueprint p.10
Aftercare Worker 3. Submit documentation: all contacts or attempted contacts; referrals provided; case management support; monthly report to SSCC/DFPS End of each month DFPS submission T3C Blueprint p.10

17. STAFF TRAINING ENHANCEMENT CURRICULUM

Purpose and Overview

Kinship placements can arise unexpectedly, and any staff member may be the first point of contact for a relative seeking to care for a child. This comprehensive training enhancement curriculum ensures all Refuge House staff possess foundational knowledge to support kinship families effectively. While Kinship Support Workers receive specialized intensive training, this curriculum provides essential competencies for all staff to recognize kinship needs, provide appropriate initial support, and facilitate smooth transitions to specialized services.

17.1 Core Kinship Competency Training — All Staff

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Training Coordinator 1. Deliver foundational kinship training module covering: kinship placement overview and benefits; recognizing kinship dynamics vs. traditional care; cultural considerations in kinship care; basic benefit programs available; when and how to engage kinship specialists; emergency response protocols Within 60 days of hire for all new staff LMS and classroom T3C Blueprint p.156-160
All Staff 2. Complete annual kinship refresher including: policy and benefit updates; case scenarios and role plays; communication strategies; resource directory updates; success stories and lessons learned Annually during required training LMS tracking TAC §749.931
Supervisors 3. Integrate kinship awareness in supervision: review kinship encounters; discuss challenging situations; reinforce appropriate responses; identify additional training needs Monthly supervision Supervision notes TAC §749.665

17.2 Role-Specific Enhanced Training

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Intake Staff 1. Complete enhanced intake training: identifying kinship referrals; urgent vs. routine kinship needs; benefit pre-screening questions; warm handoff protocols; documentation requirements; after-hours procedures Within 30 days of intake assignment Specialized training T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Case Managers 2. Receive case management enhancement: kinship vs. traditional planning; family dynamics assessment; benefit coordination basics; supporting kinship caregivers; permanency considerations; documentation standards Within 45 days of case assignment CM training module TAC §749.1303
Home Development 3. Complete recruitment adaptation training: kinship home characteristics; modified assessment approaches; expedited verification support; benefit discussions during recruitment; family-centered licensing Before kinship home assignments HD training TAC §749.1351

17.3 Intensive Kinship Specialist Training

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Kinship Support Workers 1. Complete comprehensive 40-hour curriculum: advanced family systems theory; detailed benefit program mastery; application completion practicum; crisis intervention for kinship; legal aspects and court processes; trauma-informed kinship practice Before carrying kinship caseload Intensive training week T3C Blueprint p.156
Kinship Support Workers 2. Participate in monthly advanced training: benefit program updates; complex case consultation; new resources and tools; peer case reviews; guest expert presentations Monthly Specialist meetings T3C Blueprint p.156
Kinship Support Workers 3. Complete annual certification including: benefit program competency exam; case scenario evaluations; documentation quality review; customer service assessment; professional development planning Annually Certification records T3C Blueprint p.156

17.4 Leadership and Support Training

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Supervisors/Managers 1. Complete leadership enhancement covering: supporting staff with kinship cases; resource allocation for kinship; quality assurance for kinship services; advocating for kinship families; building community partnerships Within 90 days of supervisory role Leadership training TAC §749.665
On-Call Staff 2. Receive crisis response training: kinship crisis scenarios; de-escalation techniques; emergency placement protocols; benefit emergency assistance; documentation requirements; follow-up procedures Before on-call rotation Crisis training T3C Blueprint p.157

17.5 Training Effectiveness and Quality Assurance

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
Training Coordinator 1. Evaluate training effectiveness through: pre/post knowledge assessments; skill demonstration checks; case file reviews; caregiver feedback; staff confidence surveys; outcome correlations Quarterly Training evaluation reports TAC §749.121
Quality Assurance 2. Monitor implementation through: observation of staff interactions; review of kinship documentation; caregiver satisfaction surveys; placement outcome analysis; training gap identification Monthly QA reports TAC §749.103
Program Director 3. Adjust curriculum based on: QA findings; staff feedback; regulatory changes; best practice updates; outcome data; caregiver input Annually Curriculum revision T3C Blueprint p.156-160

18. DOCUMENTATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Purpose and Overview

Comprehensive documentation ensures service continuity and regulatory compliance while enabling continuous quality improvement.

18.1 Documentation Requirements

Who How When Where Regulatory Reference
All Staff 1. Document all activities: contacts and attempts; services provided; referrals made; benefit activities; adaptations for family needs Within 24 hours Child's case record in Radius T3C Blueprint p.156-160
Quality Assurance 2. Monitor documentation: review for completeness; check compliance; provide feedback; track outcomes Monthly QA reports TAC §749.103

19. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

In case of after-hours emergencies:

  1. Caregiver calls 24/7 hotline
  2. On-call staff responds within 15 minutes
  3. Crisis intervention provided by phone
  4. In-person response dispatched if needed
  5. Follow-up within 24 hours by primary worker
  6. All contacts documented in case record

REGULATORY REFERENCES

RELATED DOCUMENTS

This combined policy and procedure document establishes both the governing principles and the operational implementation details for Kinship Caregiver Support Services Add-On. Policy sections require Board approval; procedure sections may be updated by the Executive Director to adapt to regulatory changes or operational improvements without Board approval, provided changes maintain alignment with policy intent.

© 2026 Refuge House, Inc. · This is a controlled document. Always refer to the current version.