Caring for Kinship Caregivers

In 2018, 2.7 million children were being raised in a kinship care family without a parent present – either with grandparents, aunts/uncles, siblings, or close family friends. Many of these kinship families are raising these children without the involvement of the child welfare system. Children living with relatives in kinship care, rather than foster care, experience many benefits, including more positive behavioral development, and greater placement stability. While kinship caregivers provide essential support to children, many frequently need support to carry out this added responsibility effectively. They often need help to cope with loneliness and anger, as well as assistance in navigating “the system” to obtain concrete supports, child care, affordable housing, health care, and guardianship or custody rights. Learn more about kinship care; the new Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network; and how one state has been able to support kinship caregivers, prevent child abuse and neglect, and prevent foster care entries.

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Sponsored by Generations UNITED

Speakers

Ana Beltran

Director @Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network

Ana Beltran is director of the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center at Generations United (GU). For over twenty years, Beltran has worked with GU on the array of issues impacting grandfamilies, providing in-person technical assistance and training to state agencies, legislatures, nonprofit organizations, and legal providers in over 35 states and virtual technical assistance in almost all 50. She also has authored many articles, reports, and resources to support the families. In a joint collaboration, Beltran co-authored the first set of comprehensive National Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards on which the federal government “relied heavily.” Prior to joining Generations United in 1999, Beltran worked in all three branches of the federal government and was a practicing attorney. She found her true passion when she began helping support grandfamilies. Beltran credits this passion to her amazing grandma who helped raise her.

John Cheney Egan

Program Administrator @Office of Housing and Cash Assistance

John Cheney Egan administers the Office of Housing and Cash Assistance with the Illinois Department of Family Services (DCFS) and the Extended Family Support Program (EFSP) which helps relative caregivers who care for their relative’s children who are not part of DCFS’ formal child welfare system. DCFS refers approximately 700 relative caregivers to 12 different contracted providers that have offices in 22 different locations throughout Illinois. He also administers programs that assist DCFS involved families and youth who are aging out of DCFS’ care obtain adequate housing. He has helped housing authorities in Illinois apply for funding to provide Family Unification Program and Fostering Youth to Independence housing choice vouchers to families and youth. Another place you might find John is on the Ultimate field. He has participated in seven national championship tournaments and continues to play the sport recreationally in Evanston.

Liliana Hernandez

Child Welfare Program Specialist @Children’s Bureau

Liliana Hernandez is a Child Welfare Program Specialist in the Children’s Bureau’s Division of Program Implementation. Her portfolio includes the Kinship Navigator programs, Guardianship Assistance Program, the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, and collaborating with the Department of Education on implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act. She also participates as a Federal Member on the Administration of Community Living, RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council. Hernandez has published in peer-reviewed journals on postsecondary education and kinship care including “Navigating the System: A How-to Guide for Implementing a Kinship Navigator Program” in the Journal of Public Child Welfare, “Increasing College Access and Retention Rates of Youth in Foster Care,” and “Scholarships and Supports available to foster care alumni.” Hernandez has also presented internationally on higher education, child welfare, and positive youth development.