Background
Kinship families and grandfamilies form when grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends provide primary care for children whose parents are unable to do so. Kinship/ grandfamilies come together for a variety of reasons, including substance use, child welfare involvement, incarceration, mental and physical challenges, divorce, parental death, and military deployment. While research shows that kin caregivers and children benefit tremendously from these family arrangements, studies also indicate that kinship/ grandfamilies face unique difficulties. They “are disproportionately impacted by the opioid epidemic, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, parental incarceration, financial instability, and serious mental illness.” They also face legal challenges, emotional traumas, loss of relationships, chronic stress, and disability, all while being forced to navigate unfamiliar systems of care.
A 2022 USAging survey, conducted with the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, found that more than one-third of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Title VI Native American Aging Programs (Title VI programs) that offer services specifically for kinship/grandfamilies want training to address the mental health needs of these family members. In response to this need, this guide outlines no-cost mental health training resources for professionals and providers who interact with kinship/grandfamilies.
Using This Guide
The resources included in this guide were developed by different organizations for various audiences, including frontline workers, organizational managers, and kin caregivers. However, all resources contain information useful to staff from a range of professional backgrounds. Most can be read, viewed, or completed in 60 minutes or less (some in less than 15 minutes). Spanish-language resources are included when available.