Kinship Services are when a known caregiver (other family members, individuals familiar to the child/youth, or parent/guardian) provides in-home care to a child/youth who requires an out-of-home placement, while their primary caregivers address challenges, or due to a protection concern brought forward by family, or the Agency. Kinship Caregivers/Providers are known to the child/youth, and can be (not limited to):
- Immediate Family (Grandparents)
- Extended Family (Aunt, Uncle, In-Laws, Cousins)
- Friend
- Clan/Membership/Community Affiliation
- Significant social connection
- Someone who has played a significant role in the life of the child/youth
Kinship Caregivers/Providers ensure that children/youth remain connected with their family, extended family, heritage, culture, and traditions. This helps build a sense of belonging, safety, and security for children. It is the Agency’s goal to have children/youth remain with families and in their communities.
Kinship Service families are eligible to receive temporary care allowance through Ontario works, the Child Tax benefit and are further supported by a Kinship Service worker who will help guide them through the process.
The Rights of Anishinaabe children and youth are inherent and forever in all our care practices. Click here to view Rights Poster.
All My Relations – Kinship Services
First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) family structures naturally have children, youth, and families surrounded by their family, extended family, community, clan, and Nation to support healthy lifestyles and positive outcomes.
All My Relations – Historically, and currently, communities have strong family values that tie together families, clans, blood, and non-blood relatives in sharing a collective responsibility towards caring for children/youth.
The top priority is to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of children and youth. Comfort is building and maintaining a sense of belonging, safety, health, happiness, and security, within a familiar home.