Technical Assistance Options

Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center

 

In partnership with Casey Family Programs, the staff of the Grandfamilies State Law and Policy Resource Center, consisting of lawyers, policy experts, and researchers from the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law and Generations United, offers a variety of free technical assistance to states:

 

Ø      Recommendations for implementation of the kinship provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) in your state.  For example, we can provide information tailored to your needs about how other states are meeting implementation challenges in the areas of program, policy, and budget.

 

Ø      In collaboration with the National Conference of State Legislatures, checklists and tips for developing kinship legislation in your state on a variety of issues, including kinship navigator and kinship guardianship assistance. We are also available to prepare testimony for legislative committees, and present at informal briefings for state policymakers, advocates or both.

 

Ø      A specific tip sheet tailored for your state’s judges and attorneys on how to effectively help implement kinship policies.

 

Ø      A summary of the newly released Federal RFP for Family Connection and Kinship Navigators Grants, and help interested state and non-profit organizations learn how to apply for and help with programs funded by these grants.

 

Ø      Kinship care training or consultation with court personnel, child welfare agency staff, attorneys, and others involved in the child welfare system.

 

Ø      An analysis of your state’s current kinship laws, policies, and regulations on a kinship topic, such as those listed below.

 

Kinship issues can include:

•        Notification of relatives when children are removed from their parents’ home

•        Non safety waivers for relative foster care licensing

•        Other relative foster care issues

•        Kinship Guardianship Assistance Programs

•        Financial assistance for caregivers and children

•        Care and custody options, including adoption

•        Kinship Navigator Programs

•        Housing

•        Other Kinship related topics

 

Please contact us to find out what we can do for you:

 

Heidi Redlich Epstein                                                        Jenna Addington

ABA Center on Children and the Law                               Generations United

redlichh@staff.abanet.org                                                 jaddington@gu.org

202-662-1725                                                                    202-289-3979