Printer
TextKinship Care Resource Guide
The Kinship Care Resource Guide is a joint project developed by the Fairfax County Department of Family Services and Fairfax County Public Schools for grandparents and other adult relatives who have taken on the full responsibility of raising a child (or children) with whom they share a family bond. In this resource guide you will find program descriptions, eligibility criteria, costs and contact information for a variety of services in the Fairfax County area.
The complete resource guide is more than 100 pages. You may browse by chapter or download the full
version (402KB in pdf format). You will need the
free Adobe Reader installed on your computer in order to download
these files.
To request the guide on CD or the print version, please call the DFS
publications manager at 703-324-5870; TTY 703-222-9452.
Kinship Care Facts
- Kinship care is increasing as a result of family challenges, including serious mental and physical illness, financial difficulties, military responsibilities, substance abuse, incarceration, child abuse and neglect, AIDS, domestic violence and the death of the child’s parent.
- Kinship care families come from all geographic, economic, educational and racial or ethnic backgrounds.
- Nationwide,the number of kinship care families is growing, with more than six million children in the U.S. currently being raised by grandparents and other relatives.
- In Fairfax County, according to the 2000 Census, approximately 5,000 households identified themselves as having a grandparent responsible for the care of a grandchild or other relative child.
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