Nearly three million children in the United States, nearly 70,000 children in Virginia, and nearly 4,000 children in Fairfax County, are being raised in kinship care by grandparents, relatives, or close family friends when their parents are unable to do so.
When children must be separated from their parents, kinship care provides children with the opportunity to grow and learn in a supportive, loving, safe home environment while retaining a sense of family, cultural heritage, and community ties.
Fairfax County recognizes the importance of kinship caregivers. In keeping with The Family First Prevention Services Act, we are committed to making sure that children who are separated from their parents and enter foster care are placed in family-like settings (kinship care, foster care).
Fairfax County partners with public and private organizations to prioritize a kin-first culture where children are raised within their families whenever possible. We celebrate kinship families for their strengths and expertise and help to connect kinship families with evidence-based, trauma-informed services, resources, trainings and supports focused on kinship families’ needs. Learn more about these services.
We asked some of our kinship caregivers to share with us about their experiences caring for the children of relatives. These families open up about how full their hearts are, how rewarding it is to see the children growing, thriving, and responding to their love and support, and the unexpected benefits of drawing extended family closer together in the process of providing support. Families also share about adapting to being a primary caregiver later in life, the challenge of finding child care and the need for so much flexibility. Learn more about why 
Kinship Cafés will begin meeting again virtually this fall. Kinship caregivers can talk with others who understand how difficult and joyful it can be raising a child for a family member or friend. Join us to discuss topics such as discipline, self-care, and family rules. You can also find out about community resources that you may not have known existed. Kinship Cafés are free and meet the first Wednesday and third Thursday of each month. The first sessions are scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Oct. 5. Check our 
