North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services

In response to the growing numbers of these kinship care families, state legislatures, public and private agencies, and grassroots coalitions in North Carolina and across the country have begun to expand services and supports for children living with kin inside and outside of the foster care system.

A Look at the Numbers Kinship Care in North Carolina: The data below shows the numbers and percentages of children living in Households headed by grandparents, other relatives and non-related adults, as reported in the 2000 U. S. Census, in the state of North Carolina and in its three largest cities.

About 135,000 or 6.9% of all children under age 18 live in Grandparent-headed households, another 39,000 live in homes headed by relatives other than grandparents and an additional 36,000 live in homes headed by non-relatives. [Sources: AARP and 2000 Census Tables]

Kinship Care Initiatives
In North Carolina, public and private agencies and grassroots coalitions of grandparents and other relative caregivers have been working together to expand the services available to kinship care families outside the child welfare system. Since the mid 1990s, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Aging and Adult Services has led efforts to develop programs, services and resources for grandparents and other older relatives raising grandchildren. In 1997, NC became one of the first states to receive a grant from the Brookdale Foundation Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) to initiate a statewide task force, interagency collaborations, and development of local support groups. Recently, NC Cooperative Extension has joined the Division as a partner in the RAPP initiative.

With the implementation of the National Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) in 2001, the Division increased its ability to promote regional and local programming for grandparents and other relatives age 60 and older taking care of children age 18 and under. Regional Area Agencies on Aging may initiate services including information andassistance, support groups, caregiver training and counseling, respite and supplemental services. For information on the programs of the Division of Aging and Adult Services or regional and local programs, contact Chris Urso, Family Caregiver Support Program Specialist at (919) 733-3983 or visit the Division of Aging and Adult Services website at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/.

The NC AARP provides resource information and assistance for grandparenting, grandparents raising grandchildren and other relative caregivers. Contact Suzanne LaFollette-Cameron, Associate State Director at (919) 508-0269 or scameron@aarp.org.

The Grandcare Program at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Center serves more than 200 grandparent families in Mecklenburg County. The program provides information, referrals support groups, court-related assistance, assistance with necessary social and other services, educational workshops for grandparents and other relatives raising children as well as for professionals, and community coalition-building and education. Contact Sue Korenstein, GrandCare Director at (704) 522-6222, ext. 126 or grandcare@earthlinknet

Support Groups: The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services has encouraged the development of kinship care support groups, and is working with NCCooperative Extension and other organizations to create a network of these groups across the state. Support groups are listed on this website at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/grandlis.htm.

Kinship Care and North Carolina’s Foster Care System
An increasing number of children in the care of state child welfare systems are being placed with grandparents and other relatives. In North Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services (DSS) reports:

Number of children in kinship foster care placements: In 2000, of 5,141 children entered out-of-home placements under DSS custody, 964 (18.8%) were placed with extended family or kin.

Preference for kin in foster care placements: The Division of Social Services Family Services Manual states that when children cannot be assured safety in their own homes, the best alternative resource can often be found within the extended family and other kin. Additionally, the juvenile court supervising the child’s case is required to ascertain whether or not a relative is willing and able to provide proper care and supervision for the child.

Licensing for kin foster parents: There is no separate licensing program for kin foster parents. Kin have to meet the same licensing standards and training requirements and receive the same foster care payment rate as non-kin foster parents. However, the DSS may apply for a waiver of some requirements of kin foster homes that do not affect the health and safety of the child.

Subsidized Guardianship: In addition to foster care payments and other benefits available to kin raising children in the foster care system, some states also have subsidized guardianship programs. Under its Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Project, North Carolina has been able to offer a subsidized guardianship program that provides subsidies (in the 19 eligible counties) for eligible children who have been in DSS custody for 12 months and have resided with the prospective legal guardian for a least six months. To be eligible for the program, reunification and adoption must be rules out as that child’s plan. DSS also carefully assesses the relationship between the caregiver and the child to determine if the relationship is nurturing and stable enough to last throughout the child’s minority. North Carolina’s Demonstration Project is currently scheduled to end June 30, 2002 unless the proposal to extend the project is granted. Contact David Atkinson, Initiatives Coordinator at (919) 733-5125 or David.Atkinson@ncmail.net.

Special Needs Adoption Subsidy: If you adopt a child who is in foster care and that child has a special need (e.g., a physical, emotional or mental disability or handicap) you may be eligible for financial assistance, monthly maintenance payments, medical benefits and other services.

State foster care contact: Questions about kin foster care placements should be directed to David Atkinson at (919) 733-4622 or David.Atkinson@ncmail.net.

Training and consumer education: AARP offers numerous consumer education opportunities such as the AARP Grandparent Raising Grandchildren Educational Program manual, a free newsletter Parenting Grandchildren, and other publications. Contact Suzanne LaFollette-Cameron, NC AARP Associate State Director at (919) 508-0269or scameron@aarp.org.

The North Carolina State Foster Parent Association plays a significant role in the training and support of kin foster parents, including helping DSS to recruit and retain foster parents and provide guidance on their training needs. Visit http://www.ncfosterparents.org.

NC Cooperative Extension provides workshops and programs for grandparents and other relatives raising children and for professionals. Contact Dr. Luci Bearon, Adult Development/Aging Specialist at (919) 515-9146 or luci_bearon@ncsu.edu.

The CARES Program of the UNC School of Social Work in Chapel Hill provides educational services to professionals who work with kinship care families. Contact Linda Rahija at (919) 962-0650 or lrahija@email.unc.edu.

Raising the Generations: A Resource Guide for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is a comprehensive resource guide for grandparents caring for their grandchildren (available in Fall 2002). Contact Lynne Berry, NC Division of Aging and Adult Services Legal Services Developer at (919) 733-8395 or lynne.berry@ncmail.net.

Public Benefits and Other Services for North Carolina’s Kinship Care Families Cash assistance: Cash assistance may be available to children and their grandparents and relative caregivers through North Carolina's Work First program. It is also possible to submit a child only application for Work First benefits. If the request is made only for the child or children, the grandparent or other kin is exempt from the work search requirements and the time limitations. Kinship care families may also be eligible for food stamps to help meet their children's food and nutrition needs. For more information about these programs. Contact (919) 733-7831, visit the website at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/index.htm or contact your local county department of social services.

Health insurance: Grandparents and other relative caregivers may apply for free or low-cost health insurance on behalf of the children they are raising, through the North Carolina Health Check and Health Choice for Children programs. In some cases, caregivers may be eligible for free coverage. Contact Health Check at (919) 857-4019 or visit the website at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/cpcont.htm.

Respite services: The ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) of North Carolina offers respite services for a developmentally disabled person in the family. Contact Ellen Russell, ARC State Director at (919) 782-4632 or ellen@arcnc.org.

Additional assistance for older adults: The state administers programs of assistance with medical expenses for adults age 65 and over with limited income through its Medicaid and Medicare-Aid programs. See the website at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/covgroups.htm or call your county department of social services.
State Laws and Policies

Medical Consent (NC Stat. 32A - 34): North Carolina has a medical consent law (complete with a standard Authorization to Consent to Health Care for Minor form) that allows a custodial parent or other legal custodian to authorize another adult in whose care the minor child has been living to consent to health care for a child through the use of a notarized consent form. It is available at the Division of Aging and Adult Services web site at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/. Go to the topical index and click on Grandparents or Medical Consent.

Educational Consent (NC Stat. Sec. 115C - 366):

North Carolina has an educational consent law in place that allows an adult who is raising a child without legal custody or guardianship to enroll that child in the school district where that adult lives. When the parent or guardian is available and willing to sign an affidavit, the law requires two affidavits attesting to the adult’s caregiving relationship with the child, one from the caregiver and the second from the parent or legal guardian of the child. However, if the parent or guardian is unavailable or unwilling to give consent, the affidavit by the parent or guardian may be omitted and the caregiver may simply state in his or her affidavit that the parent or guardian is unwilling, unable or unavailable to sign an affidavit giving the caregiver responsibility for the educational decisions concerning the child.

Standby Guardianship (NC Stat. 35A - 1370 et seq.):

If a parent or legal guardian of a minor has a terminal illness, or a progressive debilitating illness or will become incapacitated, North Carolina law allows for a parent or legal guardian to designate in writing or by petition to the court for a standby guardian to be named.