September is National Kinship Caregiver Month! Year-round, Hillside Permanency Resource Centers (PRC) supports kinship caregivers throughout Western, Central, and the Southern Tier of New York. Kinship care means that grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends step in to care for children. Many kinship caregivers are not foster parents but provide full-time care on their own. These arrangements can be formal, with custody agreements, or informal.
Hillside recognizes their strength and dedication, and works to help caregivers feel valued year-round. Permanency Specialists offer both in-person and virtual support. They help with case management, advocacy, resources, referrals, and trauma-informed education through trainings and workshops for kinship caregivers.
One caregiver, who is raising her 16-year-old sister along with her own children, shared, “Hillsides PRC has truly been such a blessing to my family and me.” She added, “They have helped me in so many different ways, not only by providing resources and support, but also by giving me guidance and reassurance when I needed it most.”
The PRC fosters community through monthly caregiver and youth support groups, allowing participants to share experiences. For many, this program is a lifeline. One grandparent shared, “[This] is the only place where I have found where I truly belong.” Another said, “Even after my grandchildren were able to return to their mother, I still returned to the group because of the connections I made there. We lift each other.”
Hillside supports eligible families in Allegany, Broome, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Steuben, and Tioga counties. Permanency Specialists can help determine eligibility. Regardless of eligibility, Hillside can help people find programs and connect with PRCs and local agencies across New York State.
Community support keeps #HillsideStrong! Please donate today and strengthen Hillside’s mission.