Kinship Caregiver Program

Hillside’s Kinship Caregiver program provides intensive support services to kinship families with legal custody or an informal care arrangement of youth in the home. The program’s design is based on the unique needs of kinship families with a goal to support and strengthen families, promote permanency and ensure the well-being of kinship children.

About this Program

This program serves families with informal or legal custody of one or more children between the ages of 0-18, free of charge. Services are provided by experienced kinship parents and other kinship professionals. We understand the challenges that may be experienced among grandparents, relatives or any non-parent caregiver, and the struggles they may face to connect with needed resources.

Participating families will be connected to a Permanency Specialist who will provide one to one support to help caregivers identify tools to manage challenging youth behaviors, navigate legal, school and mental health systems, secure community resources and connect with other kinship families through support groups and recreational activities.

Services include:

• Information and assistance with referrals to community-based services
• 24/7 access to phone-based Hillside crisis management services
• Individual advocacy and one-to-one case management support
• Monthly caregiver and youth support groups
• Family-focused social/recreational activities
• Caregiver education groups and trauma-informed trainings
• Parenting A Second Time Around (PASTA) workshops

Locations

Based on participating families’ needs, our Permanency Specialists will meet with families in the community, in their homes and at Hillside office locations.

We make every effort to coordinate convenient times and places to meet with caregivers and youth.

Support groups, workshops and family activities are offered virtually, at easily accessible community venues or Hillside locations.

Contact Information

This Program Supported by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).