The Kinship in Demand (KIND) Act ensures that the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) prioritizes placing children with relatives when they cannot remain at home in the care of their parents. A relative (or a nonrelative who maintains a close relationship with a child and/or that child’s family) may act as a relative caregiver or certified relative caregiver, with various benefits provided to each. The following guide will explain the requirements for both, as well as how parents can be involved and talk to their relatives about becoming a caregiver.

Whether a parent has had prior contact with DCFS or it is their first time, this guide will help them understand how their family can be involved in their child’s case and how to assert the right to that involvement. Understanding how family can be involved in a child’s case and why it matters is essential to the well-being of children involved in the foster care system. This guide ensures that parents are prepared to advocate for a kin-first approach as they navigate the foster care system.

Additional Resources:

• Identification of relatives
• Sample letter provided by DCFS