Kinship Care Program

Just like a foster parent, a kinship parent is a person who acts as a temporary parent and guardian for a child who is not their own biological child and who has lost or been removed from their natural parents’ care.

Becoming a kinship parent requires flexibility, a willingness to grow and learn, and most of all, a commitment to provide a safe, stable, nurturing, and loving home for a child.

Kinship parents can be:

The program is looking for parents who are:

• supportive of siblings staying together
• open and affirming of LGBTQIA+ children and youth
• aware that kinship care is temporary
• open to care for medically fragile/ medically complex children
• open to caring for children with emotional, behavioral and physical needs
• supportive of parents’ reunification

1. Contact any Department of Family Services office/ Foster Care Worker.
2. Request a foster care application packet.
3. Submit foster care application packet and appropriate documentation to Foster Care Administration. Foster Care Worker will begin to schedule home visits.
4. Fingerprint and background checks will be initiated.
5. Home visits will be made.
6. Home Study will be completed.
7. Foster Care Specialist will refer you to various trainings.
8. License is completed.
9. Licenses are renewed annually.

Choice
You can choose what type of children you want placed in your home, including their age and gender.

Privacy
Your information is kept private and confidential, and you do not have contact with the birth parents or family.

Licensing
There are two kids of licenses, the regular license and a specialized one, which requires additional training. Some of the children have special needs and may require specialized care, which you can be trained to provide and receive a specialized license.

Cost
Kinship parenting is volunteering, but the Navajo Nation does provide cost-of-care reimbursements to licensed foster parents on a monthly basis for each child placed in the foster home.

Maintenance payments are based on the age and needs of the child or youth.

Additional support can be available including reimbursement for transportation expenses.

Please follow the link to learn more about the Navajo Indian Child Welfare Act’s Adoption Unit:

The Specialized Child Care Permanency Program (SCCPP) provides intensive services to children who have been in out-of-home placement for more than six months. The goal of SCCPP is to finalize permanent living arrangements for children in a safe and stable home when reunification is not the primary case plan goal. Permanent arrangements may include guardianship, adoption, and/or customary adoption.

Referrals:

• SCCPP shall be initiated when a referral/intake is received from the appropriate Case Management Specialist
• The child(ren) being referred are dependent child(ren) and have an active case with DFS
• DFS shall accept referrals/intakes for each potential legal guardian or adoptive parent who is interested in becoming a permanent legal caretaker for the children. SCCPP may make referrals to the DFS Foster Care Program for foster or kinship home licensing.

The Kinship Navigator Program provides support and assistance to relative-caregivers who are providing care to children when their biological parents cannot adequately provide for them.

Roles of a Kinship Navigator:

• Educate kinship caregivers and service providers about resources and supports
• Directly refer kinship caregivers to appropriate services
• Help establish and maintain relationships between caregivers and DFS
• Advocate for services and resources for kinship caregivers

Referrals:

• Kinship Navigator shall be initiated when a referral is received from the appropriate Case Management Specialist
• The child(ren) being referred are dependent child(ren) and have an active case with DFS.