Kinship care is an alternate living arrangement for a child who cannot remain at home. The child may live with a relative through blood or marriage or with an unrelated person who has a close, supportive relationship with the child (kin).
Kinship care plays an important role in helping a child through a difficult time. To become an approved caregiver, the friend or relative must participate in a home study. Erie County Children Services will provide support to help the caregiver meet the needs of the child. We will also work to make the transition as smooth as possible. Financial assistance may be available through Kinship Permanency Incentive program. Application must be made and eligibility will be determined by this agency in accordance with state regulations and requirements.
Grandparents
Are you a grandparent caring for your grandchild in Ohio, but you can’t make vital decisions for your grandchild because you don’t have legal custody? A new law may allow you to make these decisions without requiring a custody transfer through the court system.
If you are currently caring for one or more grandchildren because the child’s parent cannot, your grandchild’s parents can grant you Power of Attorney.
This will allow you to:
- Arrange for the child’s routine and emergency medical, dental and psychological treatment.
- Authorize your grandchild’s enrollment in school.
- Access information regarding their education.
- Provide consent for educational activities.
To obtain Power of Attorney for your grandchild, you must:
- Access the appropriate form, available at www.pcsao.org.
- Understand and agree to the terms regarding Power of Attorney.
- Provide the signature of the consenting parent, yourself, and an official notary on the form.
- File the form with your local juvenile court within five (5) days of signing it.
If you are currently caring for one or more grandchildren, and cannot locate the child’s parent, you may obtain a Caretaker Authorization Affidavit.
This will allow you to:
- Arrange for the child’s routine and emergency medical, dental and psychological treatment.
- Authorize your grandchild’s enrollment in school.
- Access information regarding their education.
- Provide consent for educational activities.
To obtain a Caretaker Authorization Affidavit, you must:
- Access the appropriate form, available at www.pcsao.org.
- Understand and agree to the terms regarding the Caretaker Authorization Affidavit.
- Provide your signature and that of an official notary.
- File the form with your local juvenile court within five (5) days of signing it.
Resources
Many children are fortunate to be cared for by kinship caregivers when their own parents are unable or unavailable to care for them.
Ohio Resource Guide for Relative Caring for Children
Click here to check out the new Kinship Ohio Website.
Click here to learn about Specialized Respite Care.
For more information about Kinship contact us at (419) 627-4485 or fill out the form on our contact page.