North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the availability of funding assistance for kinship caregivers seeking legal guardianship. Through the HHS Kinship-ND program, eligible caregivers can apply for up to $2,500 to assist with the initial guardianship process. To qualify, caregivers must already be receiving services from Kinship-ND.
Kinship caregivers are individuals who provide full-time care and support for children unable to remain safely in their parents’ homes. These caregivers may include grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, older siblings, extended family members, or close family friends known as fictive kin.
Currently, over 765 caregivers in North Dakota are providing care to more than 1,325 children under kinship arrangements. “We are happy that funds are now available to help kinship caregivers provide safe and stable homes in familiar environments,” stated Cory Pedersen, Director of HHS Children and Family Services. “Kinship care is one of the best ways to keep families connected and at the same time ensure the safety and well-being of children.”
