Mecklenburg Kinship Care is a support program for grandparents and kinship family caregivers.

Please check out our Tools and Resource Guide.


What is Kinship Care?

There are an estimated 6 million children in the US living in families headed by a grandparent or other relative caregiver. Statistics show that children raised in these family settings have a higher incidence of poor school performance, self esteem issues, abandonment issues, boundary issues, and behavioral problems, including run-ins with the law.

Services Offered

• Information and Referral -including encouraging participation in classes offered by CMS Parent University
• Monthly Support Group Meetings
• Advocacy
• Celebrations
• Supervision for participant children during support group meetings
• Additional services such as respite and trainings are offered to caregivers 55 and older

Pubic Assistance Available 

• Food & Nutrition Services (formerly known as Food Stamps):
  provides supplemental food assistance to individuals and families who currently have limited income and resources  
• Medicaid for Family & Children and Adults:
  covers most of the cost of medical care and services for several categories of people (children and families, pregnant people, the aged and disabled, and adults interested in family planning services)
• Work First Family Assistance:
  provides time limited cash assistance to parents with minor children while they look for work. 

Learn where you can apply for public assistance.

Check potential eligibility with ePASS.