Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP)

What is KinGAP

The Kinship Foster Care and Guardianship Assistance Program (KinGAP) offers financial assistance and Medicaid for youth who are determined to be in a permanent family setting and unlikely to obtain permanency through reunification or adoption. Licensed kinship caregivers and licensed foster families willing to provide a permanent home for the youth in their care may be eligible for KinGAP. See basic eligibility requirements for more information.

Criteria for KinGAP

  • The court has determined that Reunification and Adoption are not appropriate permanency options for the youth.

  • The youth must be placed in the licensed home for a minimum of 6 months prior to guardianship being awarded.

  • The youth is the placement responsibility of a NC county department of social services at the time of entry into the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program.

  • The youth is at least 14 years of age but not older than age 18, or is a sibling of the qualified youth who is also placed in the guardianship arrangement.

  • The youth demonstrates a strong attachment to the prospective guardian and has been consulted regarding the guardianship arrangement.

  • The prospective legal guardian shall have entered into a guardianship assistance agreement with the county department of social services who holds custody of the youth prior to the order granting legal guardianship.

What is Legal Guardianship from Foster Care?

If reunification with birth parents or adoption are no longer options for a child/youth in foster care, legal guardianship is another way for a child/youth to find a permanent home.

Guardianship is considered when the child/youth’s best interests are to stay connected to their birth parents and extended family, and permanency cannot be achieved another way.

Resources

Kinship Resource- Child Trends Executive summary Kinship Study - 8/7/24 - FULL REPORT

Resource: Legal Options for Kinship Caregivers & More
here

VIDEO: Kinship Legal Options for Caregivers

Supporting Educational Access for Kinship/Grandfamilies

VIDEO: Kinship Legal Options for Caregivers

KinGAP Fact Sheet
CLICK HERE 

KinGAP Comparison Chart for Caregivers
CLICK HERE

Know your Options:
CLICK HERE

Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers:
CLICK HERE

WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A LEGAL GUARDIAN?

Legal guardians are responsible for the day-to-day care and supervision of a child/youth placed with them. Legal guardians have the same responsibilities as a parent. Once a relative becomes the legal guardian, social services no longer has legal custody of the child/youth, and will not be involved in the family’s life, unless the family reaches out to social services for support. As the legal guardian of the child/youth, some of your responsibilities will include:

• Decide where the child/youth lives and goes to school;

• Ensure the child/youth’s educational, medical, dental, mental health, and social needs are being met; and

• Make decisions about the child/youth’s future on the child/youth’s behalf.