Kinship (KPI)

Kinship Care refers to a temporary or permanent arrangement in which a relative or any non-relative adult who has a long-standing relationship or bond with the child and/or family, has taken over the full-time, substitute care of a child whose parents are unable or unwilling to do so. Kinship Care includes those relationships established through an informal arrangement, legal custody or guardianship order, a relative foster care placement or kinship adoption. Regardless of the type of kinship care arrangement, the kinship caregivers' voluntary commitment to devote their lives to the children in their care is a courageous, life-changing decision.

Kinship care represents the most desirable out-of-home placement option for children who cannot live with their parents. It offers the greatest level of stability by allowing children to maintain their sense of belonging and enhances their ability to identify with their family's culture and traditions.

Kinship Permanency Incentive Program (KPI)

The Kinship Permanency Incentive program was developed to promote a permanent commitment by a kinship caregiver(s) through becoming guardians and custodians over minor children who would otherwise be unsafe or at risk of serious harm if they remained in their own homes.  The program provides up to 8 payments over 48 consecutive months to eligible specified relatives as well as individuals who hold legal custody of children who have been the subject of abuse and neglect.  The dollar amount of the payments is redetermined each state fiscal year by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.    

Eligibility requirements for Ohio's Kinship Permanency Incentive Program include:

• The court must have awarded legal custody or guardianship of the child on or after July 1, 2005 to the kinship caregiver, based on the best interest of the child. 
• The public children services agency must have completed the Relative or Non-Relative Substitute Placement Approval Process, inclusive of a criminal background check, as well as completion of an application form. 
• The gross income of the caregiver's family, including the child, may not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. (download the FPG chart above) 
• Application completion and other supporting documentation requested by the KPI worker including court documents, income verification, etc.

Kinship Child Care Program (KCCP)

• Columbiana County Children Services is currently involved or was previously involved with the family, including solely for the Kinship Permanency Incentive program.
• The kinship provider has an approved home assessment for the child in need of child care services in accordance with rule 5101:2-42-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
• The gross income of the kinship family does not exceed 200 % of the FPL.
• The kinship provider does not qualify for publicly funded child care services.
• The kinship provider needs child care services for employment, educational, or training activities.

For more information on resources available to kinship caregivers, please contact us at 330.420.6600.

Information from Ohio.gov