Nationwide, grandparents, other relatives, and close family friends are raising over 2.5 million children whose parents are unable to do so for various reasons, including death, military deployment, and substance use. While research shows that both kin caregivers and the children they raise benefit from being part of kinship/grandfamilies, studies also indicate that these families are disproportionally impacted by financial instability, disability, and trauma. The well-being of each family member improves when they receive appropriate services.
Information and Referral (I&R) professionals often are the first point of contact for kin caregivers seeking assistance, but many professionals are not familiar with who kinship/grandfamilies are, their strengths and challenges, and the services available to help. This webinar orients I&R professionals to the strengths and challenges of these families, and to resources and tools they can use to assist kin caregivers.
This webinar was held on October 23, 2025.