When a child is no longer able to stay with their parents, the first option is always to look for a family member or known person to care for the child. This is known as kinship care and the person caring for the child is known as a kinship caregiver. It is a big commitment to care for a child, but it is important to keep children with adults who are familiar to them.
HHS Kinship Care Definitions
Foster care- When a child is removed from a parent’s custody as a result of juvenile court action and placed in the care and responsibility of HHS.
Kinship care- When a child stays with a relative or fictive kin because they have been removed from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and placed in foster care.
Kin- an adult who is a blood relative of the child.
Fictive Kin- An adult person who is not a relative of the child but has a positive emotional relationship with the child or their family.
CINA- A Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) has to be decided upon, or adjudicated, by a court. A child will participate in kinship or foster care while the CINA is in place. This court decision will also come with services and programs to help the parent or guardian meet their goals and achieve reunification.
Guardian- A person who is not a parent of the child, but a court has decided they will have a permanent relationship with the child and help make important life decisions that are in the best interest of the child.
Reunification- A child who was removed from the care of their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and has been determined by a court to be able to go home and be cared for by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
Adoption- When a person who is not a child's biological parent legally has parental rights transferred to them.