What exactly is kinship care?  Kinship care is when a child lives with a relative or close family friend. These family members are grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings.  Kinship care is often preferred than traditional foster care because it helps maintain family connections and cultural ties and identities, which will minimize the trauma of separation from their families.

Within our Child Welfare Division we have the Guardian Assistance Program, also known as: GAP. This special program was designed to support kinship caretakers who receive guardianship through the courts after an active CPS In-Home case. Our social workers and staff provide on-going support to families through quarterly home visits and linking them with the services needed for the children and care givers.  Every year the team holds a celebratory event gathering the families together and acknowledging the educational, sports and community accomplishments of the youth.

At Durham County we honor and celebrate the value of kinship care connections.