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EMQ FamiliesFirst, Family Stress Center, and West Contra Costa County Youth Service Bureau work
together to provide Kinship services throughout Contra Costa County. The primary purpose of the program is to provide
supportive services to relative caregivers (primarily grandmothers) so children can remain with their families and
communities and avoid placement in non-related foster care homes. Children who are cared for by their relative have
already suffered the trauma of the loss of their birth parent(s). Some of the possible reasons for the loss of their
birth parent(s) include death, abuse, neglect, incarceration, substance use, mental illness and abandonment. The
children are frequently wounded by the experience of the removal and want to be with those who know and love them.
Placing children with relatives helps to maintain cultural and familial ties, thus easing the transition for the
children removed from their biological parents. The goal of the program is focused on helping the relative caregiver
receive and access services so that she or he can continue to care for the children as well as themselves. Additionally,
the program seeks to help children in relative care grow into successful, independent adults.
Each Kinship site serves as a resource center and provides a broad range of services. These services include:
- Case management
- Support groups
- Recreation activities for children, adults and the entire family
- Respite
- Assistance with legal guardianship
- Information and referral
- Tutoring
- Information Workshops
- Advocacy
- Emergency financial assistant
Based on the needs of the individual family, services are provided in the family's home, at the site as well as in the community. The program strives to support and strengthen the kinship family members, provide them with emotional and community resources, while creating access to a positive community of people who are in a similar position. All services are supportive, family-centered, strength-based with a focus on solutions.
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