Understanding Kinship Care Programs in Ohio: A Guide for Relatives and Family Friends
When a child cannot remain with their parents, someone they already know may step in to provide a safe, stable home. That person might be a grandparent, aunt or uncle, adult sibling, other relatives, or a close family friend. In Ohio, these caregivers may be part of a kinship care program that helps families understand their options and connect with available support.
September is National Kinship Care Month, a time to recognize the relatives and family friends who take on this important role and make sure they know support is available.
What is Kinship Care?
Kinship care is the full-time care of a child by a relative or another adult who has an established relationship with the child or family. In Ohio, kinship caregivers can include grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, other relatives, stepparents, legal guardians and custodians, and nonrelatives with a familiar, long-standing relationship or bond with the child or family.
Some kinship caregivers care for children without becoming licensed foster caregivers. Others choose to become licensed, which can provide access to additional training, support, financial assistance, and other benefits.
Kinship Care Helps Keep Children Connected
When children cannot safely remain with their parents, moving into a new home can bring significant change. Living with someone they already know can preserve important connections to family, relationships, traditions, community, and a child's sense of identity.
Research cited in Pubmed — Kinship care for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment, published by the National Library of Medicine, has associated kinship care with greater placement stability, fewer behavioral and mental health problems, and better overall well-being compared with non-kin foster care.
Kinship care is also far more common than many people realize. The U.S. Administration for Community Living reports that approximately 2.5 million children in the United States live in kinship families, where they are being raised by grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends.
How Many Ohio Children Live in Kinship Families?
The answer depends on what is being counted.
In 2022, Ohio GrandFacts data estimated that 238,921 Ohio children under age 18 lived in homes where the householder was a grandparent or other relative. That is a broad measure: a child can live in a relative-headed household while a parent is also present. The same data estimated that approximately 117,000 Ohio children lived with a relative with no parent present, a much closer measure of children being raised by kin.
Kinship care estimates vary depending on the scope, data source, and measurement period. A systematic review, Kinship care for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment, indexed in the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database, has associated kinship care with greater placement stability, fewer behavioral and mental health problems, and better overall well-being compared with non-kin foster care.
Why does the distinction matter? Living with relatives and being raised by relatives in place of a parent are different family circumstances. Kinship care programs focus on families in which relatives or other trusted adults have taken on the caregiving role. Understanding that distinction can help caregivers identify resources, training, and support that may be available to them.
Who Can Be a Kinship Caregiver in Ohio?
Kinship care extends beyond grandparents or immediate biological relatives.
Under current Ohio law, a kinship caregiver is an adult age 18 or older who cares for a child in place of the child's parents and may include:
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Grandparents and great-grandparents
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Siblings
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Aunts and uncles
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Nieces and nephews
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First cousins and first cousins once removed
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Stepparents and stepsiblings
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Certain spouses and former spouses of relatives
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Legal guardians or legal custodians
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A nonrelative adult who has a familiar and long-standing relationship or bond with the child or family
That last category is important. A trusted family friend who has been part of a child's life may qualify as kin even without a biological relationship. Ohio's definition recognizes the value of preserving a child's meaningful relationships and social ties during a period of significant change.
Kinship Care vs. Foster Care: Understanding the Difference
The terms "kinship care" and "foster care" describe different aspects of a child's caregiving arrangement.
Kinship care describes the caregiver's relationship with the child. The caregiver is a relative or another adult with an established relationship or bond with the child or family.
Foster care involves a formal child welfare placement with a certified foster caregiver. Foster caregivers complete required documentation, training, and certification steps before accepting foster placements.
The categories can overlap. A grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or family friend may care for a child as a kinship caregiver and can also become a certified foster caregiver for that child.
Click here to view the graphic.
For kinship caregivers considering foster care certification, becoming certified can provide additional resources to help them care for the child.
Do Kinship Caregivers Need to Become Licensed Foster Parents?
No. Caring for a relative or family friend's child does not automatically mean you must become a licensed foster caregiver. The right path depends on the child's circumstances, custody arrangements, involvement with the child welfare system, and the family's needs.
OhioKAN Connects Kinship Families with the Resources They Need
Ohio kinship caregivers may be eligible for resources and assistance that can be difficult to navigate. OhioKAN (Ohio Kinship and Adoption Navigator) helps kinship and adoptive families find and connect with support available in their communities and across the state.
The program brings resources together in one place, including financial resources, training and education, local and virtual events, and information to help families throughout the kinship and adoption journey. OhioKAN is free for families.
Adriel partners with OhioKAN and has dedicated site navigators serving families in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, and Williams counties. These navigators help children, caregivers, and families identify and connect with resources available locally and statewide.
Kinship caregivers outside those counties can also access OhioKAN through other regional partners across Ohio.
Learn more about OhioKAN and Adriel's Kinship Navigator Program in Ohio
Adriel Support for Ohio Kinship Caregivers
Taking responsibility for a child can happen with little warning. Along with providing day-to-day care, kinship caregivers may suddenly find themselves navigating questions about custody, school, health care, finances, foster care licensing, and available resources. Adriel helps Ohio kinship caregivers understand their options and, for those pursuing foster care licensing, navigate the process.
Licensed kinship caregivers may qualify for additional support and benefits, including:
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Competitive daily per diem
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Mileage reimbursement
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Paid respite days
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Paid training
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Licensing bonuses
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Clinical services
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24/7 assistance
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Connections with other families
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Faith-based support
Eligibility and benefits depend on the licensing pathway and individual circumstances.
For families who may have stepped into kinship care because of an unexpected change or family crisis, that support can be especially valuable. Training, clinical resources, ongoing guidance, and access to someone who can answer questions can help caregivers build the support system they need while providing stability and care for a child.
Learn more about Adriel's Kinship Care Training, Support, and Benefits
Consider Becoming Licensed for Kinship Foster Care
You do not need to understand every requirement before asking for help.
If you are caring for a relative or family friend's child, or expect that you may soon be, Adriel can help you understand what becoming licensed would involve and what support may be available.
You can also attend Adriel's free Foster Parenting Informational Webinar to learn about foster licensing in Ohio, including kinship care, training, timelines, and the support Adriel provides.
Ready to explore your options? Contact Adriel to talk about kinship care and licensing.
How to become a foster parent in Ohio
Kinship Care in Ohio: Key Takeaways
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Kinship care allows relatives and qualifying family friends to care for children who cannot remain with their parents.
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Kinship care and foster care can overlap; eligible kinship caregivers may choose to become certified foster caregivers.
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OhioKAN connects kinship families with statewide and local resources, while Adriel provides additional support for families pursuing foster care certification.
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Ohio kinship caregivers may qualify for training flexibility, financial assistance, and other support depending on their circumstances and certification status.
FAQs About Kinship Care in Ohio
Can a family friend provide kinship care in Ohio?
Yes. Ohio law recognizes that kinship caregivers can include nonrelative adults who have a familiar, long-standing relationship or bond with the child or family. This can include trusted family friends who have already played a meaningful role in the child’s life.
What are the benefits of becoming a licensed kinship foster caregiver?
For eligible kinship caregivers, foster care licensing can provide access to additional training, ongoing support, financial assistance, respite care, and other benefits. The specific support available depends on the caregiver’s circumstances and licensing status.
Can kinship caregivers receive financial assistance in Ohio?
Yes, financial assistance may be available, but eligibility and the type of assistance depend on the caregiver’s circumstances, custody arrangement, and licensing status. Licensed kinship foster caregivers may qualify for foster care payments and other benefits. Adriel can help caregivers understand which resources may apply to their situation.
Are foster care licensing requirements different for kinship caregivers in Ohio?
Kinship caregivers are not required to become licensed foster parents, but those who do will complete the same licensing process as any foster family.
Where can Ohio kinship caregivers get help understanding their options?
Kinship caregivers can seek guidance from their local child welfare agency and organizations that support kinship families. Adriel provides support for Ohio kinship caregivers who want to understand foster care licensing, training, available benefits, and the steps involved in becoming licensed.
Related Resources
Sources Cited in this Post
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Ohio Revised Code §5180.50, Kinship Caregiver Defined — Current statutory definition of an Ohio kinship caregiver.
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Ohio Revised Code §5103.0329, Waiver of Non-Safety Standards — Current Ohio law governing case-by-case waivers for kinship caregivers seeking foster home certification.
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U.S. Administration for Community Living, National Kinship Care Month (2025) — Current national estimate of approximately 2.5 million children living in kinship families.
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Ohio Department of Children and Youth / OhioKAN, Kinship-Friendly Schools Guide (2026) — Cites an estimate of approximately 127,000 children living in kinship homes and provides resources for supporting kinship families.
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GrandFacts: Ohio (2022 Update) — Ohio data on children living in relative-headed households and children being raised by kin without a parent present.
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Winokur et al., Kinship care for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children removed from the home for maltreatment — Systematic review comparing outcomes for children in kinship and non-kinship foster care.
