Relative Caregiver Orientation Schedule Just starting with OCS or a child in OCS custody? Start here for basic information and help to find out about licensing, financial resources, and support around the special world of kinship and relative foster care.
Guide to Child Protective Services for Relatives
Becoming a Legal Guardian for a Child in Foster Care Guide to legal guardianship for a child in foster care
Emergency Relief Support for Relative Placements Unlicensed relatives are eligible for ERS (Emergency Relief Support) payments at the time of placement to assist with expenses. These payments may be given for the two months of placement while the family is pursuing licensing or applying for public assistance. For information about ERS, contact the Placement Search and Support Unit at By e-mail: fcs.ocs.pssu@alaska.gov By phone: 1-855-603-8637.
Volunteers of America (VOA) --Kinship Care Project VOA Alaska’s Kinship Care program provides additional family services for fulltime caregivers of grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, or other extended family members. You do not have to be licensed or have legal custody to receive support.
To enroll: After submitting an intake form and family needs assessment, you will be connected with a Care Coordinator to create a collaborative support plan to meet your family’s needs.
For More Information: kinshipak@voaak.org Director of Family Services (907) 265-1905 Family Care Coordinators (907) 419-4537 / 4536 / 4672
Understanding ICPC With Lisa Marx, Interstate Compact Office - Office of Children’s Services (907) 209-7650 Email: lisa.marx@alaska.gov
Family Matters: A Basic Guide to Custody Arrangements Developed by the Alaska Center for Resource Families to explore legal matters of custody arrangements for children placed outside of child protective services
Grandparents Taking Care of Grandchildren (Radio Program) KSKA Radio’s Charles Wohlforth talked with Alaskan grandparents raising their grandchildren as a result of alcohol and drug abuse.
Raising Relatives’ Children from the Iowa Foster Parents Association
HelpGuide.org Grandparents Rights and Custody Options A Guide to Legal Rights and Support Services
Grandfamilies.org A website of resources sponsored by Casey Family Programs, the American Bar Association and Generations United
A Family's Guide to the Child Welfare System Child Welfare League of America and National Indian Child Welfare Center
Kinship Caregivers and the Child Welfare System Information Packet from the Child Welfare information Gateway
AARP has put together
several resources to assist grandparents raising grandchildren including
a guide of what to do if you are just getting started at
Partnering with Relatives to Promote Reunification Child Welfare Information Gateway Article
Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Managing Risk Factors in Kinship Care (Featuring Kinship Care Expert Joseph Crumbley) For Training Credit, Use the Micro-Training Video Questionnaire. Each Module is worth (.5 hr) of training.
Module One: Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Guilt
Module Two: Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Loss and Ambivalence
Module Three: Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Projections and Transference
Module Four: Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Hope, Fantasy and Denial
Module Five: Engaging Kinship Caregivers: Loyalty Issues