Grandfamilies: Subsidized Guardianship – Louisiana (continued)

Conclusion

KCSP is currently helping to keep over 8,500 Louisiana children in permanent homes and out of the formal foster care system by providing financial assistance to the grandparents and other relatives caring for them. However, there are many children within the formal foster care system who are living in safe and loving homes with relatives who are willing to care for them long term but are unable to exit foster care to permanent placements because critical financial resources would not be available to meet the child’s needs. Financial assistance such as that provided through sibsidized guardianships is needed to help these families.

For information about pending legislation affecting subsidized guardianships, visit Generations United’s website at www.gu.org or call 202-289-3979.

1 Children’s Defense Fund. “States’ Subsidized Guardianship Laws at a Glance.” Children’s Defense Fund, 2004.

2 Bissell, Mary and Miller, Jennifer (eds). “Using Subsidized Guardianship to Improve Outcomes for Children: Key Questions to Consider.” Children’s Defense Fund and Cornerstone Consulting Group, 2004.

3 A child may still be technically in the custody of the Office of Community Services as long as no foster care payments are being made. The caregiver has 12 months to obtain custody and can receive KCSP payments during that time (M. Walton, e-mail, May 19, 2005).

4 Children ages 16-18 who are enrolled in KCSP must participate in the Family Independence Work Program unless exempt under the agency’s criteria.

5 Louisiana Department of Social Services official website, Office of Family Support section, Kinship Care Subsidy Program description at http://www.dss.state.la.us/departments/ofs/Kinship_Care_Subsidy_Program.html.

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

This document was sponsored by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts. The opinions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Pew  charitableTrusts.