Kinship care begins when a relative steps forward to provide a child with safety, stability and the comfort of family, often with little time to prepare. In honor of National Kinship Care Month, we are sharing the stories of two remarkable CKFS kinship parents, Sasha and Andrea. Although their journeys are different, both women rearranged their lives, embraced unexpected roles and made room for a child who needed them.

Kinship families often step in quickly to provide safety, stability, and connection for children they love. While this can be a beautiful and important role, it can also come with unexpected needs, from clothing and food to household items, school supplies, and community support.

Kinship placements can arise when parents face challenges such as illness, financial struggles, substance use, or other hardships and are unable to care for their children for a time. Instead of children entering a foster home, kinship care provides children with the opportunity to remain connected to their family, culture, and community while their parents work toward stability.

When life gets tough for a friend or loved one, we’re often ready to jump in and help. Sometimes, this means looking after their children for a while. But have you ever thought about doing the same for families you don’t know as well? This is the idea behind Love Your Neighbor Parenting.