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Maintaining the Family Connection In Arizona there are more than 54,833 children living in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. Some relative caregivers have to share tight living quarters, some come out of retirement and go back to work, while others alter their lives and plans to care for their relative children. The AzCA Central Region foster care department has recently developed a collaboration between two Child Protective Services offices to assist kinship caregivers through the licensing process. Before this unique program began, many kinship caregivers were unaware of the benefits of licensing. Through this initiative, CPS has provided AzCA with direct referrals of kinship caregivers. Dedicated kinship specialists follow up to encourage families to secure their foster care license and work at all lengths to make it possible. "It is rewarding to be able to support and guide families through a process that would otherwise be extremely overwhelming,” stated Imelda Cordova, central region kinship licensing coordinator. "Many kinship caregivers are challenged with the dynamics of kinship foster care," said Michelle Muckerheide, kinship licensing specialist. "Kinship caregivers struggle with the difficulty of wanting their biological children to succeed while also ensuring the best interest for the children in care." “I am now faced with the challenges of raising four children under the age of ten as a single parent and working. AzCA has given me the support, tools and guidance in this overwhelming period. I know that I can always call them and they are there to help me with whatever problem or issue that might arise. They have numerous support groups and classes to help me conquer this challenge that I am faced with. My grandchildren mean the world to me so to have the AzCA staff on my side is just a wonderful plus to me," said Melissa, a recently licensed grandmother of four. AzCA provides kinship caregivers with an “all-in-one” worker to help them through the process from start to finish. During the ten week training, specialists are processing paperwork, and all necessary background information for their home study. "Our kinship families know that they are on a fast track to their license, so they make it happen," added Imelda. "Despite the various adjustments, kinship caregivers take on the challenge of maintaining family connections for children who would otherwise not have them. We admire and respect their devotion." |
