Catholic Charities of Buffalo- Kinship Preventive Serices

Catholic Charities of Buffalo- Kinship Preventive Services

3370 Delaware Avenue
Kenmore, NY 14217
Program Contact: Alex Kril
Phone: (716) 854-3622
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.ccwny.org/services/preventive-services-kinship

Program Eligibility: All families must be referred through the Erie County Department of Social Services.

The Catholic Charities Kinship Preventive Services Program is a specialized unit serving families involved with the Child Welfare system with kinship placements, that is, children being cared for by a relative in Erie County.  The staff are committed to a strengths-based family systems perspective by serving families in the communities in which they live. The staff will conduct home visits with the parents, caretakers and children. The staff have received specialized training to work with families where children have been removed from the natural home and placed in kinship care.

Staff work with the biological parents, as well as the kinship caregivers and children, with a focus on child permanency.  There are times when the staff will meet separately with family members as well as times when everyone meets together.

Services Provided:

• Support for caregivers and for natural parents: Workers will assist families in attaining child permanency.  Support can range from advocacy to assisting families in filing petitions in family court and filing for benefits.
• Family counseling: If deemed needed, referrals will be made for individual and family counseling.  Service delivery will be based on assessment and family need.  Catholic Charities offers both community counseling as well as clinical counseling with psychiatric services.
• Other services available include: Therapeutic Supervised Visitation, Monitored Exchange, Domestic Violence treatment for offenders and support groups for survivors, Incredible Years and Our Kids parent training programs, and more.
• Networking and other resources: Referrals will be made to link families with community resources as needed.