Family Help Center- Grand Families- Kinship Caregiver Support Program

Family Help Center- Grand Families- Kinship Caregiver Support Program

60 Dingens St.
Buffalo, New York 14206
Program Contact: Christopher Anderson or Katey Joyce
Phone: (716) 822-0919
Email:canderson@familyhelpcenter.net
Email: kjoyce@familyhelpcenter.net

Website: familyhelpcenter.net

Provide services to relative caregivers in Erie County who have Article 6, 1017 custody arrangements, certified relative or fictive kin foster parents, as well as those caregivers in a post kinship guardianship or post adoptive situation needing continuing support.

The program will also work with relative caregivers providing informal care arrangements for children not biologically their own.

Unique programming and linkage for adult caregivers over 55 years of age. The goal is to promote Senior Caregivers focusing on their own self-care and linking with Senior Programs to support proper emotional, physical, and mental health for the Senior caregiver to better provide for the children being placed in their home.

All services are voluntary. All programming is at no cost to the families.

Services include:

• Referral resources to answer any caregiver questions and provide linkages to services within the community
• Legal referrals/ resources are provided as needed to get caregiver questions answered
• Schooling questions related to McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act and linkages with school districts around transportation, assessments, IEP/504 plans etc. Referrals, support and advocacy provided.
• Emergency food pantry resources available and will then link with pantry resources in their neighborhood.
• Linkages made to Youth and Senior programming in their community to promote building a support network and an individual and family self-care plan.
• Family-driven case planning to link with supports, resources, and group activities to meet their needs.
• Kinship Peer-Lead Support Group, Educational Session, Family Engagement Activities, along with nutritional and self care programming/education.
  • One Saturday per month (typically the 3rd Saturday of each month) from 10am to 2PM.
  • Family sessions run for four hours: include two one-hour participant driven educational presentations with group discussion, one-hour self-care/ nutritional/health presentation/activity, and one-hour light lunch with discussion.
  • A children’s support group is concurrently lead and open to all children in the caregiver’s household.
  • The children are separated by age. Age appropriate and trauma informed presentation and recreational activities are run.
  • A light lunch is served

Long term goal is to expand support groups to Senior Center and Community Center sites throughout the community.