Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State

Grandparents and other relatives (aunts/uncles, older siblings, etc.), ages 18 and over, who are raising children because the children's parents are unable to do so

The Kinship Navigator Program - Washington State is a statewide program that includes all 39 counties and 7 tribes. The program provides a human services worker known as a Kinship Navigator that offers services to kinship care families in a single or multicounty service area or for one of seven tribes. The role of the Kinship Navigator is to connect grandparents and relatives who are raising children with community resources, such as health, financial, legal services, support groups, training, and emergency funds. Since many kinship care families are unaware of services for which they are entitled, Kinship Navigators also explain how to apply for federal and state benefits. The Kinship Navigator services help kinship care families establish or maintain greater self-sufficiency and long-term stability needed to keep their children in their family of origin.

Rosalyn Alber

• Agency/Affiliation: Department of Social and Health Services
• Department: Aging and Long-Term Support Administration
• Website: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/kinshipcare/
• Email: Rosalyn.alber@dshs.wa.gov
• Phone: (800) 422-3263

The goal of the Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State is:

• Help kinship care families establish or maintain greater self-sufficiency and long-term stability needed to keep their children in their family of origin.

The essential components of the Kinship Navigator Program - Washington State include:

• The Kinship Navigator:
• Usually serves in multiple counties or within a Tribal services system
• Principal duties and responsibilities include:
• Providing information and assistance functions along with supportive listening to grandparents and relatives of all ages who are raising children or planning to do so
• Being knowledgeable about relevant federal and state benefits, as well as local resources
• Actively reaching out and locating kinship care families in their service area, identifying those not involved in support group networks and/or in need of additional services; special attention is focused on serving relatives from geographically isolated and ethnic communities
• Providing follow-up with kinship caregivers
• Developing strong collaborative working relationships with groups and agencies that work with kinship caregivers:
• Helping to educate the community, including service providers and faith based organizations about the needs of kinship care families and available resources and services to them
• Pro-actively mediating with state agency staff and/or service providers to make sure individual caregivers receive services for which they are eligible
• Must be able to assist in establishing stable, respectful relationships between kinship caregivers and DSHS local office staff; including Division of Children and Family Services, Community Services Offices, as well as other agencies such as the Area Agencies on Aging and the Office of Education Ombudsman
• Collecting necessary program and service data and ensure that reports are completed in an accurate manner and on a timely basis including:
• Services or resources requested and persons served
• The needs of kinship caregivers and their satisfaction with the assistance provided
• Identification of gaps and barriers to services

Parent/Caregiver Services

Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State directly provides services to parents/caregivers and addresses the following:

• Raising a relative's child(ren) because the child(ren)'s parents are unable to do so

Recommended Intensity

Length of contact dependent on the needs of the grandparent or relative who is requesting help

Recommended Duration

No recommended duration of services, although follow-up recommended

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Languages

Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State has materials available in the following languages other than English:

• Cambodian
• Chinese
• Korean
• Laotian
• Russian
• Somali
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

For information on which materials are available in this language, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed in this page).

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• Designated staff
• Office space
• Access to phones
• Computer
• Printer
• Internet access
• Reporting system
• Flyers or brochures
• Available interpreters/translation services
• Printing
• Access to vehicle

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

• Navigators should have a Bachelor's level degree (preferably in human services or related field) or five years of related experience as a substitute and two years paid or volunteer experience with families in kinship or foster care placements.
• A minimum of two years paid or volunteer experience working to provide direct services to kinship or foster care families or at least two years of college level courses in a relevant field (social work, human services, etc.) is recommended for Tribal Kinship Navigators.
• Can pass a criminal background check
• Has a driver's license

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is no training available for this program.

• There are currently no published, peer-reviewed research studies on outcomes with the appropriate target population for the topic area(s) in which Kinship Navigator Program – Washington State has been reviewed.

• Triwest Group (December 2005). Casey Family Programs: Kinship Navigator pilot project replication manual. Seattle, WA.