In the community
We meet families exactly where they are; your home, the park, your child’s school, you name it!
Supporting Relatives and Kin to Care for Their Own
Center for Kinship Services
The Center for Kinship Services at Children’s Community Programs of Connecticut (CCP) offers services tailored to the unique strengths and needs of relative and kinship caregivers, designed to support caregivers to help children thrive. We are based in New Haven but serve relatives and kinship caregivers throughout the state of Connecticut. Our team has expertise supporting interstate placements through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. All services to families are free.
Program goals
- Improve stability and permanency for children in kinship care
- Increase support to kinship caregivers by connecting them with other caregivers
- Increase the percentage of children in foster care living with relatives
- Help support and meet unique needs specific to kinship foster care
Services
- 24/7 Kinship-Specific Supports and Services – to help caregivers navigate and connect to a wide variety of services including legal, financial, health and educational. Staff provide case management, family-centered assessments, training, support groups and consultation with local family therapists as needed
- Family Search and Engagement – to find initial kinship connections for children, as well as back-up supports and alternative permanent family members
- Peer Support – from other kin caregivers and foster parents to support kinship families with child-care, respite care, practical help and emotional support based on their shared experiences
- Consultation – and training for child welfare agency staff, policymakers and advocates about kinship practice, programs and policy
Program Highlights
The Center is staffed by a Program Director, a full-time Kinship Coordinator, members of CCP’s Care Management team with expertise in the Caring for Our Own approach to training and peer to peer support, and the Recruitment, Training and Matching (RTM) team with expertise in family search and engagement.
Contact: Ryan McMahon, Director, Center for Kinship Services. Phone: 203-786-6403 x135. Email: RmcMahon@ccp-ct.org
Interstate Placements
CCP can assist with placements of children from outside of Connecticut through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. We work collaboratively with the sending state (and county or city, if applicable) and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families to ensure a smooth transition as the child(ren) move(s) to a new family. We provide case management, 24/7 support to caregivers and referral to appropriate services. Our staff help caregivers adjust to a new normal, offer parenting support and assist in navigating school, health care, legal and other services.
Contact: Ryan McMahon, Director, Center for Kinship Services. Phone: 203-786-6403 x135. Email: RmcMahon@ccp-ct.org