Engaging Caregivers in the Community
There is the age-old myth in working with kinship families: “Our organization has services in place, but I can’t get caregivers to show up. They…
Federal Funding of Kinship Services in Action
August 14, 2025
Building on the Funding Kinship Services: A Primer on Federal Funding Sources resource published last year by the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, this webinar provided concrete examples of how kin-serving organizations across the country are accessing and using federal funds to support kin caregivers. Learn from several organizations that currently access different forms of federal funding and explore various ways to approach federal funding opportunities for kinship care. This webinar was designed for community-based organizations that provide support to kin caregivers; public agency representatives from child welfare, aging, TANF, and other kinship serving groups; and cross-sector funders interested in expanding kinship supports and services.
During the webinar, we discussed:
- Demystifying the process of seeking and applying for federal funding, from assessing opportunities, to preparing applications, and managing compliance.
- Highlighting diverse application pathways that you can take, including applying directly, through intermediaries, or contracting as a government-funded service provider.
- Helping you think more broadly about the possibilities of federal funding, including the potential of becoming a grantee and pursuing options beyond Title IV-E and Title IV-B.
Presenters:
- Rachel Kinder, Frameworks Director, Mission West Virginia
- Dani Martin, Office on Aging ADRC Specialist, Larimer County Office on Aging (CO)
- Steven Olender, Subject Matter Expert, Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network
- Jacqueline (Jacki) Payne, Managing Attorney – Kinship Care Project, Atlanta Legal Aid Society
- Mark Sleeter, Office on Aging ADRC Specialist, Larimer County Office on Aging (CO)
- Shelly Willis, Executive Director, Family Education and Support Services (WA)