Family Education & Support Programs - Kinship

 

The Kinship Programs link grandparents and other relative caregivers to support groups, provides education, and increased access to resources in the community. These programs are supported in part by the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging and the Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Disability Services Administration.

We offer several programs in support of kin caregivers. Click on the heading for each program, or scroll down through this page, to get more information. Then contact us for specific times and places or to sign up for our programs.

If you would like us to phone, e-mail or mail you more information, click here. 

Kinship Conversations

Navigator Services

Resource Center .

Kinship Care Support Program.

 

Kinship Conversations (Thurston, Mason, and Lewis Counties)

Provided in collaboration with Sound to Harbor Headstart/ECEAP, Kinship Conversations offers support and resources to relative caregivers through support groups and workshops.

Thurston County now has two meeting locations and times!

The program meets weekly on Thursdays at the Pleasant Glade Elementary School in Lacey (for maps, click on the maps box on our home page). The program meets weekly on Thursdays each month. The first meeting of each month focuses on support group activities, the second on the provision of educational workshops on topics identified of value by participants.

Yelm/Rainier area residents can attend Kinship Conversations on the third Tuesday of each month, at the Rainier Head Start for Summer of 2008, and Yelm Head Start building for the Fall. click here. 

Click here to download a PDF brochure for the Thurston Kinship Conversation program.

Mason County meetings are held first Mondays at First Baptist Church, 428 W Cota Street, Shelton, WA 98584. Participants will discuss a schedule and topics for future meetings.

Click here to download a PDF brochure for the Mason Kinship Conversation flyer.

Lewis County's "Grandparents as Parents" support group is held on 2nd and 4th Mondays from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Centralia College campus, HFL building. All relative caregivers are welcome. College credits are offered for participation.

Click here to download a brochure for the Lewis County Grandparents as Parents program.

Navigator Services (Thurston, Lewis and Mason)

The Navigator provides advocacy, information and referral services to relative caregivers. Caregivers often are overwhelmed trying to figure out the large and confusing social service, school, and court systems. The Navigator provides information about how to access and apply for services as well as problem solve and advocate for kinship families when issues arise.

Resource Center

Information and resource materials are gathered and maintained in one central location within. These materials are available to relative caregivers in an effort to link families to community resources. The resource center provides information for relatives on child development, community events, and provides access to community services such as: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, medical coverage and services, legal services, housing assistance, energy assistance, and child care services.

Kinship Care Support Program

The Washington State Legislature made funds available to assist lower income kinship caregivers with some basic needs. Contact us for more information on whether you are eligible and what kinds of need we can assist with. Or click on the underlined link below for additional on-line information.

Click here for more information on Kinship Programs, including useful links for kin caregivers, a brochure to help determine your eligibility for the Kinship Care Support Program, and other documents.