Kinship Care and Relatives Raising Children in Tacoma & Pierce County, WA

At Child & Family Guidance Center we offer programs that assist those who are raising children in the absence of a child's biological parents. We desire to support those who continue to struggle with the lack of recognition, authority, legal security, and other resources who are in this position.

SPECIAL NOTE: Please click here for a Pierce County Client Court video noted in the January newsletter, including great information about dependency and issues faced by relatives raising children.

Pierce County Kinship Navigator Offers Help and Hope

to Relatives Raising Children!

In 2005, the Washington Legislature provided funds for 2 'Kinship Navigator" positions to connect relatives raising children with community resources and services. In 2007, 4 more full-time 'Kinship Navigator' positions were funded! PIERCE COUNTY along with Lewis, Mason & Thurston County; Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties; Ferry, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman Counties received 'Kinship Navigator' funding.

Rosalyn Alber, a native Tacoman and a graduate of Stadium High School and Washington State University is Pierce County Relatives Raising Children Navigator. She has 14 years professional social work experience.

Rosalyn is available to help kinship families determine their most immediate needs, navigate them through the often unfamiliar and intimidating public and private resources that may be available to help stabilize the family. In addition to being out in the community, Rosalyn is available for telephone conversation/consultation or personal appointment at

Contact Rosalyn Alber at ralber@cfgcpc.org or (253) 565-4484.

All programs of Pierce County Relatives Raising Children are available to residents of Pierce County at NO CHARGE.

If you are a relative raising a child, here are some guidelines you should be aware of:

� When parents cannot adequately perform their parental duties, children must have caregivers who can provide adequate care.

� Grandparents and other relatives are the most suitable persons to assume parental responsibility.

� Employees and members of the legal, child welfare, education, medical, law enforcement, spiritual, mental health and entitlement systems as well as government must be educated to understand the role they can play in assisting relative headed households.

� Relative caregivers must have the legal security necessary to maintain relationships between themselves, the parents of the children and the children.

� To enable parents to be parents again, parents need the opportunity to develop parenting skills and receive intensive treatment for their substance abuse. Keeping in mind that during this time a child is growing up and their childhood is today.

� Relative caregivers must have the authority to make decisions that are part of the proper care of children.

� Relative caregivers must be encouraged to offer a home to children and they must not be financially disadvantaged upon assuming responsibility for a larger household.

� Care giving relatives need to have access to information, support and counseling. The child needs acceptance and the opportunity to get on with their lives, with the hope of restoration between them and their parent.

If you have questions about the Relatives Raising Children and Kinship Care programs, please call Edith Owen:

Edith Owen, the Relatives Raising Children Coordinator, can be reached at: edith@cfgcpc.org or (253) 565-4484.