Senate Bill 24-008, currently under consideration in the Colorado General Assembly, would increase support for children living in kinship foster care households if passed. According to the General Assembly’s current definition, a kinship home is one that has been certified by a county department of human or social services or a child placement agency to provide 24-hour care for relatives or kin who are under 21 years old.
The proposed legislation aims to strengthen kinship foster care homes by providing financial assistance to non-certified kinship care homes. The bill mandates total appropriations of $13.4 million for the fiscal year 2024-25, allocated to multiple state agencies, primarily the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), with additional funding directed toward the Colorado Department of Public Safety for required background checks. If the bill passes, changes would take effect on Sept. 1.
CDHS defines kinship caregivers as “relatives, friends, neighbors and other people with a significant relationship to the child, youth or family.”
The Sopris Sun spoke with CDHS kinship care program administrator Jeannie Berzinskas about the potential implications of the bill.
She explained that the bill is designed to allow for statutory changes to reduce foster care certification requirements for kinship caregivers without compromising children’s safety. “By removing the barriers, we have more kinship caregivers who can become certified and receive financial reimbursement, which is much-needed because, as we know, prices are going up and caring for kids is very expensive,” she said.
Berzinskas shared that the bill also aligns with new federal rules enacted in November 2023, allowing separate foster care certification standards for kin, and ensures Colorado’s compliance with those rules, which allow states to create specific licensing standards.
Non-certified kinship caregivers currently lack equal access to resources. “This is a start at attempting to level the playing field and provide the financial support that all caregivers need, not just those who are certified,” Berzinskas said. “Being able to certify more caregivers and also being able to provide financial support to those who aren’t certified, it’s starting to look like more equitable support for all caregivers.”
The benefits of kinship care, as highlighted by Berzinskas, include reduced trauma, improved mental health and educational outcomes, enhanced stability and stronger connections to communities and biological families.
“Many times, children may already stay with grandma and grandpa so much that they might even have a bedroom at their house, so it’s nothing new for them to go there, but it may mean staying a little longer this time,” she added.
The Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program, or Colorado Kinnected, focuses on supporting children and families involved in the child welfare system, particularly those transitioning into kinship placements. Colorado Kinnected also offers advocacy and coordination of services by providing information on available support, assisting with navigating legal processes and offering emotional support to families.
In March, Colorado Kinnected was one of only 12 nationwide programs recognized as “exemplary” by the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center. To earn this distinction, a kinship/grandfamilies policy, practice or program must demonstrate a clear definition, consistent and effective fulfillment of intended recipient needs and long-term sustainability.
For more information about kinship caregiving, visit cdhs.colorado.gov/our-services/child-and-family-services/kinship
The Colorado Department of Human Services website states that benefits of kinship care include:
• Reduced trauma by providing familiarity, continuity and retention of familial ties
• Improved mental health outcomes
• Fewer behavioral problems and better social outcomes
• Better educational outcomes and stability
• Greater stability in placements and higher levels of permanency
• Better cultural, ethnic, racial and traditional connections to their communities of origin
• Stronger ties to the child’s biological family
• Greater placement satisfaction for children and youth, including feelings of love and belonging