Kinship Support
In West Virginia...approximately 28,000 children are being raised by a grandparent or other relative. This is a national phenomenon that crosses all socioeconomic groups, geographic areas, and ethnicities. In partnership with the Bureau of Senior Services, Mission West Virginia is working toward helping these families through the Kinship Care Support Program. The kinship care support program is designed to assist relative caregivers. This assistance will include:
* Providing Information- Mission WV is developing two additional information guides. The new information guides will focus on education and financial benefits. Already in existence is a legal guide to assist custodial caregivers with legal issues they encounter. These guides will be distributed throughout West Virginia.
* Information and Referral- The kinship care support program will assist grandparents or other relative caregivers that are in need of services, including crisis situations. MWV will link these families with appropriate agencies in their communities.
* Support Group seed money- MWV will award existing relative caregiver support groups with seed money to assist them with conducting groups. MWV will also provide and facilitation or technical support needed, as well as offer specific training as requested.
* Outreach- MWV will organized a media campaign that will target relative caregivers and offer our toll-free number as a support or "warm-line" for families.
You can find more information here: 
For more information, please contact Laura Harbert, Family Liason by email at lharbert@missionwv.org or by phone at 1.866.CALLMWV.