Advocacy wins more support for some Kinship Caregivers

Attention Kinship Caregivers!

After years of advocacy by kinship caregivers and organizations such as Parent Support Services, some children, being raised by their grandparents, and other kin will be receiving more support from the Provincial Government. 

If the child you are raising is in an out-of-care agreement (Extended Family Program Agreement, interim or temporary Custody order to a person other than a parent, or a permanent transfer of custody) and you receive a monthly maintenance payment from MCFD, – Effective April 1st you will be receiving an increase in your maintenance payments…

Unfortunately, this does not apply to kinship families who have orders through the Family Law Act.

Also, soon to be launched are Enhanced Out-of-Care Support Agreements for some children with special needs who are being raised by their relatives. Again, these are for those on Extended Family Program Agreements, interim or temporary Custody orders to a person other than a parent, or permanent transfers of custody. Details to come soon!

Out-of-Care Arrangements are;

• An Extended Family Program (EFP) Agreement under s. 8;
• An interim custody order to a person other than a parent under s. 35(2)(d);
• A temporary custody order to a person other than a parent under s. 41(1)(b), s.
• A permanent transfer of custody to a person other than a parent (following an EFP Agreement or a temporary custody order) under s. 54.01;
• A permanent transfer of custody to a person other than a parent (following a continuing custody order) under s. 54.1

There are also improvements for children aging out of care coming down the line. We are extremely aware that for the families of children who are not on these agreements/orders (such as Child in the Home of a Relative) these raises for some and not others, are very frustrating.

PSS continues to work, with groups like Fairness for Children Raised by Relatives, to improve support for ALL kinship caregivers – including those on Child in the Home of a Relative, Family Law Guardianship or even informal arrangements.

If you need more information, or to see if you might be eligible for any of these items – please contact PSS’s Kinship Care Helpline at 1-855-474-9777 or send an email at kinshipcare@parentsupportbc.ca