Kin Link is an innovative program that seeks to preserve and support family connections for kids while they are in care.
Research shows that kids have better outcomes and higher rates of reunification when living with relatives while they are in foster care. For more research outcomes see this document on Rethinking the Power of Family Involvement from The Institute for Child Welfare Innovation (PDF).
We work with counties and tribes to provide intensive relative and kin search services at many stages of child welfare involvement.
30 Days to Family®
The 30 Days to Family® program is an evidenced based-model developed by the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition in St. Louis, MO. Specialists work with urgency to find family placement just as soon as kids come into foster care. Our aim is to find family placement options and to identify additional family members who can provide support to kids while they are in care. To qualify for this program, referrals must be made prior to EPC hearing.
Kinship Search
This service utilizes the best practices of the 30 Days to Family® model, but referrals can be made after the EPC hearing when intensive family search and engagement services are needed. Permanency search may also be included in this service when a termination of parental rights has been recommended by the team.
Early Family Search
Specialists work closely with child protection workers before court involvement to assist in securing extra family natural support for youth, parent, and/or informal relative placement. This service can be used as part of the early intervention and family preservation efforts.
Relative Search & Engagement
This family search service is for youth who are under guardianship of the Commissioner (‘state wards’), and children must be age 6+ (or part of a sibling group where oldest sibling is 6+). Specialists complete intensive relative search and engagement efforts for a 45-day period. We partner closely with a youth’s permanency team to identify, contact, and support continued connection between youth and the relatives and kin in their life. This service can be combined with child-specific recruitment efforts or completed as a stand-alone service.
All Kin Link services are provided at no cost to our partner counties and tribes, thanks to funding through our Permanency Support Services contract with MN Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
To find out more about how your county or tribe can benefit from these services, contact Kin Link Program Director, Renee Banas.
