Kincare Primer

Kincare Primer

It is estimated that in Texas, there are over 600,000 children in any one year who, at least for part of the year, are cared for by a relative who is not their parent. The majority of these children are not under the supervision of Child Protective Services (CPS).

If CPS finds that a child has been abused or neglected, CPS can seek court-ordered managing conservatorship (custody) of the child. For families who have a child for whom CPS has rendered a finding of abuse or neglect and are now a CPS case, CPS has produced a "Kinship Manual," which is available at the web site www.dfps.state.tx.us.

The focus of this Primer is the kincare family who is not a CPS case. Kincare occurs when a minor child does not live under the control of his mother or father but under the control of his or her grandmother or grandfather, great-grandmother or great-grandfather, aunt or uncle, or another relative. The mother or father can be living in the same home with the minor child and the family member who is managing the household, but very often neither mother nor father is in the home. This Primer is intended to help those familes rearing their kin and those that help with kincare families.

• Download Texas Kincare Primer in English (PDF)
• Download Texas Kincare Primer in Spanish (PDF)