CASA of Richmond & Petersburg: a program of Greater Richmond SCAN’s Post

September is National Kinship Care Month! When parents are unable to care for their children, whether temporarily or long-term, children are best served by staying within their extended families. National Kinship Care Month recognizes the unconditional love, support, and sacrifices of those caring for a loved one’s children. These kinship caregivers include young adults who postpone going to college to support and care for younger siblings and keep them out of foster care. They are retired grandparents who return to work to provide for their grandchildren. They are close family friends who make room for one more to ensure a child stays connected to their family, community, and culture. They are the kids who willingly share their space with their cousins whose parents are struggling. (source: Coalition for Children, Youth & Families; link: https://lnkd.in/g5CHw7Nr) According to the National CASA/GAL Association for Children 2021 Annual Local Program Survey Report, of the 140,736 children and youth served by CASA/GAL programs documented as being in out-of-home placements during 2021, 28 percent of the children were placed with relatives.