Kinship

Program Description

Resources

The Kinship Support Services Program helps strengthen families of individuals who are raising children of their extended family by providing them with information, community resources, education, and other services related to their needs. Through kinship placements, families are maintained, traditions upheld, children move less and experience fewer behavioral, educational and/or health problems.

San Bernardino County’s Kinship Support Services Program is a collaborative between the Department of Children and Family Services (CFS) and not-for-profit organizations serving the central, West End and High Desert regions of the County. The program provides a variety of support support services to kinship families, ranging from great-grandmothers raising their great-grandchildren, to older siblings raising their brothers and sisters. Services are designed to combat the isolation, stress, and needs kinship families encounter in their day-to-day lives, and include support groups, parenting classes, informational workshops, caregiver respite, children’s activities, and family recreation. Additional services are developed in response to caregiver and kin-child needs.

The Kinship Support Services Program is funded by a combination of State, Federal and foundation grants. The Kinship Advisory Council, established in 2001, meets monthly to helps direct local kinship policy and procedures. Council membership includes community stakeholders, relative caregivers and representatives from local government and community-based agencies.

1. Westside Kinship Support Services

(on the grounds of Westside Christian Center)

785 N. Arrowhead Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92401

(909) 889-5757

2. Helping Hands Kinship Support Services

511 North Laurel Avenue
Ontario, CA 91762
(909) 986-9710

3. Helping Hands Kinship Support Services

16519 Victor Street, Suite 203

Victorville, CA 92395

(760) 843-1177

4. Publications

5. CDSS-Kinship