September marks National Kinship Care Month, a time to recognize grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and extended family members who step in to raise children when their parents cannot.
In Nevada, Foster Kinship, a local nonprofit organization with offices in Las Vegas and Reno, marks the occasion by shining a light on its vital, long-standing programs helping kinship families across the state thrive.
Foster Kinship has served more than 24,000 children since its founding, guided by a mission to help kinship caregivers create safe, stable and nurturing homes. In 2024 alone, Foster Kinship provided more than 58,000 services to 3,244 unique families, many of whom were raising relatives’ children on limited income and without access to traditional foster care resources.
This month, Foster Kinship was also recognized as “Agency of the Year” by the Children’s Advocacy Alliance, honoring the organization’s approach of combining direct support for families with strong policy advocacy to improve outcomes for children across Nevada.
Continuing this momentum in early September, Foster Kinship will travel to Washington, D.C. to be recognized nationally as Nevada’s 2025 “Angels in Adoption” honoree by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. This award highlights Foster Kinship’s leadership and impact in championing kinship families and advancing child welfare.
“Kinship families are the invisible backbone of the child welfare system,” said Ali Caliendo, Ph.D., founder and executive director, Foster Kinship. “They step in during crises, often with little to no notice, and take on tremendous responsibility out of love. Our job is to walk alongside them, making sure they have the tools, resources and emotional support to raise healthy, thriving children.”
Foster Kinship offers a wide range of programs that work together to meet families where they are and guide them toward stability. Current programs include:
- Kinship Navigator Program: The organization’s flagship model provides case management, legal and financial resource navigation and basic needs support to help kinship families stabilize and avoid entry into the foster care system.
- Child and Youth Intervention Services: Offers therapeutic, trauma-informed programs, including respite care and youth support services to promote healing and development for children who have experienced abuse, neglect or loss.
- Thriving Together Academy: A holistic family healing model that includes caregiver education, behavioral consultations, workshops, support groups and inclusive events for all caregiving types.
- Marcie’s Heart Resource Center: A free resource center where kinship families access essential items like clothing, shoes, diapers, formula, car seats and cribs—reducing financial pressure while increasing dignity and community connection.
- Kinship Advocacy Network: A platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of kinship caregivers and children. Through local, state and federal advocacy, we help families shape the policies and resources they need and deserve.
By addressing key short-term outcomes, including legal capacity, financial sustainability, community connection and emotional support, Foster Kinship helps ensure long-term success for kinship families. Their model emphasizes the importance of informational, emotional and tangible assistance, recognizing the distinct challenges faced by kinship caregivers, who are often older women on fixed incomes raising distressed children with few external supports.
As the only organization of its kind in Nevada, Foster Kinship honors National Kinship Care Month by inviting both kinship families and the broader community to take action. Kinship caregivers seeking support can visit fosterkinship.org to connect with a trained advocate and explore available services.
Community members interested in strengthening families and preventing foster care entry can learn more or make a donation at fosterkinship.org/donate.
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