Raising Children Takes a Village

Raising children is challenging. It requires time, resources—both financial and emotional—and some degree of stability.

For all of these reasons, raising children can be especially hard in communities that are underserved or have little income. In these cases, the concept of the “nuclear family” isn’t always as useful as the old adage: “It takes a village.” As a result, many families choose to adopt some form of kinship care.

What is kinship care?

Kinship care is when a family member other than the child’s parents acts as primary caregiver. In some instances, kinship caregivers can even be close family friends. In our community and many others, this role is often assumed by children’s grandparents.

Community connection

Federal and state law often requires that family members be given priority over alternatives such as foster care. Kinship care allows children to stay connected to their families, friends, and communities, minimizing disruptions to their education and development.

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of shared culture and values in children’s development. Kinship care allows children to stay connected with the people and places where they are most likely to find understanding, love, and opportunity.

Honoring our caregivers

September 10 was National Grandparents Day, and to celebrate, we want to acknowledge all of those grandparents doing the hard work of raising second or even third generations of family members. Their strength and love don’t just strengthen their families, they strengthen our entire community. Grandparents, we salute you!