Practical Assistance and Education Resources

Building Stronger Support: 

Practical Assistance and Educational Resources for Kinship Families 

After establishing a foundation of sympathy and empathy, the next step is to provide more tangible forms of support to kinship families. In this blog post, we will explore two intermediate levels of support: Practical Assistance and Educational Support.

Practical Assistance

Practical assistance involves providing tangible help to meet the day-to-day needs of kinship families.

• What It Looks Like: Helping with transportation, providing meals, assisting with household chores, or offering childcare services.

• Why It Matters: Practical assistance addresses immediate needs and can significantly reduce stress for kinship caregivers, allowing them to focus more on the well-being of the children in their care.

• Example: "I’ve arranged a meal delivery service for you for the next two weeks so you can have one less thing to worry about."

Educational Support

Educational support involves providing information, training, and resources that help kinship caregivers improve their skills and knowledge in caring for the children.

• What It Looks Like: Offering parenting classes, providing educational materials, connecting caregivers with support groups, or arranging workshops on relevant topics.

• Why It Matters: Empowering caregivers with knowledge and skills can enhance their ability to provide a nurturing and stable environment for the children.

• Example: "There’s a free workshop on trauma-informed care next week. I think it could be really helpful for you."

Practical assistance and educational support are critical in helping kinship families manage their daily lives and improve their caregiving abilities. By offering tangible help and resources, we can significantly enhance their capacity to provide stable and nurturing homes for children. 

Call to Action

Ready to take your support to the next level? Consider how you can offer practical assistance or educational resources to a kinship family. We have prepared a list of community resources to help you.

Whether it’s preparing a meal, helping with chores, or sharing information about a helpful workshop, your actions can make a significant impact. Share your stories of practical support in the comments below, and inspire others to do the same.