Kinship

Senate Bill 24-008 has made great strides to improve support for kinship care—where children are placed with relatives or close family friends instead of in traditional foster homes. This legislation, passed unanimously by the House Health & Human Services Committee, provides additional resources and financial assistance to kinship caregivers. It allows for a decreased amount of requirements for foster care certification to kinship placements, ensuring these caregivers can access necessary training and support to meet children's needs and provides a portion of the financial assistance for those kinship caregivers who do not wish to pursue certification

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Kinship care is shown to improve outcomes for children, including better mental health, greater stability, fewer behavioral problems, and better educational performance. The new bill helps by reducing certification barriers and providing emergency financial assistance for essential needs like housing , clothing, and training. It also aligns Colorado with recent federal rules, creating more equitable support for both certified and non-certified kinship caregivers.