California Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP): What It Offers
What KSSP Is
The Kinship Support Services Program (KSSP) provides non-financial support services to relative caregivers and the children in their homes. It serves families with children who are juvenile-court dependents and families with children who are not court-dependent. Some programs also provide post-permanency services to relative caregivers who became a child's legal guardian or adoptive parent after a dependency case.
Some California counties fund KSSP in partnership with community-based service providers. Availability and services vary by county.
KSSP exists because informal kinship caregivers — grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings — may need support and information when they step in to care for a child. The program is designed to help without requiring the caregiver to enter the foster care system.
What KSSP Provides
Services vary by county and may include:
Peer support and support groups. Connecting with other kinship caregivers who understand the emotional and practical reality of raising a relative's child. This is often the most valued service — the isolation of kinship care is intense, and talking with someone who's been through it matters.
Case management and referrals. KSSP services can include case management, health management, referrals and advocacy. A local program can tell you what benefits navigation it offers and which county office handles each application.
Respite care. Temporary childcare so the caregiver can attend medical appointments, run errands, or simply rest. For older caregivers on fixed incomes, respite is essential.
Non-financial support. CDSS describes KSSP as a non-financial support program. Ask your county about other programs for urgent expenses such as clothing, school supplies or car seats.
Legal referrals. Referrals and advocacy, and in some counties, guardianship clinics or connections to legal aid organizations.
Educational support. Depending on the county, services can include educational seminars, tutoring and educational advocacy.
How to Find Your County's KSSP
KSSP availability and services vary by county. Some programs work with community-based service providers.
To find your local program:
- Call your county child welfare or social services agency and ask whether KSSP is available where you live
- Visit the CDSS Kinship Support Services page and use its county contact link
- Call 211 (California's health and human services referral line) and ask for kinship caregiver resources in your county
CDSS lists possible services such as support groups, respite care, guardianship clinics, counseling, referrals and advocacy. Contact the local program to confirm what it offers.
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Who Qualifies
KSSP serves relative caregivers whether the child is or is not a juvenile-court dependent, and some programs offer post-permanency services to relative guardians and adoptive parents of formerly dependent children. Contact your county to confirm eligibility and availability.
Important: KSSP is a support program, not a legal program. Navigators can help you understand your options and connect you with legal aid, but they don't provide legal representation or advice.
The Kinship Navigator Role
Some counties have Kinship Navigators — dedicated staff whose job is to walk new caregivers through the first weeks of taking in a child. A navigator can help with:
- Understanding which legal instrument you need (affidavit vs. guardianship)
- Enrolling the child in school and Medi-Cal
- Applying for financial support
- Finding age-appropriate clothing and supplies
- Connecting with mental health support for the child and the caregiver
If your county has a navigator program, it's worth contacting them even if you think you've got things handled. They often know about resources that aren't easy to find online.
KSSP Is One Piece
KSSP handles the support side — connecting you with resources, helping with benefits, giving you a community of other caregivers. It doesn't handle the legal side (that's the affidavit, guardianship and legal aid) or the school enrollment mechanics (that's the affidavit plus Education Code 48204).
The California School and Medical Consent Guide covers the legal instruments and enrollment process in detail, while KSSP covers the wraparound support that makes the daily reality of kinship care more manageable.
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