Kids and Kin Program Alabama: Eligibility, Benefits, and How to Apply

What the Program Is

Kids & Kin is a statewide support program for relatives raising children in Alabama, run by the Family Guidance Center of Alabama and funded by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. It covers all 67 counties.

The program provides free training workshops, peer support groups, child development resources, and health and safety items, books, and learning materials through its voluntary certification program.

Find current county contacts at familyguidancecenter.org/kids-and-kin or call the Family Guidance Center's main office at (334) 270-4100.

Who Qualifies

The eligibility rules are specific:

• You must be at least 19 years old
• You must be caring for a relative's child who is under 12
• You must not be the child's legal guardian
• You must not be a licensed foster parent
• You must not be a licensed child care provider

That last point is important. Kids & Kin is designed for informal caregivers — grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and family friends who stepped in without going through the foster care licensing process. If you've been licensed by DHR as a kinship foster parent, you're served by the formal foster care support system instead.

What You Get

Training workshops cover child development, positive discipline, health and safety, and navigating Alabama's school and benefits systems. Workshops are held in-person at locations across the state, with schedules published quarterly.

Peer support groups connect you with other relatives in similar situations. Isolation is one of the biggest stresses of kinship care — most caregivers didn't choose this role and took on a child suddenly, without preparation. The groups create a space to share practical advice and emotional support.

Through the voluntary certification program, participants can earn health and safety items, books, and learning materials by attending free training sessions.

What It Doesn't Do

Kids & Kin is a support program, not a legal or financial services provider. The program cannot:

• Draft power of attorney documents or other legal instruments
• Represent you in court proceedings
• Provide cash assistance or rent subsidies
• Help with school enrollment paperwork directly
• Provide childcare

For legal help, contact Legal Services Alabama (1-866-456-4995). For financial assistance, the Alabama Kinship Navigator (1-844-425-2546) can connect you with programs like the Low Income Kinship Care Program, Child-Only TANF, and Medicaid.

Other Alabama Kinship Care Benefits

Kids & Kin is one of several programs available to informal caregivers. Here's how they stack up:

Low Income Kinship Care Program (DHR): Emergency grants for caregivers at or below 200% of the federal poverty level whose placements face imminent breakdown. Up to $500 for special needs, $400 for rent, $200 for utilities, plus emergency food assistance. Applied for through your county DHR office.

Child-Only TANF: Monthly cash grant evaluated on the child's income only — your own finances are excluded. Applied for through the ACES Self-Service Portal or MyDHR, depending on your county.

Medicaid / ALL Kids: Health insurance for the child, applied through Insure Alabama. A relative caregiver can submit the application as an authorized representative.

SNAP: Food assistance calculated based on your household composition and whether you prepare meals together with the child.

How to Connect

If you're caring for a relative's child under 12 in Alabama and haven't reached out to Kids & Kin yet, use the program's current county contacts at familyguidancecenter.org/kids-and-kin. They can confirm your eligibility and connect you with the nearest training and support group schedule.

For the broader picture — school enrollment, medical consent, legal instruments, and all the paperwork you need as an Alabama kinship caregiver — the Alabama School and Medical Consent Guide covers the full process.

See more Alabama guides →