Kinship-ND Application Process Step by Step

Step 1: Confirm You Qualify

Kinship-ND has four straightforward eligibility conditions. You must be a North Dakota resident, provide full-time care for a child who is not your biological child and lives in your home, the child's biological parents must not live in the household, and you must not be a licensed foster parent for this child.

No court order is required. Informal caregivers, grandparents with a Power of Attorney, legal guardians, and relatives with tribal court custody all qualify.

Step 2: File SFN 408

State Form Number 408 — the Kinship Navigation Services Application — is your entry point. Download the current form from the North Dakota eForms site, or request it by emailing [email protected] or using the Kinship-ND contact form. Call (701) 328-1453 with questions. Email or mail the completed form to Kinship-ND; after receiving it, staff complete an intake call.

The form asks for basic information about you, the child, and the caregiving arrangement. Filing it does not trigger a child welfare investigation, open a child protection case, or initiate child support enforcement against the child's parents.

Step 3: Meet Your Kinship Navigator

After your SFN 408 is processed, a Kinship Navigator contacts you. This is a one-on-one relationship — the navigator learns your situation and helps you figure out which programs you're eligible for, what documents you need, and in what order to apply.

Your navigator is not an eligibility worker. They don't approve or deny benefits for TANF, SNAP, or Medicaid — your Human Service Zone handles that. What they do is help you get organized before you walk into the Zone office, so your applications are complete the first time.

Step 4: Gather Documents

Your navigator will tell you exactly what to bring based on your situation, but expect to need:

• The child's birth certificate
• Proof the child lives with you (school records, mail, medical records)
• Documentation of parental absence (this varies — a brief written statement may suffice for informal arrangements)
• Receipts for any child-related expenses you've paid (for the $800 reimbursement)
• Your own ID and proof of North Dakota residency

Step 5: Access Kinship-ND Financial Supports

Once enrolled, you can claim two financial benefits:

$800 lifetime expense reimbursement — submit receipts for clothing, bedding, childcare, and other eligible expenses. The fund accepts expenses incurred up to two months before your application date.

$2,500 guardianship establishment fund — if you're pursuing formal guardianship, this covers attorney fees, court filing costs, and background checks. You must be receiving Kinship-ND services before applying for the fund.

Step 6: Apply for Public Benefits

With your navigator's help, submit applications for any programs you qualify for: TANF child-only, SNAP, Medicaid/Healthy Steps for the child, and CCAP. These go through your local Human Service Zone — your navigator helps you prepare the paperwork, but the Zone office processes the eligibility determination.

Your navigator can also connect you with Legal Services of North Dakota if you need free legal help with guardianship, and with support groups and community resources across the state.

For the complete program map, document checklists, and application tracking worksheets for every North Dakota kinship benefit, the North Dakota Kinship Financial Help guide walks you through each step.

See more North Dakota guides →