Louisiana Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP): Financial Help for Relatives Raising a Child

Taking in a grandchild or a relative's child means feeding another person, buying school clothes, paying for doctor visits, and covering costs that no one planned for — often on a fixed income. Louisiana has a handful of financial assistance programs that can help, though none of them fully replace what a foster parent receives. Here's what's available and how to access it.

Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP)

The KCSP is Louisiana's targeted financial assistance program for relative caregivers. It provides a monthly subsidy to eligible grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who are caring for a child outside the formal foster care system.

Key facts:

• Administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
• The child must be living with a relative caregiver in a private arrangement (not a DCFS foster placement)
• KCSP provides $450 per month per eligible child. The caregiver's gross household income must be below 150% of the federal poverty level, and the child's individual income must not exceed $450 per month. A child receiving SSI or foster care payments is not eligible.
• To maintain ongoing payments, an informal caregiver must hold legal custody or obtain a valid Provisional Custody by Mandate (La. R.S. 9:951) within one year of certification
• The subsidy is lower than the foster care board rate, but it provides monthly support toward the child's basic needs
• Apply through your local DCFS parish office

The biggest barrier is awareness. Many kinship caregivers don't know KCSP exists, and DCFS offices don't always mention it unless you ask specifically. Call your parish DCFS office and ask: "Does the child in my care qualify for the Kinship Care Subsidy Program?"

FITAP (Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program)

FITAP is Louisiana's version of the federal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program. Grandparents and relatives can apply for a "child-only" FITAP grant, which provides a monthly cash benefit based on the child's needs without counting the caregiver's income.

How child-only FITAP works:

• The grant is based on the child's situation, not the caregiver's household income
• The caregiver does not have to meet FITAP work requirements (those apply to parent recipients, not relative caregivers receiving child-only grants)
• The monthly amount is modest — typically well under $200 — but it arrives reliably
• Apply through the DCFS parish office or online through the Louisiana CAFÉ (Common Access Front End) portal

Child-only FITAP and KCSP may not be stackable — ask your DCFS worker which combination gives the household the most support.

SNAP (Food Stamps)

A child living with a relative caregiver may be included in the caregiver's SNAP household, depending on household composition and food-purchasing arrangements. A child's zero income alone does not guarantee eligibility or a larger allotment.

What to know:

• Apply through the Louisiana CAFÉ portal or your parish DCFS office
• Eligibility depends on household composition and income; ask DCFS how to include the child when you apply
• If the child receives SNAP, they also qualify for Direct Certification for free school meals — no separate school meal application needed

Medicaid and LaCHIP

Healthcare coverage is separate from cash assistance, and it's easier to get. A child living with a relative caregiver typically qualifies for Medicaid or the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) based solely on the child's income, regardless of the caregiver's finances.

Once enrolled, the child is assigned to one of Louisiana's five regional Medicaid Managed Care Organizations. The caregiver will need to file an LDH Authorized Representative Designation form to manage insurance plan selection, claims, and annual redeterminations. A Provisional Custody by Mandate simplifies this process.

How to Apply for Everything at Once

The most efficient approach is to visit your parish DCFS office with:

1. The child's birth certificate (or whatever identification you have)
2. Your Provisional Custody by Mandate or other legal authority document
3. Proof of your address (utility bill, lease)
4. Your ID

Ask the intake worker which applications are available through the office and which agency handles each program. Each program has its own eligibility rules and application process.

If getting to the DCFS office is difficult, contact the Louisiana Kinship Navigator by calling 2-1-1, texting KINSHIPLA to 898-211, or emailing [email protected] for information and referrals.

What These Programs Don't Cover

None of these programs cover the cost of legal document preparation, notarization, or court filing fees if you need a custody order. They also don't cover the hundreds of small expenses that come with suddenly parenting a child — backpacks, sports fees, birthday presents, the extra gas driving to school.

For legal document costs, contact regional legal aid organizations (SLLS, ALSC, LSNL) — they may help income-eligible families, depending on the case and their capacity.

The Louisiana School & Medical Consent guide helps you get the legal authority document in place — the same document you need for KCSP eligibility and for managing the child's Medicaid enrollment.

See more Louisiana guides →