Mississippi Guardianship Assistance Payments and Kinship Foster Care Stipends

One of the most common misunderstandings in Mississippi kinship care is the belief that getting guardianship through Chancery Court automatically qualifies you for monthly foster care payments. It does not. The difference between a $112 per month child-only TANF maximum for one eligible child with zero countable income and about $685–$1,547 per month in foster board payments comes down to one thing: whether the child is in formal state custody through MDCPS.

Foster Board Payments: Licensed Kinship Foster Care Only

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) pays daily board rates to licensed foster parents caring for children in state custody. Rates range from $22.83 to $51.55 per day depending on the child's age and assessed needs, which works out to roughly $685 to $1,547 per month. Children with specialized needs may receive an additional $100 monthly supplement, and medically fragile children receive individualized reimbursement rates set by assessment.

To access these payments, two conditions must both be true:

1. The child must be in formal MDCPS custody following a child protection proceeding
2. The relative caregiver must hold a foster care license issued by MDCPS

A grandparent who obtains legal guardianship independently through Chancery Court — without the child ever entering MDCPS custody — does not qualify for foster board payments. That guardianship gives you legal authority over the child's care, education, and medical decisions, but it does not make you a foster parent in the eyes of the state payment system.

KinGAP: Coming But Not Here Yet

Many states operate a Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP or KinGAP) that pays relatives who take permanent guardianship of a foster child. These payments continue after the child leaves formal state custody, bridging the gap between foster care rates and the near-zero support available to private guardians.

Mississippi did not historically operate a KinGAP program. In April 2025, MDCPS issued a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services to design and deploy a federally compliant KinGAP under the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). That process is underway, but the program is not yet operational statewide.

Until KinGAP launches, the only recurring monthly payment available to relatives caring for a child outside formal foster care is child-only TANF ($112 per month for one child with zero income).

What You Can Access Without Foster Licensing

Even without a foster care license or KinGAP, Mississippi kinship caregivers can access several programs:

• Child-only TANF: Up to $112/month for one eligible child with zero countable income; caregiver income is excluded. Full details.
• SNAP: Up to $562/month for a two-person household. Caregiver income counts. Full details.
• Medicaid/CHIP: Full health coverage for the child. Caregiver income excluded. Full details.
• CCPP childcare: Subsidized childcare with priority placement for kinship children. Full details.
• Title III-E: Respite care, support groups, and supply vouchers for caregivers aged 55+.

None of these require court guardianship. All are available to informal kinship caregivers with proof of the child's residence in your home.

Should You Pursue Foster Licensing?

That depends on circumstances the guide cannot evaluate for you — whether the child is already in MDCPS custody, whether you're willing to complete the licensing process (training, home study, background checks), and whether the increased financial support outweighs the oversight requirements that come with being a licensed foster parent.

If the child came to you through a private family arrangement rather than a child welfare investigation, entering the foster system solely for the stipend is not how the system is designed and may not be appropriate. Talk to Catholic Charities' Kinship Navigator (769-218-8436) or a legal aid attorney if you want to understand your options.

Our Mississippi Kinship Financial Help guide maps every payment by care arrangement — informal, POA, guardianship, and foster — so you can see exactly what applies to your situation.

See more Mississippi guides →