Oregon Kinship Care Resources and Free Help for Relative Caregivers
Free Help Exists — Knowing Where to Find It Is the Hard Part
Oregon has a stronger network of kinship support than most states. But when you've just taken in a grandchild or a niece, with school starting Monday and a doctor's appointment on Thursday, finding the right resource at the right moment is its own challenge. Here's a straightforward map of what's available and what each organization actually does.
Oregon Kinship Navigator
What it is: A statewide resource and referral program built specifically for grandparents and relatives raising children. Run through a partnership between ODHS and the YMCA.
What they do: Connect you with legal resources, financial assistance programs, housing support, educational system navigation, peer support groups, and emergency concrete supports (think: car seats, beds, school supplies). They don't prepare legal documents or represent you in court, but they know who does.
How to reach them: Call 1-833-201-5557 or visit oregonkinshipnavigator.org.
Best for: Your first call when you need to figure out what's available. They'll triage your situation and point you to the right next step.
Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) and Oregon Law Center (OLC)
What they are: Free civil legal aid organizations serving low-income Oregonians. They maintain the Oregon Law Help website (oregonlawhelp.org), which publishes downloadable forms for the Relative Caregiver Affidavit and Delegation of Parental Powers.
What they do: Provide free legal representation and advice on family law, guardianship petitions, public benefits, and housing disputes. If you need to file for minor guardianship under ORS Chapter 125 and can't afford a private attorney, they may take your case.
How to reach them: Statewide legal intake hotline or through your local county office. Find contact information at oregonlawhelp.org.
Best for: When you need an actual attorney — contested guardianship, a parent fighting your care arrangement, or a benefits denial you can't resolve on your own.
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Oregon Law Help (oregonlawhelp.org)
What it is: A free online legal information portal maintained by LASO and OLC.
What they do: Publish self-help guides, including "Get Permission to Care for a Child in Oregon (Without Going to Court)," with downloadable PDF forms for both the Relative Caregiver Affidavit and the Delegation of Parental Powers. The forms are legally accurate but don't come with step-by-step instructions for filling them out or dealing with institutions that reject them.
Best for: Downloading blank forms when you already know which document you need and how to complete it.
211info
What it is: Oregon's statewide community resource referral network.
What they do: Connect families with local housing support, emergency food, medical care, utility assistance, and kinship support groups. Dial 2-1-1 from any Oregon phone or visit 211info.org.
Best for: Immediate concrete needs — food, diapers, rent assistance, utility help — and finding local support groups for kinship caregivers in your county.
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
What they are: The state agency responsible for child welfare, public benefits, and self-sufficiency programs.
What they do for kinship caregivers: If your arrangement is entirely private (no child welfare case), ODHS doesn't manage your placement — but they administer several programs you may be eligible for:
- TANF non-needy relative grants — cash assistance for the child without requiring you to meet work requirements
- SNAP — food assistance for the household
- Oregon Health Plan (OHP) — medical coverage for the child
- Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) — childcare subsidies
If there is an active child welfare case, ODHS manages the placement and the child may qualify for certified foster care payments or the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP).
How to reach them: Your local ODHS Self-Sufficiency office. Find locations at oregon.gov/odhs.
FACT Oregon
What it is: A statewide advocacy organization supporting families navigating special education.
What they do: Free parent training, IEP meeting advocacy, Section 504 plan support, and help understanding disability services in public schools. If the child you're raising has an IEP or you suspect they may need special education services, FACT Oregon is the specialist.
How to reach them: factoregon.org.
OJD Family Law Facilitators
What they are: Court-based staff at Oregon Circuit Courts who provide information about family law filings.
What they do: Help you understand the minor guardianship petition process, point you to the right court forms, and explain filing procedures. They can't give legal advice or represent you, but they can walk you through the paperwork.
Best for: When you've decided to file for guardianship and need help navigating the court system.
Putting the Pieces Together
Most kinship caregivers use several of these resources at once: the Kinship Navigator to triage, Oregon Law Help for forms, ODHS for benefits, and 211info for emergency needs. The Oregon School and Medical Consent guide integrates these resources into a single reference with contact information, eligibility notes, and a decision guide for when free help is enough and when you need to hire an attorney.
Get Your Free Oregon School and Medical Consent Checklist
Download the Oregon School and Medical Consent Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.