NC Office of the Parent Defender
Providing and promoting high quality legal representation for parents affected by the child welfare system (DSS) and parents facing contempt in child support and other civil proceedings
Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System
Sometimes grandparents, other relatives, or family friends care for children when their parents are unable to care for them. This arrangement, known as kinship care, can occur with or without the involvement of a child welfare agency, depending on the situation. This factsheet is designed to help kin caregivers—including grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, and other relatives as well as family friends caring for children— work effectively with the child welfare system. It also includes resources, such as links to more detailed information or places to find support, to help you learn about and navigate the child welfare system.