ATLANTA — Across Georgia, 34% of children in care are in a kinship arrangement. A kinship arrangement consists of relatives and close family friends caring for children when their parents cannot care for them.

Each September during National Kinship Care Month, we celebrate these amazing families and individuals. The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) uses this opportunity to highlight kinship care arrangements within the child welfare system and provide critical support to kinship caregivers. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, DFCS will move forward with plans to build awareness about Georgia's Kinship program and their support of kin caregivers who help strengthen and stabilize families.

DFCS is proud to celebrate Kinship Care Month throughout September by offering four webinar panel discussions sharing resources on being a great kinship caregiver. You can register via shorturl.at/qLPY2. In addition to these panels, DFCS will highlight our outstanding Kinship Care Heroes and feature additional information about kin caregiving in Georgia and tips for getting involved on all social media platforms throughout September.

Join the celebration by wearing yellow on Thursday, September 3rd, and share your pictures using #YesWeKin to show your support of Georgia's remarkable Kinship Care community. Follow @GADFCS on all social media platforms to find out how you can support Kinship Care in your community by visiting the DHS website at https://dhs.georgia.gov/kinship-care-portal, because together, #YesWeKin.

About Georgia DFCS
DFCS administers foster care for children removed from their homes for their protection when they have been subjected to abuse and neglect. It is responsible for the investigation of reports of child abuse; recruitment of foster homes for abused and neglected children; issuance of SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and childcare assistance to low-income families; assistance for out-of-work parents to help them get back on their feet as well as multiple support services and programs to help families in need.