Rep. Brent to introduce Kinship Care Bill of Rights

COLUMBUS— In honor of May being National Foster Care Awareness Month, State Representative Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) today announced that she will be introducing legislation to create the Kinship Care Bill of Rights. Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives, or in some cases, close family friends.

“The state and federal government, as well as research findings, prefer kinship care placement for children over foster care placement,” said Rep Brent. “If this is the case, why is it that kinship care providers and recipients are offered fewer resources and support than their counterparts in foster care? It is time to rectify these discrepancies.”

The Kinship Care Bill of Rights aims to put kinship care on the same level as foster care by allowing respite care for kinship caregivers, providing adequate compensation for kinship care parents comparable to that of foster care parents, and granting kinship care children full access to medical and mental health services.

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