Relative and Kin Support Services in Minnesota
A service for families who are caring for a relative’s child and need support and education.
Program snapshot
- Available in central, southern, and Twin Cities metro Minnesota
- Connections to local support systems
- Education on mental health and youth trauma
- Support in navigating new or strained family dynamics
- Help in understand the complex human services system
Nexus supports relative and kin caregivers, who are caring for or who have the desire to care for a relative or kin’s youth. We provide an array of services to assist and alleviate barriers in navigating the child welfare system, trauma-related behaviors, complexities of community resources, and more.
Families can also receive help with obtaining foster care licensing if they desire to continue fostering kin or other children.
Our services
Relative and kin placement support
Case management services for relative/kin families throughout the duration of placement, including in-person and/or phone/virtual contact with relative/kin families and youth at least once weekly. This service is available for families once licensed.
Relative and kin home study
Intensive support and guidance throughout the licensing process. Nexus will complete paperwork, training, and the home study assessment in partnership with the relative/kin family. This service is available to any relative/kin family.
Intensive family support
In-home assistance to relative and kinship caregivers who are licensed with their local county or tribe. Nexus provides referrals to community resources, connection to local support services and assistance working through challenges caring for relative youth.
Intensive licensing support
In-home assistance to relative and kinship caregivers as they undergo the licensing process with their local county or tribe to become a foster care provider. This would include ongoing communication with the licensing workers and assisting the family to overcome any barriers and obstacles.
Relative and kin engagement services
Outreach and engagement services to both informal and formal relative/kin caregivers. Current or prospective relative/kin caregivers can discuss the licensing process, potential barriers, and resource referral. Nexus provides general support to families within this service for such areas as resource referral, advocacy, assisting with housing resources, etc.
Kinship Navigator program
Program snapshot
- Available across Minnesota
- Delivers essential support and linkages to relative and kin families to provide for the children in their home.
- Starting point for those who have questions about parenting a relative’s child
Families will first work with a Kinship Navigator who will provide them with phone and in-person information, referral, and assessment on community services their family may need such as housing, childcare, food, health services and transportation. If additional assistance is required, a Case Manager will partner with families as they access services, including side-by-side assistance.
- Kinship families may call during open office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to ask questions relating to kinship care in Minnesota.
- Each service is designed to connect relative and kinship families to networks of social support, provide basic needs, and increase baseline resources by ensuring understanding of, and access to, available help.
- Support groups are a safe place to discuss the joys and challenges of raising a relative’s child. You can laugh, cry, lean on, and learn from others who are in the same position. Support groups include sharing of best practices and resources for kinship caregivers. All groups are confidential and non-judgmental. Groups are offered at noon on the third Monday via Zoom.
Minnesota Kinship Navigation Tool
The Minnesota Kinship Navigation Tool is a collaborative effort on behalf of the Kinship Working Group from AspireMN. This tool offers free, unlimited access to information and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions for kinship caregivers.
Our locations
Minnesota foster care, adoption, and relative and kinship services are offered in the following locations.
Administrative Office
505 Highway 169 North
Suite 500
Plymouth, MN 55441
612-331-4429
Bemidji/Fergus Falls Office
220 W Washington Ave. #B3
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
218-739-3074
Cloquet Office
1302 Cloquet Ave.
Cloquet, MN 55720
218-722-6106
St. Cloud Office
412 Great Oak Dr.
Waite Park, MN 56387
320-529-0862
“I do think it’s important for children to know their family, to help children understand why their parent isn’t able to be involved in their life, that it’s not their fault, and their parents do love them, but can’t take care of them.” – Kinship Parent
Learn, connect, and get involved
From the blog
Adoption Necessities
Through the journey of knowledge, bravery, and strength, the child and adoptive family make a significant and meaningful impact on one another. The child and adoptive family allow for vulnerability in getting to know each other and open their hearts to begin a new chapter together.
Stories of Hope/Impact
Finding Family
With three sons, Matthew and Ingrid weren’t planning to add anymore kids to their already busy family. But when Matthew’s biological nephew needed a forever home, Matthew and Ingrid found themselves in the position for a Kinship adoption.
Upcoming EventS
Our accreditations
- Accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA)
- Licensed by the State of Minnesota
- Member of Foster Family-based Treatment Association
- Aspire member