Program Overview

The Kinship Navigator Grant recognizes the critical importance of Kinship Caregivers and works to provide them with the kinds of support and services previously reserved for traditional foster parents. Southwest Family Guidance Center has been officially designated a “Relative Success Center” of this program. In collaboration with New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department, Southwest Family provides a coordinated and comprehensive array of resources for kinship caregivers in all New Mexico counties.

What Kind Of Services Are Provided?

• Assistance in determining the family’s needs and what services they may be eligible to receive from nonprofit, local, state, and national sources.
• Education related to kinship care, such as caregiving, self-care, mental health, legal assistance, social media, current technologies, child development, childhood trauma, financial planning, taxes, cultural competency,
• Referrals for assistance to complete guardianship packets that help caregivers register children for school and apply for medical services.
• Collaboration with civil legal service providers to refer caregivers to legal services as appropriate in relation to:
  obtaining guardianship or custody orders; child/Parent visitation; public benefits and financial matters; assistance with negotiations; housing; culturally appropriate legal services to immigrant caregivers
• Access to federal, state, and local benefits including, but not limited to, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); WIC; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Housing Authority; Income Support Division; Medicaid; Child Support; Respite Care; Guardianship Assistance; Legal Assistance; Child Care Assistance; Education.
• Therapeutic services, either in-house or with community-based services, Behavioral Management Services, Case Management, Peer Support Services, and Individual and Family therapy.

What Is The Process Like?

• A Request For Services form is submitted online, or a Triage Of Needs Is Completed by a Community Service Worker (CSW) for each family.
• A Kinship Navigator from Southwest Family Guidance Center will make contact within two business days.
• An assessment of needs is performed.
• The family is assigned a CSW to provide direct assistance and help to access resources and services.
• If it is required, the CSW will connect the family to services.
• Services continue on an as-needed basis.