Our Helping Hands Kinship Support Services Program works with San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) by lending a helping hand to relative caregivers and non-relative extended family members, also known as kin caregivers. We offer these families the help and support they need to stay together as a family. Through kinship placements, families are maintained, traditions upheld, and children move less and experience fewer behavioral, educational and health problems. Our services are designed to combat the isolation, stress and other struggles kinship families encounter in their day-to-day lives.

Program Services

We provide the following services:

Assessment and case management
Support groups
Basic needs assistance
Family activities & recreation
Youth life skills education
Parenting workshops
Advocacy
Warm line
Volunteer recruitment & coordination
Youth groups
Tutoring
Respite care
Mentoring

Information and Referrals

Counseling
Healthcare
Dental & Vision
Legal Aid
Other Services as needed

Additional services are developed or referrals made in response to the individual needs of the caregivers and kin-children.

Eligibility Requirements

The only requirement for participation in Helping Hands Kinship Support Services is that you are raising a child of a family member or that you are a non-related extended family member (NREFM) raising the child. The child may or may not be involved in the Child Welfare System.

Referrals

Relative Caregivers may self refer, be referred by San Bernardino Children and Family Services “Relative Approval Unit” or any other community based organization. A simple phone call is all that is needed.