Services

  • Raising Relative's Children

    Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota provides information, support and education to relative caregivers.

    7.8 million children are living in relative-headed households, and over 2.7 million children are in households without their parents present and are being cared for exclusively by relatives, according to the 2010 US Census.

  • Relative Caregiver Warmline


    877-917-4640 or 651-917-4640

    (Phone line language interpretation available)

    warmline@lssmn.org

    Family members or friends can call or email the Relative Caregiver Warmline as a starting point in getting help with Raising Relative’s Children.

  • You are not alone! Over 70,000 children are currently being raised in Minnesota households headed by relatives or close family friends, according to the Stepping Up For Kids report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation of 2012.

    When accepting the role of parenting someone else’s children, be it a relative or close family friend, caregivers often have many questions:

    1.  What legal relationship options do I have?  
    2.  Is third party custody our best option?  
    3.  How can I get medical coverage my relative’s (or friend’s) child?  
    4.  How can I apply for a MFIP Child Only grant to help with expenses?  
    5.  How can I help my relative’s child deal with their feelings about being raised by a relative?
    6. How can I help a relative’s child who is in foster care?
    Family members or friends can call or email the Relative Caregiver Warmline as a starting point in getting help with Raising Relative’s Children. 



    Our services include

    1. Individual consultations: in-person (Metro area), by phone or by email 
    2. Family conferencing
    3. Support and education groups that meet throughout the metro area, including groups for Latino families. Referrals can be made to groups that meet throughout Minnesota
    4. Educational workshops of interest to relative caregivers.
    5. Recreational activities for families

    We also offer:

    • Strong Women, Strong Legacies: an 8 week curriculum of self-care for caregivers.
    • Strong Kids, Save Kids: A 10 week group for children and youth who have witnessed family violence or experienced abuse or neglect.
    • Restorative Parenting groups to help women and relative-caregivers learn how to heal themselves and help children heal after violence, abuse or neglect.

    For more information or to sign up, please contact 612.879.5211.




    Online Resources

    The following websites provide useful information for people raising a relative's child.

    Raising Relative's Children - a guide for your journey
    Fostering Connections
    Minnesota Kinship Caregivers Association