The Kinship Navigator Program at Catholic Charities, Inc. helps families across Mississippi. It supports caregivers like grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, or close family friends who are raising children that are not their own. These children are between the ages of birth and 18 and are living away from their biological parents.
Since launching in August 2020, the Kinship Navigator Program has helped hundreds of families get the support they need. These supports include access to legal representation, food, clothing, household supplies, assistance with utility bills, and connections to mental health and educational services. At the core of the program is a strengths-based, family-centered approach. Our staff emphasizes the strengths present in each household, focusing on resilience, love, and commitment rather than what families lack. Caregivers who have participated in the program consistently report improvements in their quality of life and their ability to provide stable, nurturing environments for the children in their care. As a result, the caregivers feel happier, more supported, and hopeful about their future due to the assistance they received through our program.
Kinship services focus on keeping families together and supporting both the children and the adults who care for them. The program ensures families feel encouraged, valued, and connected. We walk alongside caregivers, helping them with their concerns,” said. The program has raised awareness about kinship care and helped caregivers often find the support they need when they feel unprepared and without financial help.
The program continues to grow, reaching more counties in Mississippi, thanks to support from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. As the child welfare system continues to evolve, there is a growing recognition of the need to support caregivers. To strengthen and validate these efforts, Catholic Charities is undertaking a rigorous program evaluation. This evaluation is crucial not only for tracking outcomes and improving service delivery but also for achieving national recognition as an evidence based model. By measuring impact, identifying best practices, and unveiling results, the evaluation will help place Mississippi at the forefront of overhauling kinship care.
The Kinship staff is dedicated to engaging with the community by participating in events, distributing informational brochures, and collaborating with local organizations to effectively reach more families in need. Referrals to the Kinship Navigator Program may come from a variety of avenues. Upon receiving a valid referral, the designated Kinship team member will reach out to the family through telephone, text, or email to arrange an intake meeting at their convenience. For further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at (769) 218-8436 or through our toll-free referral line at (800) 844-8655.
Catholic Charities is proud to lead the charge in transforming how Mississippi supports children and caregivers, while striving toward national standards that will uplift even more families in the years to come. As we look ahead, we are excited about helping even more families across Mississippi while being visible signs of Christ’s love.
LaQuita Brown is Statewide Kinship Project Manager.
