Kinship Navigator Program

The Vermont Department for Children and Families’ (DCF) mission is to foster the healthy development, safety, well-being, and self-sufficiency of Vermonters. The Department is structured around six Divisions that deliver programs and services to Vermonters; one of those Divisions is the Family Services Division (“FSD”). FSD administers a range of programs that engage families, foster and kinship caregivers, partner agencies, and the broader community to promote the safety, lawful behavior, and well-being of children and youth. As part of its work, FSD oversees the Kinship Navigator program, which began over fifteen years ago as state and county initiatives to support formal (involved with the child welfare system) and informal (not involved with the child welfare system) kinship caregivers - grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, other extended family members, and close family friends—who provide care for children when their parents cannot. The program helps caregivers navigate the various systems that affect them, including child welfare, aging services, education, housing, and health care.