When a child cannot safely remain with their parents, relatives and close family friends often step forward with little notice to provide a safe and familiar home. During an already stressful time, caregivers are also asked to quickly decide whether to pursue approval as a foster parent or accept temporary custody. This decision can have a large impact on the financial assistance, services, and other supports available to the family for months and years to come.

In order to give relative and fictive kin caregivers more time to make an informed decision, the Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 151 in 2024. This law allowed eligible caregivers to apply to become a licensed foster parent within 120 days of placement or later following a qualifying event.

Despite being passed in 2024, kinship caregivers were not yet able to take advantage of the change because of disagreements over funding. The final 2026–2028 state budget provided $6 million in each fiscal year to support implementation of the law, advancing a Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children budget priority focused on strengthening support for kinship families. 

Last month, Kentucky’s Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) published a new Standards of Practice (SOP) outlining caregiver eligibility and the process.

Who is Eligible?

Subject to the availability of state funding, the new process applies to relative and fictive kin caregivers who were granted temporary custody of a child due to child welfare involvement on or after July 15, 2026. 

Eligible caregivers may request reconsideration within 120 days of a judge granting temporary custody or following a qualifying event after the initial 120-day period. 

Note: If permanent custody was granted during the initial 120 days, then the caregiver can only request reconsideration following a qualifying event.

Qualifying events include:

  • Death or incapacitation of a caregiver
  • Loss of income due to a disability
  • Early or unplanned retirement due to a documented hardship resulting in a substantial loss of income
  • Loss of a home or employment due to a natural disaster or fire
  • Divorce or legal separation
  • A significant change in the child’s medical or behavioral health that requires substantial caregiver involvement

The full list of qualifying events and more detailed criteria can be found within the SOP. 

Caregivers who have questions about whether their circumstances may qualify can contact the Kinship Support Hotline at (877)565-5608 or Relative.Supports@ky.gov.

What is the Process?

The process for requesting reconsideration depends on eligibility circumstances. 

Within the first 120 days, caregivers should contact their ongoing social services worker and explain that they would like to pursue foster parent approval. If eligible, they will be referred to a kinship navigator to review their options and next steps.

Following a qualifying event, caregivers should contact the Kinship Support Hotline to determine eligibility and provide documentation of the event. DCBS staff will review the request, explain the process, and provide an application packet if the caregiver chooses to proceed.

DCBS will notify the caregiver that they are eligible to move forward or that their request has been denied. However, being found eligible for reconsideration does not mean that the caregiver has received final foster parent approval.

To move forward, the child must reenter DCBS custody through the court and the required forms must be signed. The caregiver can then begin receiving a reduced foster care per diem while completing the remaining approval requirements, which may include background checks, trainings, and a home assessment.

What Can Advocates Do?

This policy is an important step toward ensuring that kinship caregivers have more time to understand their options and pursue the placement type that best meets the needs of their child and their family. 

As this new process is implemented, advocates and community members can help ensure eligible kinship caregivers understand their options and know where to turn for support by: