Frequently Asked Questions

What is a kinship caregiver?

A kinship caregiver is a relative or family friend, who is not the birth parent, who provides full-time care for the family member or friend’s child. You do not need to have custody or child welfare involvement to be considered a kinship caregiver.

What is a special health care need?

We define special health care need to include children needing any additional physical, developmental, emotional, and/or behavioral supports. They do not have to have a diagnosed disability or current services in place to qualify.

Am I eligible to participate?

Visit our Eligibility page for more information and to fill out a screening form.

What does it mean to be part of this research study?

To better understand the impact of the program, we are using a research method called a randomized control trial and will survey two different groups of caregivers to compare their results.

Once caregivers go through the intake process, are eligible to participate, and enroll in the study, they will be randomly assigned to a participant group. Caregivers will either:

• Participate in the KinCarolina program consisting of support groups, informational sessions, and connecting to a peer liaison (mentor) OR
• Receive a comprehensive list of services in the community and not be able to participate in services at Kindred Hearts for a six-month period during the study.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

You can reach the KinCarolina team by phone at (803) 386-7696, by email at kincarolina@unc.edu, or by submitting a form on our Contact page.