“It takes a village” brings a whole new meaning when you are raising a grandchild or cousin. Whether you are helping your adult children bring up their kids or raising a nephew or niece for the long haul, you need resources, community, and support. We’re bringing together some of the most needed organizations and resources for tribal communities here in this article to help you meet your family’s needs.
General Resources for Tribal Communities
In addition to NICWA (National Indian Child Welfare Association), there are organizations that support and serve families raising family members with a great variety of content:
- Raising Relatives – this website offers many other resources beyond these parenting articles!
- Services of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians – links to the departments of your tribal community
- Public Health & Human Services for the Cherokee Communities in Western North Carolina, offers links to many services for your tribal community
- Kinship/Relative Care, the Kinship Navigator site from the NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)
- North Carolina – a page listing the resources and information specific to North Carolina residents about kinship and tribal communities curated by Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Kinship Care – an additional page of resources specific to relative parenting and caregivers, from Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Social Services from the US Department of Health and Human Services, including SNAP, TANF and more
Legal Support and Assistance
You may have questions about your legal rights, this child’s legal status or other related issues while this child is in your home. These tip sheets, websites, and organizations can help you navigate those questions.
- Legal Assistance for Native Kinship/Grandfamilies Involved with Child Welfare: How to Find an Attorney & Help Them Help You, a tipsheet from Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network
- LSC (Legal Services Corporation) is a non-profit that provides financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans and funds independent nonprofit legal aid organizations across the nation.
- Legal Options for Kinship Caregivers in North Carolina, a website from CreatingaFamily.org that helps relative caregivers navigate the many options for permanency for the child in their care.
Child Care Information and Support
Childcare is expensive! It’s also challenging for many families to find reliable, reputable, safe childcare for their kids. Here are a few resources that can help you navigate that process.
- Finding and Paying for Child Care, a downloadable tipsheet from Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network
- North Carolina: Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources – a resource site from ChildCare.gov to help families navigate the process of vetting safe, local childcare providers and more
- Child Care Provider Search – a search tool from NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) to choose location, distance from home, and more to find childcare providers that suit your family’s needs
Financial Assistance
Economic challenges are common for many Americans these days. Many kinship and relative caregiver families struggle to make ends meet when they take in additional children. They may also struggle to reach out for help when money gets tight. These resources can help you understand what’s available, how to qualify, and how to access the support that is available.
- Services of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians – links to the departments of your tribal community
- Public Health & Human Services for the Cherokee Communities in Western North Carolina, offers links to many services for your tribal community, including WIC, Public Health, and Food Distribution program
- Low Income Services, help navigating the resources from NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) from NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)
- Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps) from NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)
- How Relative/Kin Caregivers Can Access Services and Advocate for Native Children in Their Care – a tipsheet from Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network
- School Breakfast and Lunch Programs for Grandfamilies and Kinship Families – a tipsheet from Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network
Word of Mouth
While it may feel uncomfortable to discuss your family’s challenges with other people outside your home, it can also be a significant source of support. Sharing helpful information, valuable resources, and practical help with your community can unlock new resources that your neighbor may not have known about previously. You might learn of a new, low-cost immunization provider or a local food pantry that you can access.
Word of mouth continues to be an invaluable resource for many families when it comes to supporting and serving families. Build connections and relationships with the other parents in your child’s school, with the guidance counselors, and coaches or caregivers of your child’s teammates. Share what you are learning and ask if they’ve discovered new resources. You will all be better for it and can support each other to keep learning and doing the best you can for your family.