Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or close family friends when the child’s birth parents are unable to care for them for an extended period of time. It is widely regarded by child welfare professionals as the best placement option for children when parents are not available. In Vermont, an estimated 6,836 children live in kinship care.

“The outcomes for children who can’t be with their bio parents are so much better when they remain within a family structure, maintaining culture, identity, and family bonds,” said Ruby Baker, executive director of COVE. “COVE is excited to work on this documentary with VKAP and to share the stories of the incredible people who choose to step up for the children in their lives.”

COVE handpicked documentary filmmaker Brad Salon of Bear Notch Productions (Downstream), to film the project. Production began in March and is expected to continue throughout the summer and fall.

“I’m excited to be a part of telling the story of kinship care in Vermont because it’s such a common occurrence and mostly unspoken and unsupported in our society,” said Salon. “The more people know about kinship care the more they will want to reach out and support the community members who are supporting our state’s children. We’re lucky to have found some courageous and compassionate families willing to share their stories for the film.”

“While circumstances leading to kinship care may be diverse, often it is a child’s grandparents who step into the parental role,” Baker said.“Most caregivers are grandparents, though there are certainly many other types of kinship care relationships,” Baker said. “The work is such a natural outgrowth of COVE’s mission to promote and protect quality of life for Vermonters as we age.”

Child welfare agencies have been pushing for more kinship placements in place of traditional foster care. In 2008, President George W. Bush signed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (also known as the Fostering Connections Act) increasing federal support to states so they can place more children permanently with relative guardians or adoptive parents.

“If a child must enter an alternative parent-child arrangement, then Kinship is by far the most frequent, least understood and, in my experience, offers the best future for the child,” said VKAP President Jim Holway. “It is also the least systemically supported.”

Holway said he hopes the documentary will increase awareness and community support for kinship care families in Vermont and beyond.

“Once people understand the challenges and joys of kinship, perhaps then we will be better prepared to support these families and address their needs,” he said.

“It’s important to us at COVE to educate the broader public about kinship care so people know how and when to seek help and where to find it,” Baker said. “We want people to know what kinship care is, to destigmatize it, and to break down barriers to services and supports and build a community. This documentary is a great way to start the conversation.”

For more information on Vermont Kin as Parents visit vermontkinasparents.org

For more information on Community of Vermont Elders visit vermontelders.org